Chapter 8

"Jin-sama, I'm going for a little walk."

"Alone?"

"Hmm, yes. I'm not familiar with the terrain around here, so I want to get a grasp of it as soon as possible."

While I'm not entirely without concern about Seram walking alone, this is the countryside, not a big city like Tokyo. It's unlikely he'll get lost.

"Be back before work."

"Got it! I'll be back soon!"

After giving permission, Seram left, wearing his sword at his waist.

Even for a walk, he still carries his sword...

Seram, a knight from another world, wakes up very early.

He gets up even earlier than farmers, who are known for waking up early. You can imagine how early he gets up. Though, he goes to bed early like a child as well.

I eat breakfast alone, slowly. After finishing, I wash the dishes, read the morning newspaper, turn on the TV to check the weather forecast, and spend the time until work starts idly. Eventually, it's time for work.

However, Seram, who went for a walk, doesn't return.

"...Where did he go for a walk?"

I told him to be back before work...

I've taught Seram about the time and clocks in this world. Although I didn't give him a clock, he boasted that he could tell the rough time.

Could he be lost?

"Can't help it. I'll go look for him."

Worried, I decided to leave the house.

"Jin-chan!"

As I was about to get into the light truck in the back, I was called out.

Turning around, I saw an old lady with a gentle face standing in front of the house.

"Minori-san, good morning."

"Good morning, Jin-chan."

This old lady is Minori Sanekawa, who lives next door to us, a farmer.

Even though we're neighbors, in the countryside, it's about a hundred meters away.

By the way, she gets angry if you don't call her by her first name.

"I'm getting old, so can you stop calling me Jin-chan?"

"No matter how old you get, Jin-chan is Jin-chan."

"Is that so?"

Minori-san smiles kindly.

Minori-san has known me since I was a baby, so she has no intention of changing how she calls me.

It seems it will be difficult to correct her.

"Anyway, what's the matter?"

"Jin-chan's wife, Seram-chan, is helping out at our place, so I came to tell you that."

"Ah, helping out at your place... That's why she hasn't come back—wait, wife?"

I thought I heard something that shouldn't be ignored.

When I asked with a serious face, Minori-san grinned.

"Jin-chan, you're not to be underestimated. When did you get such a beautiful wife?"

"No, Seram isn't my wife."

Seram is an employee who lives and works with us. She's definitely not my wife.

"You don't have to hide it. Seram-chan said the same thing."

"Huh?"

I thought Minori-san was making assumptions, but it seems Seram insisted on it.

I have no idea how this situation came about. It's confusing.

"Can I go check it out?"

"Sure, go ahead."

To confirm the situation, I decided to follow Minori-san to her house.

Walking about a hundred meters, we arrived at a larger and more old-fashioned house than ours.

On the roof, Seram was hammering tiles with a rubber hammer.

"Hey!"

"Ah, Jin-sama. Sorry, I'm repairing the roof of Minori-sama's house."

"I was going to ask Jin-chan to do it, but since Seram-chan offered to help, I let her do it."

I see. Now I understand how Seram, who went for a walk, ended up helping.

Seram, with a strong sense of justice as a knight, couldn't leave an old person in trouble.

Indeed, it would be a difficult task for the elderly couple, the Sanekawas.

The roof of the Sanekawas' house is an old tile roof where tiles are placed on soil without nails.

So, over time, the tiles can shift and fall.

"By the way, how can you repair a tile roof so well?"

Seram, using a rubber hammer to adjust the tiles, looks quite skilled.

I doubt there are tile roofs like those in Japanese houses in the world Seram comes from.

"Shigeru-sama taught me!"

"Wow, I was surprised to see such a young and beautiful person work so efficiently."

Shigeru, Minori-san's husband, smiles happily from under the roof.

"I received training as a combat engineer, so I'm good at this kind of work."

Seram, puffing out her chest, speaks proudly.

A female knight with combat experience seems to be good at civil engineering work as well.

She has unnecessarily high specs.

"Combat engineer?"

"Nothing, nothing."

Seeing Minori-san and Shigeru tilt their heads in unison, Seram hurriedly returns to her work.

Only I know that Seram is from another world, so they wouldn't understand.

I climb the ladder and approach Seram.

"Hey, Seram. Minori-san told me that you're being called my wife. What's that about?"

The moment I ask, Seram hits the tile hard.

Perhaps due to her agitation, the force is off, and the tile seems to shift.

Is this okay?

"S-so, it's kind of... a situation..."

"What kind of situation leads to being called a wife?"

"When explaining my relationship with Jin-sama, I was at a loss. When Minori-sama asked if I was a wife, I nodded without thinking."

"But even if you were at a loss, you're not my wife."

"Then, what should I have said!? Minori-sama and Shigeru-sama have known Jin-sama since he was a child. I couldn't tell a lie!"

"Ugh, you have a point..."

I can't say that Seram is a knight from another world who has no place to go and is living and working with me. They wouldn't believe it.

I can't come up with a plausible excuse without knowing my past and social connections.

It's understandable that Seram nodded to Minori-san's question.

"Even if I say I'm an employee now, they won't believe it."

Looking at the Sanekawas grinning from below, it's clear they find this amusing.

My family relationships are well-known, and I can't claim to be a distant relative.

"Does Jin-sama really dislike being thought of as my husband?"

"No, it's not that I dislike it. It's just... How do you feel about it? People think you're my wife."

"I understand that it's better not to reveal that I'm from another world. However, I couldn't think of a good excuse for living in Jin-sama's house while hiding that fact."

"True, that's a valid point."

"If being known as Jin-sama's wife allows me to be accepted without causing trouble for Jin-sama, I don't mind."

Indeed, it does seem like a good plan.

In the countryside, people are sensitive to outsiders. It would be easier for the residents to accept Seram if she's known as my wife rather than as a suspicious foreigner.

"I see."

It seems Seram didn't just say it without thinking.

The main concern was whether Seram would mind being called my wife, but it seems she doesn't.

"However, being called Jin-sama's wife is just a cover! T-there will be no physical relationship!"

"Of course! Who would do that!"

"Agreed. I trust Jin-sama's rationality and conscience."

Being called Seram's husband is just a cover to help her fit in.

It would be inappropriate to take advantage of this and force a relationship. That's not something a man should do.

As if understanding my thoughts, Seram resumes her work without saying anything more.

●

"Alright, that's it."

After securing the tiles with plaster to prevent them from falling, the emergency repair is complete.

"Shigeru-sama, it's done!"

"Great, thank you! You really helped!"

"However, this is just an emergency repair. It's best to call a professional to fix it properly."

"Sure, I'll think about it."

Shigeru smiles and gives a casual response.

He probably thinks he can just ask us again next time.

I say this every year, but he has never called a professional.

"Both of you, I've prepared cold green tea and snacks."

After finishing the repair and putting away the tools, Minori-san brings a tray to the veranda.

It's their way of showing gratitude. My throat was dry, so I gratefully accept.

After washing my hands, I sit on the veranda with Seram.

"What is this food?"

"This is yokan. It's made by mashing red beans, adding sugar and agar, and steaming it until it solidifies."

"I see."

Seram nods in understanding after hearing Shigeru's explanation.

She probably doesn't know what red beans are, so she doesn't fully understand.

"Let's eat."

"Sure, please."

Using a spoon, I cut the yokan into small pieces and put it in my mouth.

The rich sweetness of the red beans hits me immediately.

"This is delicious!"

"It's a good one."

Surprised, I look at Minori-san, who smiles.

No wonder it's so delicious.

I thought yokan would be softer and milder, but it's much richer than I imagined.

While soft yokan isn't bad, I prefer this dense and rich flavor.

After taking a bite, I drink the cold green tea, which balances the sweetness.

The sweetness of the yokan and the coldness of the green tea feel refreshing after a hard day's work.

As I eat the yokan, I notice Seram is unusually quiet.

Looking at her, I see her expression is relaxed.

"Jin-sama..."

"What is it?"

"This yokan is very delicious."

"Is it?"

"In my world, sweets are mostly made with a lot of sugar and are only meant to be eaten in small amounts. But this yokan, with its perfect sweetness and flavor, can be eaten endlessly."

It seems she likes the sweets from this world.

I remember that in the past, sweets in this world were mostly just hardened sugar.

If you've only eaten sweets that you only need one bite of, the sweets from this world would seem like a luxury.

"Oh, I'm glad you like it! Would you like another one?"

"Really, Minori-sama!?"

"We also have water manju. Would you like to try it?"

"I don't know what it is, but I'd like to try it!"

Minori-san and Shigeru keep bringing traditional Japanese sweets.

They seem to be enjoying Seram's innocent reactions.

"Still, Jin-chan, you have a good wife."

"Really. She's so honest and nice, unlike young people these days."

Hearing Minori-san and Shigeru's words, I almost spit out my green tea.

Even if it's just a cover for living together, being called a husband makes me nervous.

However, Seram will have to act this way to fit in here.

"Yes, she's a great wife, more than I deserve."

Saying this, Seram, who was eating yokan, turns bright red.

Hey, you said this was the most natural cover, so don't be embarrassed.

"Where did you find such a cute girl?"

"Tell us about it."

Seeing Seram's honest reaction, Shigeru and Minori-san ask.

Their expressions clearly show they find it amusing.

Making Seram my wife is a good plan to help her fit in while hiding that she's from another world.

However, thinking about being teased by everyone, I can't help but regret not finding a better plan.

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