Roka
According to the head assistant, Loyd-san, I need to make a good impression. He saved my father’s life, after all.
But I reeeeeally don’t want to do this. Thanks to him, I lost the bet and now I have to work with the magical idiots tomorrow. And of course they all went:
“Haha, you lost! No excuses!”
Infuriating.
But I digress. The Hero looks normal enough… except for the thing with the doors.
I mean—what the hell was that about?
Just thinking about it makes me angry again.
Who appraises a lady of royalty without permission?
Not that I can even be considered a proper lady in the first place… so it wasn’t all bad.
He did apologize, after all.
I open the door.
“Shanon, you’re not staying?”
“No need.”
But she always stays. All my sisters had their interviews with her in the room. Sometimes she leaves halfway through, other times she stays till the end.
Ah—my father is coming. Shanon walks past me and raises her hand.
“He’s one of the good ones. He finds you attractive, and I don’t mean just your body.”
My face heats up instantly. She closes the door behind me.
He’s covering his face.
Is he blushing?
Oh crap—now I’m blushing.
I stand there for a bit, trying to compose myself. The maids finish setting up and leave. I turn my head just in time to see my father being dragged away by Shanon and Loyd-san.
Clack.
The door closes.
Oh crap. I’m alone with him.
He keeps stealing glances at me. I take a step forward. He tries to stand but bumps his knee on the table—somehow—and collapses. I rush to help but trip on my dress and we knock heads.
After recovering, he gets up and helps me to my feet. I take his hand.
He seems kind. And considerate.
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“Well… now that we’re both done embarrassing ourselves, why don’t we get started?”
I nod.
“Mmm…”
He pulls out a chair for me. I sit. He sits.
“Ah, Sir Kaijuu, I’m sorry for the whole pickax—”
Cacha.
I bite my tongue. Hard.
I slam my head on the table and pound my fist repeatedly. It hurts so much.
Ah! OH SHIT. Think, girl—where are you!?
I take a quick peek.
He’s not even looking at me.
He’s staring off to the side… pretending to whistle.
Pffft.
I almost laugh. We gather ourselves. I can’t stop tapping my finger on the table.
Am I… nervous?
Say something, girl!
“Ah, Sir Kaijuu—”
He looks at me. I look down.
“Regarding this marriage thing, um—”
“Please call me Ryu. And… I came here to reject it.”
He’s blushing again.
Reject.
Reject.
REJECT.
A metaphorical brick labeled Rejection drops squarely onto my head.
“Princess—Princess Roka.”
I look up.
“Ah! I mean, I was against it at first. I mean, I don’t even know you.”
I still have a chance.
Wait—
A chance?
No no no no—NO.
It can’t be.
Is this… what my sisters meant?
“Hey… are you listening?”
I jolt upright.
“Please excuse me.”
He closes his eyes, thinks for a moment, then opens them.
“Let’s change topics. There are a few things I want to know.”
“Yes, let’s talk about something else. I also want to confirm some rumors I heard.”
“Rumors? What rumors?”
“No, you first, Sir Kaijuu— I mean, Ryu-san.”
“Very well. Why do you have indoor plumbing? Isn’t this another world? Also, what were you doing out there in the New Section? And how do people here know about things from my world?”
He peppers me with questions. I instinctively lean back. I can almost feel the words whooshing past my face.
He looks so serious—hands folded in front of his mouth.
I take a breath.
Ah. Got it.
“Ryu-san, I can answer your questions by telling you about my mother.”
“Your mother, huh? I see. Go on.”
“My mother passed away when I was about nine. She used to tell me about indoor plumbing and how great it was. I asked questions; she always answered. At bedtime she offered stories, but I just wanted to know more facts. I prefer facts over fiction.
“As it turns out, she also came from your world. You aren’t the first, and you won’t be the last. The New Section is my way of fulfilling her wishes. Not that she ever said it outright—I just understood it that way. The New Section is a massive sewer system.
“So… Ryu-san. I have a suggestion.”
“Go on.”
“Instead of marriage… what about dating for a bit? At least until I finish construction. Then we can decide whether to revisit the marriage.”
I’m rambling. I can’t stop myself.
OH GOD.
I asked him!?
I did. I asked him.
Shit—what if he says no? I’ll dissolve into the floor.
I grab my head and shake it.
“All right.”
I lift my head.
“All right?”
“Yes.”
Oh god, what do I do—
Ah! He’s blushing.
That’s good, right?
He clears his throat. I straighten up.
“Now for your questions, Princess.”
I need to calm down. Deep breath.
“When you saved my father’s life… what did you do?”
“I can’t tell you.”
He stonewalls me.
What the hell?
“Then how did you kill that Level 115 Orc?”
“I can’t tell you.”
Again!?
“Why?”
He looks deadly serious.
“I beg your pardon, but disclosing that would be dangerous for everyone.”
I don’t understand. Start making sense!
No—focus. Strategy.
All I need is one answer. A small one.
Then I can push deeper.
Thank you, etiquette classes.
“Sir Kaijuu… what’s your level?”
“24.”
…24?
Doesn’t he mean 124 or something?
“I think I misheard you.”
I laugh nervously.
“No. It’s 24. I am Level 24. Use Appraise if you don’t believe me.”
I do.
It’s seriously 24.
WTF!?
“But then the Orc—how did—”
He raises a finger.
“Yes yes, you can’t say. At least tell me this: was the Orc badly hurt before you killed it?”
“Ye-yes!”
He looks away. His voice goes unnaturally high.
He’s lying.
I give him a suspicious stare.
He’s sweating bullets.
“I-It really w-was almost dead!”
He waves his hands wildly.
“Tuesday afternoon! We’ll have lunch!”
He shouts this as he makes a beeline for the door.
He ran.
He actually ran.
