Lucy's point of view.

　-- when I was very young.

Hey, how did your mom and dad become lovers?

　I asked my mother, who roamed the world and only saw her once a year or so.
　I had heard that my father was a nobleman of a high level demon tribe in some distant place.
　I heard that he is a very powerful demon race.
　Why did my mother, an elf wizard, marry a demon race?
　I wanted to know.
　Mom laughed and replied.

'Hmmm, this is so long ago. I had a fateful encounter with your father on my journey.
　He spoke to me with enthralled eyes.
'Flaming hair and a body built like steel. He was a beautiful man. When I met him, I knew at first glance that he was the one. So I went for it right away!
Mom, you're so passionate!
You bet!　But, you see, your father was a wonderful man, and because he was a high status demon race, he had a lot of rivals.
　My father was a popular demon.

"Demon love is simple. The strongest one wins!
What?
　The conversation took a weird turn.

'See, isn't my mom a powerful wizard?'
Uh, yeah...
　It is true that there is no wizard in the land of the trees (spring rogue) who is stronger than my mother.
　My mother is stronger than the brave men of the tree country, than the tree priestesses of the tree country.
　But is that necessary for romance?

''I kicked all my rivals to the curb. But you know, the last remaining senior demoness was very strong.
Hey, what's going on?
Hmm?　We fought. But we couldn't win a hundred duels...
...Hundred?
''That woman, I've put out the charcoal a couple of times. Senior demons have a lot of lives, so they end up coming back to life. Well, I've been killed a few times too. The automatic resurrection magic will bring you back to life anyway.
..........
　I was a donkey.
　The level of regret that I asked the question lightly.
　'Is it really that hard to get married!

''So, I and that demon woman both realized. If we can't settle, then maybe we should just get both of them to be our wives.
What?
So the two of us colluded to get to him. By force.
　The story of my mother winking adorably is not cute at all.

'Nah, by the way, what kind of a demon was your other wife, by the way?
Well, I think it was the succubus queen. She was definitely a very s*xy one, even for a woman.
Yeah, well...
　The succubus queen?
　Is that the female demon king, Rilito, who is said to be in the demon world?
　No, no, no, no....
　And my mother often exaggerates the story.

'Where is your father, by the way?'
　This is a question I've asked dozens of times.
'Hmmm, Lucy's dad is in a far, far away, slightly dangerous place. When Lucy is stronger, I'll take her there eventually.
　The answer is always this.
　Already!　Treat me like a child!

'I know!　The Northern Continent. You're in the Demon Continent!
　The demon race is in the Demon Continent.
　I learned about it in school.

Lucy, the demons in the Demon Continent are all barbarians. There's no way your father would want to be in a place like that.
　Mom looked deeply disgusted.
　Immediately, it returned to a sparkling expression.
'Hmm, I wonder if Lucy will be a great wizard in another ten years or so. Then we'll go see your father.
　Ten years later, huh?

I wonder if I'll have found someone I like by then.　
I'm sure you've met a wonderful boy. He's my daughter.
　My mother put her hand on my head and said emphatically.

'Love is a war!　When you love someone, you go all out!　Specifically, I take them out to an unpopular place and get them as close to each other as possible. If possible, the clothes should be more revealing at that time...
　My mother seemed to really enjoy talking about it.


　-- I remembered such an old mother-daughter conversation.



　I miss it.
　I didn't understand it then, but I do now.
　My mother is crazy.

　But there's a part of me that thinks she's right.
　If I love someone, I'll do it myself.
　You can't wait.

"Lately, I've been getting strangers (women) talking to me in the adventurers' guild... it's hard.
　The other day, Makoto was lying on the couch at home complaining about how troublesome it was.
　He's shy and it's hard for him to have a conversation with strangers.

(That's because he's being targeted!　(Do you understand?)
　I don't think you have any idea...


　One day, I overheard this conversation in the guild.

"Hey, hey, I heard that Makoto-san doesn't have a girlfriend.
What about Lucy and Aya, who are at the same party?
She's not my girlfriend.
Wow, so do we have a chance?
　What are you talking about?
　You guys used to make fun of me as a goblin cleaner!

Let's get together for a drink!　You have to invite me, Makoto.
I hear he's not much of a drinker.
Well, let's get him drunk and then....
　Maz.
　Female adventurers are very aggressive.
　They don't want to be adventurers all their lives, and many of them have a pattern of finding a promising husband and retiring quickly.
　I'm drooling over a newbie, a new brave, who doesn't have a girlfriend, such as Makoto.
　In the words Aya taught me, I'm a chamois.


　So I called out to Makoto who was playing with a cat in my yard.


　Return to Makoto Takatsuki's point of view.


This way.
　Lucy invited me to come to the great forest of old.
　We walked deeper and deeper.

"Hey! Don't go too far!
I'll be fine. My 'listening ears' skills can figure out an enemy from a mile away.
　Lucy responds without looking back.
　Then I guess it's not a problem.
　Anyway, you two want to go out together, Omorin?
　Well, it's like a garden.

(Oh, there's something in there.)

The "Searching" skill reacts.
　Lucy is naturally aware of this.
　She stops and holds her wand at the ready.　

　--dos, the ground shakes with the sound of heavy footsteps.
　The three ogres appeared in a big way.

"Lucy!
　I was on my guard, dagger at the ready, ready to cast my spirit magic, but
It's okay, really. I'm on it.
　Lucy raised her wand.
"Firestorm.
　With no chanting, he slammed his advanced magic into the three demons.

　--Gyaaaaaaah!
　The demons (ogres) raise their decapitations and die.
　Ah, it's over so easily.
　I looked blankly at the wreckage of the former ogre, which had become burnt black.

　I didn't get a chance to see it again.
　Huh.....
　Sighing in my mind, I tucked the dagger into the scabbard at my waist.
I turned around to see Lucy looking at me with a very serious expression on her face, saying, "Good job Lucy.

'Hey, do you remember the truth?　This is where I was attacked by a big ogre (big ogre).
'What?　Was it?
Yeah, that's where you really helped me. I'll never forget it.
　I don't remember the Great Forest at all, as it's full of similar scenery.
　Lucy is an elf tribe born and raised in the forest, so it seems that her perception of the area is different.

''That time. To be honest, I didn't fit in well at the previous party, so I just talked to the good-natured Makoto, but...''
Well, it's a short time ago.
　Oh, boy.

"Then we went on an adventure with a party, and it didn't go so well. But you never gave up on me.
Well....
　I had no one to look to but Lucy.

'Then when Makoto defeated the Gryphon with fire magic and got badly burned, you said. 'You need me.'
Uh-huh.
　I think I said that when I was encouraging Lucy to be depressed.

(What? You don't remember?)
(Noah-sama, ... I remember you. (Ugh.)
You're a bad man.
　That's what you said.

'But, I really did notice. You're a sweetheart, so you said so. You could have handled it all by yourself, couldn't you?
　Really?

Without Lucy's magic, it wasn't even close.
The only thing you need to know is that you have to be careful about what you say. I'm sure Makoto did something about it. I feel like he would have become a hero even without me.
...I'm not so sure about that.
　It's a whole different story without a super-powered rearguard.
　I don't want to go solo right now.

"I wanted to catch up with the truth. I wanted to train with the Great Sage and have him tell me that I really needed him.
　As a result, I'm the one who's been the least likely to be at the party lately.......
　As I was thinking about that, Lucy was gingerly approaching in front of me.

''Makoto.
Yes. What is it?　Miss Lucy.
'I'm stronger now. I don't know if I can open my chest as one of the brave fellows, but I'm not dragging my feet all the time like I used to.
Yeah, you took out the ogre easily.
　I can't, in comparison.
　I'm sure I'll have to lure them to the water's edge or use spirit magic while being careful about the risk of running off.
　It's not very efficient or fuel efficient.
　........I honestly envy Lucy and Sa-san for their simple strength.

''Makoto. You haven't been very energetic lately.
Yeah?
I'm using the 'clear water' skill, so it should be business as usual.

'Yeah, I can see that,'
....
　You'll understand.
　Sure, I've been feeling a little blue lately.
　All of my synchronized adventurers and classmates were rearranging things, you know!

You know. I know I'm not very good at this, but I want to help you.
I'm not going to be unreliable, okay?
　Lucy is moving in closer and closer to the body.
　Our toes bump a little against each other.

'My mother taught me to do this when someone I love isn't feeling well.
　The moment she said that, Lucy lifted her heels and

　--Lip pressed against my lips.

(.........?!)
　A soft touch and hot breath felt on my face.
　My thoughts stopped for a moment.
　I forgot to breathe, and my body tensed up as if I was in a golden bind.

(Lucy's kissing me...?)
　On the tip of her nose is Lucy's face with her eyes closed.


　For the first time, my gaze swims.

　Out of the corner of my eye, something pops across the corner of my eye, something red.

(What was that?)
　Lucy's lips part.
　Something red, gone.
　That's.....

Well, Makoto, how are you doing?
　Lucy, who has become like a boiled octopus, stares at me with moist eyes.

"Hey, Lucy,
Uh, yeah...
Sorry, again.
"Huh?
　This time, I kiss him.
With the "RPG Player" perspective switch, I look around in 360 degrees.

(There he is!　(I knew it was a fire spirit!)

　A red light, different from the water spirits I'm used to seeing.
　They are few in number, but they drift around.

(Can you control them?)

　I realized I was about to speak spirit language.
　My mouth was full.
　It's no use, no chanting.

(fire magic/fireball)
　He's activated!
　It's unchallenged and can do fire magic.
　But why?

　...Did you and Lucy get in sync?
　Oh, it's gone.

"Hey, what the hell are you doing?
　Lucy was staring at me with a chilling voice.

'Well no, this is different,'
'True!　It was my first (first kiss)!
Don't worry, I've never done it before either.
Yeah, it's...
　I heard a whisper, "You weren't done with Ayato yet....
　'What do you suspect?　

'I mean, no!　Why are you using fire magic while kissing me?　I mean, how can you use fire magic?　You don't have any skills...?
'Hmmm, when Lucy kissed me, I saw a fire spirit.
"Fire Spirit?
Yeah, so I used fire magic and it worked.

　Oh, man, I'm so excited!
　It is different from water magic which has a low attack power.
　Simply strong fire magic.
　Finally I too........

(Ha!)
　Lucy's stinging gaze was stinging.
''You look like you're having fun...''

(Huh?　(I feel like a piece of shit...)

　I was excited to see the fire spirit, though.
　I guess I didn't completely go through the act that Lucy was brave enough to say.

''Um ... Miss Lucy?''
'Enough. Oh my God, why did I fall for this guy?
　Lucy sounded dumbfounded and said plainly.

'True, I like you.'

'Oh, yeah...'
Go home, really. You're looking good.
...What?
　Snickering.
　Turning his back to me, Lucy said.

'Let me hear you say something later.
Yes.....
　I couldn't say anything else.
　We went back to McAllen.


　◇


...what did you do?

　I went home and holed myself up in my room alone to reflect on my earlier actions.

　I wanted to die.

(That's not happening...)
　For the first time in my life, a girl confessed to me.
　The first time she kissed me.
　And in spite of that, I was--

(Elated at the sight of the fire spirit...)

　What are you doing, seriously.
　Stupid, stupid, stupid, my big idiot.
　Flabbergasted, I kicked the bed with my feet.

　I had no appetite, so I passed on dinner.

(Reply ... what do I do?)
　I like Lucy.
　She's the first friend I've made, and she's helped me many times.
　Both in past adventures and in spirit.

(But hey, Sa-san ... Princess Sophia ...)
　I guess I'm too self-conscious.
　But once I start worrying about it, I can't get my thoughts together.
　I felt like I was floating, elated and...
　I felt like a heavy weight had been placed on me, and my depressed mood was messed up.

(Come to think of it, when Lucy kissed me, I saw a fire spirit...)
　What kind of logic is this?
　I'll ask Noah-sama later.

　But it's not like I'm using this as a reason to go out with him, it's like he's after my skills....
　But.....
　It's too troubling to ignore.

　I'm troubled and troubled, but no conclusion is reached.　
　I didn't even train, and before I knew it, I had fallen asleep.


　◇


(Tickles)

　Something touched his face.
　He opened his dim eyes, trying to brush it away.

　--in the moonlight and the pale light of the lamp.

　Up close, there were two eyes staring at me.

　Right above me, covering me, was Sa-san.
　His hair is tickling my cheek.

　I look around.
　My room with no luggage at all.
　And this is on the bed.

"Ah, uh...uh...Sa-san. What are you doing?
I'm here to visit, Takatsuki.
...What?
　The prankster-like look on his face.
　It was the smile of a friend, one I've seen many times since middle school.

　I mean, it's the look of a man thinking about something bad!
　Hey, mister?