Chapter 22: Confession

“I heard from Hypno and was surprised.
Apparently, Kurou-kun is also a 'legendary conqueror' like the commander.”

“That seems to be the case (No, it's not!)”

After the shocking, ‘but not factual’ news was delivered, Iris and I walked through the bustling streets of “Northern City Salem.” It was incredibly lively.
Countless people were searching through the lined-up shops.
I never realized there could be so many humans in one place…

“Oh, Kurou-kun, your complexion doesn't look good.
Are you not good with Kurouds?”

“Ah, it's just too different from my hometown in the countryside.
There are too many people, and it's making my head spin (it's tough for someone delicate like me).”

“Haha, well, it's one of the four major cities that borders the outside world with mainland.
More people come here for tourism than the imperial capital, so it's noisier here.”

“Is that so?”

Wow, it seems like a spot for interaction between the countryside residents and city people.
That's why it's so lively.
Maybe there's even a forbidden love between people of different social statuses happening somewhere in the city!

‘Although it's a story that doesn't concern me in the slightest… Yep not in the slightest.’

“Well, upper-class people don't come here, of course.
Since it's a city facing the outside, there is a possibility that monsters may infiltrate and dangerous people may lurk around.

“Also, most of the nobles look down on outsiders.
Be careful when you go to the imperial capital, okay?”

Iris leaned forward and pointed her finger sharply at my nose.
She's cute.
Her breasts are bouncing.
I love it.

“Understood…but still, it's surprising that I can head to the imperial capital so quickly.”

“Ah, it's really unusual.
I never expected the travel permit to be issued so quickly.”

That's right.
In fact, I am supposed to be able to go to the imperial capital as early as tomorrow.
Today is just for shopping.
Even if we pass through this city, which is like a checkpoint, it still takes a few days to get to the imperial capital.

I should buy some pants and medicine for the wound on my butt that was secretly bitten by a goblin, which still hurts.

“I wonder where the pharmacy is…”

“Oh, right.
Even though it's only a few days of travel, you never know what might happen.
As expected of you, Kurou-kun, you understand!”

Oh, I didn't understand at all…
I just have a sore butt…

It’s not cool to say that.
So, I nodded calmly and said, “It's important not to let your guard down.”

However, it's a fact that Kurou-kun is the one who's always letting his guard down.

“Hehe, you’ve thought it well… compared to that…” Suddenly, Iris's expression darkened.
Eh, What’s wrong?

“Hey, Kurou-kun.
It's really tough thing to get permit to enter the capital city, you know? But Hypno, the branch chief, worked hard for us.
Not only did he talk to various people, but he also got us permission to pass on the same day by revealing that you're the 'Legend Overcomer.'”

She muttered to herself, “She had been rotting away until recently, but she really was an amazing person after all.” Her voice sounded somewhat sad and complicated.

“Compared to that person, I'm disliked by those in power.
Even if you had claimed to be 'Iris's disciple,' it might have made it even harder to get permission.

“And I'm inferior in knowledge as well.
I didn't even know that 'Muramasa' was a dangerous equipment and I couldn't recognize your strength in wielding it without a care.”

Iris looked pathetic.
Well, no, she isn’t really pathetic, is she? She was easily manipulated by Hypno.
It was just his misunderstanding.

“And that Hypno, he's smart, young-looking, and beautiful…
His neck wrinkles have even faded… He looks like a teenage girl…
I guess it would be more fitting for someone slim and cute to walk beside you…
No, I don't know his or her gender, so…
Ugh…”

Iris seemed to be getting more and more cloudy.
Could it be…! Could it be that she's feeling down as my 'mentor'? That I should be the one supporting my 'mentor'…
That she's feeling jealous of Hypno…
What a nice person!!

‘Just taking care of someone like me makes you an 'SSS Rank Good Person', but if someone who takes even better care of me appears and you react like this, Iris-san, you're too much of an angel!!!

Congratulations, you're certified as an 'SSSSSS Rank Good Person'! As a prize, I'll give you a Kurou-kun hugging pillow (even though you don't need it!).
Hehehe, as a disciple, I have to express my feelings, don't I? Let's go boldly!’

So, amidst the passing Kurouds, I firmly grasped Iris's shoulder――

“Wha, Kurou-kun?!?”

“Listen, Iris.
This is important.”

“Wha-t!?”

Iris let out a crazy scream.
The bystanders turned their attention towards us.

 

But I didn't falter.
I looked straight into her blue eyes.

 

“Listen, Iris.
I hate ranking people in terms of who I like more.
It's an extremely rude thing to do.
But…”

I leaned in closer.
The shy Iris cried out, “Eh!?” And the surrounding people exclaimed, “Whoo!”

“In order to relieve your worries, I think I should tell you clearly, at this very moment.
Iris, I love you more than Hypno…I love you so much!”

“Ehhhh?!?!”

Iris blushed deeply and let out a loud voice.
The people around us shouted, “He said it!” and sent thunderous applause.
Hehehehe…I guess everyone was moved by my dignified love for my master?

“Show them how you do it!”

“Just get married already!”

“Kiss her, kiss her!”

Huh?! Marriage?! Kiss?! What are these guys talking about?! I just love Iris as my master…ah! I forgot to include the 'as my master' part in my earlier dialogue! Ah, well, to those who don't know anything, it might seem like a confession!

Oops, I messed up.
How embarrassing! Damn it…
I need to make a quick escape! I'll buy the medicine for my butt another time.

“I've attracted unnecessary attention.
Sorry, Iris, let's move right away.”

“Huh? What?”

I put my arm around Iris, who is dazed, and lift her sideways.
Then I search for a place with few people and run away.

“Hey, Kurou-kun! Wait a minute!”

Oops, I surprised her by suddenly carrying her.
The people around us also made strange surprised noises like “Huh!?” Everyone is freaking out, saying things like “Not only did he make a public confession, but he also used that move!?”

“That way of holding her is a legendary technique passed down for a thousand years!”

“And running through the city in that state!?”

“If those two have a ten-year age difference, the woman is workaholic and inexperienced with men, and is actually struggling with her sexual desire, then I would completely go crazy!”

I don't really understand what they're talking about.
I'm just a villager, and I'm not familiar with legends or anything.
Besides, Iris is a wonderful person who doesn't have any sexual desire, and even if she did, she wouldn't direct it towards me.

“That guy with black hair is amazing…”

“It's a legend…”

We run through the stunned Kuroud.
Hmm, this has turned into a pretty big misunderstanding.
It seems difficult to clear up.
I'm really sorry about this.
If Iris is seen as having confessed to a gloomy guy like me, she'll be troubled too.

While running, I think, ‘How can I clear up this misunderstanding…? Hmm, no, I can't think of anything! My not-so-smart head can't handle it.
Let's give up.
Well, they say rumors die in seventy-five days.
Everyone will forget about it soon.’

Let's convince myself of that.
As for the confession-like line I used on Iris earlier…
I wonder how she feels about that…

‘――Well, it should be fine! I've always acted as a 'master-loving man,' so this time too, she must have understood that it means 'liking her as a master!' Iris is kind and intelligent, so she wouldn't make any strange mistakes, right, Iris?’

“K-Kurou-kun, about what you said earlier…!” Iris's voice trembled.

Hm? Oh, is she angry because she thinks her words were misunderstood due to a lack of context?

“I'm sorry if I embarrassed you.
I'll take responsibility (like treating you to a meal) for it.”

“W-What?! R-Responsibility!? That means, fffaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhh!”

For some reason, Iris screamed at the top of her lungs.
She blushed until her face reached its limit, and eventually she fainted as if a string had been cut.
Hey, are you okay?

“Hey, Iris, are you feeling okay…? Wait, her breathing is calm.
She's even smiling as if she's in heaven…”

It seems like she's not having any health problems.
Well, then she must have been tired.
Let me take her back to the inn without waking her up.

Oh, I'll carry her slowly so as not to wake her up.
I'm a master of consideration, after all.
Hehehehe.
(…but still) I glance down at my master, sleeping in my arms.

She's really beautiful.
She's usually dignified, but her sleeping expression is like that of a princess.
I'm just a plain guy who doesn't match her at all.
Even if I confess to her, I'll probably be rejected.

She'd probably say ‘I'm sorry, but I'm not interested’ right away.

“She didn't say that, so Iris must have understood that I love her as a master and not as a man.
That's a relief.”

I've always acted as a beloved disciple, so I'm relieved that she didn't misunderstand me.
――And with that in mind, I continued walking through the town.

…

Tl Note: It seems that even Iris is unaware about Hypno’s true gender.
And, Kurou confessed in a misunderstanding way? Well, let’s see how this unfolds.