Chapter 67: Heartfelt Bracelet (6) – Megadia Megalopolis.

I was once again on the second floor of Cider Inn, in the Red Room—
I’m becoming a regular here.
Though honestly, you aren’t supposed to become a regular on the second floor…

Megadia-san was sitting across from me, lounging lazily and relaxed.

Long, glossy black hair in a princess cut.
Purple eyes.
Her height was easily close to 190 cm.

And as always, she wore a gothic lolita outfit—mainly black and purple with a bit of white.
There were slits in the frilly skirt, showing her bare legs.

Today again, black with purple lining… same as a witch’s outfit. Must be the trend.

Her eyes were purple. As expected of Edda nobility.

Her real name is Megadia Megalopolis.

And unbelievably, that unfortunate person—Haiyaan—is her ancestor. Ah—

“Ah.”

“? What is it?”

“…Never mind.”

I absolutely cannot say:
“Your ancestor? I left him behind surrounded by unconscious naked men.”

Nor can I say:
“And that rabbit is actually one of the naked guys’ friends.”

So I decided to forget the whole thing. Farewell, Haiyaan.

“Still, I’m really glad I ran into you. My treat today, so order whatever you like.”

“Is that okay?”

“Of course. I have plenty of money.”

“Then… I’ll gratefully accept.”

It would be rude to refuse in moments like this.
I ordered a large butter rice and a lemonade.

She asked if that was really all, but that’s plenty for me.

On her table, bottles of alcohol were lined up in a row.
There was even an oversized ale mug.

As always, she loves her alcohol.
And she drinks so well she can beat Agaro-san.

Megadia-san swirled the red wine in her glass.

She took a slow sip, and our eyes met.

“Oh my, being stared at like that makes me blush.”

“S-sorry.”

“Hehe, it’s been a while since we met like this…”

“It has.”

The last time was when I came with Pakira-san.
It was only a few months ago, yet it feels nostalgic—and I was nervous back then.

Now I can speak casually. Strange how things change.

“But it’s the first time we’re alone together, right?”

“Y-yes.”

For some reason, Megadia-san’s eyes softened with a moist, dreamy look.

It startled me a bit.
Her purple eyes look so alluring when they’re like that.

Right. This is the perfect moment.

“Megadia-san… actually, I have something I want to give you.”

“Oh? What is it?”

“Could you hold out your hand?”

“Like this?”

She smoothly extended her hand toward me.
White, long, slender arm and hand.

Her nails were painted a wine-like red.
Her lipstick was also red.

“You like red?”

“Yes. I love black and red.”

After considering for a moment, I slipped the bracelet onto her wrist.

A red band set with a black gemstone.

“How is it?”

“It’s lovely. Are you sure I can have it?”

“Yes. You’ve always helped me and also… sorry. Because of me, Haiyaan—”

When I said that, Megadia-san gave a wry, indescribable smile.

“It’s your fault?”

“I caused all that.”

“I see. But even then, it isn’t your fault, Wof-kun. Sure, I was shocked that an ancestor of mine became a rabbit, but that isn’t your doing. And honestly—I don’t dislike weird things like that.
So don’t worry about it.”

As she spoke, she looked at the bracelet and smiled softly.

“Thank you.”

“It’s wonderful. I really like it.”

“I’m glad.”

“You have good taste, Wof-kun.”

“The street vendor’s craftsmanship was excellent.”

I silently thanked that vendor in my heart.

“Even so, choosing something nice takes sense too.”

“Th-thank you…”

Her praise made me flustered.
Just then, our food arrived.

I got my large butter rice and lemonade.

Megadia-san ordered a platter of five kinds of sausages, smoked cheese, and fermented fish.

Yep. Pure drinking snacks.

Time to eat.

I scooped vegetables, meat, and butter rice with my spoon.

It really is great. Butter rice.
I’ll always love this taste.

Cider Inn’s butter rice is lightly fried rice topped with butter,
along with vegetables, meat, and the special sauce.

They fry cooked rice with vegetables and meat,
put butter on top,
and pour the special sauce over it.

Then you mix it all together—the melted butter and sauce—with the hot rice.

This butter rice—

It’s modeled after the butter rice from a café I remember from my previous life.

I tried hard to reproduce that taste,
and somehow managed to get it just right.

Creating the special sauce was the hardest part.

As I ate, memories resurfaced.
My university days in my previous life.

I worked part-time at that café every summer.

For the staff meal, we could choose anything on the menu,
but I always chose the butter rice.
Only the butter rice.

A junior coworker once teased me:

“—Hey, don’t you get tired of eating the same thing every time?”

She said that with a mischievous smile.

“…………”

If only I could tell her:
By some strange twist of fate, I’m eating it again… in a completely different world.

“You look happy.”

“Eh?”

“You were smiling as you ate.”

She pointed it out as she popped a piece of smoked cheese into her mouth.

I suddenly felt embarrassed.
Megadia-san smiled like a goddess.

“Being able to eat something you love with a smile—that’s happiness, isn’t it?”

“Y-yes.”

“I like kids… who enjoy things like that.”

“…Huh?”

“Hehehe, this is fun.”

“Y-yes.”

After that, we chatted casually.

All sorts of topics—
About Pakira-san, the former Knight Attendant.
About me.

Oh, right—Megadia-san must have seen my fight with Alweld from the audience.

She won’t mention it since it’s strictly confidential,
but I was a little curious.

Still, bringing it up myself feels wrong.

So instead, I talked about the people I met.

“You met Munieka and Narcissus, then?”

“Yes. Do you know them?”

“Of course. They’re both from the same Six Houses as me.”

“Oh, that’s right.”

Among the Edda, the oldest and most prestigious families are the Six Houses.

Narcissus-san, Munieka-san, and Megadia-san all belong to those Six Houses.

“Especially the Narcissus family of Utopia is unique—they’re a temple family. They worship Edda’s god Generous. You know her hair color, right?”

“Purple… ‘the Second Coming of Generous,’ is it?”

“Yes, but we no longer know what that ‘second coming’ even means anymore.”

“What do you mean?”

“Ask her yourself. You’re someone who has the right to ask.”

“Understood.”

And that wrapped up the conversation.

I was the one who brought up the topic of Ms. Munieka and Ms. Narcissus.

It was to make it easier for her to ask me anything she wanted to ask.

But even though she noticed, even though she understood my intention, she didn’t ask.

If that’s what she wants, then I won’t push it.

We finished eating. Phew. Thank you for the meal.

“You finished everything.”

“Yes. I’m full. Thank you very much.”

“It’s fine. But if you’re that grateful, could you come over here for a moment?”

“Huh?”

“Come on, okay?”

“Y-yes.”

What is this…

I stood up, approached Megadia, and suddenly she grabbed my arm.

She tugged me toward her, and poof—something incredibly soft hit my face and head.

This is… Megadia’s… or rather, she’s lying down on the sofa.

And I’m leaning over her, almost like I pushed her down.

“Hehe… maybe I went a bit too far with the teasing.”

Megadia’s cheeks were faintly red. Her violet eyes glittered deeply.

The way she looked at me was almost like Generous herself.

“Wah!?”

Suddenly she wrapped her arms around me tightly. Her face, so close before, shifted.

She moved to the side—toward my neck—and something warm and vivid touched my skin.

“Hehehe… I left my mark.”

Her tongue moved smoothly, almost like a living creature.

My throat gulped on its own.

“A m-mark…?”

“A love bite.”

“Eh…?”

“It’s my thanks for the bracelet.”

“Thanks… but…”

Megadia smiled enchantingly and released me.

A little reluctantly, I pushed myself up and got off the sofa.

“I had a wonderful time. Let’s meet again.”

Still lying down, she said this, and I nodded slightly.

My heartbeat thundered violently in my chest.