Sheera's Realization
Sheera Acacia, now fully self-aware, ate the ice cream Ian had bought with a radiant smile.
"Mmm—delicious."
She grinned from ear to ear, swinging her legs back and forth under the round table. Her legs, swishing beneath it, bumped into Ian's, who sat across from her. If it had just been casual bumps, Ian might have gotten annoyed, but the cunning Sheera made sure that every time her foot grazed his leg, her toes trailed down it like she was stroking him. Ian frowned, feeling her toes playfully toying with his foot.
"……What are you doing?"
"Huh? What do you mean?"
Ian stared intently at Sheera, who was feigning innocence. She's probably just messing with me to see my reaction, he thought, deciding to ignore her. Unhappy with that, she shoved the rest of her ice cream into her mouth in one go, then abruptly stood up and pointed at another dessert.
"I wanna try that one now."
"Buy it yourself."
"You're gonna be stingy like that as a guy?"
"……This is the last time."
Sure enough, Ian got up without complaint and headed to the counter. It was hard to believe this was the same Ian who wore nothing but his uniform because he "had no money for clothes" and ate only school lunches because he "had no money for meals."
Ever since he visited the Iritz Duchy.
His spending habits had improved dramatically. What had happened? Betrayal of humanity? Sheera didn't think so. Her family seemed to suspect as much……but couldn't they just send a messenger to the Iritz estate and confirm the duke was fine to clear that up?
The real question was why and how his spending had suddenly become so lavish.
Did they maybe get engaged or something?
That was the most likely scenario. Duke Hypnos Iritz valued ability above all else. If Ian had used some method to defeat the demons invading the duchy and the duke had verified it? Given the duke's greed for talent, he'd probably want to keep Ian under his wing.
How to seduce a 3-star summoner strong enough to take down high-level demons? The easiest way was a honey trap. The duke just happened to have his famously beautiful daughter Stella, who already had a favorable view of Ian. If she was willing, making him a son-in-law wouldn't be hard at all.
Just speculation, though……
Sheera gazed at Ian, hoping it wasn't true. He walked back from afar with a blank expression, carrying the dessert. He looked so simple and dumb like that, yet he often surpassed her wildest imaginations. That gap, that difference—it was irresistibly attractive, making her feel like she might fall for him completely.
What's up with this girl?
Irritation bubbled up as he watched Sheera cling to him relentlessly.
Why was she being so clingy? The old Sheera had shown interest in him, sure, but it wasn't affection—just the gaze you'd give a particularly unique kid. Now? She scanned his body like she was determined to uncover every secret, prodding at his psychological locks to pry them open.
Why the sudden change?
Anyone else might think she'd fallen for him. He had the looks, the skills—what wasn't to like? But Ian didn't trust her. Couldn't. She was the type who could play with him anytime and call it a joke.
"Hey, Ian. Wanna try that one next?"
"……Nah, I wanna head back now."
"Why so soon?"
"I never really liked wandering around outside much to begin with."
Was it his originally frail body, or just being with hyperactive young Sheera? Either way, he felt his energy being drained away.
She couldn't be more than ten years younger than him, tops. Did kids her age always have this much boundless energy?
This is mentally exhausting……
His body—brimming with stamina and chiseled abs—shouldn't tire from this level of activity, so the issue was purely mental. It was like being drained by some energy-sucking martial arts technique; he had no chance to resist as his vitality got sucked dry.
"Then let's stay till night!"
"……Why?"
"They said there's fireworks at night."
"Fireworks, huh……."
He was curious what kind of magic they'd use this time. In an isekai world, fireworks would probably rely on magic and summons instead of gunpowder—wonder how spectacular they'd be.
"So, we watch that and go?"
"Yeah!"
Sheera beamed at his words and dragged him to the next attraction. When he looked at her with a weary expression, she tilted her head back at him like what's wrong?
"Why the face? We agreed till night."
"Yeah, but……."
"You planning to just zone out till then?"
"Save me."
In the end, he couldn't rest until they'd ridden every attraction in the water park.
Evening time. The sun had set, darkness blanketed the city, and magical lights illuminated the streets. Somehow, Sheera had snagged a terrace seat at a famous restaurant.
Sitting by the window, she ordered a course meal, propped her chin on her hand, and gazed outside with eyes full of anticipation for the fireworks. But it was still too early, so her short attention span kicked in. She summoned her summon, placed it on her palm, and started cooing over it.
"Ian! Look! Bluebird's wings got thicker."
"……Did they?"
"They did! Check this out."
She leaned forward, extending her hand with Bluebird on it. Naturally, her cleavage came into view, drawing his eyes right to it. The devious part? Bluebird was positioned in a straight line with her chest, making it impossible to look away without effort.
Avoid it, and she'd tease him for dodging. Stare, and she'd call him out for ogling. Flustered, he stared blankly into space—only for a flood of skin to fill his vision. Snapping to, he looked up to find Sheera grinning mischievously at him.
She smirked.
"Whatcha thinking about?"
"……Nothing."
"Liar. Maybe this—?"
She tugged at her bikini strap, snapping it ping-ping. The taut strap's twanging rhythm filled the restaurant. Good thing no one was watching; it was provocative enough that he'd have stopped her immediately.
He sighed heavily and looked past the terrace like she had earlier. Lights twinkled on the ground and in the sky. A dazzling sight.
Some Earth scientist had once said stars weren't visible because of ground lights. Now he saw that was bullshit. Stars shone regardless. Racing millions of light-years to Earth, proclaiming their existence. Stories of sailing the sea of stars were eternally romantic.
"Ian."
Sheera's tone shifted. Sensing the sudden seriousness, he straightened up and met her gaze. Her cold amethyst eyes pierced him.
"If humanity's in danger, what would you do?"
"Outta nowhere?"
But her actual question deflated him instantly. Was that worth getting serious over? Humanity—what a ridiculously dumb question. The answer was obvious.
"Why would I worry about that?"
"……Huh?"
"If a guy like me could fix it by worrying, it wouldn't be in danger to begin with."
One superhuman, one übermensch stepping up to save humanity? Fairy tale or philosophy book stuff. Reality wasn't that easy.
"—Ah, got it. Bad question. Okay, say humanity's in crisis, and you're the only one who can save it. What then?"
"Some personality test? Like those trending with kids?"
"You're a kid too, right?"
"……Fair."
He pretended to ponder, humming thoughtfully. She had some motive for asking—what should he say? The answer came quickly. The premise mirrored his situation perfectly.
"Prevent the crisis from happening in the first place."
"Oh?"
"So, what is this? Personality test?"
"Kinda. Answers like that mean how you'd handle getting caught cheating. Lucky you—you're not the cheating type."
Or maybe you just wouldn't get caught, she added with a chuckle to herself.
And then—
Hoot—.
With an owl's cry, a bird swooped down from the sky. Sheera casually raised her arm, letting it land. She untied the note from its ankle and read it with a serious expression.
"What's it say?"
"Hmm……a girl's secret letter. Wanna see?"
"Nah, I'm good."
A girl's secret letter? Was she swapping notes with other girls? Then that bird was a messenger.
Magic makes it so fantasy-like.
As he waited for her to finish, she folded the note small, fed it to the owl, and it flew off. Her slightly downcast expression after reading brightened up. What the hell was in it? No clue.
Giggling, she clasped her hands behind her back and approached.
"Ian."
Whoosh—.
Boom!
Fireworks launched from afar, painting the sky. Backlit by the bursts, Sheera's face bloomed with a beautiful smile.
"Today was fun."
"……Yeah."
Her demeanor—like someone on death's door—made him uneasy. She had a high chance of actually being terminally ill or something. Fortunately, she just quietly watched the show.
After it ended, she waved goodbye and headed to the dorms. He followed suit, belatedly.
Sheera giggled to herself, recalling the messenger from her family.
[Confirmed survival of the Iritz family head]
[Cleared suspicions on Stella Iritz and 3 others based on investigation]
[Make contact with Ian Clark and uncover his secrets]
[All for the sake of humanity]
"For Humanity." Everything for the sake of humanity. The Acacia Marquis family's motto, brimming with pride in supporting humanity from the shadows.
But right now, Sheera was happier that she didn't have to kill Ian than about humanity's safety.
Ah, I get it now.
I like Ian.
Having realized that, Sheera turned and gazed longingly at where he'd been. He was long gone.