“Naofumi-sama, I love you!”

I stood in a flowery field with Raphtalia in front of me.

Suddenly, Raphtalia confessed her feelings toward me.

“I know. I have for some time, I just needed time to sort out my feelings for you. Now that I know I can’t go back to my world, I no longer have any need to hesitate.” (Naofumi)

I took a deep breath.

“I love you too.” (Naofumi)

As I responded to Raphtalia with my own confession, the girl’s face, which had been tentative before, suddenly blossomed into an expression of great joy. She leaped at me to hug me with all her might but…

“It’s light out already huh?” (Naofumi)

My eyes slowly opened as light shown into my dwelling in the village. I stretched trying to wake up. For some reason, I couldn’t remember what I had been doing the previous night. I put my hand to my head as I tried to recall it but…

“No luck.”

I just couldn’t recall it. I hoped that someone hadn’t drugged me. It was Valentine ’s Day today. I remember that. Knowing that Vixen Queen, she would definitely drug me in order to sleep with her daughter. I check my bed quickly but don’t see Melty.

*Fumu*

“I’m not going to remember anything like this. I’ll go ask that fat bird if she heard anything from Melty.”

I went outside and met Kiel who was hanging around outside my dwelling.

“Kiel, have you seen Firo this morning?”

"Yeah Shield-niichan, she was romping around in that clearing over there.” (TL note: I liked Bakahou's expression Shield-bro, so I originally used it here instead of Shield-niichan but after thinking it over and getting some comments, I changed it back to Shield-niichan.)

Kiel pointed toward a clearing that was near the road. It was too far away for me to see if Firo was there.

“Alright, you can go back to what you were doing.”

I look at Kiel a second time and she has this odd look in her eyes.

“Kiel, what were you doing outside my dwelling anyway?”

“Nothing Shield-niichan, honest.”

She tries her best to look nonchalant. I don’t like it, but I’m too busy to deal with it right now.

“Well, whatever.”

If she tries anything weird the slave crest will activate.

I walk to the clearing and I indeed see Firo romping around with her carriage. That fat bird has so much energy it’s annoying.

“Firo, stop for a second, I want to talk to you.”

"~No!!"

That bird! She ignores me and continues running around.

“Firo, get over here now or I will activate the slave crest!” (TL note: I really wanted to word it, “get yar feathered ass over her now.”)

The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.

“~Fine!”

Firo stops in front of me.

What is it Master?

“Do you know where Melty is?”

“No, she was with Firo all night but went off early this morning to get something. I don’t know where she’s at.”

Well, that answers that, if she was with Firo all night, she wouldn’t have had the chance to sneak into my bed, not with Kiel there. Maybe that’s what Kiel was doing, keeping Melty away. Good job Kiel.

“Master, Firo loves you!”

I look back at Firo who has transformed into her angel form and is hugging me. What is with this bird today?

“Master, can Firo go back to pulling her carriage now?”

“Oh, very well.”

Firo transforms back to her monster form and runs around with her carriage again.

I think I’ll head back to the village now. I just hope Melty isn’t getting something the Vixen Queen sent her to woo me with.

On the way back, I run into Kiel. She is holding a bunch of flowers. What’s with this scene?

“—Shield-niichan, I…”

Kiel starts speaking but pauses. I hear her mutter something under her breath. Something like “time to man up.”

“Shield-niichan, I love you! Please marry me!”

Ha?!

“What’s gotten into you this morning?! Didn’t you think you were a male a when I first bought you?”

“I-I know, I still operate by manly principles, but I’m a woman and this morning, I just knew I was attracted to you Shield-niichan. I want to marry you and have lots of little babies.”

I’m still in shock at this sudden declaration. Kiel may look like an adult, but she’s still just a child in mind, I don’t think she even knows how babies are made.”

“Shield-niichan, I can teach our babies how to be men and you can cook and clean and take care of us--.”

So that’s what this is! This is just an elaborate attempt to get me to cook.

“Kiel, do you know how babies are made?”

“Yeah, they’re brought by a stork monster! That’s what my pa told me.”

As I thought.

“Kiel, if you don’t know the real answer, then there’s no way I could marry you. Besides, you’re just a child. That’s all just too messed up. So no, I decline your love.”

“Shield-niichan?! I understand, but you will forever be my onii-chan!!”

Kiel runs away sobbing. You didn’t have to take it that hard you know.

What is with this morning? Both Firo and Kiel have been acting weird and I can’t remember anything after yesterday afternoon. I just hope the rest of the day isn’t so weird….