Entering the Game with a Cheat Physique

Monster Festival (4)

Monster Festival (4)

“Sorry.”

One word.

At my rejection, Penel’s eyes clouded over.

She parted her small lips and asked for a reason.

“…Why?”

A reason.

The question of why I rejected her love.

I pondered what to say,

and then, respecting the sincerity of her love, I decided to be honest.

“I don’t have the space for love right now.”

It’s the truth.

Since possessing this world, I haven’t even dealt with the existential threat to my life.

Herac Leonhardt dies if he leaves the academy, and I still don’t know why.

Besides, the story isn’t over yet.

I have to at least clear Act 2 of the one-year long game, ＜Song of Sword and Magic＞ to even get a footing.

Until then, I simply don’t have time for things like love.

“I can’t be honest with you right now. But I mean it. Love is a luxury for me at this moment.”

“….So?”

A faint glimmer of hope clung to Penel’s voice.

Pushing my hand down, nestled between the swells of her breasts.

She spoke, a plaintive tone in her voice.

“If that situation is resolved, then what?”

“……”

Well.

I’d only said I didn’t have the space for love, after all.

If you asked if I had it in my heart to accept Penel’s love itself, that’s uncertain.

“……Herak.”

“Yeah.”

“Do you… hate me?”

It was a question that felt like it could truly shatter.

Like stepping on a shard of glass, about to break at any moment.

I can’t bring myself to cut off that question, filled with Penel’s heart.

“How could I?”

“Then?”

“……I can’t talk completely openly about it, but you’re my type. I’ve never seen a woman as beautiful as you. ……But that doesn’t mean I can answer your confession.”

“……”

“I’m sorry. For being such an unforthcoming b*stard. I should either accept it or reject it, but I just can’t.”

I don’t have the space to love right now, and that’s not all.

Even if Penel is my type, that doesn’t mean I’ll accept her confession.

Even so, I said it because she seemed like she was going to crumble at any moment.

‘……Hmm.’

I’m, surprisingly, kind of a scumbag.

The advice I used to give my students in my past life, I can’t follow even a single one of them.

This is… teacher disqualification.

“……Heh.”

I’m not sure what was so striking about my answer.

Penel cradled my hand, still buried between her breasts, with both of her own.

“I see. It’s a postponement, then.”

“Well… something like that.”

“Then it doesn’t matter.”

She said, smiling.

Unbelievable for a woman whose confession had just been brushed aside.

A bold smile.

“I’ll just have to keep pursuing you until you accept my love.”

“……”

“Yeah, why are you so surprised? I’m a duchess, you know? There’s never been anything I haven’t obtained. And…”

“And?”

“Herac didn’t lie.”

That was her reasoning.

Even after receiving such a mannerless reply from a man.

The reason Penel’s spirit hadn’t broken was because she believed my words were true.

“It’s not like you were trying to avoid the situation, right? You just have a reason you can’t love right now?”

“That’s right.”

“Then it doesn’t matter. When that situation is resolved, I’ll make sure you turn to me. And… I’ll make it so you can’t help but love me, someone who is your type.”

…Honestly, that surprised me quite a bit.

A girl who was so much younger than me.

If you combined my past life age, she was honestly just adorable.

Her demeanor, though, was more mature than any student I’d ever met.

“So, be sure to wait for me, okay? Don’t let any other woman steal your heart?”

“I understand.”

With those words, we fell silent.

Under the open sky, sharing our last moments of time, just the two of us, which no one else knew about.

“……Whoa.”

After summarizing the situation for Herac,

Berry’s mouth hung open, and then she pressed her hand to her forehead.

Her head throbbed.

“Seriously, you are… unbelievable. How could you reject that child’s confession?”

It didn’t make sense.

Penel. That Penel.

The Moira duchy’s young lady, beautiful, smart, strong, even kind.

Truly the ideal wife material.

“Why are you so surprised?”

Heracles spoke with a gaze that felt almost like an elder, at Berry’s fuss.

“Love is like that. A confession that’s obvious to others might not be for someone else.”

“Even to the point of putting it on hold?”

“Love is like ten people, ten colors. There’s love like this too.”

“Ha……”

His words flow like water.

I feel it sometimes, this guy Heracles, he seems like an adult.

Well, Olympia only admits adults, of course.

Still, how to put it, it’s like he’s treating me with a teacher-like demeanor…

“……”

My insides got all tangled.

An outcome I never even imagined.

Berry felt bewildered at the fact that Panel’s confession was put on hold.

‘Am I…relieved?’

Panel had definitely whispered to her with the intention of keeping her in check.

If so, there should be a thrill in the fact that the confession didn’t succeed.

Yes, something dark and damp.

Like she’s hoping deep down for her friend’s failure….

‘…No, that’s not it!’

There’s no way.

Panel is Berry’s precious friend.

There is absolutely no way I could hold such feelings…

“But what were you doing?”

“Huh?”

I was so lost in thought, I didn’t even realize.

Heraek was suddenly right there, standing beside her.

All she could see was his solid shoulder.

The sheer masculine energy of him made her momentarily dizzy.

Behind them, a circus performer, sounding excited, called out to Heraek.

“Hey, pal. You know this young lady?”

“Yeah, kind of.”

“Then how about you help her out? She hasn’t caught a single one. Maybe you could give her one.”

At that.

Heraek, as if it were nothing, conjured fire in his hand.

*Whoosh.*

The fist of flame she’d seen before.

His unique magic, he plunged it coolly into the puddle─

*Shhh!*

Pulling out the fish monster that had been inside.

*Flap, flap.*

Seized by the flames and pulled out at once, the monster thrashed.

He held it in his hand a moment.

“Here.”

He offered it to Berry.

“…You’re giving it to me? Why?”

“What, didn’t you want one?”

“…That’s.”

Not really.

Not really, but maybe it didn’t matter.

…If Heraek was giving it, it didn’t seem like she needed to refuse.

She held the monster carefully in her hand.

The small, cute thing was squirming around.

The circus must have trained them well, so it wouldn’t hurt its keeper.

She stood there for a moment.

Then, finally looking back at the situation.

Her mouth opened naturally.

“Hey, you know.”

“What.”

“Could I do it too?”

“……?”

He tilts his head.

Heraq stares at her, as if asking what she meant.

Berry, peering through her glasses, quietly asked,

“Is there… a chance for me?”

“……”

Heraq understood.

Probably, she was asking if she too could experience love.

It must be the saying “love is different for everyone” that moved her heart.

“It’s possible. There’s no reason why you wouldn’t.”

“……Yeah.”

Berry nodded.

It’s a shame.

Heraq didn’t seem to notice.

She hadn’t simply asked if she was capable of love.

Rather…

‘Could I…be allowed to like you?’

That’s what she had asked, in a way.

‘Well, whatever.’

It was fine if he didn’t realize.

He’d essentially given his own silent permission for her to hold this feeling.

If that was the case, then all bets were off.

‘I never imagined I’d end up fighting with Penel….’

Her friend.

Their precious friendship, she never wanted to break it.

Probably.

This much, I might have a hard time yielding to a friend.

*

Finally.

Monster Festival, day three.

‘So it begins, huh.’

The boss battle starts today.

At the same time, monsters will be running rampant all over the academy, but I’ve sent reliable guys to the main battle zones first.

I sent Fenel to the monster circus ring.

I feel a bit awkward asking her right after the confession, though.

But Fenel actually burned with enthusiasm, so I’m just grateful.

She’s probably trying to impress me.

And just in case, I also asked Berry…

The same place as Fenel? …Hmph, fine. Doesn’t matter.

She said those cryptic lines, and I didn’t get it at all.

I decided to interpret it as her being happy to be in the same place as her friend.

Anyway.

After pruning the branches like that, it’s time to focus on the core.

Gotta prepare for the ‘Nemean Lion’ viewing show.

“Oh my. You’re here, Herac-ssi.”

And before that.

“Since you specifically asked me for this on the last day, I was really looking forward to it. Do you know that?”

Braided, radiant blonde hair.

A dress as noble and beautiful as a royal.

I need to play along with Helene, who’s all dressed up and waiting for me.

“An escort, please?”

First, let’s start by granting her wish.