Chapter 73 – The Nightmare Hides His Goodness #2

Michelle looked at me in disbelief as I wrapped my hand intimately around Rebecca’s shoulder.

“Are you really a dreamer? Aren’t the horns on your head fake?”
“Then what do I look like if I’m not a dreamer?”
“Is he actually a psychopath who wears horns as decoration?”
“My antlers are not ornaments. Touch them if you don’t believe them.”

Michelle got up from the couch and reached out to feel my antlers. After pulling the horn with force, Michelle finally realized that my horn was real. She sighed and sat down on the sofa.

“Ha… It’s the first time I’ve met such a mysterious dreamer in my life. It looks like you’re dating the red-haired woman next to you. I think I know the secret to dating such a beauty.”

She opened her mouth as Michelle nodded her head knowingly.

“Adventurer, I understand your situation. Then, please start working tomorrow. That masked stalker doesn’t look like he’ll do anything serious right away. Tomorrow is a holiday when the theater is closed, but I’m going to prepare for a performance on stage. The stalker is probably hiding somewhere in the theater and trying to target me.”
“Can I look at the stage side?”
“It could show up near the stage, or it could show up in the dressing room to steal my belongings. It looks like the two of you are working together, but I think we’ll have to keep an eye on them separately.”
“Good.”

According to Michelle, the masked stalker seemed pretty new. It would have been better to stay away from Rebecca and take care of the surveillance.

“I’ll tell the people in the theater in advance. In fact, they know about the stalker who harasses me.”
“Other people know about it? But why didn’t you report it to the guards?”
“You mean the guards?”

Michelle opened her mouth as she snorted.

“You know. How messed up Yoensu’s guards are. Besides, the theater’s reputation will be ruined if they prowl. It’s better to do things like this as quietly as possible.”
“…Okay.’

Distrust of public authority!
Even in this world, the distrust of public officials could be felt everywhere. In particular, the Yoensuu Guards were an organization known for their negligence. There were even rumors that he was taking bribes from a criminal organization in the back alley.

“So please take good care of me, adventurers. The citizens of Yoensu believe in adventurers the most. I heard that dealing with giants is also the role of adventurers.”
“It is the role of adventurers to deal with giants.”
“Then what the heck are the security guards doing? It’s a waste to pay the monthly taxes. Anyway, as much as I’m off today, please come early tomorrow morning. Come to this theater and take care of the fucking stalker.”
“Just leave it to me.”

So, Rebecca and I were entrusted with protecting actress Michelle.
Before leaving the break room, I asked Michelle to delay reporting the quest to the Adventurer’s Guild. I didn’t explain the circumstances at length, but Michelle seemed to understand what I was saying.
There would be no sudden start of the silver tier promotion match, so now you can carry out the quest without any problems.

After getting out of the theater building.
As I said, I became faithful to my date with Rebecca today. It seems like it was a pretty enjoyable day just taking a walk around the city after having lunch.
As we walked and chatted, it was already sunset.
Me and Rebecca decided to end our date around this point and break up.

‘Sorry.’

I couldn’t help but regret it when the date came to an end. It was a very precious experience to see Rebecca in her plain clothes. Her fluttering skirt kept stepping on my eyes. Even when she was doing adventure work, she wanted to ask her to wear a skirt, but she couldn’t. The leather pants I always wore would be better for moving around comfortably.

“There.”

Sensing my gaze, Rebecca let out a thin smile.

“Thank you earlier. Instead of doing the quest right away, you thought of me. Maybe I could have caught the stalker on a day trip today.”
“Then you’re out on a date and you’re going to work out of nowhere? Working that hard is something I don’t want to do either.”
“I see. Luke might be popular with women.”
“What? How am I so popular. I’m a dream horse with horns.”
“Except for being a dreamer, he’s a good guy. He’s got a good face and a good body. Tanned skin might be an attractive factor to some women.”

Rebecca put on an ambiguous expression, whether she was happy or not, she didn’t know.

“…Some of the citizens consider you a good dreamer. If you continue to work as an adventurer, your reputation will naturally rise.
“Isn’t that a good thing? I’m sick of being treated like a rapist. I’ll be really happy if I become popular with the citizens.”

When I thought of myself who would be treated as a normal person in the future, I smiled happily.
A future where only I can get away from the incubus hatred that is rampant on the continent.
A world where straight and beautiful adventurers suggest raids to me.

– Mr. Luke! Would you like to go raiding together?
– Yeah yeah yeah yeah!!

“Five.”

I was so excited that I had trouble breathing.
I clenched my fists as I imagined going on a quest with the beautiful adventurers.
Fortunately, Rebecca looked away just in time, so she didn’t seem to notice my ugly appearance.

“Luke. I’ll be really happy if you become popular too.”
“Right?”

Contrary to what she said, however, Rebecca had a nervous expression on her face. Rebecca somehow reached out and touched her waist.
Isn’t that where she usually wears a curved sword?
Who are you imagining cutting right now?

“But as a girlfriend, I think I need to work harder.”
“Boo, what do you mean by pushing yourself?”
“Maybe we should prepare for a competitor to appear.”

Could it be that if a competitor appeared, he would cut it with a knife?
As I watched Rebecca, I couldn’t help but break out in a cold sweat. Of course, it was only for a moment that Rebecca looked nervous. She immediately looked at me and she waved her hand with a bright expression.

“See you in front of the theater tomorrow morning! I’ve memorized the route, so I don’t need to take you there again!”
“Okay, see you tomorrow.”

I waved her hand the same way and parted with Rebecca.
It was our first date, but it seemed like a pretty fun day. Looking back, all I could think of was a fluttering skirt. The disastrous ending of the play had long been forgotten in my mind.

*

The next morning, I packed up my equipment and went out in front of Joensuu’s theater. Because it was a quest that moved in the city, there was no need to increase armaments unnecessarily. I was only carrying leather armor and a longsword.
Last night, I looked over the mage hand magic book that I had been keeping, but there was nothing to be particularly careful about.

‘Because a hand made with magical power has a limit on the weight it can lift. I guess I can make them do a sword dance in the air with something like a sword.’

Mage hand magic was more restrictive than I thought. Rather, my liquid magic was more useful for lifting things. Except for the fact that it shared the sense of touch with the caster, there was virtually nothing better than liquid magic.
Of course, even so, you can’t be vigilant in front of a stalker. There was a high possibility that he was learning basic spells other than Mage Hand magic. It seemed to be beneficial to immediately whip it with a water whip if it came across.

“Rebecca! This way!”

While waiting, Rebecca appeared in front of the theater building.
A red top connected with a string and tight leather pants. Rebecca appeared in her usual outfit, with a curved sword at her waist. The tower shield I gifted you was invisible.
A shield would be a hindrance to moving around the city.
Bringing only a knife was not a bad choice.

“Does the theater really look like a holiday today?”
“Yeah. There’s a sign saying it’s a holiday. There won’t be any trouble with the crowd.”

Unlike yesterday, when it was open, the theater building was empty. Although staff rarely moved inside the building, it could be said that it was almost empty.
Rebecca murmured as she looked toward the entrance of her building.

“Will the stalker show up on a day like today? Isn’t that just wasting time?”
“Still, since I was asked by the client. I’ll have to pretend to be watching.”

In fact, I also doubted whether a stalker would appear on a holiday like today. Because the building is so empty, if someone moves, they’ll get noticed right away.
I didn’t think I’d be able to beat the stalker today. Wouldn’t it be nice to just kill time and go back?

“Let’s go inside. I should say hello to meet Michelle.”
“Yes-.”

I took Rebecca into the theater. An old guard standing at the entrance blocked my way for a moment, but I was able to pass through safely.

“Blonde hair, tanned skin. A dream horse with horns? That’s the adventurer Miss Michelle said. You can go in.”
“Yep.”
“Don’t make too much of a fuss. Theater officials might see you as a dreamer and get scared.”

After hearing a light nagging.
Me and Rebecca went straight ahead and entered the large performance room.
The three-story auditorium is empty.
Actors were practicing on the wide stage.
I see a young man who plays Siegfried, the main character we saw yesterday, and a woman who plays the heroine Brunnhilde.

“Isn’t that grandpa-?”
“Who?”
“The old assassin who stabbed the dragon slayer to death with a single sword. I really wanted to meet you and get your autograph.”

Rebecca looked around her stage and licked her lips in regret.
I couldn’t help but be taken aback by her reaction.

“What are you going to talk about when we meet?”
“Wouldn’t it be possible to get some advice on swordsmanship?”
“Are you serious?”

I was embarrassed because I was so serious.
Immediately, Rebecca started giggling and laughing.

“Of course I’m kidding! Stupid-!”

I let out a sigh of relief as I look at her smiling Rebecca. Fortunately, Rebecca was not a patient and immersed believer in her acting. If it had been sincere, she might have taken her to the clinic right away.

Of course, that doesn’t mean I’m not upset.
I said to Rebecca letting go of her stiff smile.

“… Saying you’re an idiot to your boyfriend makes me think that I want to fix my cute girlfriend’s way of talking, right? For a night of honey.”
“Hick. Po, no violence.”

The moment I raised my fist into the air.
Rebecca sprinted forward and called Michelle from the stage.
The speed at which she ran away was an excellent girl.
Did you really think I would hit you?
I couldn’t help but laugh out loud.

“Michelle! We’re here!”
“Ah, that’s the adventurer I saw yesterday. Where is the horned adventurer?”
“That way-!”

Rebecca raised her finger and pointed at me in her auditorium. With that, the situation is over. This clever girl has evaded my true education by taking her client in. The skill of making fun of others and bouncing around is so great that words are speechless.

“After.”

I decided to skip it for now.
The moment I went downstairs, Rebecca put her mouth in my ear and whispered.

“…Are you mad?”
“Could I be angry? Do you think I’d be petty angry just because I heard a joke?”
“Yeah, but it looks like you’re still trying to feed me honey chestnuts?”
“Do not worry.”

I opened my fist and ran the palm of my hand through Rebecca’s hair.
He showed superhuman endurance and endured trying to feed him honey chestnuts.

“Hehe.”

Rebecca trembled as she accepted my hand.
It seems that she is worried that her hair will be caught like this.
But did the surroundings interpret this appearance in a different way?
On stage, Michelle opened her mouth with a surprised expression.

“Eh, an act of affection in such an open place? It’s like a genuine dreamer.”

Somehow, the other actors also started talking one by one.

“It’s the first time I’ve seen a dreamer who cares for a woman like that.”
“The lover is shaking her body? Does that mean she’ll die of love?”

It’s really out of the blue.
My reputation among actors seemed to rise.