Alcohol is the Best Favorability Item (1)
The awkward handshakes wrapped up, leading into introductions.
"You probably know me already, but I'm the hero Siegfried. Just call me Sig for short."
The hero went first.
"I'm Cream, chosen as the saintess despite my shortcomings."
The saintess.
"This old man's Nibel."
The mage.
"I'm Hagen! Mercenary king and Siegfried's swordsmanship master!"
The mercenary.
"Altera. Archer position."
The archer.
Introductions wrapped up in order, and it was my turn.
"I'm..."
I started to say my name, Park Kiyong, but stopped. A Korean name stuck between all these Western ones.
That'd be weird.
So I went with a fake name. Since the protagonist's Siegfried...
"Sigurd. Shorten it to Sig, please."
Hagen came over and slapped my back, chattering away.
"Don't sweat being weak! I'll teach you swordsmanship on the road!"
Unlike his initial wariness, he was all buddy-buddy now. When I gave him a puzzled look, Hagen laughed.
"Hahaha! I'm generous with my comrades! You're one of us now, so I gotta look out for you, right?"
He cleared up my doubts, saying it was just natural for a mercenary leader.
"Ah, thanks..."
"Shall we get moving now?"
I tried to give a polite thanks, but Altera cut me off with a cold voice.
"We're gathered to take down the Demon King. Save the playtime for after."
She glared at me with sharp eyes. She had a point, but...
Damn, wanna smack her one.
I itched to flick her forehead, but I'd lose 100% in a fight, so I swallowed my rage.
"Altera's harsh, but she's right."
While we chatted, Siegfried pointed out people suffering from the Demon King's army elsewhere. Hagen and Cream's faces turned serious.
"No need to get too down, though! We're off to save those folks!"
Siegfried flashed a pure, white-toothed grin. I wondered if he'd smile so innocently after I stole his heroine Cream later.
"Alright! Let's head out!"
With the hero's spirited shout, our Demon King subjugation journey began.
Ah, I wanna go home.
A few days into the trip, and I was already sick of this fantasy world with nothing in it. Spoiled by modern comforts, I couldn't stand even one day without them.
Bathrooms were the worst. There were none. You just did your business in nature and wiped with leaves. I regretted not packing toilet paper, but then again, I hadn't had time.
This Demon King quest wasn't some dopamine rush like in comics or games.
The travel time's way too long.
In reality, the treks dragged on forever. All we'd encountered were wild animals. I was hanging on by ogling Cream's massive tits and Altera's pretty face.
"Halt."
Hagen, leading the way, stopped the party.
"Something passed through here."
He'd spotted a massive footprint. Nibel immediately cast a spell.
"Tracking magic."
A butterfly formed from Nibel's hand lingered over the print for a few seconds, then fluttered ahead. We followed it, and Hagen's face soured as he caught on.
"Damn! This direction... leads to a village!"
"Master!"
Siegfried yelled at the word "village" and vanished in a flash. Hagen nodded, knowing what he'd say.
"Sig, don't worry—just come slowly with Cream!"
"O-okay."
Hagen took off while talking. Nibel was already gone on flight magic, and Altera followed Siegfried without a word.
Jackpot.
Whether folks from another dimension lived or died wasn't my problem. I wasn't a psycho; I just couldn't save them anyway, so no guilt. All I had to do was make the most of being alone with Cream.
Cream walked ahead quietly. I broke the silence.
"Saintess, what do you wanna do after we beat the Demon King?"
"After the subjugation...?"
Her steps slowed at my question.
"If I could... marry Sig... Kyaa—! W-what am I saying?!"
Her cheeks flushed red; she stopped and stomped her feet.
"Sig, please don't tell Sig!"
She pressed a finger to her lips in a shh gesture and winked.
After her slip-up confession, things got closer between me and Cream.
"Saintess..."
"Cream. Call me Cream. Everyone else does—it's weird if only you say Saintess."
We even got to first names and casual talk.
I told her to drop the formalities too, but...
"Haha, I prefer polite speech."
She used casual with Siegfried but insisted on formal with me, stonewalling hard.
Plenty of time left.
We still had a ways to the village, so no rush. With her walls still up, I stuck to small talk—favorite foods, hobbies, interests.
Saintess or not, she's still a country girl at heart.
Shimbu Rumkun's info was bare-bones; I had to dig myself. And yeah, pure country girl: loved sweet desserts, wanted big money, pretty rings and necklaces, romance with her crush. Ultimately, marriage, kids, happy family life.
Crush is Siegfried, obviously.
Seemed deep, but it was just romance talk. Her slip-up made her defenses weak there.
Everything else was ironclad.
I poked at gaps, but she just "Ahaha..." and dodged. So I doubled down on love topics.
"Seriously... Sig's been popular forever..."
Mostly Siegfried brags.
"Sig's always been popular, especially with older sisters calling him cute."
"Sig's a sword genius. Beat Hagen not long after starting lessons."
Sounded like no room to wedge in at first glance, but...
"Even in the capital, girls swarmed him."
Digging deeper, cracks appeared.
Cream's annoyed about his popularity.
Plus Siegfried's oblivious moves she mentioned. Her jealousy plus his denseness—if I played that right, I'd snag her.
Chatting with her, I brainstormed seduction nonstop.
"Ah, Sig, have you seen the princess? She's gorgeous—golden hair shimmering... Everyone says she and Sig make a perfect pair..."
"And Altera too... they seem close..."
Her voice trailed to a mumble, but I heard clear.
Found it.
A faint path to steal the heroine Cream from Siegfried emerged.
Our meaningful chat time ended on arrival at the village.
"Hooray for the hero—!!"
"Hooray for Sig—!!"
The village was in full festival mode—the deed was done.
"As expected of Sig, you handled it great."
Cream beamed like it was her win. We headed to Siegfried, swarmed by villagers. He grinned amid the women, and Cream's face soured.
Good, good. He's tanking his own score.
No help from me—he was perfect at it.
"Ah, Sig! Cream!"
Siegfried spotted us and waved big. Cream's face flipped back to normal instantly.
Scary how women switch like that.
I was reminded of their terrifying side.
"They're throwing a celebration party, so let's rest here tonight!"
I was all for it.
No more camping...
Buggy outdoors sucked. Nibel and Hagen were already settled in approval; elf-hater Altera sulked alone in a corner. Maybe from seeing Siegfried earlier, Cream seemed against staying, vibe-wise.
"Do we have time for festivals? Shouldn't we hurry to the Demon King?"
Valid point, but laced with emotion to my ear.
"Cream, rest is necessary."
"Kuhahaha—!! Have fun, Cream!!"
Nibel preached rest's importance; boozed-up Hagen was hyped. Cream didn't push, heading for Siegfried's side.
"Ah..."
But his spots were taken by sermon listeners—old geezer and bearded dude. Young woman naturally hates that; after our chats, odds of her picking me were 100%.
As expected, Cream sat by me.
"Saintess~? Shall I pour you a drink?"
I teased playfully.
"Sure, one please."
She smirked and handed over her cup.
Plus one point.
Even small scores sway emotions.
Stack 'em up steady.
Festival just starting—plenty of time. With alcohol to build or break bonds, I could rack up points easy.
#Cream
