As a Reward for Saving the World, I Was Reincarnated Into a World Where Girls Are Super Aggressive and Chastity Roles Are Reversed!! …Or So I Thought, Until It Turned Out to Be an Overbearing Yandere Harem of My Former Companions Who Loved Me Too Much - 38

Chapter 38: Silvia’s Confession

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“I-It’s nothing, really! I should be the one thanking her!”

Her polite greeting left me a little disarmed. But then, Lishia-san looked straight into my eyes and gave me a faint, meaningful smile.

“Silvia has told me so much about you. That you’re ‘thickheaded, insensitive, always reckless, but really kinder than anyone, and when it counts, you’ll always protect her, the coolest man in the world.’”

“Wh-what…! M-Mama! Why would you say that! I never…!”

“Oh my, but that’s exactly what you wrote in your letter, isn’t it?”

“Aaaaahhh! This is the worst!”

At her mother’s sudden revelation, Silvia turned scarlet and let out a scream. The heartwarming sight made me burst out laughing despite myself. It seemed this date in the Elf village was going to be chaotic, but still fun. I gently patted the head of my flustered tsundere  (fake) fiancée beside me.

“Haha, don’t be shy, Silvia. I’m happy. Thank you.”

“Wha…! D-Don’t pat me, idiot! And what do you mean, happy!? Don’t take any of it seriously—it was all Mama’s lies!”

Her face was red as she tried to push my hand away, but her strength was so weak it looked more like playful resistance. Watching the scene, Arcous-san gave a sour grimace but then sighed as if resigning himself.

“…Well, standing around here won’t do. Come in. Lunch is ready.”

We were shown to a spacious dining hall, filled with the warmth of wood. The table was lined with dishes that looked as beautiful as they were colorful—shining vegetables and a variety of forest nuts.

“Please, Kazuki-san, eat as much as you like. Silvia heard you enjoy meat dishes, so she went hunting with great enthusiasm. This ‘Herb-Roasted Forest Boar’—she did the seasoning herself.”

“Mama! I told you that was supposed to be a secret!”

She must have been preparing all this while I was out on my date with Shinon. One after another, her earnest little actions were revealed, and I couldn’t help but feel touched. Meanwhile, Silvia’s eyes were brimming with tears of embarrassment.

I looked down at the meat dish before me. Sure enough, the herbs were the very ones I had once praised as delicious, used here in perfect balance. She really worked hard for me…

Following Celestia and Shinon, now even Silvia was showing how deeply she cared about me—far more than I had ever imagined.

Could it be… Silvia really does like me too? No. I can’t let myself get carried away. This is just part of the ‘fiancée act.’ She’s being thorough in making her family believe our relationship is real. That has to be it.

“…Delicious! This is really good, Silvia. Your cooking is every bit as amazing as Shinon’s.”

Even as I tried to convince myself, my honest reaction slipped out, and Silvia glared at me with sharp, accusing eyes.

“Bringing up another girl’s name here is bad manners, you know.”

“Ah—uh, I mean, it’s incredibly good! Having such a great cook as my fiancée makes me the happiest man alive!”

“Hmph, as long as you understand.”

Though she turned her face away, her lips were curved in a smile. In contrast, Arcous-san’s glare toward me only grew sharper, which was terrifying. After lunch, Silvia led me on a walk through Alfheim village.

“Impressive, isn’t it? Every building here is made from the living branches of the World Tree. That’s why their shapes shift little by little with each season.”

Speaking proudly, Silvia wrapped her arm around mine again. The Elves we passed all smiled warmly, bowing or waving at us. As we strolled through a square overflowing with flowers, a group of Elf children playing in the shade ran toward us. Their pointed ears and curious eyes reminded me of a younger Silvia.

“Ah! It’s Silvia-oneechan!”

“Who’s that human guy with you? Is he your boyfriend?”

“Wow, really! They’re holding hands! A couple!”

Their innocent, straightforward remarks left me with nothing but an awkward laugh. 

“Hahaha…” 

How was I supposed to respond? Even if it was just an act, denying it too strongly might upset Silvia.

“H-hey! You kids, that’s rude!”

Silvia blushed furiously as she scolded them. Normally she would have shouted, “H-he’s not my boyfriend or anything!” But today was different. After sneaking a glance at me, she puffed out her chest proudly and declared to the children:

“That’s right! He’s my fiancé, someone very important to me. You kids are too young to understand, but we’re in love!”

With that, she hugged my arm tighter than ever before. The contrast between her bold words and her beet-red face was unbearably cute.

“Kyaaa! They’re in love!”

“Congratulations, Silvia-oneechan!”

The children cheered and danced around us, showering us in what felt like a storm of blessings, leaving us no choice but to leave the square. I was honestly happy, but at this point, it was getting harder and harder to say it was all just an act.

“…You sure about saying that?”

“W-what!? We agreed to pretend to be engaged, didn’t we!? Acting half-heartedly would only make them suspicious! Ugh… Why can’t I just be honest, even now…”

Her face was still tinged with pink as she rushed her words, trailing off into mutters too soft for me to catch. Somehow, that only made her seem all the more endearing to me.

“This way.”

As I was thinking that, Silvia tugged on my hand , leading me away from the village center to a quiet spot. It was a garden at the base of a massive tree, blooming with a riot of colorful flowers. In the middle was a spring of crystal-clear water. The sight was fantastical, breathtakingly beautiful.

“This place is…?”

“The ‘Moonlight Spring.’ It’s the place in the village where magic is strongest. And… It’s also my favorite place.”

Looking slightly embarrassed, Silvia sat down gently by the spring and patted the spot beside her. I followed her lead. Sunlight filtering through the leaves sparkled on the water’s surface, creating a dreamlike scene. The world seemed to shrink until only the two of us remained. My heartbeat quickened.

“When I was a child, I often came here alone. When my magic practice didn’t go well and I was frustrated, or when Papa scolded me and I was upset… Watching the spring here always calmed me down.”

She spoke quietly, piece by piece, sharing her memories. A vulnerable side of her, so different from her usual self.

“Other than Papa and Mama, you’re the first person I’ve ever brought here.”

“…Really?”

“Yes. That’s why…”

Silvia cut herself off, then looked straight up into my face with determined eyes, shining like emeralds and glistening with tears. Bathed in the setting sun, her profile was breathtaking.

“This place is my most precious spot. And I always thought… When I finally found someone I truly love, I’d want to share this view with them.”

Her words were far too earnest, far too sweet to be mere acting. The wall I had forced up inside myself—“It’s just an act”—began to crumble. This atmosphere, this situation, these lines… No matter how I looked at it, this was…

“Silvia… Does that mean…?”

Just as I started to speak, feeling myself drawn into her teary eyes, she rested her head gently on my shoulder.

“…That’s why I’m so happy to be here with you today. …Thank you, Kazuki. I love you. Please, be my real fiancé.”

Whispered by my ear, her voice was soft but burning with passion. The scent of flowers and her warmth melted my reason.

Ahh… Whatever happens, happens.

All I could do was pull her slender shoulders closer. On the water’s surface, bathed in the setting sun, the spring glowed a deep, endless red.

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