After a simple disguise, we hid near a flowerbed.
“...Isn’t an all-black suit and fedora like advertising, ‘Hey, look at me!’?”
“Of course, the outfit has an illusion spell on it. We’ll appear as just a bunch of flowers.”
“The illusion spell is good, but was there really a reason to go all-black...?”
“If I said I did it to match with Yuri’s outfit, would you be mad?”
She was. Selvia dug her fingers into my side in a relentless pinch.
But it’s hard not to use what I already have. I may not be a penny-pincher, but creating another artifact with the same functionality just feels like a waste.
Selvia, with an expression that suggested, So that’s why you have such a ‘cold heart’ , idly touched her shirt front. Then, as though her irritation had resurfaced, she resumed her side attack. Ouch.
Design aside, the functionality was perfect. We were practically shouting, yet no one paid us any attention. Calmly, we observed Romeo from a distance.
Romeo.
Estimated age: mid-20s.
Occupation: Hunter. He appears to supply game from the nearby forest to a local inn.
Status: Commoner. From a family of hunters, going back three generations.
“This is the basic info I gathered by asking around, and from here, we’ll need to do some footwork ourselves.”
“So... we’re just going to tail him?”
“If you’re tired, you can go to the inn and rest. I’ll handle it all on my own.”
“I was the one who suggested investigating him! I can’t just sit this out after bringing it up. If you’re tired, you can go rest—I’ll uncover the whole truth!”
Selvia gave a spirited snort and focused her gaze ahead. Her burning determination was reassuring.
We maintained our disguises and continued following Romeo.
His first stop was a women’s clothing store. He told the shop owner he was choosing clothes for his lover, then looked around, checking out different outfits.
He pulled out a small, worn notebook as if he’d taken notes beforehand.
Perfect opportunity. His choice of clothes could reveal his preferences.
“You can tell that from his clothing choices?”
“Every man has at least one outfit in mind he’d like to see on someone. By looking at that list, you can get a sense of his... inner tastes.”
“...What kind of outfit do you like?”
“We can discuss that once you gain the insight to grasp the essence of the invisible blade, Selvia. Ah—ouch.”
Today’s just not my day for avoiding pinches.
Still, even if I seem too forward to my childhood friend and disciple, I’d rather be perceived as a bit respectable.
With Yuri, it’s easy to talk openly, but that’s because our mental cultivations align.
While we were talking, Romeo selected about three dresses—all of them modest and covering almost everything.
I clicked my tongue.
“Wow... so boring.”
“What?”
“He picked those without any thought for aesthetics. They don’t suit the elf’s physique, won’t emphasize her curves, and there’s no personal desire reflected in the choices. It’s a disappointing selection for both the wearer and the observer.”
“Aren’t they just nice, ordinary dresses...? And physique—knowing that without taking measurements would be strange, right? Besides, how do you know the elf’s physique?”
It’s just something I can scan in an instant.
Even if I don’t intend to know, my high-performance brain scans and calculates body data the moment I see it.
“... ...”
Selvia eyed me suspiciously, holding her hands over her chest. Too late. This electronic brain had already analyzed everything at our first meeting.
I also knew she had a respectable figure, though not exactly “busty.”
“He’s on the move. Let’s follow him.”
“...Okay.”
Romeo’s next destination was a hair salon.
While magic and divine powers have intertwined in this world, creating a civilization far from Earth’s medieval times, the majority of the population still works in agriculture, and hygiene standards are lower here.
So, the term “hair salon” has a different meaning. In a world where it’s normal to go a week without washing before meeting someone, grooming one’s hair or taking care of one’s skin is clearly a “luxury.”
In other words, it’s expensive.
“For a hunter, it’s not usually affordable... right?”
“Yeah. Even for a mage, it’s quite costly. I went once for hair care, and my wallet emptied almost immediately...”
“You get treatments?”
“...If I want you to notice me, ➤ NоvеⅠight ➤ (Read more on our source) I have to look my best!”
No wonder her hair gleamed. I patted Selvia’s head to calm her as she purred, and we continued our observation.
The hairdresser, snipping away, chatted warmly with Romeo.
“Here again?”
“Yes. The style from last time went over well, so let’s stick with it. I have a date tomorrow.”
“Got it. We’ll sweep the hair to cover one side of your face and add a hint of gray, right?”
Hmm?
The details were... peculiar. I looked at Selvia, and it seemed she was thinking the same thing.
“That’s Bennett’s hairstyle, isn’t it?”
“...Did the holy city’s trend reach all the way here? It’s strange, but I guess he is famous... after all, he’s the saintess’s companion.”
“... ...”
Could it really be just a popular style? I haven’t seen anyone on the street sporting a Bennett cut.
After a lengthy two-hour styling session, I watched closely as Romeo paid.
His wallet noticeably deflated. Judging by his trembling hands and the brief flicker of regret in his expression, he’d found it expensive.
Is his love so strong that he’s willing to sacrifice his wealth just to keep his elf lover? If so, that’s a good sign. If he’s ready to throw himself into this relationship, it might end in happy matrimony.
Yet something...
“...Feels off.”
“...Yeah, it does.”
The sticky feeling of suspicion only continued to grow.
At this point, it could go either way. He could be an ardent lover willing to sacrifice everything, or there could be some hidden motive behind all of this.
To be honest, my suspicions weighed heavier.
Of course, we could forcefully pry into Romeo’s memory and uncover everything. But I didn’t want to go that far. It would feel... a bit wrong.
Humans get used to things when they’re repeated. If I got too accustomed to peering into someone’s mind without consent... who knows, someday I might tell Yuna or Yuri, Show me your thoughts if your love is real.
I don’t want to be the kind of boyfriend who checks his girlfriend’s phone daily.
If Romeo has ulterior motives, what could they be? Is he targeting the elf personally, or is he interested in the World Tree in the elf forest?
The World Tree seems the likeliest. Apart from that, there’s little of value in the wild elf group, which recently remained in isolation. If there’s anything to take, it’s the tree.
How can we find out his intentions without causing unease...?
Just as I was seriously considering whether sending a female character to flirt with Romeo would be ethically okay, Selvia raised her hand.
“I have an idea.”
“Hm?”
“We, uh, we could do the same thing. I’ll disguise myself as an elf, and you’ll pretend to be madly in love with me. If his intentions are pure, he’ll just let it slide, but if he has ulterior motives...”
He’d likely react to a sudden competitor.
It seemed like a good idea, so we set it up quickly. I transformed Selvia into a wild elf with red hair, and I disguised myself as a suspicious man, as though scheming from ten meters away.
Selvia’s elf costume was made to look a bit haphazard and mixed in style, as if she weren’t used to human civilization and had bought whatever was available.
And to attract attention in this state...
“We’ll have to go as over-the-top as those people eating chicken skewers earlier, enough to make everyone stare. Right?”
“Do we really have to go that far...? No, if it’s effective, then yes.”
“The story has to spread widely enough for Romeo to hear and come. Now, here’s the collection of over-the-top lines. Are you ready?”
“...Waiting ten years wouldn’t make it easier, so let’s just do it.”
Good. It seemed Selvia had steeled herself.
Perhaps because she was in love, Selvia seemed completely absorbed in this role. She was even more enthusiastic than usual. With that in mind, I resolved to give it my all, too.
I took a deep breath, set the mood, cleverly adjusted the lighting to catch people’s attention, and projected my voice.
Kneeling in front of Selvia, I recited melodically,
“As autumn fades, just being by your side feels like feverish heat. I must be suffering from sunstroke because of the sun that is you...”
“Ugh.”
“If you were the tears in my eyes, I would never cry. I’d be too afraid of losing you...”
“Ah...”
Selvia’s face turned bright red. Judging by her clenched fists, this wasn’t out of joy or excitement but more like an urge to strike me as a defense against her cringe.
Though my lines were causing me damage too, I pressed on. I’d endure this self-inflicted embarrassment to see her reaction.
“Another lovesick display... Why can’t I find love like that with an elf?”
“...Oh, come on.”
The bait was working well.
After about thirty minutes of this display, Selvia and I put some distance between us and waited. If Romeo were clean of ill intentions, he’d ignore some random person flirting with a wild elf.
But if he intended to exploit the elf, he wouldn’t be able to look away.
While waiting, I pondered the wild elf community. Even if this were just paranoia, there’s no guarantee that other shady characters wouldn’t approach in the future.
The elf network’s security vulnerability to strong emotions remains, so I need to address that.
I thought about the Faceless incident. I had strengthened her soul’s self-awareness when she was reborn. Perhaps I could adapt that...
“Hey. Let’s talk.”
“... ...”
Turning around, I saw it was Romeo. His expression looked as hostile as someone who’d been cut in line. That confirmed it—our suspicions were correct.
Unfortunately, the fish took the bait.
Selvia, cloaked in transparency mode, followed Romeo and the Mad Wizard to a secluded tavern. She leaned against the wall about ten paces away, observing.
The Mad Wizard wore an unmistakably sinister grin. Even Selvia, watching from afar, could sense the malice in his performance, and Romeo responded immediately.
“Why did you call me here?”
“You should know.”
“You say it as if you hold some patent on her. Do I need your permission to love a wild elf?”
Selvia recalled her vast exposure to literature, courtesy of Aisha, filled with countless stories from modern civilization.
Some stories were exaggerated, some resonant.
As a fan of side heroines who loved harem protagonists, she found herself cheering for them without realizing it. She’d been angry at posts declaring childhood friends always lose.
Didn’t that feel like a curse cast upon her fate?
“It’s already settled. I set up a date for tomorrow, so I’ll get the first move, and there won’t be anything left for you to gain.”
“Love doesn’t follow the same pace for everyone. If I get closer faster, I can still take the lead. Why should I give up?”
“... ...”
Yes, love has its own speed.
Even if she had met the Mad Wizard first, she hadn’t moved his heart back then. She’d been just a kid.
While they’d been apart, two others raced ahead, crossing the finish line in an instant. She’d only sped up after they reunited, but...
Now, she was trembling as she awaited his answer.
What if they’d reunited sooner? Or if they’d never been separated?
But pondering “what if” would not change reality.
“The World Tree? There’s no way I’m giving it up. Let’s see who wins. Who’s going to capture the wild elves first? Who’s going to grasp the World Tree?”
“...World Tree?”
“Hm?”
“I don’t care about that. I think we could make a deal here...”
With two other, more competent, and beautiful competitors in the race, was her insistence on persevering a mistake?
Would it be better for both of them if she blessed their happiness and quietly disappeared?
Despite these thoughts, she couldn’t let go, unable to stop remembering the person who’d guided her back in her hometown. She often hugged her pillow and struggled to sleep because of it.
With such heart-wrenching contemplation, more than ever...
“If you don’t want the World Tree, then why are you doing this?”
“You know it too. The wild elves are connected to each other. If I win over one, the whole elf village will serve me. I’d be the king of the wild elves.”
“...And?”
“‘And’? If I flatter them, I’ll have elf slaves by the village. Even if I slack off, they’ll provide for me. Plus, I can swap out elves every now and then, so my married life will never get boring—”
That use of love was intolerable.
Smash!
Selvia grabbed a bottle and struck Romeo across the back of his head.
“Urgh...!”
“So, there wasn’t some grand... elaborate plan behind this? You just wanted to slack off?”
“You... who the hell are... where did you even come from...!”
“While others waited anxiously—!!”
Thud!
With another blow, Romeo’s head slammed into the table as he fainted. Selvia, breathing heavily, glared at him for a while before snapping out of it and turning to the Mad Wizard.
“My body moved on its own.”
“Y-yeah.”
“...What now?”
“Good question...”
They both fell silent, looking down at Romeo, who had unwillingly entered dreamland.