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CHAPTER 14 - NO, MA'AM
"I'll do anything, in my own way."
Asugi smiled happily, intertwining their fingers on the dining table.
Souta desperately gathered the remnants of his rationality and spun his thoughts.
— Wait, calm down. If I impulsively react now, they'll surely use this relationship as a shield to their advantage.
— Calm down, think about the situation carefully. Find a way out.
Before everything ended due to the warmth transmitted through their fingertips, Souta began to act.
"Asugi, I... I think you're beautiful."
Souta's offhand remark, intended as a stall tactic, had an unexpected effect.
Asugi blushed and looked down.
"Please, stop teasing me..."
— Is this for real?
— Is it not just calculated seduction, but something more genuine from this widow Elf...!
— This is going too far...!?
The dining table fell silent.
"Well, um..."
Souta wasn't at a loss for words.
— Maybe I might like her. A widow who's about a decade older than me. It's like, when she suddenly gets embarrassed, it makes me conscious of it too. Of course, I've been suppressing my desires all this time during my hospital stay, so it's true that I've turned into a bundle of cravings. At the same time, it's true that the village chief is trying to rope me in with his old-man schemes. Since this is going to be my base anyway, I feel like there won't be any significant issues if I just go with the flow. Rather, if I don't end up in a situation like this here, I'll be suspected by the villagers of being a spy or something, or they'll treat me like a spineless man for not taking up a woman's invitation. Even in my hometown, a guy who rejects a girl's invitation was considered a cheating scoundrel and the lowest kind of man. Elves are savage... but even though they're savage, she has a good face. A good face hides many flaws. Even if it smells like a trap, even if I've been poisoned from the start, I am...! Honestly, I can do it...!
Such thoughts went through his mind. Well, it's mostly a pretty ridiculous content. Yet, even as he was thinking such things, his actions caused him to come across as sincere due to the silence.
"If you're truly serious... I'd be happy, but..."
Asugi murmured that and fell silent once again.
He delved into contemplation again.
— Since she's a widow, it's not cheating. This is merely the interaction between adults of opposite genders. There's nothing ethically wrong here. It's not like that. Calm down. Didn't you nearly die just recently? Have you forgotten that you were nearly killed by these villagers? You know that you have no choice but to make this village your base due to the discussion with the Goddess, but is that alright? No, it's fine. Honestly, this kind of romantic everyday life where a slightly weak-willed, older woman takes care of you while you're in turmoil is quite charming. Moreover, even if the other Elves want to be friendly, I can let go of the fact that they almost killed me. In fact, it feels good when the people who tried to kill me are praising me. From that perspective, getting involved with Asugi in such a way is truly exciting. No, this is bad. If I think about it calmly, it becomes doubly and triply exciting...! Hang in there, my rationality...!
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Souta downed a glass of water in one gulp.
"Thinking about it seriously, there are various difficulties. I don't even know how long I can stay here, and when my identity becomes clear, I might get dragged into troublesome matters. That's why being just a passerby is fine."
— Wait, does that sound like I'm genuinely worried?
By the time he realized it, it was already too late.
— Isn't this kind of behavior typical of a bad guy?
Yes, it's the kind of behavior a fake tough guy would engage in.
"...Being a passerby is fine. That way, I can just return to being a mother and daughter."
"Well, um..."
— It seems I might actually be worried.
By the time he noticed, it was already too late.
Souta mumbled as he realized what he'd done.
"It's not just about having fun. It's easier when you're around, Souta."
Asugi muttered softly.
"Easier?"
"Yes, before Souta came, I had been through a lot, and there was too much to handle. I just wanted things to be easier. I'm a cowardly woman who only wants a vent for my weakness. Then, I can smile in front of everyone again. It's pretty pathetic, right?"
"It's not unusual for anyone to want things to be easier."
"But even though I'm saying these things with such an ulterior motive, you don't have to worry about it, Souta."
"...Honestly, I do enjoy my time in this house."
"Oh, really? In that case, I have something for you. Souta, you like alcohol, don't you?"
Before Souta could reply, Asugi fetched a bottle of liquor from the kitchen.
She prepared two glasses and sat down next to Souta.
"Yeah..."
"You did like it, right?"
"Well, yeah, quite a bit."
Souta received the glass of alcohol that was poured for him. He had no reason to refuse. He, like Asugi, took a sip from his glass.
"Thinking back, I've been imposing everything on you from the beginning."
"At the very least, I don't think you've imposed this alcohol on me. Anything else?"
The minty scent and the sting of alcohol passed through his throat. Thanks to the elemental essence, it was cool and just the right drink for the muggy summer heat.
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"When we first met, if I hadn't collapsed there and had run away, maybe I wouldn't have involved you."
"At that point, there was no reason for me to do anything for you."
"No, who knows? You were frightening, that's for sure. But just a little bit, I had this feeling that maybe, just maybe, I was dreaming. Like it would be wonderful if this person could save me. Like a prince from a story, you know?"
Asugi easily finished her first glass.
As Souta poured his second glass, he took a sip and smiled back at her.
"Thank you."
"I don't think you fit the prince image. But when you say that, I feel embarrassed."
"But still, I thought maybe you'd hate being burdened with such a convenient role, and I hesitated to bring it up. I thought you might dislike that kind of thing."
"... "
That was true.
— No matter how worried I might be, I can't even ask without drinking, huh?
— She must be anxious. Actually, she's delicate and can't handle the anxiety. She's weak.
However, it wasn't uncomfortable for Souta.
"So, I thought about what I could do to make you want to stay here, even just a little... I wanted to do anything I could. But as we talked, I realized. This is selfish, too."
"Yeah, that's right. I don't like being burdened with something by someone else, but I also don't like burdening someone else with something. I'm not that fond of being a teacher, either."
Asugi stumbled in her response. She didn't know what to do anymore.
However, Souta's words flowed smoothly, aided by the power of alcohol. He went beyond his usual boundaries, delving into depths he wouldn't usually cut into. He intentionally accepted the alcohol, even to the point where it wouldn't be processed as poison.
"I understand. You're scared, aren't you? You're afraid that I might be using you conveniently because I have no other place to go. You're scared that I might be someone who could be useful for the village, but you also know that I dislike burdening others with something. And that fear makes you worry that I might secretly be accumulating resentment, and you're scared of what might happen if that resentment explodes... It's a touching story."
Asugi nodded honestly. In her own way, she let go of things she wouldn't usually say and began speaking candidly, carried away by the momentum of the alcohol.
"I was scared... scared that I might eventually make you angry. But it's not just fear. I've also come to realize that you're a good person, and when I think that way, I start to feel that if I ever make you angry, it's probably our fault. And then, I understand that we're doing foolish things, and I don't know how to make up for that..."
"I like you, Asugi."
"Huh?"
— Well, I mean, sure, I do think that's what he's saying.
Souta let out a smile.
— It's not a bad thing, that's for sure.
"Oh... um, please don't say embarrassing things."
"I like you."
"W-Why...!?"
"I don't like being pushed around, but I don't mind when someone relies on me."
Saying that, Souta emptied his glass.
Seeing Asugi looking all bashful, he became certain.
— I understand. At the very least, I don't dislike this person. Well, if I had to choose, I'd say she's kind of cute. People who rely on me are cute. Maybe because I'm a teacher, I end up thinking that way. If that's the case, then...
"Can I get another glass? I'm starting to have fun."
"Huh? Sure, you can have as much as you want tonight..."
"Yeah, the night is long, after all."
— The groundwork has been laid, and I've planned out a way to handle it without breaking the mood.
— As long as I can think of a solution calmly, the night is indeed long.
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