Chapter 54

The written language of Saxens consists of 28 characters.

Currently, I’m in Clara-sama’s room, working on creating a digital font for this world’s script. I’m using a piece of freeware that allows you to easily create original fonts by filling in dots on a gridded canvas.

“What do you think, Clara-sama?”

“Perhaps the vertical lines should be a bit longer?”

Though initially startled by the laptop, Clara-sama adapted quickly. Within thirty minutes, she was already handling the mouse herself, tweaking the font design.

It had been a while since I was alone with her. Since I’m using high-tech equipment from another world, we’ve made sure no one else enters the room. I took this chance to activate my “Dog’s Nose” skill to thoroughly memorize Clara-sama’s scent.

…And no, I’m not being a creep. I’ve made it a point to memorize the scents of everyone I know just in case. I already have Yoshioka, Emma, Fiene, and Hans down. With this, I should be able to track them down even if we get separated in the city. Plus, with “Dog’s Nose” active, I can detect suspicious people outside the door or window with a high degree of accuracy and identify them if it’s someone I know.

I feel like I’m steadily turning into a beastman myself, but it’s a bit late to start worrying about that now.

After several hours, we managed to complete all 28 characters. Now, I can easily produce business cards or urgent documents.

“Good work. Let me fix us something to drink.”

“Yes… my shoulders are quite stiff.” Clara-sama rolled her neck.

“If you’d like, I could give you a massage?”

“Ugh—”

She froze, falling silent. I guess she still feels some resistance to being touched.

“Kota… are you okay with it?”

“With what, exactly?”

Clara-sama looked down, her expression hidden.

“Does touching my body… that is… do you feel nothing at all?”

Did I cross a line? Up until a second ago, I was only thinking about loosening up her neck because she looked like she was in pain, but now a massage is out of the question. Saying it like that makes it impossible not to be conscious of her as a woman. I really lacked delicacy there.

“Y-yes. I misspoke. That was quite presumptuous of me; please forgive me.”

“It is not that. I did not mean it like that…”

My mind went blank. I decided to forcefully pivot the conversation and make my escape.

“I’ll make some hot lemonade!”

I closed the font software and pulled a gas stove and a kettle out of Spatial Storage. Clara-sama sat there, staring blankly at the desktop wallpaper.

“That is a mountain in my homeland called Gassan. It was the first mountain I ever climbed.”

“Is this… a painting?”

Explaining the concept of a photograph is difficult.

“In my world, we have machines called cameras that capture scenery exactly as it is. Like this.”

I activated the webcam at the top of the laptop, and our reflections appeared on the screen.

“That is… me… and Kota…”

“Yes.”

I clicked the shutter and took a still photo. It captured Clara-sama’s slightly surprised face next to my own rather gormless expression.

I really do look like a dog, don’t I?

“This is a photograph.”

“I-I see. Do you have other photos of your world, Kota? I would like to see them, if you don’t mind.”

I keep all my photos in a single folder. There isn’t anything particularly embarrassing in there—I’ve made sure of that. As a formerly married man, I learned long ago to hide those kinds of files deep, deep within nested subfolders.

I picked a random image from my pictures folder and opened it. It was a shot from Mount Takao, where I’d gone hiking over a year ago.

“This building is quite atmospheric,” she noted.

“That is a temple in my world.”

On the screen was the Yakuo-in Temple at Mount Takao.

“If you click this part on the right, the photos will cycle through. Feel free to browse as you like.”

I left the screen navigation to Clara-sama while I went to boil water for hot lemonade. It’s just an instant powder mix, but it’s become one of her recent favorites.

When I returned with the mugs, Clara-sama was still staring at the screen. I wondered which photo she had landed on. I looked over and saw Emi, smiling toward the camera. It must have been a shot I took at the front door right after we got back from Mount Takao.

…There really was a time when she used to give me smiles like that.

“Who is this person?”

“That is my ex-wife. We’re separated.”

Clara-sama stared at the screen as if she were trying to see through it.

“She is a beautiful person…”

In the photo, Emi had a gentle smile and was wearing an apron. If I recall, she was making dinner for us that night.

“Do you… still love her?”

I wonder. Even I don’t know the answer to that. I don’t want to start over with her now, but is the pain that occasionally flares up proof that feelings still remain? The fact that I still think of Emi at random moments probably means I’m still dragging the past behind me.

“I don’t think I love her anymore. However, not enough time has passed for the fact that I did love her to fade away.”

Clara-sama nodded without saying a word.

“Here, have your hot lemonade. Please drink it before it gets cold.”

“Thank you.”

Time passed in silence. It was a little awkward. I wanted to finish my drink quickly and head back to my room, but the lemonade was unexpectedly hot, and the level in my mug barely dropped. Clara-sama was just holding her mug, barely taking a sip, so I couldn’t exactly excuse myself yet.

It’s a bit late for realizations, but I think I love Clara-sama. However, it’s a somewhat cowardly, twisted kind of love. While I was still married to Emi, I defined my relationship with Clara-sama as master and servant. I told myself that way, it could never become a “man and woman” thing.

Besides, she is a noble of Saxens; there was no way we could ever be together. I thought that as long as we were knight and attendant, I could stay by her side safely. Just being near her was enough to make me happy.

But after the divorce, I became a single man again. And now, I have a feeling that a relationship defined only by duty is going to start becoming painful. The more time passes, the more I will fall for her. And when that happens, I don’t think I’ll be satisfied with just being her “attendant” anymore.

“Kota.”

Clara-sama set her mug down abruptly.

“Would you give me that massage? …It is a bit… difficult right now.”

I don’t mind doing it, but why are you asking for a massage with the kind of resolute expression a woman wears when she’s prepared to be held by a man? When you look at me like that, it makes it feel like I have to prepare myself, too.

“Yes. …I understand. Could you lift your hair?”

As she pulled her ponytail forward, her pale nape was revealed. I wondered if my fingertips were too cold. I pressed my hands together as if to check their temperature.

Then, I slowly touched her shoulders. Clara-sama’s body gave a small shiver, and she let out a long breath.

“I’m starting.”

Without a word, she gently placed her hand over mine. I felt that any further words would be boorish.

Skill “Golden Fingers”—Activate.

I know I’m being unfair. But I didn’t want to let anyone else have her.

That night, for the first time, I used “Golden Fingers” at Level 3.