"Today was fun and a nice change of pace... I'd like to spend more time like this in the future. Is that okay?"
"I don't mind."
"Thanks..."
After enjoying about thirty minutes of music, Chiji escorted Setsuna back to her room, then returned to his own, collapsing onto the bed.
Honestly, he could've easily persuaded her to stay longer, but the goal today was to leave her with 'purely pleasant memories.' He deliberately avoided any risks, choosing to strengthen the image of 'Nakura Chiji is someone she feels comfortable with.' This approach laid the groundwork for future plans.
(For now, that's enough with Setsuna... The real question is, how will she act from here on?)
There were a few reasons for getting closer to Setsuna. One was to earn favor with the class's girls, thus increasing his influence and standing among his peers.
People generally find it hard to join groups where the opposite gender dominates. Setsuna Yukishiro, being close to both boys and girls, was the perfect bridge for lowering that barrier.
Why did he choose her? Mostly because they'd spoken by chance on the first day, and she was undeniably attractive. But the real deciding factor was her childhood friend, Agni—the 'Messenger of the Sun' and a Gold-ranked hero. Agni was one of the strongest among the Gold-ranked heroes, and Chiji was curious to see how much destabilizing Agni's relationship with Setsuna would weaken him.
These were all reasons for Chiji's rom-com-style interaction with Setsuna today, but he had another objective as well.
He was waiting for contact from someone.
Not by his initiative, but theirs. Hence, the reason for their evening encounter.
(If they don't come, I'll just try another plan... But will it work?)
Luckily, the next morning, in the training field where Rinyu should have been waiting, she appeared.
"Good morning, Nakura Chiji-sama. I trust you enjoyed yourself last night?"
The one speaking, with a bewitching smile that could enchant anyone, was none other than the first princess of the Ashute Kingdom and the person responsible for summoning Chiji and the others to this world—Raiza Ashute.
"Well, well, Princess Raiza. Whatever could you mean?"
Suppressing the urge to smirk, Chiji feigned ignorance.
"Hehe. I have no intention of reprimanding or stopping your romances. However, please ensure no unintended... consequences arise."
"I'm well aware of that. That's why I've been assigned a same-gender attendant, remember?"
Indeed, on the first day, Raiza had explained to them that to prevent potential pregnancies from interfering with their purpose as summoned heroes, male attendants were assigned to male heroes, and female attendants to female heroes.
Naturally, this rule applied to relationships between the heroes as well.
"Of course. I trust you are clever enough to handle these matters responsibly. Still, it seems you've become quite popular, so I thought it best to remind you."
"Apologies for causing any undue concern. I'll be more careful from now on. So... is that all you wanted to discuss?"
Of course, there was no way Raiza had come merely to give him such a warning. The real reason lay elsewhere.
At Chiji's question, Raiza drew closer, her golden hair shimmering in the sunlight as the morning breeze gently tousled it. With a smile as bright as the sun, she spoke.
"Not quite. I came to invite you on a date, Nakura-sama. Will you accept?"
Her radiant smile, captivating yet capable of incinerating anything that approached too closely, concealed a shadowy agenda beneath its light.
Though Chiji was wary of her offer, he responded with a bright smile of his own after pretending to consider it briefly.
"With pleasure."
Raiza led Chiji to a large forest behind the royal palace. Though it was vast, the area was meticulously maintained, with paved stone paths running through it.
The sunlight filtered through the trees, illuminating patches of the forest floor, as Raiza led the way.
The air was crisp and fresh.
Birds chirped, and the trees swayed gently in the breeze.
Only their two footsteps could be heard in the stillness.
The entire forest seemed to belong solely to the two of them. Given Raiza's status as the kingdom's princess, it wouldn't have been surprising if there were a few guards discreetly nearby, yet none seemed to be present.
(...What's going on here?)
Remaining alert, Chiji continued to observe Raiza closely as they walked, until the trees suddenly gave way to a breathtaking view. Before them stretched a massive lake, its surface crystal clear and reflecting the surrounding forest and mountains like a mirror.
There was a neat little cabin by the lakeside, and a dock with a boat moored nearby.
Chiji was momentarily stunned by the beauty of the scene before him.
A pristine lake, with the reflections of trees and mountains on its surface. It looked like something out of a picture of the Alps or some other scenic locale he'd seen online.
"...Wow, this is incredible. Oh, I mean, this is amazing."
"Hehe, no need to hold back. This place is a sanctuary, accessible only to the royal family and a few select nobles. It's said that when the first king of the Ashute Kingdom set out with the hero to defeat the Demon Lord, he suffered grievous injuries. But upon immersing himself in this lake, his wounds were instantly healed."
"Is it some kind of healing magic?"
"No, experts have examined it and found nothing special. It's probably just a legend. With a kingdom as old as ours, stories like this abound."
Chiji exhaled softly before approaching the lake.
The water was so clear that he could see all the way to the bottom.
"May I touch it?"
"Of course."
Raiza seemed momentarily surprised by his request, but quickly smiled and nodded.
"Hmm, yeah, I don't really feel any healing effects."
"Just as I thought, it's likely just an old story."
As Raiza offered a wry smile, Chiji wiped his hands with a handkerchief and responded.
"Or maybe... the legend meant that the view itself 'heals wounds,' just like magic would."
"..."
Raiza blinked, seemingly taken aback by Chiji's words. Then, for the first time, she smiled gently—an expression he hadn't seen from her before—and placed a hand over her heart, nodding deeply.
"Perhaps you're right... No, I'm sure of it. Thank you, Nakura-sama."
"I should be the one thanking you. I feel quite healed myself after witnessing this view. Thank you for bringing me here, Princess Raiza."
Accepting his gratitude, Raiza pointed toward the dock.
"Would you like to ride the boat?"
"I wouldn't mind."
Chiji boarded the boat first, steadying it with his foot before offering his hand to Raiza.
"Here you go."
"Thank you."
Untying the rope, Chiji picked up the oars and began slowly rowing them away from the dock.
As the boat swayed gently on the water, Chiji tried his best to row, but as it was his first time, he wasn't particularly skilled at it. They made some progress, albeit awkwardly.
"Hehe."
"Please don't laugh. This is my first time, after all."
"Forgive me. You're doing well. If you tuck your elbows in a bit more while pulling, it might be easier."
Following her advice, Chiji found the motion became much smoother.
"Impressive, Princess. You seem to know everything."
"Not at all. I've only learned from watching others do the hard work while I've sat as a passenger. ...This should be far enough. Let's talk for a while, shall we?"
Having reached the center of the lake, Raiza's demeanor shifted. Though she maintained her smile, the air around her became heavier.
Chiji set the oars down and turned to face her.
This was the start of a verbal battle between two tricksters.
With a calm smile on his face, Chiji began to spin his mental gears.
"Nakura-sama, it has been about a week since you arrived here. How are you adjusting to the changes?"
It was a question about the group of heroes, not just him personally.
"Well, I've gotten used to it, but it seems like everyone's getting pretty worn out."
"In what way?"
"There haven't been any breaks. And most of us didn't exercise much in our previous world, so many still aren't physically accustomed to it."
"I see... In that case, I'll arrange for a day off. Perhaps I'll even allow you to leave the palace grounds for some fresh air."
"Thank you very much."
"Not at all. It's the least I can do, given how much we've imposed on you. ...Are you feeling fatigued as well, Nakura-sama?"
Her gaze was the same as it had been on the first day, filled with suspicion.
"Yes, somewhat. I'm not nearly as strong as the higher-ranked heroes."
"My apologies for not realizing."
"No need to apologize. It's my own weakness, after all. ...Of course, I don't intend to remain weak forever."
"Indeed. I've noticed you often train with Rinyu."
"Ah, you're aware?"
"Yes, Estoire—my personal guard—told me she saw you training early in the morning."
It was unsettling to realize he'd been under surveillance this whole time.
Though he'd never seen her, Estoire was Raiza's bodyguard, which meant she was likely highly skilled.
"By the way, Princess Raiza. Shall we get to the real topic now?"
"...And what might that be?"
"Surely, you didn't bring me here just for idle chat."
"Why, Nakura-sama, you are one of the two leaders among the heroes, along with Shinomiya-sama. Since Shinomiya leads the higher-ranked heroes, it's only natural I would want to speak with the one who commands the others."
"I hadn't realized I was considered a leader."
Hearing this unexpected recognition from an outsider filled Chiji with a sense of satisfaction.
All the work he'd put in over the past week, sacrificing sleep and tirelessly making connections, had paid off in the form of this acknowledgment.
"Well then, if we're being direct..."
But before Chiji could relish the moment, Raiza's expression shifted, her sunny smile fading as she locked eyes with him. Her next words came like a blade.
"'Traitor.'"
"..."
"Does this term ring any bells?"
Her sharp gaze pierced through him, and Chiji fell silent.
A cool breeze swept across the lake, brushing their cheeks as Raiza's flowing golden hair swayed softly in the wind. The calm water rippled gently, while the rising sun slowly warmed the air, causing beads of sweat to form on Chiji's brow.
Amid the intense tension, Chiji disguised the small flicker of panic in his heart, maintaining his composure as he casually responded.
"I know what it means."