Chapter 9: Chapter 9

There was a sci-fi novel I liked in middle school, and I really loved its first line.

'I'm fucked. That was the conclusion I reached after deep thought. I am fucked.'

Why am I suddenly sharing this TMI?

"You left your handkerchief..."

"Ah, aah?!"

The person involved overheard a beautiful woman with doll-like looks say she was slightly interested, and now he's visibly flustered. If this isn't 'fucked,' then what is?

"Um..."

There's only one way to quickly escape this situation!

"Here's the handkerchief you left."

That is, to run away!!

'Secret technique of the Joestar family, lend me your power!!'

The moment I placed the handkerchief in her hand, I gathered all the strength in my legs and started running toward home, but—

"Nigerundayo... what?!!"

Before I knew it, Amid was running alongside me.

"I-it's a misunderstanding! Please stop first!!"

"When you're running with that expression, it's not convincing at all!"

A beauty chasing after me? Others might find it amusing, but it's different when you're the one being chased.

'With that expression saying she'll catch me no matter what, how could I not run away?!'

I've gathered all sorts of information while living here, including a lot about members of other Familias.

'Amid Teasanare, alias [Dea Saint], a Level 2 adventurer and healer of the Dian Cecht Familia!'

Why would such a powerful person chase after me, a Level 1 who just recently received my Falna?

"J-just a moment!!"

Of course, I had to run away.

'This is where I make my move!'

At a fork in the road ahead, I performed a kind of feint.

"Huh?!"

Using a quick step, I feinted left but actually turned right, successfully creating a small distance, and—

"Hmm? Kai, over her—"

"Tell her I'm not here!!"

After winding through various back alleys, I barely managed to make it home.

"Huff... huff... She probably won't come into the Familia home."

I ran so hard that I wondered if I'd ever been this out of breath since coming to this world.

"Phew... I need to wipe off this sweat..."

Perhaps because I ran like crazy, as I sat on the bed catching my breath, I started to feel a bit feverish and sweat began to flow. And—

"I'll tidy up the desk later..."

I postponed cleaning the room and, wearing only underwear, wiped my body thoroughly with water and a towel from a basin in the room.

"Normally, I'd go to the public shower, but... given the situation, I have no choice."

After wiping off the remaining moisture, just as I was about to get dressed again—

'Bang!'

"Haa... haa... Just a word..."

The firmly closed door burst open, and Amid appeared, and—

'Bang!'

At the same time, she closed the door and left.

"..."

I hurriedly put on my clothes and slightly opened the door to check the hallway, where I saw Amid muttering to herself.

"Um..."

'Gasp?!'

"Well... please come in first."

.

.

.

A conversation that felt like thirty minutes, but was actually only about five.

"...So it was all a misunderstanding?"

It was hard to even call it a conversation; I just listened to Amid's rapid-fire explanation.

"Yes, I was just amazed that a haircut could change your appearance that much."

"Then, Lord Dian Cecht's reaction earlier..."

"Probably... a misunderstanding because of the 'interest' part."

'Come to think of it, I think I said it was a misunderstanding when I was running away...'

"...So, I completely misunderstood everything?"

"Yes..."

Suddenly, I remembered my father's words: you should always listen to people until the end.

'Ah, Father, you're still teaching me in another world. It's just that I never remember when I need to...'

"...I caused you a lot of trouble. I'm sorry!"

Realizing the situation, I immediately bowed until my forehead touched the floor and apologized, and—

"No... it was an easy situation to misunderstand, so it's okay."

Fortunately, she seemed to let it go.

"Thank you... 'Thud!' Ouch?!!"

But as I raised my head, I bumped it against the desk nearby, and—

'Clatter!!'

The weapon blueprints and the formula for a new type of bath bomb I was researching, scattered on the desk, fell to the floor.

"...Huh?"

Amid, who was as kind as Miach—though not quite to the same extent—tried to help by picking up the papers, but—

"This is... a bath bomb?"

"...It's a trade secret, so please return it."

I immediately snatched the paper from Amid's hand.

"?!"

Probably because I made the same expression that scared Misha at the guild last time, Amid shuddered for a very brief moment.

"...I'm sorry."

After that incident at the guild, I asked God and Naza about my expression, and—

'Huh... it seems the murderous intent hidden inside shows on my face.'

'A face that could drown several people and still have room...?'

'...To that extent?'

I could tell it was an expression I should never show in front of others.

"...I'm really sorry, but could you leave for a moment?"

"Ah, yes..."

Somehow, I keep doing things I have to apologize for to Amid, and I feel guilt piling up in a corner of my heart.

"I need to apologize properly..."

I hurriedly sorted the spilled blueprints and formulas and left the room, but Amid was nowhere to be seen.

"Oh no..."

I wanted to apologize for what happened earlier, but it seemed she had already left.

"Sigh... I should start making dinner now..."

As I sighed and went downstairs, what I saw was—

"This bath bomb, you clearly made it, right?"

"I never said I made it...?"

"...Really?"

Amid was talking earnestly with Naza.

"Ah, you haven't left yet."

Relieved that she hadn't left, I approached the two, and—

"Um..."

"Kai... in the end, they found out..."

"'They'? More importantly, you were hiding it after all!!"

"Ah, so noisy..."

The sight of the two looking like they got along well made the remaining tension disappear.

"I'm about to start making dinner..."