Poor Guy

I'm on my way from the mansion's grounds to Isolet's house.

"Hoo..."

Thanks to that, my mind was already quite unsettled, but what just happened has made it even more chaotic.

"........."

Lulu and Irina, who have been sticking close to my side and furtively watching my mood since earlier, seem to have picked up on it to some extent.

"Um, Frey..."

After I'd been staring out the window for a good while, Irina cautiously spoke up from her spot by the window.

"A-are you okay? You're okay, right?"

"...Yeah, don't worry about it."

"Hmm..."

Though I'd answered, my response must not have been convincing, as Irina kept wearing a dark expression and pondered for a moment.

She then suddenly thrust her head toward me.

"W-wanna pet me?"

Her dog ears, still perked up and twitching, caught my eye, and I couldn't help but smile.

"P-pet... petting is my job, though..."

But Lulu, who'd been fidgeting anxiously beside me, squeezed her eyes shut and shouted, plunging us into brief silence.

"Ah... right. Yeah, that's it. This is 'pet' stuff, huh."

Irina nodded as if she'd just realized something.

"Eek?"

Suddenly, she grabbed my hand and pulled it toward herself.

Squish.

"P-pet me... Frey."

A moment later, accompanied by that soft squishy sensation, Irina blushed and spoke in a shy voice.

"Animals have their ways, but humans have ours."

With that, she quietly began guiding my hand while still holding it.

"Transformation magic... you... dog..."

"I-if you don't like it, forget it!"

But she abruptly let go, her face beet red, and stuck her head out the window.

Why's she acting like that all of a sudden? Oh, and Lulu was about to say something...?

"M-master."

As I was thinking that, Lulu, who'd been peeking at me, poked my side and asked carefully.

"Th-that Rosewin girl... what are you gonna do with her?"

"Hm?"

"You told her to bring flowers if she wants to talk again..."

Hearing that, I frowned slightly and replied.

"There's no way Rosewin has any of my flowers. If she did, there'd be no reason for me to keep searching for her... Anyway, you can assume she won't come looking for me."

"Ah..."

"Why do you ask?"

Lulu hurriedly averted her gaze.

"P-pets naturally wary of strangers... it's obvious..."

"...Pfft."

She was so cute that I quietly stroked her head before sinking into thought.

From now on, I have to push her away completely.

Until the final battle ends, I'll treat Rosewin coldly. The rumor that I like her is already widespread, so making it clear our relationship has changed will keep her off the Demon King's radar.

Even if she sends letters or gifts, I'll return them all. She'll become a close aide to the fake hero party in her second year and get watched by the Demon King, so I have to be thorough.

"...!?"

I thought I'd misheard at first, but the voice echoed in my head again. Looks like Irina is using telepathy magic.

Man, she's something else.

How does she cast top-tier magic so casually? And she hasn't even fully recovered her mana circuits yet. Is that girl really human?

Huh?

I'd been idly staring at Irina when she sent back a pouty telepathic reply. Did my thoughts leak out?

"Huh?"

Hearing that, I smirked inwardly and replied.

Nothing for you to worry about, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠so drop it. I'm a person too, you know.

Yeah. All I need is you anyway.

"Hiiik!"

Her voice sounded oddly uneasy, so I teased her with a sly grin via telepathy. Irina, who'd been gazing out the window, let out a shriek.

"Annoying... It's obviously a joke, but my heart's the only one racing..."

What I need right now isn't the ally system—it's you.

I teased her once more slyly, and she clutched her chest before slumping against the window.

"Hm."

After glancing at her for a moment, I pulled up the system window in front of me and pondered.

There might be some exaggeration, but it's no joke.

Over ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠the past few days, tinkering with the affinity system revealed a few facts. The list shows people I could potentially end up with. And to complete or even start a route, I have to like them too—romantically, of course.

"Hm..."

That's why so many sub-heroine routes shifted to 'halted.' I have no romantic interest in them now.

Hm, things could change with the right trigger, like with Lulu. But some probably won't budge easily.

- Ding!

I blankly stared at the window when a cheerful chime rang out, making me scowl deeply.

"This is driving me nuts..."

Not the time to be thinking about Rosewin. I've got countermeasures for her all planned out. My most urgent issue right now is 'Isolet.' Her affinity hadn't budged for days, but it just ticked up another percent. What if it hits 100% the moment I see her? That'd be a huge problem. All my efforts to keep her from worrying would be wasted.

Does her progressing route mean I harbor feelings for her? I don't feel that way—it's just curiosity, nothing more.

- Beep! Beep beep!

As I closed the window with a strange look and leaned back, a signal chimed from somewhere.

"Serena?"

I rummaged in my pocket and pulled out the communication crystal orb. It was from Serena. What's she calling for all of a sudden?

"What's up?"

Daytime Serena was someone I had to deceive, so I asked coldly. A voice thick with excitement poured from the orb.

"What?"

Hearing that, I instantly knew what had happened. Daytime Serena must have bugged Rosewin with some listening device.

"Hey..."

"........."

Daytime Serena, mumbling excitedly, was so adorable that I covered my mouth and listened for a while.

"Pfft."

I couldn't hold back and burst out laughing at Miho's quiet remark.

"Puhuhu..."

"........."

Between the now-icy glares from Irina and Lulu, I stifled laughter for a while as I listened to Serena's silly antics.

"...Don't get the wrong idea."

Feeling a pang of regret, I whispered coldly.

"I didn't do it because I like you."

Serena's nonstop chatter cut off.

"It was just an excuse to shake off one annoying girl. I have zero interest in some lovey-dovey life with you."

Acting the opposite of my true feelings, I continued.

"Just do your mission right. Mess up even a little, and no date for you."

I kept my tone icy as I tried to end the connection, but...

A pathetic groan came through, so I paused just before cutting off.

"........."

Even as Miho questioned her, she kept mumbling pitifully.

She stopped sniffling and forced a bright tone.

After mumbling to herself for a while, she ended the connection.

"...Gulp."

My fiancée is so cute it's driving me insane. Was she always this adorable?

"We're almost at the destination~!"

Basking in the pleasant afterglow with my heart fluttering for the first time in ages, the coachman announced our arrival.

"Hm."

Once I get off here, I'll see my sister Aria and Isolet soon. I hope Aria's doing well. Is she eating properly? How should I handle Isolet? I need to drop that affinity somehow—any ideas?

"Let's go."

As I prepared to disembark, I murmured softly when the slowing carriage came to a stop.

"I'll need your help after all."

.........

Meanwhile, at that moment.

"What...?"

"Well, Frey is coming, they say?"

Isolet, lying in bed, wore a dazed expression at the unbelievable news.

"Why would that guy...?"

"I don't know either. Just got the message."

"Er, um..."

After spacing out briefly, Isolet murmured as she dragged her weary body upright.

"...Then I must prepare."

"Eh, ehh?"

"There's things to confirm... Can't meet him like this."

"The doctor said you can't move for a week..."

"Enough. Go prepare to greet him."

"Y-yes, sir!"

As the servant hurried out, Isolet sighed and headed for the door, only to pause.

"...Hm."

She peered at the paper in her hand.

Isolet stared at the appointment letter from the Church of the Sun God for a long time.

"...Poor guy."

With that, she set the paper on the desk and stepped out.

"Always getting hated."

By now, the sun hung high in the midday sky.