"Just as I expected… I really shouldn't have listened to you at all."
That was the first response Claire gave the moment she heard Kai's explanation. She wore an expression of pure disbelief as she held her head, which had begun to ache.
"Let's just ignore that unbelievable Fairy Goddess issue for now… but how exactly are we supposed to find all those items just by making you get close to the girls…? I can't think of a single logical reason behind that."
Kai hated to admit it, but he agreed completely with what Claire had just said. If he had heard someone else say the same thing, he certainly wouldn't have believed even a single part of such a story.
To be honest, the only reason he could believe the Fairy Goddess' nonsense was because he felt this world was far too similar to the ones usually found in farming simulation games.
"But Claire, the Fairy Goddess really exists!"
Elly said, her eyes sparkling with intense enthusiasm. Her eyes were so dazzling that Claire had to turn her gaze away, shielding her eyes with the back of her right hand.
"I know this sounds stupid and unbelievable, but unfortunately, the Fairy Goddess really is real."
Kai added, though for some reason he didn't look very pleased.
"Why do you suddenly look so grumpy?"
Claire asked, puzzled by the young man's expression.
"Even though she's called a Fairy Goddess, she's not very useful."
Kai answered, looking even grumpier.
"But Kai, thanks to the Fairy Goddess, we know what we're supposed to do!"
Elly argued, trying to defend the Fairy Goddess she had never even seen with her own eyes.
"But Elly, all we learned is that this idiot needs to get close to the girls here… I don't think that helps at all!"
Claire said irritably, pointing at Kai with her index finger.
"That's true… that information is pretty useless— Wait! Who are you calling an idiot!?"
Claire shot Kai a sharp glare that clearly said, "Who else do you think I'm talking about?"Receiving that intimidating look, Kai could only nod. He had to admit he didn't really fall into the category of smart people, though he still didn't look pleased about it.
"But we just need to get closer to Kai, right? Isn't that easy?!"
Elly asked, looking completely unconcerned about the method.
Claire immediately held her head the moment she heard Elly's response.
"Now, Elly… are you really sure about that?"
Claire asked, her expression serious.
"Yes, of course… why? What's wrong?"
Elly replied, tilting her head with several invisible question marks floating around her.
"Elly, the person we're talking about is him! The pervert who tried to peek at us! Do you think a guy like that doesn't have any ulterior motives?!"
Claire said angrily, pointing straight at Kai. The man in question quickly averted his eyes as he was reminded of that incident.
"Hmph! But wasn't that just Kai's plan to bring Kurt and Katie closer together? That's true, right, Kai?!"
Elly asked, her gaze turning ominously dark.
"Yes, of course! I'm the number one Kurt–Katie supporter! So you don't need to worry!"
Kai answered quickly, trembling as he spoke. He even gave Elly a thumbs-up to reassure her.
"That's what he said, Claire!"
Elly said brightly, turning toward Claire with a lovely wide smile. Seeing that, Claire could only feel even more concerned for her.
"Are you really going to trust such a suspicious explanation?"
"Of course! You wouldn't lie to us, right, Kai?"
"Yes, of course! I would never lie!"
Kai visibly trembled in fear as he answered Elly's question, causing Claire to look at him with growing suspicion.
He's definitely hiding something, Claire thought as she narrowed her eyes.
"Now then, if you're really telling the truth, can you explain what exactly you're hiding?"
Claire asked, her tone sharp and interrogative.
"W-what are you talking about?! I'm not hiding anything!"
Kai replied in a panic.
"Is that really so?"
Claire asked again, her glare even sharper than before.
"Y-yes..."
Kai muttered, looking away.
"Answer me properly!"
"I'm sorry!"
Kai immediately dropped to his knees before Claire and Elly the moment Claire shouted at him. He felt like his life would be in danger if he kept denying it.
"So, can you explain what actually happened?"
Claire asked with a smile—though of course, it was not the sweet kind of smile Elly always showed, but a terrifying one that clearly said, 'You'll regret it if you lie again.'
Covered in cold sweat, Kai could only nod before finally telling Claire and Elly the truth.
"I see… I suppose that does make more sense."
That was Claire's first response after hearing Kai's real explanation. She still looked unsatisfied, but she no longer pressured him as harshly as before.
"But Kai… why didn't you just tell us from the start? Why didn't you say that you actually need to get close to everyone in this village?"
Elly asked curiously. She didn't look angry at all, even though Kai had lied to her earlier.
"Hmm… well, that's actually…"
Kai hesitated for a moment, but in the end, he decided to answer.
"It's because I don't want to get close to the men! For your information, I'm still 1000% normal, so I'm not interested in men—much less forming any sort of close relationship with them!"
For some reason, tears streamed heavily from Kai's eyes as he said that.
"Why are you suddenly crying like that?"
Claire asked in confusion as she scratched the back of her head.
"Even if you have to interact with the men in this village, including the older folks… that doesn't mean you'll become their lover. You're just going to be close friends, so there's nothing for you to worry about."
Claire added, trying to calm Kai, who was still crying.
"To be honest… something bad happened to me on my first day in this village…"
Kai said as he dug up a memory buried deep within his mind.
"It happened inside the mine… and I… no! I don't want to remember it! I don't want to get close to any man ever again!"
Kai clutched his head with both hands, trying to erase a memory that should never have existed. Seeing that, Claire couldn't bring herself to force him to explain, even though she was extremely curious. She understood that he had gone through something deeply traumatic.
"Um… Kai… what about Kurt? Aren't you two good friends?"
Elly asked cautiously, afraid she might touch on something sensitive.
"As for him, that's fine… he's my walking wallet, so I have no problem with him!"
Kai said with a thumbs-up, indicating he was completely fine with that part.
"If Kurt ever hears that, he'll beat you up immediately and stop giving you lunch!"
Claire said, finally grasping the nature of Kai and Kurt's relationship.
"In that case, it seems like we can give it a try!"
Claire said as she began walking toward the exit of Elly's shop. Goldchick followed closely behind her.
"Um, Claire… where are you going?"
Elly asked, curious.
"Where else? Obviously to the place where we can make this idiot start getting close to someone and collect all the items Grandma Lyla mentioned!"
Claire answered as she turned her head slightly toward Kai and Elly.
"And… where exactly is that place?"
Kai asked, looking confused. He had a bad feeling about this, but his curiosity was stronger, so he decided to ask anyway.
"Of course it's that place!"
Claire replied with a wide smile—one that made Kai certain his bad feeling was absolutely correct.