Which One Is Right? (1)

The next morning.

We departed from the town.

Everyone in town gathered to see us off.

The mayor and Erika were talking.

“Thank you so much for everything. We pray for your safety on your journey.”

“No, we should be the ones thanking you. You even gave us a carriage.”

“Think nothing of it. Compared to saving the town, a carriage is a small price to pay.”

Erika replied with a smile.

“Thank you.”

When Barbatos attacked, we could not teleport the carriage.

Since we knew the location, we went back to check, only to find it completely smashed to pieces.

When we talked about having lost it, the mayor kindly gave us a spare carriage and even prepared food and other necessities for the journey.

We really owed them everything.

From their perspective, they had been saved, but in truth, we were the ones who dragged them into it…

“May fortune favor you.”

“Byeee! Hero big brothers!”

The children waved along with the others.

At least no one had died.

We were here to make a world where they could live in peace.

That realization settled in again.

Now then…

“Arka, want to switch and let me drive?”

“I am fine.”

“No, but you know, it is tough, right? For a girl.”

“It is fine! No one ever sees me as a girl anyway!”

With a huff, Arka turned away in a sulk.

It was because I had mistaken her gender yesterday.

This was completely my fault.

I had apologized, but she still would not forgive me.

What should I do…

“Hey, Erika.”

“Do not ask me.”

She gave me a bright smile.

Her face clearly said, think for yourself.

Next, I asked Semirena for help.

“Um…”

“If you apologize sincerely, she should forgive you.”

“…Yes.”

What beautiful words.

I was apologizing.

I was apologizing from the bottom of my heart.

But she was not forgiving me at all!

“A maiden’s heart is a difficult thing.”

“……”

“Do not expect help from me either. I am unskilled in matters outside swordsmanship.”

I had not expected anything from the start.

I let out a small sigh.

Our journey would continue.

Whether we liked it or not, we would be together for a long time.

Leaving this awkwardness unresolved was not a good idea.

I moved alongside Arka.

“Arka, I am really sorry.”

“…It is fine. I know I am not very girly.”

“No, I mean… this is just an excuse, but when I think of warriors, I picture men, and you use ‘I’ like that too, so…”

“……”

No, no.

Making excuses like this would not solve anything.

Was there not a better topic, something that could help us make up?

“How about praising her appearance?”

Her appearance?

“Was it not because you misunderstood her looks? Then do the opposite and praise her as a girl.”

I-I see… that made sense.

Nice one, Kojiro!

You were more useful than expected!

“It was just a thought.”

Still, I was grateful.

All right, time for practice!

“Hey, Arka.”

“…What?”

“Um… when you look closely, you are kind of cute.”

…

Nooo!

I did not even have a girlfriend, not even female friends—praising a girl’s looks was way too high-level for me!

I was angry at my own lack of vocabulary!

“I had forgotten. You are what they call a virgin.”

Shut up!

“…C-cute?”

“Huh?”

“I… I am cute?”

Oh?

“Oh? This is…”

An unexpected reaction.

Arka blushed and looked a little happy.

Kojiro and I shared the same thought.

“Y-yeah! I think you are cute! Coming from the guy who mistook you for a boy, it might not sound convincing, but I thought you were a pretty boy. Now that I know you are a girl, I can only see you as a pretty girl.”

“A pretty girl… I see.”

She wore a silly grin.

Kojiro, could this be…?

“Indeed.”

She was easy.

Just a little praise and she was already won over.

“Press the advantage.”

Yeah.

I was not about to waste this chance.

“How about growing your hair out? You would look even prettier.”

“Y-you think? Maybe I will… b-but it would get in the way when fighting.”

“Then you can tie it up. You could do all kinds of hairstyles.”

“That is true! Soji-kun, you are smart!”

And so, an hour passed.

“I see! I am really that cute!”

“Yeah.”

“Like, love-at-first-sight cute?”

“I would say so.”

“Ehehe, that is embarrassing.”

Arka’s mood had completely recovered.

If anything, it felt like her affection had gone up.

What an easy dating-sim.

All I had done for an hour was praise her with random compliments.

Erika kept looking at me from behind with a what are you doing expression, but I kept going.

Good job, me!

“Thank you.”

“Huh?”

“You know, people always tell me I am cool or strong, but no one ever calls me cute.”

“Really?”

“Yeah! That is why it made me happy!”

Arka showed a radiant smile.

Her smile bloomed like a flower, and my heart skipped a beat.

I had been showering her with praise to make up with her, but none of it was a lie.

Now that I knew she was a girl, she really did look cute.

Small, and looking like a greatsword did not suit her at all…

“Hey, Arka. Why did you become a warrior?”

“Huh? Why do you ask?”

“I was just curious.”

“Let’s see… maybe to make my dream come true.”

She murmured that while looking up at the sky.

“A dream?”

“A secret!”

She refused to tell me.

What was her dream?

It seemed like something I would get to learn during this journey.