Wataru’s Consultation
“Eh, even if Wataru gets rejected, it’s fine, really.”
That’s how Rokuko responded when she heard about what happened with Leona.
“Are you sure? I thought you weren’t too thrilled about the park’s confession success rate decreasing.”
“Don’t be silly. Kehma, aren’t you the one who said you can’t confess and kiss me unless it’s a romantic setting, making it so that I had to create the romantic park?”
“Huh?”
Was that the case…? Yes, it was.
“So, if Wataru fails his confession, Kehma will take responsibility and confess to me, right? Very passionately, enough to clear away any bad reputation.”
“Oh, okay.”
“Haku-neesama has given her approval, so there’s nothing to get in our way, right? Don’t try to escape… Ah, I wonder if it would be better for Wataru to be rejected? But being kissed out of obligation isn’t so great either… Let’s just go with the flow.”
With a nod of agreement, Rokuko decided to remain a bystander in this matter.
＊
“… Sigh, what should I do to get Nerune to accept my confession?”
With his date set for the next day, Wataru’s worries were piling up.
As Wataru was drinking shochu at the counter seat in the tavern, Gozoh, a regular passerby (or perhaps a regular customer), spoke up.
“Huh? What’s up, Wataru? Got a problem?”
“Ah, Gozoh-san. Yes actually, I’m going on a date with Nerune-san.”
“… You sure have strange tastes. What do you find attractive about someone who treats you like that?”
As Gozoh took a seat next to Wataru, he ordered daiginjō. The master of the tavern, who also happened to be the deputy village chief, Wozuma, filled a glass to the brim with daiginjō and placed it in front of Gozoh.
“Well, let’s see… I like her casual attitude towards me, her lovely natural smile, her passion for magic, and her strong-willed personality. Sometimes she wears glasses, and I find her freckles cute—”
“Yeah and her breasts are pretty big too.”
“… That’s true as well. Well, you can’t help what you like. What do you like about Roppu-san, Gozoh-san?”
“Huh? Let’s not talk about that now, we’re discussing your problem, right?”
Gozoh steered the conversation back on track.
“So, a date? That’s great. Did you know they’ve just built a park recently? I helped out as a day laborer.”
“Yes, I’m aware. I was requested to have the date there by Kehma-san.”
“Requested? That takes away some of the romantic appeal.”
Gozoh took a sip of his daiginjō. The strong, delicious liquor that even a dwarf would be satisfied with made him let out a cheerful, alcohol-laden breath.
“Well, it’s still a date, even if it was requested. I had promised Kehma-san before to mediate my relationship with Nerune-san, so maybe that’s why?”
“Kehma, huh. So if the village chief gives his permission, does that mean you’ll go all the way to marriage?”
“Wha, ma-marriage!? Well, I would be happy if that happens… Ah, that means tomorrow’s confession is even more important now.”
With that, Wataru too took a sip of his shochu. The liquor produced in the dungeon had a Japanese aroma that calmed Wataru down when he drank it.
“… Drinking calms me down… am I becoming an alcoholic?”
He muttered. Being a hero, though, he’d be fine.
“So, you’re going to propose?”
“Pro-propose!? Well, um, before that, I think it would be more like asking her to be my girlfriend.”
“What!? You’re not dating Nerune yet?”
Gozoh shrugged his shoulders in disbelief.
“You should be more assertive in that regard. I won’t be responsible if someone else snatches her away from you, alright?”
“Right, Nerune-san is very charming… I need to establish a solid boyfriend-girlfriend relationship!”
“Just get married already. If you make her wait, she’ll hold a grudge against you, right, Wozuma?”
At this point, Gozoh turned the conversation to Wozuma, the master of the tavern and deputy village chief.
“That’s right. My wife is a good woman who has stuck with me, but if we weren’t married, she probably wouldn’t have.”
“… Wozuma-san, you’re married!?”
“Yes, I used to work as a bureaucrat in the imperial capital. My wife supported me even when I was framed by a political adversary and had to quit my job. She’s a wife I’m proud of.”
Wozuma smiled proudly.
“A bureaucrat!? You were an elite… how did you end up in Golen?”
“I lost in the power struggle. I was recommended this place by an old colleague who thought that it might be a good opportunity to make a fresh start and contribute to a new village. I also had a longing to run a tavern.”
“Let’s save that story for later. We’re talking about Wataru now.”
Gozoh again steered the conversation back on track.
“That’s right. It was about my confession to Nerune-san… Wozuma-san, what did you say when you proposed to your wife?”
“Let’s see. It was an arranged marriage, so I think I said something like ‘I hope we can get along’…”
“That’s pretty bland. Well, I guess that’s how it is. In villages and towns, parents usually arrange marriages.”
“Ah, is that how it is in this world? I’ve heard that it used to be the same in my country… How about re-confessing?”
Wozuma seemed interested in Wataru’s suggestion.
“That’s right, expressing my gratitude to my wife again… might not be such a bad idea.”
“Now that we’ve decided that, let’s all think about what to say for the confession! Ah, Gozoh-san, you’re going to do it with Roppu-san too, right?”
“You’re dragging me into this too!? Ah, well, I’ve been thinking about doing it properly for a while now.”
Wataru found someone to share his predicament with and smiled.
“Then, let’s all think about what kind of confession would be good! You two should confess in the park too, you know? Ah, if it’s okay, shall we all go to the park tomorrow? It’s what they call a triple date.”
“… I have to prepare for tomorrow, so it’ll have to be another day.”
“I’ve got plans to go to the dungeon, so maybe I’ll ask her on my next day off.”
“Hmm. Well, I guess that can’t be helped.”
And so, the three men discussed Wataru’s date plan and the contents of his confession.
However, they were unaware that Leona was quietly listening in on their conversation, having subtly concealed her presence. Wataru, the hero, was completely oblivious to this.