Slowly opening my eyelids, I saw Sieg-san brewing tea with a magic tool
that looks like a portable stove.
When I raised my body and lightly shook the sleepiness out of me, Siegsan noticed me and smiled.
[Good morning, Kaito-san.]
[Good morning… Ummm, how long have I been sleeping?]
[Around two hours.]
[T- That long… You could have woken me up though.]
[You were sleeping so comfortably earlier so… Ahh, please wait for a
moment, I'm preparing tea…]
Apparently, I've slept longer than I thought I would, and even though
I'm feeling a little apologetic for making her wait that long, I accepted
the tea that Sieg-san offered me.
The taste of the warm tea seeps into my sleepy body and I felt my
consciousness slowly wake up.
[Kaito-san, eat this with your tea.]
[…What's this?]
[It's called a fruit stick. It's a popular snack among the elves.]
Sieg-san prepared a long, thin pastry the size of my palm… It kind of
looks like a spring roll.
Fruit stick… Speaking of which, didn't Alice mention this when she
asked me to buy her a souvenir? I see, so it's a famous sweet here in
Rigforeshia huh.
When I picked one up and ate it, it seemed to have jam inside the sticky
crust, and the natural sweetness of the fruit and the soft crunchy
texture was very delicious.
It doesn't seem to be like jam bread, or rather, a bread at all, though it
isn't as hard as a scone. The jam also contains large pieces of fruit,
which change in texture from time to time, making it a wonderful
product.
[…It's really delicious. I really like this one.]
[I'm happy that you like it.]
[Somehow, it kind of reminded me of the jam cookies I bought the irst
time I went out with Sieg-san.]
[The shop we bought those jam cookies buy their fruits from
Rigforeshia after all.]
While lightly chatting with Sieg-san, we had a nice cup of tea and fruit
sticks.
The fact that I slept for two hours after lunch means that it's just about
teatime, so drinking tea now felt just right.
[It's just that, Kaito-san, there's something wrong with what you said…
The irst time I followed Kaito-san as your escort wasn't that day.]
[Eh? Is that so?]
[Yes, in case you hadn't noticed… I was actually your guard from the
irst day Kaito-san came to this world. I've been relieved of my duties
now that the Phantasmal King is here now though.]
My impression is that the irst time I met with Sieg-san was when we
were shopping together, but in fact, I just didn't realize that Sieg-san
was always guarding from a distance whenever I went out.
I see, so that was why when I was attacked by Eta and Theta, Sieg-san
was the irst one to show up…
[I hadn't realized that. So I've been under Sieg-san's care for a long time
already huh.]
[…I'm a useless guard who lost track of Kaito-san on the irst day
though.]
[No, that is… Errr, once again, thank you.]
[…The one saying thanks should be me instead.]
[…Eh?]
She has been protecting me all these days without my knowledge.
When I thanked her for that fact, Sieg-san slowly shook her head and
her blue eyes directly looked at me.
[At irst, I thought Kaito-san was an ordinary, somewhat unreliable
person… just letting the situation go with the low, a bewildered person
who doesn't have a deinite purpose. I thought you were just one of the
many people you can ind anywhere.]
[Ahaha, I think I really was like that.]
[No, I just had such an impression because I think my eyes were
blinded. You were a much stronger and better person than I was.]
[N- No, I'm not that exaggerated of a person…]
With a gentle tone, Sieg-san began praising me, and scratching my head,
I felt embarrassed to reply, but Sieg-san just looked at me with eyes that
carried no hesitation.
The emotions that are being conveyed in those eyes… Affection?
Respect? Anyway, it's something favorable and powerful…
[…I have always been watching you, Kaito-san. Coming to an unknown
world unprepared, surrounded by many people stronger than you, and
many of them aren't so friendly to you… I can't even estimate how
anxious you were, feeling such pressure at that time.]
[…I've just been fortunate enough to have many people helping me
out…]
It certainly as Sieg-san said, even though I was quite energetic now, I
was very anxious when I came to this world in the beginning.
In a world where my own common sense doesn't work, and I have no
choice but to rely on some strangers… It's hard not to feel anxious.
However, I was fortunate enough… to have a chance to meet with all
these people. I'm really enjoying my life now because of that.
[I think being blessed with connections is a great talent. But most of all,
I think it's because of your personality that so many people have come
around you.]
[…Sieg-san.]
[You're a strong, straightforward person who is strong and kind,
thinking of others above all else… You've also given me lots of courage.]
[…Courage?]
A calm voice, but I can deinitely feel the irmness within it… I think
what Sieg-san will be talking about is probably something very
important for her.
Because I felt that, I also looked straight at Sieg-san when I replied to
her with a serious expression on my face.
[Yes… You have been a dazzling presence to me while I was stuck in a
situation where I wanted to change things but was afraid I will make
the situation worse… And then, Kaito-san has changed what I couldn't
change over the years, with ease.]
[...…]
[My relationship with Lili, the guilt in her heart, and my lost voice…
Kaito-san has done so many miracles for me. What I wanted, what was
once broken… you picked up all of the pieces, and presented it to me.]
[…I didn't really mean to do anything that exaggerated though? If things
have changed for the better for Sieg-san, it isn't because of me, it's
because of Sieg-san's efforts.]
The reason why Lilia-san and Sieg-san's relationship was repaired is
that they had irm feelings for each other… I think what I did was just a
little bit of a catalyst.
The guilt in Lilia-san's heart loosened because she herself had looked
forward with a strong heart and a irm mind.
And the reason why Sieg-san's voice has returned is because of
Lillywood-san… Of course, I may have helped them out a bit, but above
all, Sieg-san's own efforts are the most important factor why they
achieved all that.
When I replied to her with these words, Sieg-san gently smiled, as if she
knew I was going to reply this to her.
[Yes, I thought Kaito-san would say that. You were that gentle of a
person after all, and I…]
[…Sieg-san?]
[…Even if you feel that way, I can't express the gratitude I have for you
in heart enough, Kaito-san. Once again, thank you very much.]
[Ah, n- no, y- you're welcome?]
Saying that, Sieg-san deeply bowed her head to thank me, and after she
raised her face, she looked straight into my eyes again before speaking.
[…Kaito-san, you're like the sun to me. Dazzling and big, yet so warm
and reassurringly guides me… And that's why to such a fantastic person
like you…]
[…S- Sieg-san?]
[…I am but a weak elf. I haven't had the courage to do this for a long
time. But inally, I have the courage to tell you these thoughts I've been
holding. I want to keep looking at you for the rest of my life. Closer than
ever before…]
[...…]
I wonder why? My heart is beating absurdly fast. Each word she spoke
in a serious voice echoed loud and clear in my ears.
Although I was confused why, I couldn't take my eyes off Sieg-san… no, I
don't think I should look away from her.
Sieg-san was silent for a moment, and then, illed with her very strong
thoughts, she spoke.
[…Kaito-san, I love you. As someone of the opposite gender…]
[ ! ? ]
Receiving her words, which were illed with a lood of emotions, my
thought process completely stiffened.
Dear Mom, Dad——– I totally didn't expect it… isn't the case at all. I was
aware that Sieg-san was directing her favorable feelings towards me.
However, I just assumed… that it was something close to affection. But
it seems I was mistaken, and today, Sieg-san——- confessed to me.