The scent of black tea softly tickled my nose.
Elicia and I sat across from one another at the table. A short distance away, the adults were gathered, chatting happily among themselves. From the snippets I could overhear, it sounded like the negotiations for an engagement between Elicia and me were actually moving forward.
...Though Elicia’s family would probably turn it down in the end.
I mean, my mana is total garbage. Headline: Local Boy’s Mana Is Absolute Trash.
Perhaps it was because my older brother and his fiancée—Elicia’s older sister—were also mingling with our parents further away, but the focus of the conversation naturally drifted toward them.
That was a lifesaver for me. I think I’d actually die if someone told me to my face that I was a lost cause. Besides, honestly, just playing the role of a silent listener was boring anyway.
"…The tea will get cold, you know?"
With those words, Elicia gently nudged her cup toward me.
"Ah, thanks."
I hadn't even noticed until she spoke up. It seemed I had drifted off, thinking about that crystal from yesterday again... wait, no. I meant that Toy◯Rus clearance item.
As I lifted my cup, Elicia lowered her gaze slightly.
"I heard a magic tutor visited you yesterday."
—Oh boy.
She went straight for the heart of the matter.
"…Well, yeah."
I could have tried to dodge the question, but I had a feeling I wouldn't be able to pull one over on this girl.
"Knowing you, Luka-sama, I'm sure the results were wonderful."
Elicia stared at me, her eyes sparkling with genuine expectation.
"…Ahaha, well, you see..."
There was nothing! (My mana, that is!)
For a moment, Elicia paused, seemingly choosing her words with care.
"…I’m sorry. Was that something I shouldn't have asked?"
I’d made her worry. She really was a good girl, through and through.
"It's fine. According to the teacher, the amount is below average. No other talents to speak of, either."
I intended to laugh it off with a casual "ahaha," but even to my own ears, my voice sounded dry and hollow.
It was fine. I’d just go till the fields in the countryside. Maybe my produce would reach everyone’s hands someday; I should start thinking of a brand name.
"I'm a little frustrated, though, since people had such high expectations."
When I said that, Elicia didn't respond immediately. Instead, she took a slow, deliberate sip of her tea before turning her gaze straight toward me.
"…I," she began. Her voice was soft, yet it possessed a firm core of conviction. "I do not believe that people with magical talent are necessarily great."
"…"
"It is true that your older brother and my sister are excellent. However," she paused, a small smile playing on her lips, "that is no reason for you to be considered inferior, Luka-sama."
…Wait. Is there an adult inside her? Those aren't the kind of lines a seven-year-old should be saying at all.
"Besides," Elicia continued, "I know many of your good qualities, Luka-sama."
"Eh?"
"You aren't strangely arrogant, and you truly listen to what I have to say." Her cheeks turned a faint shade of red. "…People like that are precious."
My heart gave a strange, violent thump.
God, I love her. I could work myself to the bone as a farmer just for this girl’s sake. Her eyes didn't care about mana or talent or any of that status nonsense.
"…Thank you."
That was all I could manage to squeeze out. I really needed to start drafting a plan to shift my life into one of those "slow life in another world" scenarios.
Elicia smiled, looking relieved.
"If you are feeling down…" She hesitated for a moment before adding, "I will always be by your side."
"…Elicia-sama,"
"Fufu."
Even her laugh was too refined. She was beautiful. Maybe I’ll become a sculptor instead. I’ll carve statues of Elicia all over The Kingdom. (Truly a terrorist mindset.)
"By the way, Luka-sama, when are you going to stop using '-sama' with me?"
"Eh? No, but you're also using it with me…"
"I don't mind."
Could she please stop entering tyrant mode so suddenly?
"Despite meeting so many times, I still feel a sense of distance between us." Elicia averted her eyes slightly. She looked somewhat dissatisfied—and yet, strangely lonely.
…Ah, I see. This was a test of my manhood.
Heh, don't underestimate me. I’m a former Japanese man overflowing with Yamato Spirit; a challenge like this is a piece of cake.
"…Then," I started. Wait, maybe it actually was impossible. I hesitated for a heartbeat before opening my mouth again. "…Is 'Elicia' okay?"
At those words, her face went blank for a split second—and then she beamed, her expression lighting up like a flower in full bloom.
"Yes!" she replied, short and sweet, sounding genuinely happy.
She was so incredibly cute!
"Then, I shall also…" She leaned forward slightly. "Call you 'Luka'."
…Ah. (Evaporation complete.)
The destructive power of being called by my name without an honorific was far too high.
"…Yeah."
I managed to grunt out a reply, and Elicia nodded contentedly.
"Fufu. Now, we've become a little closer."
"A little" didn't even begin to cover it. We were already at what people call "serious-crush distance."
Just then, the voices of the adults drifted over. "Shall we bring this gathering to a close soon?"
The signal that our peaceful time had reached its end. Elicia stood up, looking just as reluctant as I felt. As she turned to leave, she whispered in a small voice, looking back at me one last time.
"…Even without mana, Luka is just Luka, after all."
She left me with that final smile.
—Ah, man. My life in another world was certainly heading in a different direction than I’d imagined. But even if my mana was trash, if it led to a meeting like this… then maybe it wasn't so bad after all.