I rowed the boat slowly toward the center of the lake. Just as I reached the middle and prepared to rest the oars and take in the scenery, Olivia-san spoke up immediately, as if she had been waiting for that very moment.
"Miyama Kaito-sama, let us switch places now. As I thought, such menial labor should be handled by me..."
"No, no, I'm fine. Besides, it's dangerous to try and swap seats on such a small boat."
"B-But still... I cannot allow Miyama Kaito-sama to exert himself any further..."
To someone like Olivia-san, who possessed power rivaling that of a Supreme God, watching my meager strength struggle with the oars must have been worrying. To her, it probably looked like I was engaged in some sort of back-breaking, Herculean task.
On top of that, I was the recipient of Shiro-san's Blessing and her lover besides. Olivia-san was clearly determined to be the one doing the work.
As I was pondering this, she seemed to decide on a more forceful approach. Her eyes filled with resolve, and she stood up abruptly.
"Regardless, I shall take over from here!"
"Ah, wait—whoa!?"
"Miyama Kaito-sama!?"
While a rocking boat wouldn't have bothered Olivia-san in the slightest, the sudden movement caught me off guard and sent me stumbling.
I wasn't in any real danger of falling overboard since I had been sitting down, but I was about to slam into the gunwale. Before I could, a panicked Olivia-san snatched my hand and yanked me toward her.
I appreciated the save, but I was stunned when she pulled me directly into her arms, hugging me from the front as if to shield me.
"Are you all right!? My deepest apologies! Are you injured!?"
"Ah, um, I'm okay. I didn't hit anything..."
"T-Thank goodness... That was careless of me. I am truly sorry."
"No, please don't worry about it. More importantly, um..."
"Is something—!? M-My apologies!"
Since we had been sitting face-to-face, her pulling my hand had naturally caused me to lunge forward. The result was Olivia-san catching me and pressing me right against her chest.
She was neither too large nor too small, but there was a definite, unmistakable softness to her, accompanied by a pleasant fragrance. I couldn't stay like that forever, so when I spoke up, she finally realized the situation and hurriedly pulled away.
After gently helping me back into my seat, Olivia-san retreated to her own side of the boat, her face flushed bright red.
"...Um, thank you for the help."
"N-No, it was my fault for standing up so suddenly to begin with... I have been incredibly rude."
"Don't let it bother you. But as I said, switching seats seems dangerous, so I'll keep rowing..."
"No, I really must be the one. Next time, I will use magic to fix the boat in place so it does not rock."
She was proving to be unexpectedly stubborn. However, I had a bit of pride myself. If I switched with her now, Olivia-san would likely spend the rest of the trip acting as a mechanical servant, moving the boat exactly as I instructed without enjoying a moment of it.
So, how to proceed? Should I force the issue? I had a card in my hand that I rarely used—one that was effectively absolute when dealing with her. If I played it now, I could definitely get my way.
"Hmm. I really want you to enjoy the scenery, Olivia-san, so I'd prefer to be the one rowing, but..."
"No, there is no need for me to enjoy myself. What must be prioritized is ensuring no burden is placed upon Miyama Kaito-sama."
"I see... I understand your perspective. But before we go any further, could I confirm one thing?"
"Yes?"
As Olivia-san tilted her head curiously, I decided to play my trump card.
"I heard this from the Supreme Gods once, but because I have Shiro-san's Main Blessing, I possess something equivalent to Absolute Command Authority over the Gods, right?"
"Eh? Yes, that is correct. No member of the Gods would ever dream of disobeying your orders, Miyama Kaito-sama."
"...Does that include you, Olivia-san?"
"..."
The realization of where I was going with this hit her instantly, and her face went pale. Her eyes darted back and forth in agitation, but she still answered my question honestly.
"...It does."
"I thought so."
"Miyama Kaito-sama! Please reconsider! I beg of you!"
"I will row the boat. Olivia-san, you will sit there and enjoy the scenery... That is an order."
When I delivered the command with a smile, Olivia-san looked up at the sky as if she had lost everything. Then, with a slightly pouting expression, she whispered.
"Understood... Miyama Kaito-sama, you are a little mean."
Her voice held a touch of exasperation, but it wasn't just my imagination—she sounded significantly gentler than she had before.
Serious-senpai: "They're flirting! These two are totally flirting!!"
???: "I think Olivia-san is starting to open her heart, bit by bit."