*
Chatter, chatter, chatter! People’s voices filled the air.
The merchants’ cries mixed together, making it an overwhelming place.
“Hey there! Try our fresh Salt Lizard jerky today!”
In the Empire, there’s a night market that opens when the sun goes down.
“Come get your hands on a red Kraken leg!”
Moonlight night market.
This place opens as the sun sets, selling items that couldn’t be bought during the day.
‘Just like how I found the black market merchant in Iron Wolf Village.’
In the game, the environment often changes based on the time, and some people purposely turn back the clock.
With the flashing lights and loud noises, it’s bustling unlike the daytime.
“This looks tasty… what do I do? What should I buy, Kai?”
“Ariel, weren’t you on a diet? Eat in moderation… Ouch! Stop pinching me!”
Kainel and Ariel were pondering over ingredients while looking around.
“Licht, you should try this.”
“Pina, we’re supposed to buy cooking ingredients for the valley, remember?”
Pina was shoving a plump octopus leg into her mouth; who knows when she bought it.
The day before heading to Calisium Valley, I made a suggestion to Pina.
How about we go shopping together?
They’d run out of cooking supplies, and also, the Hero couple’s Affection Level needed to rise above 50%.
“…This is delicious, thank you.”
Is this Kraken leg? It’s thicker than a human arm.
A savory taste like a mix of squid and octopus spread in my mouth.
“I knew you’d like it, Licht.”
Hehe, giggling, Pina swayed her fluffy white wolf tail.
We walked side by side down the market alley.
Pina, outside the Academy, looked a bit uncomfortable not wearing her Masterpiece.
Isn’t this a bit dangerous?
“Pina, it’s getting crowded here, let’s hold hands.”
As I moved deeper into the market, I came up with a little trick.
…Hah.
I grabbed Pina’s hand tightly.
Her soft and warm presence sent shivers up my arm.
Surprisingly, she stayed still. Her wolf ears flapped while her tail twitched, but she didn’t seem to mind.
Even if she could easily slam me down with her strength, she playfully squeezed my hand.
“Then Ariel, shall we hold hands too?”
Seeing us, Kainel also made a suggestion to Ariel.
“W-What are you thinking?! Do you think I’d like it if I held your hand, Kai?!”
Kainel noticed Ariel’s long ears turning a bit red.
Nod nod. The blonde Hero shook his head like it was nothing new.
“…I’m holding your hand because you’re my boyfriend, Kai.”
As he took her hand, the red-clad Mage hummed softly.
Still embarrassed, I see. People don’t change that easily.
But their relationship had grown from Childhood Friends to lovers.
[Kainel♡Ariel 52% ‘NEW!’]
A Status Window popped up in front of me. Seeing the hearts puff up and burst made me smile.
Could I also spend time with Pina like this someday?
These numbers seem more relative than absolute. It’s more about how the other person sees me.
“Kai… remember when we used to run errands for our parents like this when we were kids?”
“Of course! We always bought sweets with the leftover money.”
I often feel like these progress indicators for love are misleading.
Even in the original story, hitting 100% affinity didn’t mean the character fully liked me.
It could mean trust or simply having a favorable view of someone.
Human emotions aren’t that simple to quantify.
Pina was like this even as the Nameless Saintess. Even if her affinity reached 100%, she couldn’t go on dates or act like a couple with anyone else.
‘That’s why I wished for Pina’s happiness so much.’
Can’t secondary characters get a bit of happiness too? The girl who dreamed of a white wedding dress is holding my hand now.
“Licht… there’s a stall up ahead selling ingredients?”
“…Ah, thank you, Pina.”
Like a broken wind-up doll, my arms and legs went stiff. My face and ears felt hot.
“Licht, my hand is sweaty… are you okay…?”
How did I manage to endure when bathing together in the north? Even while seeing Pina’s body exposed, I barely suppressed my desires.
Lately, it seems I’ve been showing my feelings more openly. The emotions I feel when I’m with Pina are strange.
Just being close makes my breathing hitch and my heart race like crazy.
As I tried to let go of her hand, Pina tightened her grip on mine.
“Licht, what do you like to put in stew?”
Pina whispered in my ear, trying to change the subject. Her warm breath hit me like a wham!
“U-Um, maybe beef stew.”
“Really… you said that last time too.”
She seemed to recall the beef stew we had during our Group Project, lost in thought while her gaze drifted towards beef and vegetables.
“Then… what sauce do you usually put on pasta?”
“Tomato, of course.”
“What about potatoes… salt or sugar?”
Tilting her head slightly, she bombarded me with questions.
“Sugar. But why are you asking me all this?”
What’s with the sudden interrogation? Pina even had a note on a glass panel.
“Just… because I want to know…?”
Wiggle wiggle, her wolf ears moved like she was curious.
With her other hand, she was gathering meat, fish, and vegetables, seemingly planning to cook for me.
If I just knew she couldn’t eat bitter things, that would suffice.
Should I also cook for Pina? I made stew last time.
Before my eyes, various types of ingredients were piled up. The vendors selling food were diverse too.
“Hey there, buddy! We’ve got an awesome spice here!”
Among them, a merchant was recommending yellow powder to me.
A devil with horns on its head. Its red skin looked like it was about to explode, like boiling magma.
“It’s a family recipe passed down for generations!”
This is curry powder.
The blend of turmeric and spices filled the air with a rich curry aroma that made my mouth water.
I wonder if Pina would like curry rice.
“…Ugh.”
Just then, someone suddenly pushed Pina from behind. In an instant, her balance wavered.
I quickly hugged her as she was about to fall. The feel of her soft skin was nice.
“Are you okay?”
I managed to maintain a calm expression while checking if she was hurt.
“….”
Oh, her face is bright red.
*
Meanwhile, while Licht’s group was shopping at the night market…
“Silver Wolf, suspicious movement detected.”
One of the Empire’s Royal Guards, who was protecting Pina, noticed something.
A short-haired woman had been watching Licht’s group from a distance.
It was Blanc, the one who had previously threatened the princess with a dagger.
A person who had already made a threat was now spotted near Licht’s group again.
Clearly, precautions had been taken to prevent her from approaching any further.
How is this possible? Seeing her break through the hidden magic made Silver puzzled.
“Silver, for the safety of the princess.”
With silver hair tied in a ponytail, and wolf ears and tail, the knight was ready.
Silver sent a message to the guards nearby and began to pursue someone.
A knight began to close in on a woman cloaked in black, sneaking around like a shadow.
Noticing that she was being followed, Blanc darted into an alley.
The sound of their footsteps echoed through the marketplace, chasing between crowds of people.
Silver, not wanting to lose her, quickly dashed forward.
The moment they entered a dark alley.
‘Did I lose her…?’
The footsteps that had been echoing just moments ago stopped, and it seemed like a dead end appeared.
[Silver, where are you?! You know solo actions are against regulations!]
[Sorry, Captain. I just had a bad feeling….]
Silver was trying to locate the missing guards through communication magic.
[Get out of there immediately, Silver. The trail’s gone cold; it’s dangerous—]
In that moment, her voice cut off abruptly like a snap.
“Oh my, how did you know I concealed my presence?”
In the darkness, two glowing green eyes appeared.
Tap tap, footsteps echoed as someone approached.
It was supposed to be a dead end. Now, looking back, even the path they had come from was gone.
The space transformed into a sealed chamber.
“Those Inrang Tribe folks are tricky… I should have been more cautious.”
From within that dark veil emerged someone with a sigh.
The person who shed her cloak was Blanc, but soon the face of the Demon King began to shift.
From an old wrinkled face to a blissfully ignorant baby face.
“What are you? What do you want from Licht…?”
Silver raised her sword towards her, instinctively feeling a sense of unease that made the blade tremble.
Facing a monster wrapped in human skin gave an unsettling feeling.
Even though she had fought against Emperor Rock, her survival instincts were ringing alarm bells now.
Blanc was now right in front of Silver, her emerald eyes reflecting her own image.
“Who knows? I’m not quite sure about that myself…”
Blanc smiled.
“Want to take a guess?”
She transformed to match the silver-haired knight standing right in front of her.
