Chapter 94

Praised by his beloved heroine. This isn't a game where you can just touch the screen and get a reaction from an electronic character. She's a real human being. The heroine, who has materialized, is praising him.

Feeling elated, he was ready to climb a tree. Katsuragi looked at him with her crimson eyes, filled with admiration and respect, as if she were looking at a great detective. Seeing this, Katsuragi couldn't help but sniffle and look back at her.

The two gazed at each other, their cheeks flushed. Katsuragi was certain that she was in love with him and formed a smile that he claimed was refreshing and charming.

Sorry, Shin. Even without Seina, I'm still the protagonist, so it should be fine. No, it would be better if we became good friends and lovers, and helped defeat the demon god together. This way, we have healing magic, and Shin should be able to defeat the demon god. In other stories, Seina can't use healing magic when it's most needed, either because she's not there, her mana is depleted, or for other reasons, so there shouldn't be any problem in battle.

Seina, with her fair skin now flushed, was a sight he had never seen before. The only downside was that she was only 10 years old. Determined to keep this state until the future, he thought about confessing and making her his girlfriend, his thoughts already drifting to another dimension.

They had been close since childhood. From a cute childhood friend, they gradually started to see each other as the opposite sex, and by high school, they would become lovers. He had always dreamed of such a fairy tale. In his past life, if he had a cute childhood friend, he wouldn't have become a NEET and skipped school. Childhood friends as losing heroines were outdated. Recently, childhood friends as winning heroines were the trend.

So, with strong resolve, he opened his mouth to confess.

"Ah, a-ano, boku, boku, boku..."

The self-proclaimed god, who had changed his job to a monk, stuttered at the crucial moment, repeating "boku" like the sound of a wooden fish being struck, showing his cowardice.

"Ahahaha! Hey, you? Your face is just flushed from the heat of the iron plate. You should stop it."

He was snapped back to his senses by a pat on the shoulder.

"Ku, I know. The iron plate is a bit hot, Seina-san."

"Fufu, the iron plate is hot, Katsuragi-san."

He cleared his throat to cover up, pushed away the hand that patted him roughly, and smiled at Seina. Seina, looking puzzled by Katsuragi's words, covered her mouth with her delicate hands and laughed delicately.

Enchanted by the adorable heroine, he was captivated. This is the best. He firmly resolved in his heart to make this girl his girlfriend and glared at the one who had patted his shoulder.

"Mizune, you should be quiet, no, can you please be quiet?"

He almost showed his true self but managed to revert to Shin's imitation at the last moment. Rude words and actions here would be a negative point.

Standing in front of him, laughing amusingly, was Mizune, an orphan he had met at a party the other day. She was wearing a vintage shirt and pants, a boyish outfit, and looked at Katsuragi with her hands behind her back.

"Well, I thought I might be interrupting something difficult, but you don't seem to be eating at all. Can you eat monjayaki?"

"An? I know a lot about common people's food. This is easy."

He pressed the small spatula onto the sizzling monjayaki on the iron plate. Trying to pick up the heated monjayaki with a "juu" sound... nothing stuck to the spatula.

"Ufufu, it's easy, Katsuragi-san."

With a mischievous smile, Seina skillfully used the spatula to pick up the monjayaki, saying "it's hot" and blowing on it before eating. Despite never having eaten monjayaki, she was very skilled.

"It really is easy. Just a little, just a little... how do you pick this up?"

"Aahaha! You're really funny, young master."

Mizune laughed and patted his shoulder again as Katsuragi tried to invent a new instrument by making the iron plate clatter.

"Then, I'll scoop it up with a large spatula and put it on your plate, so eat it with chopsticks."

"Monjayaki is usually eaten with a small spatula, right? I just need to get used to it. I'll get used to it soon."

"You'll burn it before you get used to it. Here, please."

Scooping up the monjayaki with a large spatula, Mizune put it on Katsuragi's small plate. Despite her teasing smile, he took it, thinking she was annoying.

"Young master is really hopeless."

"Really, really."

"Such a dull person."

The other children in the shop also laughed and teased him, so he clenched his fists, ready to punch them, but managed to hold back in front of Seina.

"By the way, can I order more? I can still eat."

"Ah? Ah, go ahead. I'll treat you, so behave yourself."

"Yay! All you can order! Everyone, order as much as you want!"

"Rich boy is the best!"

"I want hotcakes!"

"I want all the toppings!"

The children around him cheered and started ordering without hesitation. They were all dressed in patched-up vintage clothes, looking like they were from the lower class. Of course, they were Mizune's friends from the orphanage.

"Fufu, Katsuragi-san is really kind."

"Well, with these guys around, I don't have to worry about common people's entertainment. ...It feels like more than half of the recommendations are for food stalls."

Seina laughed amusingly as Katsuragi sighed and sat back down.

Why Mizune and the others were there goes back a bit. After the party, Seina called him on the phone. She had a request.

A direct call from the heroine, Seina. He felt like a fan who suddenly received a call from his favorite idol. Asking her to say anything, he eagerly listened, and Seina made her request.

"I want to enjoy common people's entertainment and would like Katsuragi-san, who knows a lot about it, to teach me."

"Of course. I have studied common people's lives, so leave it to me."

He confidently answered, thumping his chest. In his past life, he was a commoner, a very common one. He should be able to guide her without any research.

Thus, they started going on secret dates, with guards in the background. His father, Enge, laughed and sent him off, saying to enjoy himself.

Secret dates since childhood. It was the best. He thought it was the best. Confidently trying to guide her... he realized he had underestimated the modern fantasy world with magic. Magic was indirectly involved in everything.

For example, while chain stores exist, many individual shops also exist in this world. Using magic, they can create unique dishes. Using magic cards, drinks float in a weightless state, and ice cream is mysteriously hot inside.

Each shop sold unique items, and there were magical games. Not metaphorically, but literally, spinning tops that spark and flying karuta cards. In his past life, many individual shops had closed, and games that had become obsolete due to the diversification of entertainment still existed, enhanced by magic.

His past life memories were useless, and Katsuragi panicked in the commoner district, accidentally spotting Mizune and bribing her to be his guide.

In subsequent dates, Katsuragi used Mizune as a guide. Seina was worried that she might be annoyed by the secret dates, but she smiled and said it was normal to hire servants, putting him at ease. For high-ranking nobles, servants were like air.

Mizune kept adding more friends, but it wasn't a problem for Katsuragi. It was pocket change. As long as they didn't interfere with his time with Seina, he didn't care.

Seeing Mizune and the others order the menu with smiles, he shrugged and turned to Seina. Mizune winked at him, but he didn't care about the extras. They couldn't compete with the heroine.

"Katsuragi-san, you have a lot of people who respect you."

"No, I just hired them. They're like vultures attracted by money."

"Being able to gather people with money is also a skill. I admire it. ...I have a request for someone as respected as Katsuragi-san."

Putting down the spatula, Seina fidgeted, entwining her fingers and looking up shyly. Her adorable cuteness made Katsuragi unable to refuse.

"Please say anything. I'll do anything for Seina-san."

"Thank you. I thought Katsuragi-san would say that. Actually... my father told me to make more friends soon."

"But I'm here. And Seina-san has many friends, right?"

Seina was popular. With her gentle smile and healing personality, plus being a princess, she must have been popular even in elementary school. The original work described her as popular since childhood. So, Katsuragi was puzzled by the idea of making more friends, but Seina explained her meaning.

"All my friends are wonderful people. They are kind and noble, but... it seems they act based on the family's intentions."

"What do you mean by intentions?" Seina tilted her head innocently, not understanding. Seina didn't understand, but Katsuragi, with his past life experience, immediately got it. They were friends who came for the benefits.

Katsuragi's entourage was the same. They came for the title of the duke's heir. They were still children, and some might genuinely think of them as friends, but things would change as they grew up.

"True friends, huh... I'll do anything for Seina-san."

"Katsuragi-san is my best friend! And... from now on... Kyaa, never mind. But... my father said to make more friends."

Hearing he was her best friend, Katsuragi wanted to jump for joy. Blushing and looking shy, Seina made him curious about what she would say next, but he held back, knowing that pushy men were disliked.

"But, you can't just make friends by thinking about it, right?"

Common sense says you can't just make friends by thinking about it. Katsuragi understood that much.

"Right... so, I thought about it! What about helping orphaned mages? Helping them before they become adults, giving them a good home and delicious food. I think they will become my true friends. I would be very happy to help orphaned mages!"

"Ah... that might work."

Clapping her hands, Seina excitedly said it was a good idea. Indeed, helping people in such circumstances would likely create loyal followers. ...But, it's a bit different from friends...

Seeing the kind Seina, who was happy to help people in need, he thought it was fine. Friends are friends. Katsuragi decided to ignore the vague sense of unease. After all, Seina was a kind saint. She really wanted friends.

"But, are there many orphaned mages? There are orphaned commoners, though."

"Well, it seems that the son of Takanoya Ran is an orphan. He's living a miserable life. Since he's the child of a thief, no relatives took him in. He might be sent to a mage orphanage, but he's said to be a very powerful mage. Isn't that sad?"

"Really? A boy...?"

Katsuragi felt a bit jealous that Seina was helping a boy. He was already showing possessiveness, even though they weren't lovers.

"Um, well, having a boy around is a bit... I'm fine with Katsuragi-san... So, can the Soke family help him? I'll visit often. Such a request... can you fulfill it...?"

"Of course, no problem. The Soke family's wealth is not just ordinary."

As long as the boy didn't get close to Seina, Katsuragi nodded firmly.

"Thank you. Then, let's help people in need together."

"Yes, let's help together."

Holding Katsuragi's hand, Seina smiled gently. Feeling the soft, warm touch, Katsuragi smiled and nodded firmly. Thus, they decided to secure the orphaned mage.

Later, when they met the boy, Katsuragi realized he was one of his entourage from the original work, which surprised him.