101. Changes in the Returned Daily Life (1)
Luna defeated the Demon King just as the ending written in the book foretold.
A difficult battle that took a long time.
Nevertheless, I was very proud of Luna for seeing it through to the end.
"So this is what it feels like to be a teacher."
"Hehe, you're proud of me, aren't you! You feel accomplished and happy! I can see it all over your face, Mister!"
"...You're noisy, Luna."
"You like it though! You're not honest enough, Mister!"
Squeeze—
The overly honest Luna giggled and clung to my arm.
Watching her grin with delight, I noticed a strange change.
*...Isn't she too close?*
Normally she would just tap me with her fist.
But after going through the Demon King incident,
Luna strangely tried to stay close to me.
For example...
"Luna, stay in your room for a moment. You're in the way while I'm preparing the meal."
"How am I in the way! I'll just watch from the side!"
After recovering and returning to daily life,
Luna refused to leave my side even when told she was in the way.
*It feels less like she's depending on me...*
More like she's obsessed with the 'time' spent with me.
I don't know exactly what she's thinking, but
perhaps she's thinking something along those lines.
I took out a kitchen knife from the toolbox to prepare food.
Right on cue, Hare appeared with groceries in both hands.
"Ah, Mister...! I told you not to get up...!! You need to rest more...!"
Flutter flutter—
Hare waved both hands and tried to drag me back to my room.
*I wasn't hurt that badly...*
Sometimes my head hurts for no reason,
but it doesn't interfere with daily life.
I gestured to Hare that I was fine and asked about the errand.
"By the way, were they selling groceries?"
"They weren't selling much... Many stores were closed... and many had suspension notices, so I couldn't buy everything..."
It seems the outside is still focused on recovery.
Hare hung her head low as if it were her fault.
I patted Hare's head.
"It's not your fault, so it's fine. Let me see what ingredients you bought."
"Y-yes...!"
Hare placed the bag of groceries on the table.
*There are basic vegetables, but... unfortunately no meat...*
Since the knights have to focus on recovery work,
they probably aren't selling meat to ordinary citizens.
"Still, I can cook with this. Well done, Hare."
"Hehe... th-thank you..."
"Then one more thing. Can you help me?"
"Any-anything...! If it's your request, I can do anything...!"
"...You don't need to go that far."
That's burdensome.
I asked Hare to do some simple ingredient prep.
Meanwhile, I planned to check on Saten and Estia working hard upstairs.
"...By the way, Luna."
"Yes?"
"Why are you naturally following me?"
"Wh-what?"
"If you have nothing to do, help Hare prep the ingredients."
"..."
Luna hung her head, perhaps unable to respond even to herself.
Seeing Luna looking much more dejected than expected, a natural smile curved on my lips.
Chuckle—
"I'll be right back, so wait just a bit, okay?"
"Okay...! B-but when you come back, I have a favor to ask!"
"What is it?"
"P-please pat my head once like you did with Hare!"
"...What?"
Hare let out a cold breath at Luna's voice.
Since she was watching, I wanted to refuse Luna's request, but
perhaps because I'd witnessed that difficult process, I couldn't harden my heart.
I answered Luna with a faint smile.
"If you prep well, I'll do as you ask."
"Hehe, look forward to it! I'll show you the Hero's power!"
"Do as you like."
I left the kitchen, leaving Luna behind as she prepared to massacre the vegetables.
"...Unnecessarily energetic."
Still, a bright appearance is much better than a dark one.
I'm glad the aftereffects aren't lasting long.
Luna, with her strong mental fortitude befitting a Hero,
fortunately maintained her sanity after overcoming hundreds of deaths.
"I feel like she's gotten a bit strange, but... well, if it's just that much, it should be fine."
For now,
I need to meet Saten and Estia.
Thinking that, I walked down the corridor and went upstairs.
*My body feels light.*
For some reason, it felt like the weight pressing down on my body had disappeared.
Unlike before, my heart felt light and unburdened for some reason.
It definitely wasn't just my imagination.
The kitchen after Lee Jun-woo left.
Only the rhythmic sound of a knife hitting the cutting board echoed there.
"..."
Thunk— Thunk— Thunk—
Luna and Hare prepped vegetables without any conversation.
The two were doing the same action,
and ironically, they were also thinking the same thing.
*She's annoying. She's getting too close to Mister.*
I never thought about it normally,
but today it's especially annoying.
Just like Luna's thoughts,
Hare was thinking the same.
*...She's annoying. Why is she suddenly clinging to Mister...?*
Wasn't she uninterested in Mister before...?
Why does she keep trying to stay with Mister after defeating the Demon King...?
Silence filled the kitchen.
Two people thinking the same thoughts.
Gulp—
They both swallowed and opened their mouths simultaneously.
"Um, Hare—"
"Luna—"
"Oh, we spoke at the same... No, Hare! You go first!"
"...No, you go first, Luna."
"Should I? Okay!"
"..."
Luna didn't refuse the opportunity given.
"Ahem—"
She cleared her voice and looked Hare in the eye as she spoke.
"Do you still like Mister?"
"...Su-suddenly!?"
Though she told her to speak, Luna threw a straight punch out of nowhere.
Luna pressed on without pause against the flustered Hare.
"I'm just curious! So how is it now?"
"N-no... Luna, if you ask so suddenly..."
"If you like him, just say you like him, what's so hard! Huh? Just say what you think! What do you think of Mister!?"
"W-wait Luna... Give me a moment to think..."
"Hmm? Okay, fine."
"Phew..."
Luna stopped her offensive.
Only then could Hare catch her breath.
She took a moment to breathe, then quickly worked her brain.
*...Why is Luna asking me such a question?*
Suspicious.
Her behavior is suspicious.
Her words are suspicious.
Hare turned her gaze to observe Luna.
*She's looking at the ceiling pretending not to care... But her eyes keep looking at me...*
She's pretending not to care while watching closely.
My answer is extremely important to her...
*...Could it be? Luna...?*
As one thought crossed her mind,
Squeeze—
Hare, gripping the kitchen knife, sharpened her gaze and glared at Luna.
"You scared me! H-Hare! Why are you looking at me like that!"
"...Is my thought correct?"
"Wh-what thought are you talking about!!"
"...Luna, the thought that you've come to like Mister."
Hare glared at Luna without letting go of the kitchen knife.
Luna, flustered by Hare's behavior, shouted.
"Put down the knife, Hare! What are you doing! It's a misunderstanding!"
"Then we can't be friends... This makes us enemies..."
"No, it's a misunderstanding! There's no way I'd like that bearded old man! It's about something else!"
"...Really?"
"Y-yes! I told you it's a misunderstanding!"
"..."
Clang—
Hare dropped the kitchen knife on the floor.
Then, still not withdrawing her suspicion, she asked.
"...What were you trying to talk about, then? That you say it's a misunderstanding...?"
"Ahem, well! First, I'll ask a question! Hare!"
If Mister changed from before...
and became a different person,
could you still like him?
"The soul isn't the Mister we knew, but! When the appearance is the same! Could you keep liking Mister?"
"I like everything about Mister... But if only his appearance is Mister's... and Mister's heart isn't there... that's not Mister..."
"Then would you hate Mister if his soul changed?"
"If the Mister who saved me lives in my heart, that's good... But if that Mister disappears and is replaced by another Mister I don't know..."
I'll kill that Mister.
"Huh?"
"That's not the Mister I knew... Mister is... the Mister who saved me... That's the only Mister..."
"Huh...?"
Luna lost her language system at Hare's shocking statement.
You'd kill the current Mister
just because he forgot one moment from the past?
*Really? Truly? Just because he forgot that one small moment?*
Just how does Hare's head work?
Luna felt chills rather than fear toward Hare.
"Hare... you scary child...!!"
"...What is?"
"N-nothing! I didn't say anything!"
Luna grinned and moved past the situation.
*Still, Hare still likes Mister! I don't want to fight with my friend! I should be a bit careful!*
Friends are precious!
I got the information I could get,
and I learned what Saten thinks too,
so Luna decided not to say more about her own thoughts.
However, from Hare's perspective, the question still wasn't resolved.
"So why did you ask me that question...? Did something happen to Mister...?"
"No, it's just a bit strange!"
"What is...?"
"Well, how should I say..."
Luna scratched her head and spoke carefully.
"Mister feels a bit different from before...! Like he's become softer than before...!"
"Really...? I don't really notice..."
"I'm noticing it! Mister was always harsh with me, you know? Full of venom too! But now..."
Too much, the venom is gone.
It's like he ate a lot of honey.
He's not particularly obsessed with training either.
"How should I say... Rather than being cooler...! He's become gentler! The venom is gone! He feels like a sweet Mister!"
Not just for a moment,
but his fundamental personality feels softer.
Luna was instinctively noticing this change in Lee Jun-woo.