"…I-I knew it! There are so many interesting ones! The designs are seriously cool too…! I-I want one!" *Ancient Artifact*
"Yeah, it's cool. I want it too."
—A full week had passed since that day. Reviving the kids and even the aggressor that cut out their hearts, and making them all forget, and then explaining to damned Aldi what happened.
After that incident, I went straight to a certain place, handled some business, then escaped—no, I holed myself up in an inn for several days, focusing solely on reapplying the **Dimension Resurrection** spell that had come undone.
Creating and casting it again was so excruciating that I nearly died for real this time.
After that, I hid—no, I was "recuperating"—until the long-awaited day of the **Hero's Birthday Festival** arrived, the day of the **Ancient Artifact Exhibition**.
And so, on the day of the festival…
The weather was perfect from the morning, and the whole town was buzzing with bright, festive energy.
The ideal day for appreciating magical tools.
I tried not to get caught—no, I was so excited that I arrived at the venue two hours early and lurked nearby, waiting for the doors to open so I could slip in without being noticed.
As a result… when the time came, I handed over the pair ticket, entered, took my reserved seat in the ancient artifact exhibition hall, and began viewing an incredible array of priceless relics.
It was… a sight any magical tool fanatic would trade a thousand gold coins for without hesitation.
Naturally, as someone who loves magical tools more than almost anything, I was having the time of my life. Or at least… I *should* have been.
"…Next up is a demonstration of the **Myriad Mirage**! …But seriously, this is way too fun—I can't even think about anything except magical tools right now!"
"Yes, I love you. I really, really like you. I want to be with you forever."
Without even glancing sideways, I raised my voice while staring straight ahead. I was saying this to the artifacts.
From my right came a completely contextless reply.
N-no… it really *is* fun… the exhibition itself is insanely enjoyable, but…
"Hey, Rei."
"…What?"
Someone called out to me, so I responded.
"Nothing. I just wanted to call your name."
Saying that, the person's cheeks softened into a blissful smile, as though they were savoring something precious.
"Um… Eve? Could you move away a little…? And also, please stop staring at me like that…?"
Unable to endure any longer, I turned to the person sitting—no, practically sharing my seat—right beside me: Eve Durkis.
I muttered in a strained voice. She was way too close. It was hot. Uncomfortable.
"…Was I being a nuisance?"
"N-no, it's not that it bothers me or anything… there's just no need to lean in *this* close. It's suffocating…"
"Hmm… I understand."
Saying so, Eve pouted slightly, looking sulky, and reluctantly pulled back to her own seat.
Then, with her left hand, she gently pinched the hem of my clothes—as if to say she refused to be separated from me even for a second.
"…And stop staring. It's making me nervous."
Even after moving away, Eve continued gazing up at me with those blank, dreamy eyes.
She'd been staring at my face the entire time—even during the artifact demonstrations.
What did you even come here for?
Eve replied "I understand" to my words, but her eyes never left me for even a moment.
She clearly did *not* understand.
"…Haa."
Honestly… I was supposed to enjoy this exhibition alone today.
I'd bought a pair ticket precisely so I could use both seats, sprawl out comfortably, and savor every moment.
…But when I entered the venue full of excitement and headed to my seat, Eve was already there.
Waiting in *my* seat.
I tried to kick her out. I mean, I had a pair ticket—I had the right to both seats.
But in the end, I couldn't drive her away… and so here we are, with her constantly talking to me from right beside me.
After hearing the full story, I learned that Eve was the (adopted) daughter of the organizer of this very exhibition.
Moreover, they doted on her extremely… so expelling some random D-class adventurer who happened to win a ticket was child's play for them.
Yeah. I feel like crying.
"—Rei." This again?
Just as I was about to break down in tears, Eve called out again.
I answered in a lifeless monotone: "…What is it?"
"I love you. I love you so much."
"..."
Eve gazed at me with moist, adoring eyes and delivered yet another passionate love declaration.
It was seriously bad for my mental health.
…For the past week, she'd been doing this every chance she got—clinging to me like a baby bird, rubbing against me, telling me she loved me over and over.
My head was spinning. In the *bad* way.
How did the cool, silent, expressionless Eve turn into this love-obsessed machine?
I don't get it. …Well, I *do* get the reason. I understand logically, but emotionally I just can't process it.
"…Look, Eve, your feelings are just a misunderstanding. Sure, it was me back then, but I was only doing it for my own selfish reasons. I never intended to 'save' you or anything—"
I explained again, as I had countless times already.
"But that's fine. It's true that Rei saved me… My feelings for Rei won't change."
"Well… yeah, but…? Also, my name is Jirei, not Rei…"
"…It's like a special nickname. It makes me feel closer to you, so I love it."
Eve declared it proudly, puffing out her chest with a smug "hmph."
No—that was code for "stop correcting me."
"…Anyway, let's put that aside. More importantly, I already firmly refused you earlier, right…?"
A week ago, out of nowhere, she suddenly confessed that she wanted to date me.
I was completely baffled and didn't understand what was happening at all, so I answered honestly: "Uh… no, I can't do that."
Then, after she clung to me and refused to let go, I finally got her to explain—and that's when I understood.
In short… the gray-haired girl I trained and messed around with four years ago was Eve.
And the "Rei" she'd been trying to resurrect with the Blessing of the World Tree… was me.
What the hell kind of plot twist is that? I don't even want this.
Apparently she'd loved me ever since I "saved" her, and no matter how many years it took, she was determined to bring me back and confess.
So she confessed right then and there.
So dramatic… (This is not my problem.)
…But honestly, when she first told me that the gray-haired girl and Eve were the same person, it didn't click at all.
Her hair and eye color are completely different now.
She also seems way more expressive than I remember… and to begin with, I only ever thought of her as "the gray-haired girl," so of course I didn't notice.
When I asked why her hair and eyes changed, she just said "…It's a secret" and wouldn't tell me.
I still have no idea what happened.
Besides, she keeps saying I "saved" her… but that's wrong.
I was just doing whatever I felt like for my own sake.
Crushing slave traders? That was because *I* hated them, and it helped me on the path to becoming a hero. I gave that up.
Giving her a name and a goal? Because her gloomy, resigned attitude pissed me off.
In other words—everything was for *me*.
I never once thought I was "saving" anyone.
So I told her clearly: it's a misunderstanding, a delusion, please forget about it.
I even explained very politely that my eyes are cloudy, I'm not a good person, etc., hoping she'd give up.
I almost teared up saying it myself.
"Yeah, you refused me. But… I don't want to."
Eve pouted, looking sulky and childish.
"I don't want to…" Are you five?
"Even if you say that, I—"
"…Rei, four years ago you told me: 'Live however you want.'"
"Guh… Y-yeah, I did say that, but…"
"You said, 'Don't worry about what other people think—just do whatever you feel like doing.'"
Eve pursed her lips and spoke in a pouty voice.
I had nothing to say. I could only groan "Ughhh…"
Past me, what the hell were you telling people?!
"Besides… when I asked you before, Rei, you said you didn't have anyone you liked. So… that means I have a chance, right?"
Eve pressed her body closer again, appealing to me aggressively.
"…That's not the issue here. I've said it a million times—I have no intention of getting into that kind of relationship with *anyone*. So stop."
Seriously, after I refused her confession a week ago, she looked sad and asked, "Rei… do you already have someone you like…?"
I answered honestly: "Huh? No, I don't…"
That was my fatal mistake.
Hearing that, Eve looked down, hiding her face, and murmured "…I see…" and backed off for a moment.
I thought she'd finally understood, so I relaxed, went straight to a nearby inn, collapsed into bed without eating, and felt blissfully happy under the warm blankets.
The next morning, I woke up slightly hungry to the smell of something delicious.
Thinking maybe the inn lady made breakfast, I got up… and there was Eve, wearing a cute apron, serving a perfectly healthy homemade breakfast.
I froze in confusion.
She greeted me casually: "Good morning… Rei, your hair's sticking up," and smiled softly.
My brain couldn't keep up. After a full five minutes of freezing, I finally asked:
"…What are you doing?"
"I'm trying to make you fall in love with me."
That was her answer.
I froze again.
After my head finally calmed down and I asked for details… apparently, since I didn't have anyone I liked, she decided that making me breakfast and spending time together would make me like her.
What kind of logic is that?
And thus began the relentless "I love you" offensive.
I couldn't take it anymore, so I immediately changed inns and went into hiding, hoping that if I disappeared she'd give up.
Please give up.
"Then… even if it's not a romantic relationship, just let me stay by your side."
But I *really* wanted to see this artifact exhibition, so I came anyway… and this is what happened.
She showed zero signs of giving up.
…Maybe I need to be harsher. Maybe I have to shut this down firmly right here.
"Let me be very clear… I—"
"—And if you stay with me, you'll benefit. I won't let you regret it."
"…Benefit?"
I couldn't help asking.
What possible benefit could there be? This feels like nothing but loss for me—
"—I own a ton of magical tools. …Including ancient artifacts, of course."
"…So what?"
She did mention before that she had the ancient artifact **Devil Wing** and that her family kept a bunch more… but what does that have to do with anything?
"…That one."
Eve pointed at an ancient artifact on display, then another, murmuring "That one too," "This one too"…
What is she trying to do?
While I was puzzled by her sudden behavior—
"—They're all mine. …If Rei stays with me, I'll give them to you."
She said that.
…Wait… huh? For real!?
"N-no way! There's no way I'd fall for such an obvious sweet-talking trick! Stop it already!"
"…Your body is being honest, though."
Eve pointed at me—apparently I had unconsciously hugged the display case of one of the artifacts.
"…Also, I love magical tools just as much as Rei does. We can talk about them all the time. Our hobbies match perfectly. Every day would be fun."
"Ugh… guh… guhhhh…"
Eve whispered devilishly sweet temptations right into my ear.
What is this?! That's so unfair! Way too dirty…!
"I know it'd be a bother to be together all the time, so you don't have to. Just… one day a week. Spend one day with me, listen to just a 'few' of my requests… is that no good?"
As I clutched my head desperately trying to suppress my desires, she delivered the finishing blow.
My spirit was on the verge of collapse.
"…Really just one day?"
Before I knew it, those words slipped out.
Eve's face lit up. "—! …Yes, just one day!" she nodded eagerly.
…No, this is *not* me giving in to desire or anything like that.
Our interests simply aligned, creating a win-win situation.
I made a rational, logical decision.
Yes. I am correct. I am absolutely in the right.
"Then… please sign here."
"Got it!"
Without thinking, I quickly filled out the paper she handed me—name, blood stamp, and… done! Perfect!
"…Huh? Wait… this looks kinda like a magical contract form… And now that I think about it, why do we even need to write something like—"
After I finished, I felt something off and tried to check the paper again…
But Eve swiftly snatched it back and stuffed it into her handbag.
Suspicious. Very suspicious.
"Hey, I didn't look properly earlier—can I see that paper one more time—"
"—It's fine. There's nothing important written on it."
Eve held the bag behind her back, physically distancing it from me.
A very bad feeling crept over me.
"…"
"…Ah—wait—"
Silently, I used an advanced application of **Spatial Teleport** to transfer the paper from her bag straight into my hand—ignoring her panicked voice—and read it.
————————————————————
[Beginner Level]
■ Eat breakfast together.
■ Hold hands while going out.
■ Eat lunch together.
■ Talk about magical tools.
■ Eat dinner together.
■ Sleep in the same bed.
↓
————————————————————
"Wh… what the hell is this…?"
I let out a stunned voice without thinking.
No, forget the fact that this was almost a magical contract that I nearly signed—none of that matters right now. The real problem is—
"Um… what are all these items lined up like this…?"
The issue was the tiny text crammed into the contract's detailed clauses.
Everything listed there was written as "must be performed at all times."
Why is a full daily schedule packed in here…?
Also, what's with the [Beginner] level? There are [Intermediate] and [Advanced] levels listed below, but they're so terrifying I don't even want to look.
"…Nothing special. Nothing at all."
"That is *not* normal."
There's no way I can survive this. My daily schedule is packed to the brim—I'd die of exhaustion by the end of the day.
"Also… what was that last part that was blacked out…? I'm really curious."
I pointed at the bottom item that had been completely censored and asked.
Why was only that one blacked out?
Eve's face turned bright crimson.
"…I can't say. It's embarrassing."
She covered her face with both hands and looked down shyly.
What kind of reaction is that…?
"…But if Rei would marry me… then I'd be okay with it. It'll be my first time, but I'll do my very best."
"…"
Eve declared it with her face tomato-red.
I didn't fully understand, but I silently vowed to tear this magical contract to shreds later.
"Anyway, this is way too much… physically and mentally impossible… Why did you cram in so much? It's obviously undoable."
Hearing that,
"…Because I want to be with Rei."
Eve muttered with pursed lips, pouting like a child again.
Has she been mentally regressing lately?
"…Let's just pretend this conversation never happened—"
I tried to say.
"…No."
Eve shook her head and tightened her grip on my clothes.
"I don't want to."
"Well, if there's no one Rei likes… then I still have a chance. I'll definitely make you like me. I won't give up."
Eve looked up at me with determined eyes and declared it firmly.
Seriously, stop. Please give up.
After that, no matter how many times I said "Just act like this never happened," she refused.
In the end, I created a fake magical contract with magic, somehow managed to placate her, and barely survived what should have been the most enjoyable magical tool exhibition of my life—emerging in a state of total mental and physical exhaustion.
I returned to the inn immediately, tore the real contract into pieces, and collapsed face-down onto the bed.
As I felt the comforting blanket against my face, inviting me into sleep… I thought:
—Seriously… what the hell am I supposed to do about this?