Chapter 39 – Festival

The story with the hero is over, but the fact that I am deceiving the hero has not changed. Even if it was difficult to love the hero right now, at least I decided to stop pushing him away as a man like before.

From the warrior’s point of view, he’s stepping out to save me, but if I keep pushing him away, there won’t be a bastard like that. Even if I can’t approach it, at least I won’t push it away.

In fact, even if it wasn’t true, in order to subdue the demon king, you had to love the hero anyway, so it was no longer a good choice to seduce and push the hero like before.

Rather, you will have to actively face him continuously. If it’s fortunate, maybe the fortunate thing is that I’m a little less repulsive because my appearance is closer to beauty than manly.

If the appearance was muscular and masculine, it would have been a little difficult. It’s only a relative story… And it’s still hard even now.

But if you think differently, you’ll be fine someday. If you look at the hero from an objective point of view, there won’t be a person as dedicated to him… In fact, I didn’t fall for him because I was a man.

I didn’t want to say this… To be honest, I was a little excited when the hero said he would save me. Don’t

So far, you can definitely say that it’s not a romantic feeling. If that was the case, I would have been in a panic and raging a long time ago. It’s not to that extent, and I’ve said it before, but I think you can think of it as being close to respect.

I’m sure it would be so…

What can I say…It’s a bit confusing…

I think it must have been because of my current situation, but it was shocking that I had such feelings for a man. I said it was respect earlier, but anyway, the excitement itself…

Hmm..

If I was a man, I was like this, but if I was a woman, what would it be like?

No, a person who goes to the past to save me and works hard. I can say that I understand to some extent why the other heroines fell in love with the hero.

He’s a really great guy

“…”

You can’t stay still like this.

It may not seem like it now, but a warrior is still a warrior.

It was an opportunity now, when no one would attack, as Cecilia and Ruril might fall for the hero and seduce him. But, I’m doing something right now…

‘Ah..’

Do I really have to do this…

No matter how much I feel sorry for the hero, and I know that someday I will have to love the hero.

It’s hard to explain what

Until now, I had no choice but to stay with the warrior because I had only booked one room, but this time it’s a bit difficult because I’m trying to talk myself into sleeping together. I’ll give you any number of rooms now, so my excuse to book fewer rooms to save money won’t work.

I guess I have to say it myself…

“The festival is still in full swing, how about going out together?”

“…”

Oh my.

Saying that, I can’t go out with you.

I nodded.

It’s not that everything I’ve been thinking about before has gotten better, but maybe it’s because I had a conversation with Forgiveness, but it’s much better than before. It was definitely wrong to deceive the hero, but wouldn’t it be okay if I showed my sincerity from now on?

At least I won’t push him away without even giving it a chance.

And..

A little more.. I should actively approach it from my side. I looked down at the hand that had been extended to me for a moment, then carefully raised it. When I raised my hand, the warrior who looked surprised for a moment smiled and pulled my arm.

Shall we get to know each other a little more at the festival?

Now that I’m a woman, shouldn’t I go to the festival with the opposite sex?

Since I was originally a man, even when I went to a festival, I went with a man. At that time, I had never been to a festival with the opposite sex, so I don’t know, but anyway, I’m only going out to get to know the hero, not to seduce him like before.

Maybe it’ll just be as usual.

I secretly smiled at Hero.

If I tried to act like Lumia before, now I intend to act like the original me. If a hero who has discovered that I am different from Lumia in the past asks me, I will answer the truth.

I mean, maybe I’m not the Rumia you know. Since I decided not to deceive the hero anymore… At least I wanted to bump into myself.

If you’re a warrior, maybe…

“…”

No, that’s probably because I’m too greedy.

I shook my head.

Let’s enjoy the festival first.

Apparently, Cecilia and Ruril are already enjoying themselves. I also want to go to the festival quickly and eat delicious food and enjoy things to do.

I hurried my steps.

.
.
.

It’s good that they came to the village for now, but Cecilia and Ruril, who were nearby just before, are nowhere to be seen no matter where they look. Apparently we didn’t come out too long, so we got tired of waiting and went to enjoy ourselves.

Even though they are members of the same party, can they wait for this much?

If you want to enjoy the festival even a little longer, it’s right to go as soon as possible, but… After all, it’s because of me, so I can’t say anything. Looking around, I soon gave up on looking for Cecilia and Ruril.

“This..”

It was none other than the ornament shop that caught our attention on the way. I’m not particularly interested in ornaments, so it doesn’t matter, but it seems I’m not a hero. As soon as we entered, the clerk came up to us and guided us.

“Are you looking for a wedding ring?”

I almost responded to the straightforward question, but Rumia can’t hear the voices of people except the hero. Even if it doesn’t act like Rumia, at least the original Rumia’s disabilities shouldn’t suddenly disappear even if they actually existed, even if they were set up.

I already know that everyone around me can’t speak or hear, but now I can’t say that I can hear. I let out a sigh because I felt sorry for myself for not being able to reveal this truth even though I tried to bump into it with all my heart.

“No, not a wedding ring…”

The warrior answered awkwardly and looked back at me for a moment, then turned his head again to look at the ornaments. Come to think of it, why did he come to this place all of a sudden? From what I remember, Hero doesn’t seem to be very interested in ornaments either…

“That’s… There’s something I want to give you as a present.”

“What a gift… Ah!”

The clerk, who looked at me for a moment, seemed to have noticed, and then suddenly moved to the display stand. I looked to see what kind of ornament he was trying to recommend, and it was none other than a hairpin.

A hairpin…?

“You seem to always wear only a depleted hat, so you didn’t ask me to present this because I wanted you to take it off today?”

The hero made an expression that he did not expect. I don’t think it’s like that, but… I don’t think it’s bad.

What..

Should I take this hat off?

“This hairpin is a magical tool that spreads a protective shield only once in a dangerous moment.”

I’m a wizard, so I wouldn’t need that anyway. I tried to refuse it because it was quite expensive, but I bought it as it was because I had the money I received as a bounty.

No.. Not worth the money..

“Rumia.”

The hero turned to me and held out his hairpin. No matter how much a magician is, it will be difficult to block if his magic power is low or if an attack comes from an unexpected place.

If it was the same as usual, I would have said something like Rumia that I was wasting money, but why? I thought it was a waste of money, but I didn’t think the warrior was wrong. Rather, I think that he bought this because he was worried about me..

It wasn’t bad because I felt worried.

Can I really feel this way? This is the worry that Rumia should have received.

Even so… Didn’t I also sincerely accept it?

Yes.. It is.

Sniff

“Ah..”

As I took off my hat, Forgiveness looked at me blankly.

– Thank you, warrior.

With a bright smile, I answered the hero.

Even though my voice couldn’t reach it, hoping that it could reach it someday.