I'm back

"I'm back~"

I’d returned from my gig in Tsuia.

Though I'd distanced myself from Rokuko for a bit by traveling far away, I somehow ended up having a tea party with her over there, so maybe I didn't really put that much distance between us after all?

I mean, isn't it a bit much to have a tea party inside the dungeon I went out of my way to visit just because she’s a Dungeon Core?

I guess since it was a nearby town’s dungeon it still fell under the scope of neighborhood interaction, or something like that.

"Welcome back, Kehma. Did you bring me a souvenir?"

"… Here ya go."

It was a good I listened to Ichika and bought something for her. I handed Rokuko a necklace I found at a street stall, it was handicrafted and made by combining beads of unglazed clay.

I chose it because I liked the simple design and thought it would suit Rokuko.

"Yay! Thank you, Kehma! I love you!"

"Yep. Me… too?"

"You could at least say it properly. Also, Kehma. You should put it on me yourself. It is a necklace, after all."

"O-Okay. I love you, t-too… Ugh, this is so embarrassing…"

When I instinctively lowered my head to hide my face, Rokuko just smiled back up at me with a satisfied grin.

What’s with that expression…!?

"What? You looked so cute just now."

"Could you not call me cute…"

"Why not? I really love the way your face turns red like that… Anyway, I want to show the necklace to Nerune too."

"Huh?"

I tilted my head in confusion.

"Why Nerune?"

"What? Kehma, didn’t you buy this clay necklace with that intention in mind?"

"No, I just thought it would look good on you."

"I-I see… Is that so? Huh. Ummmm…?"

Rokuko fidgeted with the necklace in her hands, her cheeks slightly flushed.

I looked at the necklace again… Burned clay with engraved patterns, and Nerune was… Ah, I get it now.

"Nerune could turn it into a magical tool that's shaped like a necklace."

"That’s right. That's what I thought you were going to say… But you just got me it because you thought it’d suit me, huh… I'll forgive you."

"? What are you forgiving me for?"

"Nothing—!"

Hmm, yeah, no clue there…

 

＊ ＊ ＊

 

"I just had that whole conversation, but what do you think she forgave me for, Nerune?"

"Eh~? You’re asking me~?"

Well, it made sense to ask considering that she's the only one of my subordinates with a lover. Niku and Maiodoru have some kind of mysterious engagement, but it’s more like they’re friends than lovers.

Also, Rokuko mentioned wanting to see her about the necklace magical tool, so that’s another reason I thought to talk to her.

Well, we'd just happened to run into each other in the inn’s staff break room.

"But hmm, let’s see~… Maybe it’s your anniversary or something~?"

"Anniversary…"

I tried to recall if there was anything special going on.

… Her birthday maybe? But I don’t even know Rokuko’s birthday, do I?

"Wataru is surprisingly attentive, you know~? He remembered the anniversary of when we met and gave me a gift~"

"Wataru remembers dates like that? Wow, impressive."

"I didn’t remember it myself~, so he just said 'Today is our anniversary'~"

Hmm, the day Rokuko and I met… If I recall, it’s a bit later than now.

It should be shortly after the Dungeon Conference.

"Then… a wedding anniversary~?"

"No, no, no. It hasn’t even been a year since that park was built, has it?"

"… Then what could it be, I wonder~?"

Is there an anniversary that I’ve missed?

I’m curious, but I feel like I can’t just ask Rokuko directly…

At that moment, Rei showed up.

"Oh, Master, what are you and Nerune discussing?"

"Ah, hey, Rei… Well, a little love advice I guess?"

"Love advice… with Nerune? Isn’t that the wrong person to ask? I mean… it’s Nerune…?"

Rei looked at me like I had a fever or something. Yeah, it is Nerune after all…

"Honestly, I wasn’t sure about it myself, but talking it through with someone helps organize your thoughts. Plus, she actually gave me some decent pointers."

"Well, well. Impressive, Nerune."

"Ehehe~ It’s not that big a deal~"

Right, I might as well ask Rei, too.

"Hey, Rei, can you think of any recent anniversaries related to Rokuko?"

"Eh? … If we’re talking about Rokuko-sama’s anniversaries… like, how many months since you two first became intimate? Something like that?"

"…! I didn’t think of that. Monthly, half-anniversaries… that’s a new perspective. As expected of you, Rei."

"True~. It doesn’t have to be limited to the exact day, right~? As expected of the Head Executive~?"

"Oh no, please praise me more. I thrive on compliments."

I continued to shower the smug Rei with more praise.

You’re a saint! A master of massages! A loyal vampire!

"Fuhehehe… Oh, by the way, Master?"

"Hmm? What is it?"

Rei, who was still blushing happily, spoke up.

"You must have enjoyed that trip with Ichika-senpai. Rokuko-sama said something like, ‘So Ichika’s the concubine, huh… I guess humans really are better after all.’"

… What.

"Th-That’s it!! You’re wrong, you’re wrong, Rokuko——!?"

"Huh? What is?"

"Eh~? So that wasn't it~?"

Needless to say, I spent the next while frantically explaining things to Rokuko.

It’s a misunderstanding! There’s nothing like that between me and Ichika! Seriously!!