Despite the initial hiccups, our date continued smoothly, largely because my companion was practically the strongest person alive.
"Look, look, Kaito-kun! They’re selling seasonings that were introduced by a Hero-role."
"Mayonnaise? Wow, I’m surprised even stuff like that made it over here."
"This might be the perfect chance to try a new flavor!"
"Just please don't try putting it in the baby castella."
"Eh?"
"No, don't just say 'eh'..."
We spent time browsing the markets where groceries were sold...
"Heh, they sell flowers in so many different colors. Seeing things like this really makes me realize I'm in another world."
"Ah, Kaito-kun. Be careful with that flower. It bites."
"Why?! I mean, you should really tell me that kind of thing beforehand!"
"Ahaha, sorry, sorry. But those flowers are delicious, you know?"
"No, no, that makes even less sense."
I ended up getting snapped at by a strangely colored flower at a florist's stand...
"Kaito-kun, which one do you think suits me better?"
"Hmm. Kuro, your usual outfit is black, so I think a silver necklace would look better on you."
"I see. But this one is a bit short. It might snap if I go into Magic Beast Mode."
"What exactly is Magic Beast Mode?"
"It’s what I look like when I take my beast form. It’s roughly the size of Acht."
"Sorry, you've completely lost me."
We did some window shopping at an accessory boutique...
"Kaito-kun, I bought some skewers! Let’s eat together."
"Oh, thanks. Yeah, this is good, but the texture is a bit strange. What kind of meat is it?"
"It’s Tyrant Worm meat."
"Pffft!"
I found myself constantly astonished by the ingredients of this other world...
"What kind of book are you looking for?"
"Hmm. Ideally, something I can read during my downtime. Do you have any recommendations?"
"In that case, how about this? It’s a dramatized novel based on the story of the First Hero."
"Oh, the First Hero? That sounds interesting. I know she was an incredible person, but I’ve always wondered what she was actually like."
"Huh? But Kaito-kun, you 'met her before' too, didn't you?"
"Eh?"
Shocking new revelations came to light at the bookstore...
"Chrome-sama, excuse me for interrupting while you are occupied."
"Whoa! Ein-san?! When did you—"
"Is something the matter?"
"A contact came from the Royal Palace via Hummingbird. They said they wish to meet in person to express their gratitude regarding the earlier wyvern subjugation."
"But I’m in the middle of a date..."
"Understood. I shall go and give them a bloodbath."
"Thanks~"
"No, no, don't say 'thanks'! Ein-san, stop! Sto-o-o-op!"
Just when I thought the threat of the wyverns had passed, an even greater threat—a maid—was about to descend upon the palace.
In that hectic yet joyful manner, time passed in the blink of an eye.
"We played so much! That was so much fun!"
"Yeah. I feel like some outrageous things happened here and there, but you're right—it was fun."
At the Fountain Square, now dyed in the colors of the sunset, we sat side-by-side, chatting as we basked in the lingering glow of the day.
Time really had flown by. When was the last time I’d spent a day that was this noisy, yet this enjoyable?
"Kuro... thank you so much for today."
"Hmm? I had a wonderful time, too. Let's go out together again sometime!"
As Kuro turned to me with a beaming smile, I thanked her with a smile of my own.
Today had been truly wonderful, and I’d learned so many things I hadn't known before. But at the same time, I realized once again that ever since I arrived in this world, I’ve done nothing but receive things from Kuro. I’ve been constantly relying on her.
And simultaneously, I realized that I still don't know the first thing about her.
Kuro acts like she can see right through me, but I only understand a tiny fraction of her true power and depth as the Underworld King. Until now, I thought that was fine. She exists on a completely different level than I do, so it was only natural that she was beyond my comprehension.
But after spending the day with her, I realized I wanted to know her better. I didn't want to just keep receiving; I wanted to give something back to her.
"There’s still plenty of time, so there’s no need to rush."
"Yeah..."
As I thought, she saw right through me.
It’s only been a little over two weeks since I came to this world. The time we’ve spent together hasn't been long by any objective measure. I used to think that things like logic and the passage of time being irrelevant to one's feelings were things that only happened in stories.
But I have to admit it.
The feeling had taken root in my heart before I even realized it—so naturally that I hadn't even noticed until now.
I’ve fallen for her. I’ve fallen for this innocent, bright, free-spirited, and kind, extraordinary demon.
I have a feeling Kuro will be a difficult person to woo. Despite being incredibly sharp about most things, she seems hopelessly dense when it comes to romance. In a way, this might be a reckless challenge. But as she said, there's still time, so I don't need to rush.
I'll get to know her little by little. I'll try to get closer to her heart, one step at a time.
"Kuro, I don't know when the next time will be, but... can I be the one to invite you next time?"
"Yes. I'll be looking forward to it."
For now, I'll start by simply acknowledging these feelings. And next time, I'll try to put those feelings into action. To be honest, this is a first for me, and I’m filled with a mountain of anxieties... but I’m going to try my best.
Dear Mother, Father—In a sense, this might be the biggest change I've experienced since coming to this other world. I, who spent my life running away from connections with others in my old world, met a mysterious demon in this one—and I fell in love.
After parting ways with Kuro at the Fountain Square, I began walking down the sunset-lit path toward Lilia-san's mansion.
Reflecting on the day’s events, a faint smile naturally touched my lips. But after walking for a while, I noticed something strange.
It was dusk, a time when the streets should have been crowded with people heading home or out for dinner. Yet, the wide, straight road was empty—not a single soul in sight. It was wrapped in an eerie silence.
I stopped in my tracks before the clearly abnormal scene. It was as if this specific space had been severed from the rest of the world.
"What... is this—?!"
Immediately after, a chill raced down my spine, and the hair on my arms stood on end.
It was an unidentifiable, terrifying sensation. An image flashed through my mind of the surrounding buildings rotting and melting away, of the road beneath me collapsing. My body began to tremble, and I swallowed hard, the sound echoing in my parched throat.
It wasn't a conscious thought; my entire being—my survival instinct—was screaming a warning.
Something... something utterly terrifying was coming.
This was different from the pressure of magic power I’d felt when Kuro visited the mansion. This was a more primal, hopeless fear that struck at my core as a living creature. To put it into words, it was an aura of death so thick it was almost tangible against my skin.
Then, from the far end of the dim, silent road, it appeared.
Long hair as white as ash. Skin so pale it looked sickly. Crimson eyes as deep and dark as blood.
Clad in a gothic-style dress and shrouded in a faint blue light, a woman approached, floating slightly off the ground. She carried a haunting, eerie presence. She was like a ghost; her face was beautiful enough to be called peerless, but that beauty only served to sharpen the terror she radiated.
I couldn't breathe. My instincts screamed at me to get away, to run immediately.
But contrary to my will, my body was frozen solid.
"Strange magic power... Are you... the Hero?"
A cold voice echoed, and those red eyes locked onto mine.
I felt as though my entire body was being turned to ice. I could only stare vacantly at the woman before me. In the middle of the road, as the sun dipped below the horizon and the world turned to shadow, I stood face-to-face with the Incarnation of Death.