After proposing the Divine Banquet, without any further twists, we exchanged contact information, and Kirie-san, her attendant, and the God, whom I never thought I would actually meet, departed. In the room, I let out a sigh of relief.
“That was quite a noisy God,” I commented.
“Yeah, it was,” Evia replied.
With that, I sat on the veranda and called out to Evia, who was gazing at the quiet garden.
“…Are you alright?”
The space that had been boisterous, for better or worse, felt quiet in contrast. In this calm atmosphere, I asked Evia, who was showing me her back, if she was feeling alright, after a quick scan to check for any watching eyes in the area.
“I’d say I’m fine, but I’m not as well as I’d hoped.”
It wasn’t that she was sick or injured. Her very presence here was extremely risky for Evia. Evia, sensing my concern, responded without hesitation. However, her composure didn’t erase my own unease. As she turned to face me, sitting on the veranda, her wry smile made her seem far weaker than the strong negotiator she had been moments earlier.
“Honestly, it makes me truly feel alive to be sustained by magic power. I knew that the stronger one is, the more they are bound by this world’s constraints, but…”
Evia clenched her fists, but I could tell her grip was no stronger than that of an adult woman. The overwhelming power she usually displayed within the company was absent here. Though she had maintained a resolute posture, it was merely a bluff.
“It’s almost laughable that it’s all within expectations. This place truly is hell for us. Not being able to use my power is such an inconvenience. I never intended to be a helpless woman, but as I am now, I’d struggle to defeat even a single Golem.”
“So, combat is unlikely?”
“Even if I were to use all the magic items I brought as reserves, I could only fight at full power for a few minutes. Even with caution, aiming for a realistic sustained battle, I wouldn’t last more than an hour.”
Her restricted activities outside the company were clearly taking a toll. Evia now was akin to someone swimming in the ocean with a massive oxygen tank on her back, constantly worried about its remaining supply.
“In that case, meeting with the God was a significant setback.”
“Indeed, the risk and reward didn’t balance. We incurred unnecessary risk for only existing information and troublesome matters. On their side, whether they knew it or not, they managed to shake us. It’s a blow.”
During our recent, not-so-brief meeting, Evia had been in the most danger. This space devoid of magic, if mishandled, could directly threaten her life. I glanced at the carry-on case in the corner of the room. It contained items for me to use in case of combat, but its most crucial role was Evia’s life support. While it was fortunately intact, another aspect still lingered in my mind.
“Do you think they noticed?”
“Who knows? They call themselves a God. A being that can appear suddenly, beyond our perception. Even with our precautions, there might have been opportunities for them to notice. That is, Evia and otherworlders have limitations operating in this world. The fact that this constitution, that otherworlders can’t live on Earth, was not made public. While an employee could easily discover that beings cannot live without magic, strict non-disclosure agreements are in place, making it a classified secret. Frankly, meeting with a God at this timing was an unforeseen miscalculation. Whether this information is known or not will make a significant difference in future negotiations. Evia was chosen for this negotiation precisely because she is relatively moderate and supportive in negotiations with Earth nations, and her appearance is close to human. Furthermore, it was an experimental element to see if a high-ranking presence could operate for an extended period under Earth’s conditions. If it were Instructor Kio or Instructor Fushio, it might have led to unnecessary conflict.”
“Ugh…”
However, it seemed trouble followed things, regardless of whether it was the instructors or not. Things never went according to plan, and I felt a surge of irritation. I ran my hand through my hair roughly, trying to suppress the emotion and calm myself. There was no point dwelling on what was over. Thinking about whether it was known or not wouldn’t yield an answer, and even to remember it would be a waste of time. Instead, I decided to prepare for the worst, proceeding on the assumption that it is known.
“This will make things more difficult.”
“Yes, but we must do it.”
I knew that dwelling on the negative wouldn’t help us move forward, but I found myself in a tough position, and it was difficult to shake off the feeling as someone assigned to a support role in this negotiation.
“On top of that, I’ve been tasked with conveying the unreasonable demand of a ‘Divine Banquet.’ How should we handle this?”
This, too, was an issue hindering my attempt to change my mood. Evia also suppressed a sigh, her brow furrowed.
“What’s the reality of it? Can you really arrange a banquet for Gods?” I imagined it to be as difficult as an ordinary person, with no acquaintances, friends, or relatives, arranging a meeting between national leaders. Or perhaps an idol I’d never met suddenly appearing and casually requesting a matchmaking session with idols from that country, asking me to arrange it! Either way, it’s a task anyone would throw up their hands and surrender to. Honestly, I wanted to ask if they couldn’t just contact each other or make appointments themselves. However, unfortunately, I am a salaryman who cannot simply refuse and walk away. Even if I were to decline, I would need to provide valid reasons and evidence. I decided to consider it fortunate that the higher-ups weren’t proceeding with discussions without my knowledge.
“We’ll have to put thinking about that on hold. The question of whether it’s possible or not is beyond my authority anyway. Regardless, this negotiation must be a success.”
“That’s true.”
Evia’s point was valid. If the subordinates were at odds, it would be pointless for the superiors to be on good terms.
“So, the presentation starting tomorrow is the problem… Do you think there will be any physical interference?”
“Unlikely. There’s no profit in it. If they were to deal with us or kidnap us now, the Demon Lord’s Army would just turn against Japan. Considering profit, it would be the worst possible foolishness. There are plenty of sellers in this world. The Demon Lord, God, would deem my life worthless and abandon this country. Unless they are exceptionally foolish, they would only do so after assessing our military strength.”
“Then, I can only pray that we are not embroiled in any trouble during this business trip.”
I asked about potential physical interference, like a break-in, as a precautionary measure, and she confirmed it was unlikely, aligning with my own predictions. However, due to my tendency to encounter trouble since joining this company, I couldn’t easily agree with her prediction, and my response was laced with a hint of sarcasm.
“What are you talking about?”
“?”
“You’re already embroiled in the troublesome matter of arranging a banquet for the Gods, aren’t you?”
“Ah… I suppose that’s true.”
I hadn’t realized it because the usual troubles involved combat by default. I slumped my shoulders, feeling that being caught up in trouble was unavoidable, as it had become a routine. And there was no point thinking about it now.
“Haa… Should I reconfirm tomorrow’s presentation, or take a bath before dinner?”
I finally had some free time. Should I finish my work first and then relax, or should I take a bath in the room’s facilities to refresh myself? When I checked the room’s amenities, I noticed a surprisingly spacious open-air bath. The view was also quite good, so I was secretly looking forward to it.
“A bath? You know, I haven’t had a bath in the style of this country since I came here.”
“Seriously? That’s a shame. You should try it once. Shall I go first?”
“…No, you can go first. I’ll be fine later.”
I was a little surprised that Evia, who had never experienced a bath like the one in a traditional inn, hadn’t, and as a Japanese person, I recommended it. She seemed to consider it for a moment but declined. Well, fortunately, I had plenty of time. Evia probably wanted to soak in the bath leisurely as well. Assuming she planned to go after dinner, I thought it best to go first and headed towards the bathroom with my bath set. At that moment, for some reason, Evia seemed to be smiling.
“Oh, magnificent, magnificent.”
The company’s recreational facility inn we went to with Suella and the others was impressive, but this place was no less so. It was large enough to be considered excessive even for a single family. It was a cypress bath with a large window, and the view from it. Looking closely, there was also a small open-air bath. With the green leaves mainly in the scenery, the view of the mountains, where the light was meticulously calculated, was the kind of setting that made one crave alcohol, even during the day. I wrapped a towel around my waist, washed off first, and then sank into the bath.
“Aaaahhh.”
The sound that escaped my lips echoed throughout the area, but I paid no mind. The water seemed to permeate my body as if it were hot spring water or had some special effect. My body, tensed by the unexpected stress, eased in the pleasantly hot water, and my body relaxed as I leaned back against the edge. The bath was spacious enough that even when I, who considered myself quite tall, stretched out, there was still room to spare. I placed the towel I brought over my eyes and floated gently, stretching out my body, finding it incredibly comfortable.
“Kaa, this is a good bath.”
“Is it that good?”
“Ah, it’s like paradise.”
“I see. Then, move over a bit. It’s not like I can’t fit.”
“Roger that… Huh?”
In this dreamy state, I suddenly heard a familiar voice nearby. Following the voice, I moved and shifted slightly to the side when I noticed something odd. Then, I heard the sound of something entering the water to my immediate left.
“Hoo, indeed, the temperature is perfect.”
“Evia!?”
“Who else would it be?”
When I gently removed the towel, I saw Evia’s fair skin soaking in the tub right next to me. Her cheeks, flushed a rosy red from the bath, and the exasperated look she gave me confirmed it was unmistakably Evia.
“No, I was just getting in…”
“There’s no problem. We’re engaged, aren’t we? Besides, I’m in the military. I have no reason to be embarrassed about my naked body.”
“No, the problem is that I’m having trouble reacting right now.”
She was supplying magic power from the red jeweled pendant visible on her chest, but nothing else adorned her. While she wasn’t the age to be embarrassed by such things, it was still startlingly sudden. Well.
“…I’ll consider it a perk of the job.”
“I like that you can grasp the situation like that,” she said.
“Thanks.”
Nevertheless, if she didn’t seem to mind, I decided to accept the situation.
“…”
“…”
And so, it became a time to heal our bodies, close together in the same bath.
“…You know, there was something I wanted to ask you for a while now. Is that okay?”
“What is it?”
While this time was pleasant, I decided to ask something that suddenly came to mind.
“…No, it’s nothing.”
“What is it?”
I had wanted to ask. What was the trigger for our relationship as man and woman? It felt strange to ask now. Was it worth caring about falling in love now? We went on dates, spent time together, and now we were living together. What was there to ask her?
“Hmm, not bad. Jiro, when we build a house next, shall we build a bath like this?”
“That’s a good idea. Perhaps we could even build two types of baths.”
“It would be a lot of trouble to manage, but Himik could probably handle it.”
“We can’t burden Himik alone, though.”
“Then, aim higher and earn more. I’ll introduce you to someone good on my end.”
“That’s a world I can’t even begin to imagine.”
“Fool, you must reach that domain.”
Then, there’s no need for crude questions. As long as we continue to deepen our bond, then it’s fine.
“Otherwise, there’s no meaning in me falling for you.”
“Eh?”
It seemed I had been the only one assuming that, and Evia, delighted by my delayed reaction to the surprise confession, chuckled, the sound of a successful prank. She then gently poked my forehead.
“Eh? When?”
I responded with disbelief, unable to believe her words. We had been through a lot since I joined the company, but honestly, I thought my special condition had led to my rapid advancement, making this more of a political marriage with her as my overseer. So, for me, I thought it was acceptable as a starting point and intended to develop our relationship from there. Yet, here was a confession of love out of the blue. It was bound to confuse me. Really, when? Where? What did I do?
“Who knows? If you hadn’t hesitated and had listened properly, I might have told you.”
“Eh? Isn’t that cheating?”
“Too bad, Jiro. Demons are cunning creatures.”
Perhaps my confused face was amusing, as Evia, unable to stop laughing, leaned her body against me, rather than sitting on the edge of the tub.
“However, I don’t want you to think of me as just a cunning woman, so I won’t tell you when, but I will tell you this much.”
I couldn’t see her face, only her red hair, but Evia’s voice was clear.
“I have fallen for you enough to entrust my life to you. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have accepted this job, even for the organization’s sake. I only accepted because you were there, and I felt at ease.”
Hearing those words, I felt a joy unbecoming of my age, and I blushed again.
“…Those words are also unfair.”
“…Yes, they are. Unfairness exclusively for you.”
Hearing her words, I felt that I would never be able to win an argument with Evia, my happiness mixed with a sense of amusement.
A word for today: Sometimes, taking a short break can help you get more work done.
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*The first volume of this novel has been published by Hayakawa Bunko JA. It was released on October 18, 2018. The e-book version was 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 posts on Shosetsuka ni Narou, with the inclusion of an unreleased interlude. We hope you will also check out the new releases!
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