Drifted Into a Reversed World ~ The One Method for Me, a Japanese Guy, to Survive in a World Where Men and Fertility Are Scarce ~ - 25

Chapter 25: A Budding Feeling

ーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーー

Under a starry sky so full of stars it made one sigh, and in air so clear it was unthinkable in his old world, they huddled around a single bonfire and shared the same meal. Sota felt deeply how luxurious and extraordinary this moment was as he brought the vegetable soup to his mouth with a wooden ladle. The seasoning consisted only of a bit of salt, but that coarse flavor was perfect. The scent of the bonfire and the dignified chill of the night air served as excellent accents as well. Since Sota’s hobby had originally been solo camping, he had absolutely no complaints.

“Is it to your liking…?”

“Yes, it’s very delicious.”

“I see. I’m glad then… Ah, you have a smudge on your mouth… Here, look up.”

“Mm.”

To Sota’s left was Firis, who had been devotedly looking after him for some time. Despite having exerted herself with the strength of a raging lion during the day while still recovering from illness, she had already shown a level of recovery that made her former malaise seem like nothing.

After taking a brief break and some supplies following the battle, her complexion had returned to normal. It seemed the women of this world were built to be exceptionally sturdy. He was surprised to hear that even a common cold would be completely cured after just three or four hours of sleep.

Ever since she woke up, Firis had been stuck to Sota like glue. She apparently had a complete gap in her memory starting from just before the sneak attack she took during the battle with Ronia; when Sota explained the sequence of events to her, Firis bowed her head to him with staggering intensity. 

As a knight—no, as a woman—she had sworn to protect Sota, yet she had failed to do so. For a Kingdom Knight like Firis, this was a source of life-long shame, and she was even willing to atone with her death. However, Sota wouldn’t accept such nonsense, declaring that “it’s all even since you protected me from the goblins this time,” finally bringing Firis’s profuse apologies to a temporary end.

But once the profuse apology phase ended, the overprotective phase began. She fussed over Sota’s every need as if she were his lover—or rather, his mother—and hovered incessantly around him. She asked if he needed errands run at every opportunity and brought him various things he hadn’t even asked for.

(Well, I suppose it’s better than her being negative…)

However, as soon as Firis’s turn ended, Elraine entered the profuse apology phase.

“Sota-sama… I am truly, truly sorry for the trouble I caused you this time…”

Firis was to his left. That meant Elraine was to his right. Flowers in both hands. Moreover, since both were Western-style knights so beautiful they were inconceivable in his former world, even Sota didn’t feel too bad about it. However, seeing Elraine so dejected that he suspected a literal rain cloud was forming over her head, he realized this was no time to soak in such a flighty mood. Faced with Elraine’s apology as her head began to droop lower and lower toward the ground, Sota hurriedly tried to smooth things over.

“E-Elraine-san, please look up! I didn’t do that just to be thanked like this.”

“I know that! But, nevertheless… it is a fact that I placed the person of a man, a Child of God, in danger, and that cannot be undone…!”

“Wait, Elraine-san!”

As she spoke, Elraine pressed her forehead against the ground. Her gratitude was genuine. Harder than iron and deeper than the sea. As if a devout believer had accidentally trampled upon a divine idol, a blazing sense of guilt continued to sear Elraine. Even with her forehead pressed to the earth, she truly believed she was still holding her head too high.

“Stop it, Elraine.”

However, the one who spoke was Firis. She grabbed Elraine by the scruff of the neck and forcibly peeled her off the ground.

“Whoa!”

Tossed aside roughly, Elraine landed on her rear. At the same time, her glasses tumbled to the ground.

“What are you doing, Firis-sama!”

“I told you to stop.”

“Why?! I must make amends to Sota-sama…! To save me, a lowly female body, Sota-sama placed his precious person in danger! A-And before those vile goblins, no less…! If I do not bow my head, if I do not do this, I cannot face Her Majesty… or our God…!”

“…Is that what Sota wants?”

“Eh…”

“Take a good look at Sota’s face.”

Prompted, Elraine was finally able to look at Sota’s face. From his feet on the soil, up his legs to his abdomen, slowly—it was the very picture of the word “timidly”—she looked at Sota’s face as she was told.

…A kind face was there. He was smiling, but it was a forced smile. It was a smile he desperately put on in an effort to prevent Elraine from feeling any further burden. Compassion, and also worry. Surprise and confusion… it contained various elements, all enveloped by the strong goodness of Sota’s “character.” To him, while it wasn’t exactly unpleasant, being apologized to was truly unnecessary. Elraine could not help but feel that this was vividly expressed in Sota’s smile.

“…I am very sorry.”

Elraine spoke her apology once more. As she slowly picked herself up, it was an apology with a completely different meaning than before.

“…Further apologies… or atonement… are unnecessary for you, Sota-sama, aren’t they?”

“Yes. Not just for you, Elraine-san, but all the women here are, how should I put it, a bit too dramatic. I lent a hand because someone in trouble was right in front of me… To you all, my doing that might hold a special meaning, but for me, it doesn’t.”

“…”

“A simple ‘thank you’ when I help you. That is more than enough for me.”

Sota said this and reached out his hand to Elraine. Still sitting on the ground, Elraine hesitated for a brief moment before—grabbing that hand.

“Whoa.”

Pulled up with a strong tug, Elraine stood at the same eye level as Sota. The masculine sensation transmitted through her palm. The embarrassment of a gaze exchanged at close range. The faint scent of Sota…

“I-I am sor—”

The word that naturally almost spilled from her mouth was an apology. But she managed to stop it before it escaped.

『A simple ‘thank you’ when I help you.』

If so, what Elraine should tell Sota now was…

“—Thank you… Sota-sama.”

Sota gave a firm nod and showed her a “smile.”

“Now, Elraine-san. Let’s finish our meal. If you don’t mind, please tell me many stories about the Kingdom.”

The firewood popped softly, and the night breeze stroked her cheek comfortably. At Sota’s smile, his voice, and his scent, a small, previously unknown emotion began to sprout within Elraine.

ーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーー