“A date?”
“Yes.”
My heart might be beating stronger now than it does during battle.
After all, I’m asking a woman I never expected to be able to ask out on a whim, without any preparation or planning, to go on a date.
Since asking the supervisor, a woman who requires meticulous preparation, out on a date, the atmosphere in the room seems to have changed slightly.
The supervisor’s face, as she questions me back, is filled with doubt.
That single word says it all.
It’s as if she’s asking the true meaning behind why I’m doing this at this particular timing.
“Were you egged on by those two?”
“No, it’s my own will.”
The trigger might have been Instructor Fushio’s words, but the decision to stand here and say what I just said was my own will.
The supervisor, finding my actions incomprehensible, seems to think that two instructors are involved.
However, my answer is a denial.
The supervisor, looking even more unconvinced, crosses her arms below her chest and murmurs, “Perhaps…”
“Are you concerned about what we talked about the other day?”
“That was the trigger, yes.”
I answer crisply, as if I’m in an interview.
I answer truthfully, without any delay, to what she’s asking for.
My unwavering answer causes the supervisor’s brow to furrow.
“……”
I thought she would dismiss me with a single word if there was no chance.
In fact, I thought that was the pattern nine times out of ten.
And if there was even a sliver of a chance, I thought she would answer immediately. But, surprisingly, the answer the supervisor chose was silence.
In other words, she’s contemplating my answer.
This is, in a way, a rare sight.
However, whether it’s good or bad, I think it’s a good sign.
If she’s contemplating, it means the possibility is not zero.
But regardless of whether there’s a chance or not, I want to go on at least one date.
“Haa.”
As I stood there contemplating, a minute passed before the supervisor finally let out a sigh.
She dislikes showing any sign of weakness.
I thought, “Was this such a strong wish?” then, she opened her mouth, chuckling as if amused.
“You said you had a wish, and I wondered what it could be. You want to go on a date with me? And not because someone put you up to it, but of your own volition. In a way, it’s a high aspiration. But, how long has it been? Since a man last invited me to a clandestine meeting.”
Then, she slowly walked towards me.
And, without saying a word, she looks at my face.
There isn’t much of a height difference, but the supervisor is slightly shorter.
As a result, we ended up in a position like a scene from a romantic drama, with me looking down at her.
“This is rude, but allow me to ask. Why did you invite me?”
As if fitting the scene, the supervisor’s tone was much softer than usual.
“It’s nothing more than the result of my contemplation.”
“Oh? And what did you contemplate?”
The reason I invited the supervisor on a date was simply because I had hit a wall in my thinking, and decided to take action.
The reason is simple and clear.
I wanted to know if I myself could come to like her.
Currently, I do have positive feelings towards the supervisor.
However, these feelings were once simply those of admiration for her as my superior. But recently, seeing more of the supervisor’s actions, I’ve begun to see her more as a woman.
Because of this, whether it’s as a woman or as a workplace superior, the sensation within me has become ambiguous. To discern this, I voiced this wish.
I don’t want to just be swept along by the situation without understanding anything.
A political marriage is a job obligation, and I cannot marry solely for that reason.
In such situations, I need to be able to identify the points I must consider.
So, after thinking about what to do, I decided to go on a date with the supervisor and thoroughly grasp my own emotions.
This might not be entirely about returning to basics, but in terms of re-evaluating, it’s quite accurate.
And I concluded that ordinary conversation alone would not be enough for this re-evaluation.
That’s why I’ve mustered the spirit to ask her out on a date like this.
A political marriage is acceptable, but I wanted to confirm if we could properly come to like each other afterward.
If I can come to like her, then there’s no problem.
I can face her.
But if I can’t, I’m sure I’ll regret it, even if I advance in this Demon Lord’s Army.
I didn’t want to act in such a way.
Simply put, if I can come to like her, it’s marriage. If not, I will refuse.
Depending on the choice, I might move further away from promotion, but I’ve come to terms with that, accepting it as unavoidable.
Without overcomplicating things, I’ve decided to entrust myself to these two choices.
It might sound like an excuse, but that’s the reason I asked her out on a date.
“I’m sorry.”
After I spilled everything out, the supervisor offered an apology.
The words I spoke could have easily led to me being dismissed as an idiot, but the supervisor took them seriously.
“You’re merely being dragged into this. You should have been allowed to grow more slowly.”
She sounded so weak.
I don’t know if it was an act, but for some reason, I had a baseless feeling that those words were her true feelings.
“You have status, but you shouldn’t consider marrying a woman like me. You probably would have been better off slowly carrying out your duties with Suella and the others.”
What the supervisor said might indeed have been one of my potential futures.
If there had been another frontliner besides me.
If my instructors weren’t the current two.
If there was someone more capable than my current self.
I can talk about “ifs” endlessly.
But that’s just a matter of the process, of the past.
“You know, if I had lived that kind of life and had the chance to hear my current situation, I might have said this other path was better.”
It would be a lie to say that the supervisor’s words lacked allure.
A life without turmoil, where I could casually do my work, have dinner with Suella, go out with Memoria, or play with Himik.
That would probably be a happy life, but I don’t regret the experiences I’ve had since joining this company, even if they were tough.
“If” is “if,” and reality is reality.
“So, perhaps the relationship we’ve developed with the supervisor isn’t necessarily a bad thing.”
If the result of this action is a political marriage with the supervisor, then frankly, it’s self-inflicted.
Or rather, if it’s good.
“After all, as you can see, after making all the effort, I get to date a beautiful woman? In the eyes of the world, that’s considered a reward for a man.”
I can say it’s the result of my efforts.
If it’s the result of being recognized, then it doesn’t feel bad.
And if the reward for that achievement is a beauty like the supervisor, then it’s truly a man’s life.
If this were about some unknown noble lady, I wouldn’t have hesitated to beg the instructors or consult with Suella and the others on how to refuse without causing a ripple.
It’s precisely because it’s the supervisor, Evia-san, that I’ve agonized like this.
To convey that, I said it a bit jokingly, and the supervisor’s eyes widened slightly, then she wore her usual sadistic smile.
“I see. It appears I misjudged you.”
“Did my evaluation go down?”
“Who knows? I can’t just disclose another person’s performance review, given my position. I can’t tell you that evaluation.”
“That’s unfair.”
“That’s right, I’m a sly woman.”
The supervisor smoothly distanced herself and turned her back, but looked back over her shoulder and giggled.
From my perspective, she looked incredibly attractive, and I briefly thought that perhaps I might not need a date after all.
“It’s been a long time since a man has invited a woman like me on a date so boldly.”
“What a waste. She’s so beautiful, what were the men around her doing?”
“Who knows? As far as I remember, you’re the first to have openly confessed your feelings like this. I’ll answer that for the honor of the men around me. However, it’s surprisingly not bad to be praised directly. Especially if it’s not flattery.”
“I’m more afraid of lying to the supervisor and displeasing you.”
“You should moderate your words a little more on that point.”
“I’ll do my best.”
Facing the supervisor, who told me to be careful with my words as if exasperated, I also chuckled and shook my shoulders.
The initial tension was gone.
Our conversation had devolved into our usual exchanges.
“Well then, Jiro. We were going to go on a date, weren’t we?”
“Yes, a date.”
And so, the conversation returned to its original topic.
I originally came to this place to ask the supervisor on a date.
Rather than letting the conversation be left ambiguous, it’s more helpful to get an answer like this.
“Fine.”
This time, the supervisor readily agreed.
“What you seek on this date is a mutual understanding of affection. For me as well, it would be beneficial to have such an opportunity for the future.”
“That’s true, but you say it without an ounce of sensuality.”
“What? Would you prefer it to be more sensual?”
“If possible.”
“Well…”
I feel as though I’m gradually being drawn into the supervisor’s pace, but since my objective seems attainable, I’ll continue like this.
After a few seconds of thought at my words about wanting more sensuality, the supervisor closed the distance she had just created in an instant and hugged my arm.
“I’ve been looking forward to this, more than you realize?”
Her slightly flushed expression, which she rarely shows, and her soft words.
And the soft feel of a woman’s body against my right arm, and her faint, sweet scent.
This action is the complete opposite of her usual dignified and cold demeanor.
This double attack of physical and mental stimuli, aimed at exploiting that gap, probably turned my face bright red.
“Hehehe, perhaps I need to train this too. For a noble, this sort of exchange is commonplace. I find your innocence endearing, but keep that expression just for your family. Falling for a honey trap after marrying me would be unbearable.”
She warns me that in some cases, just talking could lead to a pregnancy, but I can only stammer out a “Yes” in my flustered state.
The supervisor, who had added sensuality as I requested, was perhaps a bit too overwhelming.
“Damn it,” I grumbled inwardly, averting my gaze and responding in a way that masked my own pleasure, deciding that I needed to do better.
Seemingly satisfied by my reaction, which she enjoyed, the supervisor gently released my arm and stood before me.
“Now, as you requested, we will go on a date. However, unfortunately, I am busy. It will take time to take leave. I’m afraid you’ll have to adjust to my schedule on holidays.”
“That’s not a problem.”
“Is that so? Then it’s fine.”
She covered her face, trying to hide her blushing face as much as possible, but the supervisor, watching this act with apparent delight, happily conveyed her future plans.
“Ah, Supervisor.”
“What? Aren’t you going to call me by my name like you did earlier?”
“……Evia-san.”
“Why are you blushing again? You called me it once already.”
Does this devil have to tease me? Or is it because she’s a devil that she teases?
“Your reaction is so cute, I forgive you. So, what was it? Is there something else besides the date?”
I wanted to make another request, but she told me to call her by her name, not her usual title, and I blanched again, recalling our recent exchange, and became the target of her teasing once more.
But there’s no use stopping here.
“No, it’s related to the date. For our first date, could you let me make the plan?”
“Oh? Does that mean you’ll be escorting me?”
“It’s not that formal. If you’re okay with it, Supervisor— no, Evia-san— I’d like you to enjoy a common Japanese date.”
“Hmm.”
If we’re going to date, I want her to get to know me.
Therefore, I thought a Japanese-style date would be better than a formal, fantasy-style one.
The problem is whether the supervisor can go outside the company.
Unlike us, the supervisor has a certain position.
I’m aware that this request is a bit of a stretch.
Normally, I’d think it impossible, but I feel like the supervisor might be able to.
“Very well.”
And my prediction, which was half a wish, was accepted.
“It will require some preparation, but it’s not impossible. I am also interested in the outside world.”
No, let me correct that slightly.
The supervisor seems more enthusiastic than I expected.
Her demeanor seemed happy, as if she were genuinely interested.
Seeing her like that, I was reminded of something.
When I brought her cake before, she knew the name of the store.
And recently, she asked me to buy her a cake.
I have a hunch, but I won’t voice it.
“Jiro.”
“Yes.”
“I’m looking forward to it.”
“Yes, me too.”
All I know is that this action turned out better than I expected.
Today’s word:
Enjoyment is not determined by others, but created by oneself.
That’s all for today.
Thank you as always for pointing out typos and for your feedback.
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*The first volume of the book has been published by Hayakawa Bunko JA.
It was released on October 18, 2018.
The e-book version was also released on October 31 of the same year.
The second volume was released on December 19.
The third volume was released on February 20, 2019.
The content has been revised and expanded from the original submission to Shosetsuka ni Narou, and includes unreleased interlude chapters.
Please consider purchasing the new books as well!
A manga adaptation of this work has been decided to be serialized in Kodansha’s “Young Magazine The Third,” scheduled for issue number 9.
We hope you will enjoy that as well.
We look forward to your continued support of this work.
