After talking with Fate-san and Life-san, I’m going to talk to Chronois-san alone next…… I wonder what this inexplicable sense of security I’m feeling……
Just knowing that she won’t be doing any seductive things like Fate-san and Life-san gives me a peace of mind incomparable to the others.
Slowly…… Really slowly that I’m wondering if she’s trying to take up the time, Chronois-san walked towards me with her head in a low position.
Chronois-san is very tall, about 180cm, and if she were to sit down normally, her head would be in a reasonably high position…… But as I mentioned earlier, her head was quite in a low position.
That’s because Chronois-san had deeply immersed herself in the water that let alone her shoulders, even her neck was submerged…… It seems that she’s really embarrassed.
[……M- Miyama…… D- Don’t look here! Absolutely don’t look at me!]
[I- I understand. I’m not looking.]
[Kuh…… Why is this happening to me……]
[S- Somehow…… I’m sorry.]
[Ahh, no, I’m sorry. I’m not blaming you for this.]
I’m about half the reason why Chronois-san is currently enduring shame, so I apologized, but Chronois-san is a really kind person, and quickly stopped me from doing that…… Incidentally, if you don’t know by now, half of it is Shiro-san’s fault.
I can’t see Chronois-san now, but she’s probably flushed red and flustered right now…… I think it was because of the gap between how she acts in situations like this and how she normally acts that I feel like she’s very cute, but I’ll keep my mouth shut because she’ll definitely get angry if I say that.
[……H- Honestly speaking…… I- I’ve never been in the bath with a man like this before. Therefore, I don’t know what I should do in situations like this.]
Unnn. I know…… I can clearly see that. The fact that she hasn’t experienced something like this before, I can easily understand that from her reaction earlier.
[T- To begin with, what good can it even do to you to take a bath with me?]
[……………….]
[Why aren’t you talking?]
[……Ah, no, errr…… I’ll also be honest. I’m also bewildered and confused in this situation…… but I’m also happy, errr, bathing together with a beautiful woman like Chronois-san.]
[Whaa!?]
I’m still a healthy young man, and while I’m embarrassed and nervous, I’m also happy to be bathing together with these beautiful women.
To put it in another way, it’s more like a situation where you have the finest bait dangling in front of you to eat, but you can’t take a bite even if you want to…… Well, it certainly is quite difficult but…..
Hearing my words, Chronois-san sounded astonished, but after staying silent for a while, I heard her softly mutter.
[……A- Are you serious?]
[About what?]
[I- I’m talking about…… when you’ve been repeatedly saying that I’m beautiful…… that I’m lovely…… Y- You aren’t just making fun of me… You’re telling the truth, right?]
[……I don’t think my personality is that bad to make fun of you using such words. I meant everything I said to Chronois-san. I think Chronois-san is a really beautiful and lovely woman.]
[……I- I- Is that so…… U- Umu…… Should I say my thanks here?]
[I- I don’t know?]
W- What is this, I’m starting to get absurdly embarrassed now though!? I- I don’t know if Chronois-san is being different from usual or not, but she’s strangely feminine now and it’s making me very aware of what I’m doing right now.
I- It might have been a great idea that I had my face turned away from her…… I would be too embarrassed to speak properly if I saw her face in this state.
I don’t know if it could be described as bittersweet or not, but a silence passed between Chronois-san and I, and after a few moments, Chronois-san slowly spoke.
[……Hey, Miyama. This might be a good opportunity. Let me tell you what I really had in mind.]
[Really had in mind?]
[Yeah…… I think…… you’re a “frightening” person……]
[……Eh?]
The words that she quietly said were something I hadn’t expected to hear.
She’s frightened of me? Chronois-san, the Supreme God who governs time, and one of the strongest beings in the world, is afraid of me? Why?
As if to answer the question that came into my head, Chronois-san continued to quietly speak, but in a somewhat solemn voice.
[……You’ve only been in this world…… for only a few months. And yet, you’ve changed something that hadn’t changed in hundreds, thousands, tens of thousands of years, and you’ve changed it so easily.]
[……………..]
[You are bringing change into this world…… This is an undeniable fact. In the past, there have been people who have brought about great changes in the world…… The First Hero is one among such people.]
Chronois-san talked about the First Hero…… Neun-san.
Neun-san is a being who brought about a very big change in this world, and is a hero that is still talked about today.
The being who broke down the walls between the three worlds. talked about by the whole world…… To be honest, I think it’s a bit of a stretch to even compare me to her. However, the way Chronois-san speaks, it’s as if she feels I’m on par with Neun-san…… Or even more than that……
[……Still, it took her 10 years to achieve that. I’m not saying that you’re superior just because you brought the change faster than her, but still, Miyama, you’re bringing a greater change to this world far faster than the First Hero.]
[……………..]
[Everyone who is involved with you changes…… Shallow Vernal-sama, God of Fate, and even God of Life…… That’s why I find you so frightening…… When I talk to you…… It’s as if I, who has been unwavering for countless years, is being changed in ways I couldn’t resist…… That’s why I can’t help but be frightened.]
Change is frightening…… It was a feeling that I, being human, could understand to some extent.
Change isn’t always a good thing, and if the change is about you yourself…… In a way, it’s also as if you’re losing your past self, and in a way, it’s as if you encountered the unknown.
That’s why I could understand what Chronois-san is saying…… and why I didn’t refute.
However, what Chronois-san is saying didn’t end there…… and with a voice that sounds as if she’s saying that with a wry smile, she continued.
[……But at the same time…… I… I find you likeable.]
[……Eh?]
[None of the changes you bring about are bad…… Whether it’s the changes to Shallow Vernal-sama, God of Fate or God of Life…… I feel like the God Realm is being changed for the better. So, while I’m afraid of the changes that are coming, I’m also looking forward to the incoming changes.]
[……Chronois-san.]
[Hey, Miyama. You know, I…… I’m feeling afraid about how you’re going to change this world…… but I also want to see where it goes, and wish to see it myself. I have my expectations of you.]
Saying until that, Chronois-san held a sake cup in her hand, held it out to me before pouring me a drink.
In the corner of my gaze, which naturally moved, is Chronois-san, with an affectionate, gentle smile on her face, looking at me with her differently-colored eyes…… With the appearance of a strong and beautiful Goddess.
[……That’s why…… Miyama……]
[Yes.]
[From now on, continue being the same as always…… The you who is living up to my expectations. Continue doing so…… And I will always be by your side.]
[……I’m not that great of a person, and the things I can do are really trivial…… but, let’s see…… If it’s within my abilities to grant….. I would also like to be someone who doesn’t disappoint Chronois-san’s expectations.]
Honestly, I think she was overestimating me. I don’t think I’m that great, I’m just an ordinary person who has been blessed with having people around me, but I think I’m just an ordinary person you can find everywhere.
However, if someone holds expectations for this insignificant me…… I’m going to do my best to live up to their expectations.
[……You’re a warm-hearted person. I think I can understand…… why everyone likes you so much.]
[E- Errr…… Thank you?]
[Fufufu…… Miyama, can you pour some for me too?]
[Ah, yes. Here……]
Chronois-san’s smile that I haven’t had the chance to see…… looks very beautiful and somehow feels divine.
After listening to Chronois-san’s request, the both of us pour alcohol into each other’s cups, and lightly clinked our sake cups with each other.
Before I knew it, I don’t know if Chronois-san’s nervousness has faded or not, but I can see a little bit of her beautiful and slender body, and seeing the glistening drops of water dripping down her skin made my heart skip a beat.
[……This is a great opportunity. Tell me more about you, even if it’s just trivial things…… I want to know a little more about what kind of human you are.]
[I understand…… Then, in exchange, Chronois-san please tell me more about you too.]
[Is that how it works? Fufufu, yeah, I don’t mind. but don’t expect anything that interesting, alright?]
[No, I’m going to be expecting you to talk about interesting stuff.]
[……Good grief, you’re this kind of person huh……]
When I jokingly told her that, Chronois-san happily smiles.
Was it because we’ve spoken unreservedly with each other? Somehow, I feel that today’s conversation has changed my impression of Chronois-san.
Dear Mom, Dad——- I’m really glad to hear Chronois-san’s real thoughts. There were times when I think she’s just overestimating me, but I still feel glad that she’s holding expectations for someone like me, and such expectation was never a burden for me. I know that it would be a difficult thing to do, but I will do my best——- for I want to continue being a person who is upholding Chronois-san’s expectations.
<Author’s Notes>
Serious-senpai: [Everyone, don’t be fooled! They may look like they’re having a bittersweet serious conversation, but if you were to look closely, they’re just freaking flirting!!! It’s still the same old sweetness!!!]
<, It’s Serious-senpai’s turn.>
Serious-senpai: [Fuaahhh!? Eh? Wai, eh? Wait, is that written in the script…… Eh? I’m still not ready yet……]
T/N: 74/237