Chapter 109
Chapter 109
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 109
Chapter Title: Sorting Out Her Feelings
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Thankfully, I was able to reunite with Diena right away.
Unlike the time when Emily had run away upon seeing me transformed by Calorie Burn.
That's because we had Rapne, the expert tracker, on our side now.
Rapne chased down the sobbing, fleeing Diena in an instant and dragged her back to me by the scruff of her neck.
Her sparkling eyes begging for praise as she hauled her in made her look just like a hunting dog.
"Ugh, sniff, waaah...."
"W-What the hell did I even do wrong?"
"Just drop it. Don't ask anything...."
After that, we arrived at the village Adrian had designated in advance.
He'd said it was quite a distance from the prison and that his influence would give us more freedom from pursuers there.
We booked rooms at the inn and headed down to the tavern on the first floor.
As we savored the long-missed outside food, Diena kept knocking back drinks until her face was bright red.
'What the hell did I even do?'
I was sure I hadn't done anything.
That's why I felt so wronged.
If I'd actually done something to hurt her, I could've just dropped to my knees and apologized properly.
"So that's how it was, huh."
"You noticed too, Mary?"
"Well, fiancées get sensitive around foxes lurking near their man."
"I knew right away in the showers."
"Hehe, great minds think alike."
For some reason, everyone except me seemed to know something I didn't.
But when I asked, they wouldn't tell me.
"You want us to explain it? Ken, seriously...."
"No, I really have no idea...."
"You don't need to know. Just let it slide."
Emily's firm words were met with nods from Mary and Rapne, and Diena ordered another round.
It looked like figuring out why she was acting this way would take a while.
I'd wheedle it out of Rapne later somehow.
'Anyway, more important things first.'
I set aside my pointless curiosity and focused on the main issue.
The method to craft the demon sword that could slay the former Demon King.
"Diena, sorry to bring this up when you're clearly not in the best mood."
"Sniff... what is it?"
"Truth is, there was a reason I busted out of prison with you."
I explained the whole demon sword thing to Diena, who was glaring at me with teary eyes.
Her expression as she listened was a strange mix of irritation and affection—complicated, to say the least.
"So... you're curious about the demon sword recipe passed down in my family since our great-grandfather's time?"
"Yes. I absolutely need it."
That's why I'd transformed into a woman and infiltrated that prison to break her out.
...My original plan was to ask her about it once she was riding high on the joy of escape.
But contrary to my expectations, she was still in a foul mood even after breaking out.
And maybe that's why.
"Hmph. No way."
Diena turned her head sharply and tipped back her glass.
"P-Please, somehow just...! Or at least tell me what I did wrong! I'll apologize as much as it takes!"
Truth be told, that was part of why I was so curious about her anger.
I was the one begging her for a favor here.
The plan was for us—comrades who'd joined forces to escape—to share some odd camaraderie and for her to hand over the recipe willingly.
But things had gone off the rails for some inexplicable reason.
Aware or not, my three fiancées were chatting amiably and enjoying the food and drinks.
While I was the only one bowing my head, desperately pleading with a sulking Diena.
"Please, somehow...!"
"......"
"I'm begging you!"
A sidelong glance.
Diena peeked at me from the corner of her eye while facing away.
She'd started off flatly refusing, but maybe seeing me plead so pitifully shook her resolve.
"...Haa."
She let out a resigned sigh, finally turning her body toward me to meet my gaze.
"...Fine. But on one condition."
Her drunken face twisted into a glare.
...Condition?
"Go on a date with me."
"...Huh?"
"Pfft—!?"
The three who'd been chatting peacefully all spat out their drinks at once.
I stared blankly at Diena, ears ringing from the absurd condition.
And Diena just glared back silently, as if to confirm I hadn't misheard.
...A date?
"D-D-D-Date?!"
"Wh-What are you even saying...? Diena, you liked women...!"
"Are you joking?! With us staring daggers right here, you think we'd allow it?!"
"Eeei!! You wouldn't get it! The shock of finding out the gender of the person you fell for was the opposite!!"
Bam—!!
The three protested loudly at the sudden date proposal.
Diena slammed her glass on the table in annoyance and shot back.
They all went quiet as if they'd eaten honey.
Feelings? ...Gender?
It felt like I half-grasped it but not quite....
No, more importantly, that wasn't the issue right now.
A date...?
'Could Diena have feelings for me...?'
It felt like a puzzle piece clicking into place.
Honestly, even I thought my looks were incredible.
And I'd turned out to be a man, when she'd thought I was a woman.
Maybe Diena fell for me at first sight...?
But then she found out I had three fiancées...?
Is that why she'd run off crying earlier?
No, something felt slightly off about that....
"A-Anyway, you'll tell me if we go on a date?"
"...Yes."
"K-Ken?!"
"A date?! With us—Mary and Emily—right here?!"
"...Ken really is a playboy."
"I-It can't be helped! You all know how important this is!"
Diena's bombshell had our table full of people grumpily nursing their drinks.
It couldn't be helped.
I wasn't doing this because I wanted to date her—it was all for my fiancées.
If we didn't get the demon sword, we couldn't kill the former Demon King.
And that could spark a war.
Having decided to marry these three, it was my responsibility to protect their happy future.
So this was unavoidable.
I sighed and grimly sipped my drink like the others.
Then the bomb-dropper herself, Diena, started crying again over her glass.
"Sniff, waa, I don't wanna go on a date with a guy either."
Then why'd you ask?
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ The next day arrived.
Vrrr—.
The group woke up and gathered again at the table from last night on the first floor, receiving recovery magic from Emily.
"Ugh, E-Emily.... M-My head hurts so much...."
"That's what you get for not knowing your limit."
"Sniff, but Ken with that vixen...."
Rapne was currently getting the recovery magic.
We'd all gotten hammered from the shock yesterday and were suffering hangovers now.
For the record, Diena and I had gotten ours earlier than Rapne.
The reason was obvious.
"...All set?"
"Y-Yeah."
Because of the date Diena had demanded in exchange for sharing the demon sword recipe last night.
She stood before me, neatly dressed in one of the outfits she'd bought at the village shop yesterday upon arrival.
'Up close like this, she's just a pretty girl.'
In her prison garb, Diena had this bold, roguish vibe.
But in a light blue dress and sandals, she could've passed for any academy girl.
The sudden gap made my heart race a bit.
'Snap out of it. I already have three fiancées.'
Such flutters were poison to a soon-to-be married man like me. Don't get ahead of yourself, heart.
"Sh-Shall we go? Let's see where to...."
"Lunch first. It's early, but still lunchtime."
"Y-Yeah...."
Diena led me along like a boyfriend guiding his girlfriend.
"Ever been to this village before?"
"Before I got locked up, I traveled the whole kingdom with my comrades. Third time here."
"Ah, that explains why you navigated so well yesterday. Haha."
"......"
But for some reason, her attitude was a bit cold.
She walked beside me, tugging my sleeve to avoid passing pedestrians while snorting in clear displeasure.
'Feels like a post-fight makeup date.'
And weirdly, like I was the woman.
Why was she being so... manly?
It felt odd, like she'd stolen my role.
We had a pretty tasty meal at a decent restaurant, then checked out the village's unique shops and sights, spending a not-bad time together.
Diena, who'd started off frosty, gradually smiled more as time passed.
"Thanks to you, I had a great time today."
"...R-Really?"
She even seemed genuinely pleased by my praise now.
And it wasn't empty flattery—it was sincere.
Having been here before, she'd guided me to all the fun spots, letting me truly enjoy myself.
'Maybe take everyone tomorrow.'
Dating my three sulking fiancées back at the inn didn't sound bad.
"...Haa."
But then Diena, who'd been smiling happily, suddenly sighed.
We were wrapping up the date at the village square fountain, sitting on a bench and listening to a bard's song.
As we sat side by side enjoying it, she sighed.
"...Something bothering you again?"
Now that I was used to it, I asked carefully.
"......"
She shot me a look like 'You're one to ask,' then turned back to the bard by the fountain and spoke softly.
"...Truth is, it was love at first sight."
"......"
So it was that after all.
She'd fallen for me after I turned into a man.
"The moment I first saw you in the prison. I thought you were the most beautiful woman in the world."
No.
"Wh-What...? In the prison?"
I panicked at the unexpected story, but she ignored me, staring straight ahead and continuing sadly.
"That frail figure trembling before all those inmates. Clear eyes, huge breasts—everything made my heart pound."
The huge breasts part felt blunt, not exactly romantic.
But she seemed dead serious.
"S-So... you mean...?"
"Yeah. I fell for you as a woman."
She nodded firmly at my question.
"Haaa...."
Then buried her face in her hands and sighed deeply.
"You get it?! I got rejected before I even made a move! For the ridiculous reason that your gender was the opposite!!"
She whipped her head around, glaring at me with teary, whimpering eyes.
No, it's not like I chose my gender.
"Um, ...s-sorry."
But seeing how hurt she was, I averted my eyes and apologized cautiously.
'Must've been a shock.'
I'd probably feel the same.
Like when I first possessed Ken.
The moment I met Rapne, my favorite character.
'Turns out Rapne's a dude~.'
If there was some bullshit dev twist like that, I'd be cursing the heavens.
"Ugh, sob, that's so mean.... Why'd you have to be a guy?"
"Sorry for being born male...."
"Sniff, waa...."
Passing onlookers' stares stung, but oh well.
No one could fix the heart of a girl rejected for an absurd reason by her love-at-first-sight crush.
For now, all I could do was help her sort out her feelings as she wanted.
"Got any little sisters?"
"You're insane? Even if I did, I wouldn't tell you."
"Haaa...."
Thus ended the awkward date proposal with an unexpected confession.
'At least that's a relief....'
Unlike Diena, who kept sighing gloomily, I was secretly relieved.
Honestly, during the date, I'd thought she was pretty great.
If she'd liked men and clung to me crying, my heart might've wavered a little.
Of course, with three fiancées, I'd have refused.
Anyway.
It was a relief she liked women.