Mikoto-san had successfully finished changing, and just as we were about to introduce her to everyone, various things happened and I ended up returning to the forest once again.
Nana-san pointed out, 『Wouldn’t it be unnatural if Mikoto-onee-sama suddenly appeared inside the house?』, and so we decided, 『Then let’s have her appear from outside the village instead』.
And so, after sending Mikoto-san back once, I left the village and made my way to the forest.
「This area should be fine, don’t you think?」
「Yeah. Then let’s summon her」
Prompted by Nana-san, who had left the village with me, I began preparing to summon Mikoto-san.
This would be the third time I had summoned her today.
「『Summon: Mikoto』」
「――My name is Mikoto. By contract, I manifest here」
「Areh?」
「Hmm?」
「Ah, no, it’s nothing」
…Her entrance line felt rather simple.
Maybe she had run out of lines after being summoned repeatedly. Or perhaps she was still a little bothered by being called a wicked god earlier.
「Sorry for making you move around so many times, Alec-kun」
「No, no, it’s really fine」
Come to think of it, this was already my second round trip between the house and the forest today. …It really felt like we were doing a lot of unnecessary traveling.
「Now then, we’ll be introducing Mikoto-san to the villagers. That role will be handled by Nana-san」
「Leave it to me. The unworthy Nana Ambrotivi von Ratrius D. Macmillan Tetestetes Vanessa Ako Marcellit El Rosemary Yamada shall perform this duty flawlessly before your very eyes」
「The character count… well, whatever」
「So the two of you may rest easy and think of yourselves as aboard a great ship」
「A great ship, huh…」
When she made such a bold declaration, it actually made me a little nervous instead…
That said, the last time Nana-san used the phrase 『great ship』, she really did handle things perfectly. Maybe this time would be fine too.
「Let me explain once more. 『Mikoto-san is an old friend of Yggdrasil-san and Nana-san』, 『she came to the village to visit Nana-san』, and 『Mikoto-san and I are meeting for the first time』. Please go with that story」
「Yeah. Understood」
「The important point is that Mikoto-san appeared through her connection with Nana-san, and had no prior relation to me. Please keep that in mind」
That really is the key point. Honestly, as long as we are careful about that one thing, everything else should work out somehow.
The villagers are all gentle and friendly, and Mikoto-san is a sensible person, so even if Nana-san gives a slightly unusual introduction, she should still fit into the village just fine.
「Hmm. So the part about 『Master and Mikoto-onee-sama meeting for the first time』 means that 『it would be unnatural if a black-haired beauty who suddenly appeared out of nowhere turned out to be Master’s acquaintance』, correct?」
At Nana-san’s question, Mikoto-san shyly brushed her hair and said, 「Well…」 while smiling bashfully. It was oddly heartwarming to watch.
「Well, Nana-san isn’t wrong, but… it’s mainly, you know… as a precaution against Ralina-chan」
「Ralina-sama…?」
「Whenever a woman appears around me, Ralina-chan somehow gets a bit tense」
「Ah…」
「Up until now, with Yggdrasil-san, Diana-chan, and Nana-san, something has happened every single time」
「Yes, quite a lot has happened…」
When it was Yggdrasil-san and Nana-san, we ran straight into Ralina-chan the moment we stepped outside the house. Yggdrasil-san became terribly frightened, and Nana-san’s legs gave out beneath her.
When it was Diana-chan, Ralina-chan went all the way to Lukmine Village and caused quite a commotion. And my father ended up emotionally scarred.
I really want to stop this pattern soon. This long history of disasters needs to end this time.
「Ralina-chan, huh. Personally, I would like to get along with her as well…」
「…Yes. I hope it turns out that way too」
That is exactly why 『Mikoto-san and I are meeting for the first time』 is so important.
If I am not involved, Ralina-chan is just a normal girl. …Probably.
「Alright then, let’s do our best with that plan. Mikoto-san, Nana-san, I’m counting on you both」
「Yeah. Let’s do our best」
「Let us do our best」
The three of us raised our fists together with a cheerful 「Let’s do this, oh!」 and began our operation.
◇
Leaving Nana-san and Mikoto-san in the forest, I returned home ahead of them by myself.
I thought it would be best to start by introducing her to my family, but unfortunately, no one was home.
When I informed Nana-san of this through the 『Dungeon Menu Message Communication』 system, I received the following reply.
『Then we will walk around the village and introduce Mikoto-sama as we go please inform us when Grandfather or Grandmother returns Dungeon』
And so, while waiting for my parents to come back, I passed the time doing some woodworking in my room.
I shaped a wooden cylinder about ten centimeters tall, planning to create an extremely realistic cola can by applying a realistic 『varnish coating』.
「I’m home」
Oh, someone’s back. It’s Father. Father has returned.
First, I should send a message to Nana-san, then go greet him.
「Welcome back, Father」
「Yes, I’m back」
After sending Nana-san the message 『Father returned Dungeon』, I went over to him.
「…Huh? Maybe I didn’t actually need to come all the way to Father?」
I had somehow wandered into the living room, but maybe there was no need to wait together with him.
「That’s quite a thing to say all of a sudden, Alec…」
「Ah, sorry. That’s not what I meant…」
Thinking about it, that sounded pretty awful toward my father.
「Oh? Has Yggdrasil-sama already gone home?」
「Hm? Ah, yes, she left a little while ago」
「I see. Yggdrasil-sama visits this house quite often, but Alec, you haven’t been causing her any trouble, have you?」
「Hm? Well, of course… I probably have, actually」
「You mustn’t do that…」
I mean, no matter how you look at it, I have definitely caused her quite a bit of trouble and inconvenience.
Even today, I asked her to bring Mikoto-san’s clothes, which was honestly a bit of a hassle to request.
「Listen, Alec. Yggdrasil-sama is the god of us elves. We must treat her with proper respect, and causing her trouble is absolutely unacceptable」
「Yeah…」
「Yggdrasil-sama is certainly kind, but you must not burden her with problems or inconveniences. Whenever something happens, you immediately rely on Yggdrasil-sama, and that really isn’t a good habit」
「Ah… I remember saying something like that to Diana-chan before…」
「Right? Diana-chan also… wait, what? You said that to Diana-chan? Not the other way around?」
「I recall explaining to Diana-chan the proper mindset expected of an elf, just like you described」
「…………」
I recall saying something like that when Diana-chan asked me, 『Please ask Yggdrasil-san so I can enter the dungeon』.
It was right after I created the dungeon, so that must have been about four years ago…
And yet, in those four years, I really haven’t lived up to that mindset very well…
「Of course, I understand that, and I am trying…」
「I see. Then let’s try a little harder, okay? Well, Yggdrasil-sama does seem happy to be relied upon, so it’s hard to say for sure, but depending on her too much still isn’t good」
「Yeah. At the very least, I want to avoid causing trouble for her, and….」
「I have returned」
「Oh」
It looks like Nana-san has come back. Which means… the mission starts now.
I somehow ended up getting scolded by Father out of nowhere, but I need to switch gears and handle this properly.
「Ah, Sergent-sama, young master. You have both returned already, I see」
「Welcome back, Nana-san」
Nana-san walked into the living room, but Mikoto-san was not with her. It seemed she returned alone for now.
Even so, Nana-san was completely natural. She already knew Father and I were home, yet her acting gave no hint of that.
I cannot afford to lose to that performance.
「Actually, there is someone I would like to introduce to the two of you—」
「Oh? Someone Nana-san wants to introduce to us? Well then, what kind of person could that possibly be?」
「…………」
…That probably wasn’t very convincing acting.
Maybe I overdid it because I am used to exaggerated lines during our usual roleplaying.
「…For now, may I invite them inside, Sergent-sama?」
「Yes, of course」
「Thank you very much. Please wait a moment」
With that, Nana-san left the living room.
「…What was that about, Alec?」
「…Just acting curious about what kind of person it might be, something like that」
I hope he lets it slide like that.
「It is true, I am curious. If Nana-san wants to introduce someone, I wonder who it could be. If it were someone from this village, there would be no need for a formal introduction like this」
「Yeah」
「Ah, could it be… a lover? Someone like that perhaps?」
「Wha!? A lo….!? I refuse! I absolutely refuse to accept that!」
What is this all of a sudden!? What are you even saying, Father!?
「Oh? I did think the two of you were close, but Alec, so that is how you feel about Nana-san, huh」
「Of course! Nana-san having a lover is… still too early!」
「…Hmm?」
It is way too early! Nana-san is still four years old!
「I am starting to lose track of how you actually see Nana-san… Um, too early?」
「It is early! Far too early! I refuse! As long as I my eyes are black, I will never approve of Nana-san having a lover…!」
「But your eyes are green, Alec…?」
Well, yes, that is true, but still…
「More importantly, what about this supposed lover? Are they a proper person? Can they really be trusted with Nana-san?」
「I do not know…」
「After all, it has to be someone who will truly cherish Nana-san and take responsibility」
「Responsibility?」
「The responsibility that comes with having a family. And also… you know… income matters too. You cannot help but worry about that. Money is important in the end. Financial stability is necessary」
「What has gotten into you…? What exactly are you to Nana-san, Alec…?」
next chapter: Father
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