MTLNOVEL Chapter 151
151.Just For Now, Peaceful Time
The next morning.
In the dining hall on the first floor of the inn, I was having breakfast with Lilith and her sister, Alice.
As expected of a luxury inn, the food was extravagant even in the morning.
“Staaare.”
When I noticed, Alice was staring at Lilith and me.
“…Is something the matter, you two?”
Alice’s usually gentle eyes were oddly sharp.
“W-What do you mean…?”
I faltered under her probing gaze.
“E-Eh? W-What is it, onee-chan, all of a sudden…?”
Lilith was frozen as well.
“The atmosphere between you two feels… subtly different. Suspicious.”
Alice pouted, looking somewhat sulky.
It felt like she could see right through the fact that Lilith and I had kissed last night, and I grew increasingly flustered.
“That’s right~”
Sarome approached our table, carrying a tray with her breakfast.
Grinning, she looked back and forth between Lilith and me.
“Haruto and Lilith seem to have a nice vibe going on. Something happened last night, didn’t it? You can’t fool my eyes~”
“W-W-W-What are you saying?! We’re not acting any different than usual, right, Haruto-kun?”
With two people pressing her, Lilith became flustered.
No, her reaction practically screamed, “Something happened.”
“Could it be that you crossed a line…? T-That’s not okay, Lilith. Even if it’s Haruto, you’re still a maiden before marriage.”
“Ohhh, so Lilith’s become a grown woman now?”
“Y-You’re wrong! What are you talking about, onee-chan, Sarome?!”
Lilith’s face turned beet red.
“I didn’t cross any line! I’m still, um, pure! B-But, we did k-kiss…”
“Mm?”
“Mm?”
Alice and Sarome leaned in closer simultaneously.
Lilith, now in a panic, stammered,
“Y-You’re wrong! Forget what I said! I-I didn’t kiss Haruto-kun… I didn’t… I mean…”
She was so flustered that she was practically confessing.
Even I started feeling embarrassed. Then—
“…Haruto.”
Walking toward us briskly was Luca.
“Did you kiss Lilith?”
She asked me point-blank!
…Wait, her expression seemed unusually intense.
“Uh, are you mad, Luca…?”
The atmosphere was becoming increasingly odd…
“…I’m not mad.”
Luca pouted slightly as she said this.
No, she definitely seemed upset.
“This is—undoubtedly jealousy.”
Sarome’s eyes sparkled mischievously.
“Even Luca is feeling annoyed. Haruto, you’re such a heartbreaker.”
Alice glared at me with a half-lidded gaze.
“Jealousy… is this…?”
Luca stared at me, then at Lilith, and back at me again.
“When I see you with Lilith, my chest feels restless… like envy, or impatience… it’s strange.”
Wha…?
What does that mean—?
“Well, I might feel a little envious too… but with so many girls around Haruto, it can’t be helped… sigh.”
For some reason, Sarome also sighed.
“Jealousy aside—let’s just eat breakfast. I’m starving.”
Sarome suggested.
“Jealousy… I feel jealousy…?”
Luca kept mumbling to herself.
“Luca, let’s eat and clear your head~”
“…Alright.”
Alice coaxed Luca, who reluctantly composed herself.
“Y-Yeah! Let’s drop the weird questioning here! Right? Right?”
Lilith, still blushing a little, chimed in.
—After that, we all had breakfast together with Luca and Sarome.
Even though the mood was a bit odd, I was happy and had fun chatting with everyone like this.
Before I knew it, I was smiling.
“What is it, Haruto? You’re grinning.”
Lilith asked curiously.
“After all the fighting, this kind of atmosphere is nice. It’s soothing, relaxing.”
“…You’re right.”
“Things will get intense again soon. But, precisely because of that—”
I exhaled softly.
“Just for now, peacefully. At least, just for now… That’s what I thought.”
—Not long after we finished eating, a guild staff member came to see me.
“Someone wishes to meet you, Haruto Leaver.”
“Me?”
“Yes, they’re waiting at the guild headquarters.”
With that, the staff member left without mentioning the visitor’s name.
They must be busy preparing for the showdown with the demonic forces.
Who could it be?
Feeling puzzled, I made my way to the guild headquarters.
“Haruto… is that you?”
Standing near the entrance was a man in his forties with a calm expression.
“Sorry for calling you out. I thought I might find you here if I asked.”
“Jack…?”
Jack Jarse—like me, a skill holder with his own divine power.
While I possess the power of [Absolute Defense], Jack has the ability of [Enhancement] so he can enhances anything.
Why is he here—?