Chapter 1
After some careful thought, I decided to return to the countryside.
Zect had mentioned something about being a “country adventurer,” and that might not be a bad idea.
But before that… I decided to pay a visit to a slave trader.
Unlike my previous world, this one has a slave system, complete with slave merchants who sell people.
Back when I was part of the Hero’s party, I’d never set foot in a place like this.
Now, though, I’m free. Whether it’s a brothel or a slave trader, I can go wherever I please.
“Welcome… Wait, Lord Ceres!?”
“Yes, that’s me—Ceres.”
The slave trader looked utterly shocked.
And why wouldn’t he be? I’d been part of the Hero’s party, so my face was well-known.
For someone like me, a former member of that group, to show up at a slave trader’s shop—it’s only natural he’d be stunned.
“Um, Lord Ceres, what brings you here today?”
“I’d like to take a look at some female slaves.”
“But you’re with the Hero’s party, aren’t you? Is that really alright?”
A Hero’s party is supposed to travel endlessly until they defeat the Demon King, and buying slaves would be a scandal—something they’d never do.
But I’m fine. I’m not part of that party anymore.
“As of just the other day, I got kicked out of the Hero’s party, ‘The Light of Hope.’ Now I’m just an adventurer—plain old Ceres!”
“I see! Well, then you’ve come at a perfect time. We currently have quite a selection of female slaves—everything from elves to former noblewomen, yours for the picking. Please, come this way!”
What I wanted wasn’t a young woman, but an older one.
Given how value is judged here, the kind of slave I’m looking for probably isn’t among the ones he’s eagerly recommending.
If anything, I had a feeling she’d be among the “low-value” slaves—the ones considered less desirable.
“No, what I want to see are the low-value female slaves, like housekeeping slaves.”
“Housekeeping slaves… I see, my apologies. Of course, now that you’re on your own, housework must be a concern. This Droma misunderstood you. In that case, beyond that curtain over there, you’ll find the low-value slaves, including housekeeping ones. Please feel free to take a look at your leisure.”
His words were polite, but his expression betrayed disappointment.
Well, I’m not exactly a high-profit customer, so it’s more like, “Go ahead and look around on your own.”
I lifted the curtain and stepped inside.
My first impression was: This is grim.
The area with the “recommended” slaves had carpets, chairs, and beds.
But past the curtain, there were just cages.
No different from the kind you’d see holding wild beasts at a circus.
In the dim light, I checked each cage one by one. Most of them held men, with very few women.
Guess it’s not like I’d conveniently find the perfect match right away, I thought as I peered into the dark cages, half-ready to give up.
Then, at the very back, my eyes landed on a single woman.
Her black hair was carelessly tied back.
This world had stopped summoning people from other worlds long ago, so black hair was incredibly rare.
I’d only ever seen one person with it before.
And that person, by all logic, shouldn’t be in a place like this.
I approached the cage. Even if it wasn’t her, I was Japanese in my past life—black hair naturally caught my attention.
The moment I looked closer, our eyes met.
"You're kidding me? Shizuko!"
She turned to me in response to my voice and was also surprised to see me.
"Ceres..."
There's no way I wouldn't be surprised.
Shizuko is my first love... and Zect's mother.
◆◆◆
I’d heard before that it’s considered bad manners to talk at length with a slave before buying them.
So I turned to her and said, “Shizuko-san, wait for me!” before calling over the slave trader.
“I’ll buy this one. How much is she?”
“Oh, you’re buying her? In that case, it’s five silver coins, plus three more for the slave tattoo. Does that work for you?”
The slave tattoo is like a brand etched into the slave’s skin. It marks their owner and uses magical power to ensure they can’t disobey their master.
It’s cheaper than I expected. I’d once heard in a tavern that an average female slave costs at least five gold coins.
Feeling a bit uneasy, I decided to ask why she was so inexpensive, just to be sure.
“Lord Ceres, I may be a slave trader, but I’m licensed by the state. I don’t trick customers into overpaying. For this slave, well, she’s rare with her black eyes and black hair, but those traits aren’t popular. Plus, she’s an older village woman who’s already borne children. This price is fair for her.”
Shizuko-san is Zect’s mother, which would put her around thirty years old, give or take.
In this world… that might make sense.
“Thanks for explaining. In that case, I’ll pay one gold coin total. Could you prepare a shower and some decent clothes for her?”
“Of course, we’ll arrange it. Though, we only have clothes meant for younger women—will that be alright?”
“Please do.”
“Then, if you could drip some blood onto this plate, we’ll use it to engrave the slave tattoo.”
“Sure, go ahead.”
Thirty minutes later, after sipping tea in the salon while waiting, Shizuko-san appeared, dressed up.
“This is so embarrassing,” she said, tugging at her skirt. She looked incredibly cute.
Well, the clothes were provided by the slave trader, so they were short and revealing—sexy enough that a careless move might flash her undergarments.
“Shizuko-san, sorry about this… Once we leave, we’ll go buy you some new clothes.”
“Yes… I feel bad that you bought an old woman like me, but this is humiliating. I’d appreciate that.”
As she spoke, her ears turned red, making her look even more adorable.
“Lord Ceres, here are the documents. Though even if you lose them, the slave tattoo identifies her owner, so there’s no issue. As of now, this woman belongs to you. Thank you for your purchase.”
I took the hand of the blushing Shizuko-san and left the slave trader behind.
◆◆◆
The two of us went to a secondhand clothing store and bought some clothes.
Not knowing what would suit her, I let Shizuko-san choose for herself.
After that, we picked up some skewers and wine and headed to an inn.
I figured it’d be a calmer place to talk than a tavern.
Of course, I made sure to pick a room with two beds.
I poured wine into glasses and arranged the skewers on a plate.
Then Shizuko-san sat on the floor, placed three fingers down in a formal gesture, and bowed her head.
“Thank you for buying a worn-out slave like me. From now on, I’ll serve you with all my heart…”
“Shizuko-san, you don’t have to do that!”
Startled, I hurriedly stopped her.
“Hehe… I’m a slave, you know. This is just how it’s supposed to be—sniff…”
She must have been holding it in until now. Tears welled up in her eyes and spilled over.
“Please don’t cry. I’ll wait until you calm down… When you’re ready, tell me what happened.”
I comforted her and simply waited for her to settle.
“Sniff… Yes.”
A beautiful woman’s tears are genuinely intimidating.
I didn’t know what to do and just floundered awkwardly.
Even in a situation like this, my heart couldn’t help but race.
It’s definitely my past-life age pulling at me.
If Meru were crying, I’d treat her like a child—pat her head, calm her down, and that’d be it.
But with Shizuko-san, it’s different.
It’s not at all like soothing a kid.
Shizuko-san really is beautiful.
The closest image that comes to mind is maybe a widow managing an old apartment building, wearing a chick-patterned apron.
That aside, with her Japanese-like features and mature beauty, she’s a dead-on match for my tastes as someone who was Japanese in my past life.
That said, Shizuko-san isn’t a reincarnator or even Japanese—she’s apparently a case of atavism, a descendant of an ancient otherworlder. Her parents named her “Shizuko,” a Japanese-style name, after an ancestor. That’s what I heard from Zect and Sectol, anyway. Shizuko-san herself only vaguely remembers it as something her parents told her when she was little, so she doesn’t know the full details.
Back in ancient times, black hair and black eyes were considered marks of beauty, but now they’re disliked “because of what those old otherworlders did.”
Shizuko-san cried for a while, but eventually, she calmed down and began speaking in a fragile voice.
“My husband sold me.”
“Sold you? You mean Sectol-san? But he got a huge sum from the kingdom—he shouldn’t be strapped for cash, right?”
By all logic, it didn’t make sense for Shizuko-san to end up a slave.
When Zect was recognized as the Hero by the kingdom, they should’ve received a massive lump sum.
There’s no way she’d normally become a slave.
“That money’s probably gone by now, I think.”
Once Sectol got his hands on the cash, he squandered it on gambling, women, and booze.
While the other three’s parents steadily bought fields or saved up, he burned through it all.
The women were prostitutes, so she’d put up with that part.
But his spending got so out of hand that when she called him out on it, he said,
“I’ve been awful, haven’t I? Alright, let’s go to the city one last time, splurge a little together, and I’ll stop wasting money.”
She’d been thrilled and went along with him, only to fall into a trap—he sold her straight to the slave trader.
“That’s awful. But if that’s the case, why not write a letter to Zect?”
“No, that won’t work. That boy’s attached to his father and hated me.”
Come to think of it, Zect did dislike the serious-minded Shizuko-san.
“I thought Sectol-san was an upright guy.”
“The money changed him… Though even without the money, he was…”
Zect’s just a womanizer, but Sectol’s a real piece of trash.
Seeing Shizuko-san looking so sad brought back memories of my childhood.
“I want to marry Aunt Shizuko.”
That’s what I once said to Sectol, and he replied…
“Oh, Ceres? By the time you turn fifteen, she’ll be a fine old hag… Tell you what, I’ll let you have her for one gold coin.”
I still remember him saying that.
It’s true that in this world, a woman’s value drops after twenty. But most couples stay together thanks to memories and affection.
Looking back now, that might’ve been Sectol’s true feelings all along.
“You’re right—thinking about it, there might’ve been hints of that even back then,” I said.
“Yes…”
“But doesn’t it make you angry at Sectol-san?”
“Of course I’m angry, but what can I do? Besides… that man will probably end up in hell soon enough.”
If he kept squandering money like that, it’s guaranteed he’d run out.
And from what I’ve heard, he wasn’t even growing crops, so he probably can’t pay taxes either… In a way, Shizuko-san might’ve been saved by becoming a slave.
“Sorry for bringing up something hard to talk about.”
“Hehe, it’s fine. You bought an old woman like me, after all—I’m grateful.”
Shizuko-san stopped crying and smiled at me.
She’s beautiful when she cries, but her smile is even more stunning.
In this world, they might call me an extreme “hag-lover.”
But with my past-life memories, I believe this is the age where a person truly matures and develops real warmth as a human being.
It’s a shame no one else sees this charm.
“Shizuko-san, you’re not an old woman at all.”
“Really? You’re the only one who’d say that, Ceres-kun. Hehe.”
Shizuko-san always smiles, no matter the situation.
When my parents died, she was there to encourage me.
The reason I wanted to help Zect and my childhood friends was because everyone in the village treated me kindly.
And among them, Shizuko-san stood out the most.
She always seemed like the perfect mother—gentle and kind.
“No, really, Shizuko-san, you’re an amazing woman.”
I genuinely mean that from the bottom of my heart.
“Hehe, that makes me happy. In that case, should I cook something delicious? Oh, wait—I’m already your slave, aren’t I? Is there anything you’d like me to do?”
“Well, then… I’d be happy if you could treat me like a lover or a spouse.”
“Oh, no, don’t joke like that—saying that to an old woman like me…”
She calls herself an old woman, but to my senses, she looks like the widowed heroine from a manga or novel. She’s absolutely more beautiful than the late-twenties actresses I used to see in my past life.
“I’m serious. Didn’t I confess to you when I was a kid?”
“Yes, but I’m nearly twice your age, Ceres-kun. You’re handsome—cute girls won’t leave you alone, right? I mean, even your childhood friends…”
“Haha, well, Zect took all of them.”
“Oh, no, that’s ridiculous. You’re so much better than Zect, Ceres-kun. Those girls have no taste. Alright then—until you find a girl you ‘truly love,’ I’ll be your lover.”
“Thank you.”
“No need to thank me. Out of all the men I’ve met, you’re the most wonderful. If anything, I should be the one thanking you.”
“Still, thank you.”
And so began my joyful life with Shizuko-san.
◆◆◆
Last night, I was so nervous I couldn’t sleep.
It might sound bad, but Shizuko-san is the first person I’ve ever fallen in love with in this world.
Being with her like this—it’s only natural I’d feel this way.
Shizuko-san had been crying, probably still shaken from being sold into slavery.
I held her hand tightly and fell asleep in a state of restless longing.
“Good morning.”
“Good morning, Ceres-kun.”
When I woke up, our eyes met instantly.
“Oh, sorry!”
I’d been holding her hand all night.
“Hehe, it’s fine. No—thank you. You held my hand because I was crying, didn’t you? You’re so kind, Ceres-kun.”
I’d slept alongside my childhood friends in the Hero’s party plenty of times before.
But there’s a huge difference between someone off-limits and someone who isn’t.
Sleeping with them felt like bunking with a daughter or a niece.
With Shizuko-san, it’s completely different. Honestly, I barely slept last night.
A teenage body with a middle-aged mind… It’s a tough combo.
“So, shall we head out together?”
“Head out? Where are we going, Ceres-kun?”
“I was thinking we’d grab breakfast, then stop by the Adventurer’s Guild.”
“Eating out for breakfast? That’s amazing…”
True, the village only had one eatery, and it didn’t open in the morning.
“If you ask in advance, the inn can prepare something, but there’s a place nearby with a great morning menu. Let’s eat there!”
“I’ve hardly eaten out since I got married, so I’m really looking forward to it.”
“Really? I was in the Hero’s party, so it was all eating out or camping meals during our travels. Anyway, I’m hungry—let’s go!”
“Yes!”
◆◆◆
Even at the diner, Shizuko-san struggled to pick from the menu.
Watching her stare it down was adorable.
Since it didn’t seem like she’d decide anytime soon, I ordered two morning sets for us.
“This is incredible—so many dishes on one plate!”
It’s what you’d call a morning plate.
“Yeah, you’re right. You wouldn’t see this in the village… Well, the village only has one diner anyway.”
“That’s true.”
“But honestly, I’d rather eat your home cooking, Shizuko-san.”
“Hehe, really? If you buy the ingredients, I’ll cook for you.”
“For real? I’m so excited!”
They say the Hero’s got cheats, but Shizuko-san feels like a cheat in her own way.
Her cooking’s delicious, she’s a master at housework including cleaning, and she’s got this incredible warmth.
Sure, Meru and the others are beautiful girls, but they’re still kids—they don’t have this kind of depth.
Even Maria the Saintess doesn’t come close.
What I value most in a woman is this warmth.
Being with her isn’t exhausting… Yeah, that’s the best part.
“What’s wrong, Ceres-kun? You’re staring.”
“Oh, I was just thinking how happy I am.”
“Really? I’m glad you feel that way—it makes me happy too.”
Shizuko-san ate her morning set with a delighted expression.
Watching her, just sharing a meal together… It’s genuinely fun.
◆◆◆
We arrived at the Adventurer’s Guild.
In this world, the guild is built with an attached tavern, and at the back, there’s a counter for reception.
My goal today was to register Shizuko-san as an adventurer and look for a rental property.
The moment I showed my face, the receptionist rushed over.
“Well, if it isn’t Lord Ceres! What brings you here today?”
Being S-rank has its perks—no waiting, just instant service.
“I’d like to register an adventurer and apply for a party.”
“With that woman over there? No offense, but isn’t she a bit past her prime? For someone like you, Lord Ceres, I could introduce you to much more suitable candidates.”
I could’ve sworn Shizuko-san’s face took on a sharp, almost intimidating look for a moment.
“Hehe, true, I’m an old lady now… But if I’m teaming up with Ceres-kun, well, I think it’d be better to reinstate my original adventurer registration. So, instead of a new registration, I’d like to request a qualification reinstatement.”
“Shizuko-san, you were an adventurer?”
“Yes, though neither my ex-husband nor Zect ever knew. I’d quit by the time I got married. Honestly, both of them were so full of pride, I kept it to myself.”
“Is that so? Then could you give us a bit of your blood? You’re not some unregisterable D-rank or lower, right?”
“Hehe, check and see for yourself.”
“Haaah…”
The receptionist let out a sigh, and her attitude seemed a little off.
Shizuko-san, though, just kept smiling, even in a situation like this.
They took her blood, and we waited for a bit.
Then, from the back of the guild, a scruffy-bearded man came running out in a panic—Guildmaster Belder.
“You’re seriously coming back!?”
He wasn’t talking to me—he was addressing Shizuko-san.
“Hehe, well, yes. At my age, I’ve been blessed with a good match, so I figured I’d return. Is that a problem, Be-bo?”
She spoke to him like an old friend.
Calling him by a nickname—were they that close? With the Guildmaster, no less?
“Please don’t call me Be-bo, Shizuko-san. I’m a Guildmaster now, you know.”
“Oh, you’re right. Sorry about that, Belder-san. So, is my reinstatement alright?”
This was turning into something incredible.
“Of course it is! The ‘Black-Haired Healer’ making a comeback? No way we’d oppose that!”
Uh… what’s this about?
“Shizuko-san, what’s the ‘Black-Haired Healer’?”
It sounded vaguely familiar.
“Oh, Lord Ceres! Shizuko-san was an S-rank adventurer back in the day—an idol of my generation! As a healer, she had no equal. She can’t restart at S-rank, of course, but how about A-rank? What do you think?”
“Hehe, that’s fine with me.”
“I’m glad to hear that. Well, I’ll take my leave then… Handle the rest, Sally!”
“Yes… Um, sorry about earlier. My apologies.”
With that, Belder made the receptionist—apparently named Sally—bow her head before returning to his duties.
An S-rank and an A-rank forming a party. Since Shizuko-san’s a slave, everything we earn technically belongs to me.
That said, I’ve set up a shared purse she can freely withdraw from, so it’s not an issue.
Still, if she was that skilled an adventurer, how did she end up a slave so easily? It’s baffling.
Maybe I’ll ask her about it tonight.
◆◆◆
The next day.
“Have a good day!”
“See you later!”
Shizuko-san saw me off as I left the inn.
We’d registered her as an adventurer and formed a party, but for now, I asked her to stay home as a housewife.
Sure, I know she’s a badass A-ranker, but this setup lets me enjoy a more domestic vibe, which I love.
Last night, back at the inn, I asked her about her past in detail.
Apparently, she used to adventure with the mothers of Rida, Maria, and Meru.
She was a pretty skilled adventurer, but since their party was all women, they often attracted creepy guys… and they’d beat them all back without mercy.
“So, even after I passed marriageable age, hehe, no one dared come near me anymore.”
After that, she quit adventuring, became a regular town girl, traveled a bit, settled in Jimna Village, got married, and became a villager.
“That makes sense, but why’d you end up sold as a slave? Couldn’t you have fought back?”
“Well, I let my guard down. Never thought I’d get drugged from behind. Hehe, I really slipped up… Didn’t expect to be betrayed like that. Sectol—if I see him again, maybe I’ll just kill him.”
I swear I saw something dark emanating from behind her.
Probably best to drop this topic here.
Man, I’m sleepy again today.
It’s not like anything happened last night.
We just slept in the same room at the inn.
Since Shizuko-san’s technically my slave, I could probably ask for “that” if I wanted.
But that’s not the same as “love.”
So, for now, I’ve decided to endure this tantalizing limbo.
Unlike the flat-chested trio of Rida, Maria, and Meru, Shizuko-san’s mature, curvy figure—boom, bam, boom—sleeping next to me is undeniably tempting.
The men of this world not appreciating her value feels like such a waste.
I left the inn and headed to the Adventurer’s Guild again.
“Here we are, Lord Ceres! Plenty of juicy pickled quests to choose from—what’ll it be?”
Sally, the receptionist, was extra chipper today.
Yesterday, I’d asked her to pick out some profitable “pickled” requests—guild slang for high-value jobs that’d been sitting around.
Maybe she’s trying to make up for calling Shizuko-san “past her prime,” because she’s all smiles with me now.
She probably doesn’t want to get on the bad side of an adventurer chummy with the Guildmaster.
Her forced grin twitches at the corners every now and then, giving her away.
“Hmm… This one looks good. Yeah, I’ll take this.”
I chose a request to slay an Earth Dragon.
“A dragon, right off the bat!?”
Well, of course she’d be shocked. An Earth Dragon isn’t some lesser wyvern—it’s a true dragon.
Even among dragonkind, it’s on the weaker side, but normally, you wouldn’t take it on solo. It’s a job for a knight order or a party of twenty-plus B-rank-or-higher adventurers.
“I’ll manage somehow.”
“As expected of an S-rank! S-rankers are basically beyond human limits, so I won’t say a word—here you go!”
Being S-rank means you’re kind of a superhuman outlier, so this is par for the course.
◆◆◆
The day after that.
“Off I go!”
“Have a safe trip!”
Shizuko-san sent me off with a smile.
That alone makes me happy, but starting today, she’s also packed me a lunch.
Since I couldn’t get enough of her cooking, we moved to an inn with a kitchenette.
In this world, plenty of people live in inns long-term, so ones with kitchens aren’t rare.
Maybe they double as this world’s version of weekly apartments, since those don’t exist here.
I reached the area near the Earth Dragon’s lair and ate the lunch Shizuko-san made.
Yup, delicious.
I can cook too, but it’s what my past life would call “kid food”—pseudo-curry, pseudo-hamburgers, that sort of thing.
I’m no good with stuff like simmered dishes, so this tastes genuinely amazing.
Home cooking really is something special.
◆◆◆
“I’m back. I took down two Earth Dragons—can you assess them?”
“Uh… it’s not even noon yet…”
For an S-ranker like me, this request wasn’t all that tough.
As I started pulling the two Earth Dragons out of my storage pouch, Sally stopped me the moment their heads emerged.
By the way, this storage pouch is a type of magic tool that can hold pretty massive stuff.
Back when I was the baggage carrier for the Hero’s party, I had to splurge on a big one out of necessity.
“Wait, please! Don’t pull something that huge out here—we’ll be in trouble! Take it to the warehouse, the warehouse! I’ll call the Guildmaster right away!”
This is where being S-rank really shines—everything gets prioritized for you.
“Got it.”
I headed to the warehouse and laid out the two Earth Dragons.
“Uh, Lord Ceres, this is blocking access to everything else. Could you shift them to the side a bit?”
A guild worker in the warehouse pointed it out to me.
“Understood.”
I reluctantly moved the dragons over. They did take up half the warehouse, so yeah, they were in the way. I shifted them as instructed.
Then Guildmaster Belder came barreling in, having heard the news from Sally.
“Lord Ceres, I got the rundown from Sally. Impressive as always, taking down Earth Dragons… Wait, hold on! These aren’t both Earth Dragons!”
“You’re not about to say they’re not what I claimed and haggle down the reward, are you?”
“No, no, that’s not it… The smaller one’s an Earth Dragon, sure, but the one three times its size? That’s a Rock Dragon! It’s what an Earth Dragon evolves into—a higher-tier species. How the heck did you kill this thing?”
“Oh, you know, I jumped at it with my sword, went bwoosh and slashed its legs, then thwack—lopped off its head, and it died.”
“Why do you always dodge the details with sound effects, Lord Ceres?”
“Dunno.”
“Guildmaster, don’t even bother asking! Every adventurer’s got their secret tricks, right?”
“Exactly.”
Truth is, I really did just leap at it and cut it down, but explaining it’s a hassle, so this works fine.
“Anyway, here’s the deal. The smaller Earth Dragon’s worth a thousand gold coins—about a hundred million yen—and we can pay that in cash now. But the Rock Dragon? Give us some time.”
“No problem with me, but why?”
“Most likely, the royal family will buy the head and bones for around three thousand gold coins. The rest of the materials will go to auction, so it’ll take about a week to turn it into cash. Please bear with us.”
“That’s fine by me. In that case, out of the thousand gold coins, give me twenty in cash and deposit the rest into the party account.”
“Got it. That helps a lot.”
An adventurer’s ID doubles as both identification and a bank account from my past-life perspective.
The party account’s like a joint one.
With the money sorted, and since I’ve left the Hero’s party, I figure I’ll take it easy for a while.
◆◆◆
After leaving the guild, I stopped by a jewelry store.
“Welcome, Lord Ceres! What can we do for you today?”
Being a well-known S-rank adventurer, a man in a black suit hurried over the moment I walked in.
In my past life, I’d have gone for a ring, but in this world, giving a necklace is the equivalent gesture.
The one I gave Meru cost five gold coins, but this time, I’m splurging—planning to spend ten.
By the way, this world doesn’t have any “three months’ salary” rule.
Zect clearly gave out cheap trinkets from street stalls, so the idea of cost equaling love doesn’t exist here.
Still, the tradition of giving a necklace supposedly comes from the phrase “I’m head over heels for you.” Sounds like something an otherworlder from way back brought over, if you ask me.
“I’ve got a budget of ten gold coins. I’d like a necklace that suits a black-haired woman.”
“In that case, how about this one with a green gem? It’s one-of-a-kind—no duplicates—and the craftsmanship is exquisitely detailed.”
“I’ll take that one. Please put it in a box with a ribbon.”
“Understood.”
After leaving the jeweler, I swung by a flower shop and bought thirty roses.
Might as well grab a cake too while I’m at it.
I hope Shizuko-san likes it…
◆◆◆
I stashed the bouquet, necklace, and cake in my storage pouch and returned to the inn.
Unlike my past life, not having to hide stuff behind my back makes this so much easier.
“I’m home!”
“Welcome back! You’re back awfully early.”
Shizuko-san greeted me with a smile.
That alone fills me with happiness.
“I wanted to see you sooner, so I rushed through work.”
“Hehe, that makes me happy.”
This—this right here!
The warm, embracing smile of a beautiful woman.
It’s incredibly soothing.
Maria was called a “healer type” because she’s a Saintess, but once you’ve seen the real deal, she feels like a fake.
A smile like this? I’m convinced you can’t pull it off without reaching this age.
“You’re always so beautiful!”
“Hehe, thank you! You’re pretty wonderful yourself, Ceres-kun! But, well, this old lady isn’t used to compliments—I get all flustered. My face turns red, and I can’t even look at you properly.”
“You’re not an old lady. At most, you’re like an older sister to me.”
“Really? You think so? Oh, that makes this old lady blush.”
“I don’t think of you as an old lady—I think you’re gorgeous! I mean it, so I’d really prefer if you didn’t call yourself that.”
“Oh, you’re right. Sorry, it just slips out. I’ll try not to say it so much… Really, I’m sorry!”
“You’re truly beautiful and stunning. That’s how I feel, so it’d make me so happy if you’d do that.”
“Really? Oh, you’re putting this old lady in a tough spot… Oh, goodness, no, I messed up again!”
“Take your time, no rush.”
“That’s a relief to hear.”
Can’t blame her, though—she’s Zect’s mom. Up until recently, she probably saw me as “her son’s friend.”
For me, it started with “I wish I had a mom like her.”
Though, to be fair, half of it was definitely seeing her in that way too.
“We’ve got plenty of time, so… here!”
I pulled the rose bouquet out of my storage pouch.
“No way, this is for me? I’m so happy—thank you!”
Her shy smile alone made me think, Totally worth buying.
I might be a bit of a pushover, huh?
“I got a cake too—wanna eat it?”
Shizuko-san’s face puffed up just a little.
“Ceres-kun, that’s for after dinner. If you eat sweets first, you won’t have room for your meal, right?”
This was something she—and the other kids’ moms—used to say to me and Zect all the time when we were little.
I’d been hoping to keep the momentum and give her the necklace, but oh well.
Maybe I’m projecting not just my ideal woman onto Shizuko-san, but my ideal mother too.
“You’re right—gotta eat dinner first.”
“You’ve got a funny look on your face.”
“Oh, just remembering how you and other mom used to say that to us a lot.”
“Hehe, we sure did, didn’t we?”
Shizuko-san really is so comforting.
◆◆◆
“This stew and soup? Absolutely delicious.”
“All I can make is simple country food, though! You always ate it growing up and said it was good—you’re the only one who says that, Ceres-kun.”
That country food is what makes it so tasty.
It’s like a mother’s cooking, a nostalgic flavor—something that just puts me at ease.
Zect and Sectol-san might not think much of it since they’re used to it, but to me, no other dish comes close.
“Mom’s cooking,” “hometown flavor”—whatever you call it, it’s an indescribable, love-filled taste.
“Maybe it’s ‘Shizuko-san’s flavor.’ It’s so comforting to eat.”
“Hehe, I’m glad you think so. It really makes cooking worthwhile.”
Shizuko-san laughs a lot.
Just watching her smile heals me.
Sadly, it’d take Maria and the others at least a decade to pull off this kind of mature smile or expression.
◆◆◆
After dinner, Shizuko-san brewed some tea for us.
It’s a drink unique to this world—dried leaves steeped in hot water.
She paired it with the cake I’d brought home.
Looking back, I realize how rough I had it in the Hero’s party.
I was stuck handling all the housework and prepping for battles while keeping everything together.
It’s a far cry from now.
“Shizuko-san, thank you!”
“Oh, I’d feel bad if I didn’t at least do this much.”
She says that, but this room is spotless—not a speck of dust—and it’s hardly “just this much.”
People who’ve never done housework probably can’t grasp how amazing and tough it is.
“Shizuko-san, if it’s alright, would you accept this?”
I timed it for when she was sipping her tea and relaxing, pulling out the box with the necklace.
“Huh? What’s this…? Jewelry?”
Her face shifted to one of surprise.
“Open it.”
“Okay! Wait, isn’t this from that famous shop?”
“Well, I’ve got to do at least this much, right?”
With her elegant fingers, Shizuko-san carefully unwrapped the package. There’s a refined grace to her movements—I’m not imagining it.
My three childhood friends would’ve torn it open like savages.
“A necklace with a gorgeous gem! You’re giving this to me? You know what it means, right?”
“Of course!”
“Alright… To think you’d give me something like this! I’m just an old lady with no value even as a slave, and right now, I’m yours—you could order me to do anything without going to these lengths. Are you really sure about this? You won’t regret it?”
Shizuko-san looked straight into my eyes, her expression serious.
I met her gaze just as earnestly and answered.
“No way I’d regret it! You’re the first person I’ve ever fallen for in this world, Shizuko-san…”
“I understand. I’ll accept it.”
With a joyful smile, she put on the necklace I’d given her.
“How’s it look? Does it suit me?”
As she brushed her hair back and wore the necklace with that smile, she looked stunning—more precious to me than ever before.
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