Stepping out of Elise’s shop, I resumed my leisurely stroll down the main street. The fortune-telling results were still weighing on my mind, but Elise had insisted that divination was merely one possible guide for the future—nothing more than a hint that I shouldn't get too hung up on.
Feeling a twinge of guilt about leaving after a free reading, I had picked up a few local charms to compensate her. Elise had looked skeptical when I first walked in, but by the time I left, she’d told me, "I suppose I wouldn't mind if you came back as a paying customer," so I’d like to think we’d managed to bridge the gap between us at least a little.
Anyway, what should I do now? Maybe I’d drop by Alice’s shop. To be fair, Alice would appear the second I called for her, but for some reason, whenever I wanted to hang out with her, I felt compelled to actually walk to her general store. There was something undeniably cozy about that place.
As I wandered along, lost in thought, I spotted a familiar face approaching from the opposite direction—though she was dressed in a way I’d never seen before.
"Fufu, marshmallows~ Sweet, sweet marshmallows~"
She was humming a little tune to herself, clutching a cute glass jar. The moment her eyes met mine, she froze as if she’d been petrified.
"..."
"..."
An agonizing, leaden silence stretched between us. She turned a shade of pale that made my heart ache for her, a cold sweat instantly drenching her brow.
"...Um, look, I didn't see anything. Wh-What a coincidence, Luna-san."
"Y-Yes... Th-That’s right."
Indeed, the woman standing before me was Lunamaria. She wasn't wearing her usual maid uniform; instead, she was dressed in casual, civilian clothes.
Judging by her outfit, today was her day off. She must have gone into the city to shop, bought a jar of her favorite marshmallows, and bumped into me while heading home in high spirits.
"Are you out shopping?"
"Yes, well..."
"...Do you like marshmallows?"
"T-To some extent..."
I tried my best to keep the conversation afloat, but watching her avoid my gaze while trembling with embarrassment made it difficult. It was painful to watch.
I’d already deduced her love for marshmallows from previous run-ins, so the fact that she was buying them wasn't a shock. The real problem was that mysterious song she’d been singing.
Between her refined speech, her polished looks, and her professional demeanor as a maid, anyone who didn't know her well would assume Lunamaria was a cool, composed woman. In reality, however, she had a surprisingly childish side. She loved pranks, got incredibly stubborn when provoked, hated bitter things like coffee, and—according to some intel I’d accidentally gathered from Noah-san—she apparently had a soft spot for plushies.
Despite this gap in her personality, she was intensely embarrassed by it. It had been the same during the karaoke contest; seeing her like this always made me feel like I was intruding on something I shouldn't have.
"...Miyama-sama, I have a proposal."
"Eh? Oh, sure. What is it?"
"You enjoy hot milk, don't you?"
"U-Um, yes, I do."
"If you have the time, my home is nearby. Why don't you stop by for a moment? I have some delicious sweets as well."
"Huh? Ah, sure. If it's not a bother..."
I tilted my head at the sudden invitation. To be honest, I didn't quite catch her angle. Calling it a simple social invitation felt wrong given the flow of the conversation. Was her goal just to treat me to snacks? I still didn't understand why.
"In exchange, you are to strike the preceding events from your memory and never speak a word of them to another soul."
"...Understood."
I see, it was a deal. Come to think of it, Lunamaria had done this before. She’d once promised not to tease me about my hatred of green peppers as long as I didn't bring up her fear of bugs.
Maybe she made a point of offering conditions whenever she asked for a favor. As a former adventurer, credibility was likely everything in her old line of work, so it might have been a lingering habit from those days.
Personally, I had no intention of blabbing even without a deal, but if accepting her terms would put her at ease, I saw no reason to refuse. Besides, I was curious about where she lived.
Lunamaria led me to a residential district tucked away from the main street. Her house, sitting in a quiet corner, was... well, it might sound rude to say, but it was remarkably normal.
It was a two-story standalone house that wasn't particularly large. It looked like the kind of place that would be perfect for a family of three—a completely average home. For me, however, that was exactly what made it feel fresh.
"It’s a nice place. Very calm."
"It might be a bit cramped, but please, come in."
Most of the people I’d met in this world lived in places that defied the word "average." Between Lilia-san’s mansion, Isis-san’s castle, and Fate-san’s temple, I was used to grand architecture. Even Sieg-san’s home, which was modest by comparison, was built into a hollowed-out tree in the elven style. Alice’s shop was even weirder, since the interior was expanded by space magic.
Thinking about it that way, this was likely the first time I’d stepped into a residence that felt truly familiar to my Japanese sensibilities.
Dear Mother, Father—It might be a stroke of bad luck for Lunamaria, but for me, having been unsure of what to do with my afternoon, this worked out perfectly. Normally, she’s busy with her duties, so we rarely get the chance to talk like this. We’ve known each other for quite a while now, and I hope I can use this opportunity to truly deepen our bond.
Serious-senpai: "It’s time for a serious scene! ...Wait, it’s not!?"
???: "You're one chapter late."