Chapter 14
Chapter 14
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 14
Chapter Title: Peaceful Daily Life
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I opened the status window while walking down the street.
⚙ AFFINITY STATUS ⚙ Name: Elza Sirian Race: Human Class: Summoner Affinity: 10 (Interest) Mental State: Locked (Affinity 50+) ??? : Locked (Affinity 70+) ???? : Locked (Affinity 100+) 'That makes three now, huh?'
Watching the heroine names register in the system list like entries in a character compendium filled me with a sense of satisfaction.
My body had grown numb to any sense of accomplishment or thrill from all the repeated regressions, but seeing steady progress like this brought back those old sensations.
'Now I've checked all the heroine candidates I can confirm right away.'
There were still a few candidates I had in mind, but unless special conditions were met, even approaching them was difficult.
I wasn’t sure exactly how many heroines appeared in the original game, but having successful routes already underway for three of them was definitely a good sign.
'Maybe I should focus on these three for now?'
People I had at least a passing acquaintance with, already registered in the Affinity System.
If I wanted, I could take these relationships further anytime—straight into lovers' territory.
Just grant their requests, show consistent interest, shower them with gifts, and that'd be enough to raise their affinity.
And finally, to seal the deal: fulfill that one burning wish they've always chased, the desperate longing they could never overcome on their own. Capture their hearts that way, and it's done.
Aren gets her alchemist's forbidden dream: crafting the Elixir.
Grace gets the revenge she long ago gave up on.
Elza breaks free from the shackles of the Night Kingdom and claims her freedom.
Not easy by any means, but far from impossible.
I've succeeded once before, after all.
Now there's just the added task of resolving things while spending time with them.
Slowly, one step at a time.
Beginning with the first trial placed before me, I fastened the very first button of this conquest.
"Why are you so late?"
Aren greeted me when I arrived at the shop.
I waved to her as she pouted.
"Something came up, so I was a bit delayed. Sorry about that."
"I'm not mad or anything, but next time, at least tell me what time you'll be back. It's gotten pretty late."
"I'll keep that in mind."
She was right—the sun had already set.
Shops were closing one by one, and Aren did the same, locking the door as soon as I stepped inside.
"If it's not too rude, mind telling me where you were?"
"Just sniff the smell clinging to me, and you'll figure it out."
"Smell...?"
Aren leaned in close and sniffed.
She soon pinched her nose and recoiled in disgust.
"Ugh, what is that smell?"
"Sewer rot. I was hunting rats down there."
Giant rat monsters that infested stinking places.
Not labyrinth beasts, but their insane breeding rate and habit of attacking people meant regular extermination requests came down from the association.
Novice explorers often hunted them for practice before venturing into the labyrinth.
"Looks like you took an association request for the sewer facilities. Tough job—good work."
'Truth is, killing rats to recover from wounds was the goal.'
Using Berserker's Fury's bonus effect—recovering blood from killing a certain number of foes—I'd just healed the injuries I got in the city at night.
A priest's healing spell would've been more efficient, but that risked the organization piecing together my identity too quickly. So I endured this hassle instead.
Perfect crime pulled off, but now I reeked of decay.
"Anyway, mind if I unpack my stuff and wash up?"
"Oh, uh..."
Aren hesitated, struggling to respond.
Her reaction sparked a guess, so I spoke first.
"If there's no hot water, cold will do."
"Haha... yeah, if you could manage that? Head right from the room—bathroom door's there."
I stepped out as she said.
The right door down the hall opened to a tiled bathroom with a small wooden tub.
'Already filled with water, huh.'
Dipping my toes sent a chill shuddering through me.
But I plunged in anyway, ignoring it.
'Refreshing.'
Even in the modern world, I'd often taken cold showers after workouts.
This was nothing, but I worried about Aren.
She might catch a cold from the chill, but more than that, my guess about her situation nagged at me.
'No spare energy even to heat water.'
Some might say: Can't a mage just use mana to heat it?
Aren was an alchemist.
A buffer specializing in combat support magic.
With her three affinities for fire, water, and wind, heating and cooling water should've been routine.
But her complicated reaction to me mentioning a cold bath told me everything.
'She sold her mana.'
Extracted and sold it at a mana refinery to scrape together cash.
Refined mana fetched top dollar.
Its pure convertibility made it prime material and fuel for countless magic tools, with endless uses.
A genius mage like Aren? Even pricier.
'Wondered how a labyrinth-diving broke girl covered my hospital bills. This explains it.'
It covered my bills and some living and research expenses.
Like blood donation, mana replenished over time—but she'd be hard-pressed to cast proper spells for a while.
A mage who lived for magic, temporarily surrendering that power.
A huge sacrifice on her part.
The best she could do for her benefactor.
'Might not take long to hit affinity 100 after all.'
I'd planned to revive her shop anyway, but now I had extra ways to build favor.
She was in dire straits, no one to lean on.
Desperately needing help—what could I do for her?
That was the key to successfully winning over heroine Aren.
"Oh, done bathing already?"
"Thanks to you. Bathroom was great."
Aren waited outside when I emerged.
Her hunched shoulders and averted eyes screamed guilt.
"Sorry... couldn't even provide a guest with hot bathwater."
"It's fine. Clean water and a comfy room to crash? I'm satisfied."
Maintaining hygiene was the hardest part of labyrinth diving.
Water you could carry was limited.
Most of it saved for drinking.
Long expeditions left you filthy, making you appreciate the little things.
'Yeah, grateful I can wash at all.'
"More importantly, had dinner yet?"
"No, not yet."
"Then let's eat together. Just came back from the market."
I unpacked my bag, pulling out fresh ingredients.
Eggs, meat, fish, veggies—enough for hearty meals for days.
"This... we can really eat it?"
"Bought it to share. You're giving me a free room; gotta return the courtesy."
"R-right."
Aren's eyes locked on the food.
I could hear her gulp.
Staring down at the feast like a starving predator eyeing prey.
'Must've been starving.'
Modern mass farming made cheap, quality meat commonplace—but here, it was a luxury beyond commoners.
No wonder her eyes glazed over after scraping by hungry.
"I'll cook! Right now!"
She rolled up her sleeves, brimming with enthusiasm.
Planning to show off some hidden culinary talent, probably.
"No need. I'll handle cooking."
"Huh? But..."
"I picked these ingredients for specific dishes I had in mind. Trust me?"
"O-okay."
I grabbed her arm, pleading firmly.
She nodded, getting it.
I sighed inwardly in relief at her reluctant agreement.
'Nearly wasted all these ingredients.'
Memories of the bad end route: a month imprisoned, force-fed her "cooking."
-Here, say ahh. I put my heart into making this.-
Indescribably horrific taste.
Like swallowing vomit—a nauseating poison.
No idea if her sane self could cook, but no need to risk it.
"Got an alcohol lamp?"
"Yeah, here."
She fetched a tool from potion-making.
I set up a tripod, laid on the hot plate, lit it with a match.
Infused mana to control the flame, sparking it to life like stoking a wood fire.
After that, it was quick.
Grilled meat and fish, plated with veggies.
Scrambled eggs into fluffy omelets, fresh salad on the side.
Sequenced the buys: sear, cook, plate.
Eggs cracked, whisked, poured.
"Dig in."
Her eyes widened at the finished spread.
Steak centerpiece, omelet, salad, grilled fish—a bountiful feast.
"Leon, you cook too?"
"Practice makes perfect for anyone."
After all these regressions, this was basic.
Once dove in hard to recreate hometown dishes.
Nothing fancy today, really.
Just controlled the heat for proper doneness, plated sequentially.
"Delicious! Best food I've ever had!"
Slicing into the meat, her face lit up like an angel ascending to heaven on first bite.
Well-grilled meat hit like a full dish on its own.
"Aren't you eating, Leon?"
"Watching you eat fills me up."
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ Aren is impressed by your sincerity. Affinity increases by 2. Like a parent watching a good eater? Couldn't hold back a smile.
Figured I'd just watch her affinity climb.
Poke.
"Hm?"
Her fork tip was suddenly at my mouth.
A chunk of meat shoved in, melting like cotton candy on my tongue.
"Doesn't feel right eating alone. Come on, join me. Plenty left."
Same setup as the bad end.
A woman interested in me feeding me.
But back then, past-loop Aren saw me as a test subject.
Now? She treated me like a person.
Her benefactor she wanted to care for—the feeling came through pure.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ Your good deed will surely be repaid. So promise me: in this endless loop, never change that heart. A warmth I hadn't felt in ages.
"Got it. Let's do that."
We enjoyed dinner together.
Celebrating our survival from the labyrinth, delighting in this fateful meeting.
And so, another day faded into night.