"Eh?"

What did she just say?

"You usually, um... do it with the slave girls, right? So I wondered if you were planning to tonight too? I... mustered up my courage, you know? I actually came here... well... expecting something like that... Etowa seems asleep... Not sure about Elepipi though."

Whoa, wait a minute.

Do what exactly?

What did she mean by "expecting something like that"?

Hold on... What is this development? When did I trigger this flag?

"...I'm fine with it too, Young Master," Elepipi whispered softly.

From where I was lying, and with the darkness of the room, I couldn't tell what kind of face they're making, but... seriously?

They aren't over there stifling laughter, are they? This isn't some pre-planned prank they all cooked up together, right?

Okay, calm down. Let's calm down.

I've learned from countless rom-coms that going "Whoa, alright, let's do this!" here would be a massive failure!

Even if there isn't some prank going on, the worst-case interpretation is probably something like, "Shouldn't we play shiritori before bed?" or "Shouldn't we have a pillow fight?" Even if I twist it in my favor, it's going to amount to something like "Shouldn't we have a goodnight kiss?" at most.

I mean, look at the situation. We're in a massive room with six people. There's no way that is actually happening, right?

It's obviously going to be one of those "Looks like you had fun last night (with shiritori, that is)" situations.

Calm down, take a deep breath...

As my brain whirred at high speeds while I remained outwardly as silent and still as a Buddha statue, Rebecca-san seemed to take my silence as consent. She sat up with resolve and slid off her bed.

Then—she sat down right on the edge of mine.

The bed creaked under her weight. She had let down her red hair, which she usually kept in a ponytail. She looked down at me—still frozen in my "Reclining Buddha" pose—with eyes that were soft and moist. She was so close I could feel the heat radiating from her—a red-haired beauty fresh from the bath.

Everyone except Etowa was definitely awake, yet Rebecca-san's breathing was the only thing that felt real as it hit my ear.

W-Wait. Is this really... for real?

We're not going to play shiritori or something?

Even a 21-year-old virgin emperor like me could now tell. She's really going to do it...!

But why...?

Is Rebecca-san really okay with someone like me?

I guess I have to assume the answer is "yes."

Even Shello-san had given me his blessing.

But do I have the resolve for this?

Then again, I've come this far. And as the saying goes, "It's a shame for a man to leave a meal uneaten when it's served on a platter".

People would say I couldn't walk the streets with my head held high if I turned this down.

But we're in a six-person room! And I can feel gazes (I won't say whose) piercing into my back!

By the common sense in my world, doing this in a group room is unthinkable... But this is another world! Maybe "nightlife" in another world might be something I can't even imagine.

However, Rebecca-san is totally mistaken when she says, "You usually do it with your slaves." In reality, our relationship hasn't even reached the level of a single kiss!

But I can see why she'd be mistaken. We live under the same roof, after all. And while Diana's position is complicated, Marina is a genuine slave.

But... actually, that's irrelevant, isn't it...?

"Rebecca-san..."

We ended up gazing at each other.

And then:

"Jirou, listen... the thing is... this is my first time... So, be gentle, okay?"

Even in the dim light, I could see her cheeks flush deep crimson as she tilted her head shyly.

O-Ohhhhhhhhhh!

It's real. It's definitely real. Nobody would tell a lie like that as a joke!

B-But... is this really okay? Shouldn't this kind of thing require more of... that?

That is—love.

Yes. Love.

Love is what's necessary.

I think it should be... an impulse arising from mutual, heightened feelings of love.

In other words, the fact that I'm calmly thinking about this now means I'm lacking that impulse.

To be honest, I like Rebecca-san.

She's kind, beautiful, cheerful, strong, has a great figure, and she's a great cook.

On top of that, it's no exaggeration to say I've only survived this world because of her. If I hadn't met her (and Shello-san), I would have dropped out of this "Otherworld Life" a long time ago.

I mean, I don't even know if I would have won that bet against Efta. I might have ended up wandering the streets with a debt of ten Spirit Stones, or gotten arrested for sniffing around the Mayor's business.

Even before that, if Shello-san and Rebecca-san hadn't protected me at the Guild and convinced Tobias-shi, I wouldn't have even gotten residency in Erische. I would have been caught and ended up just like the slaves I saw today—working as a labor slave in the mines.

According to Efta's story, there was some talk about me being destined to win because of Diana's Guidance, but that's all just hindsight. It's only proven because I'm the victor.

Therefore, to me, Rebecca-san is more than just a "benefactor".

And now, a woman like her says it's okay to be in such a relationship with me.

But is this vector truly pointing in the right direction? What about Diana? What about Marina?

I'm not trying to deny my sexual desires, and part of me wants to just shrug and say, "Who cares if it's just lust?" But I still feel like the first time should be about love. It should be best if we were bound by mutual affection.

That said—

As the old saying goes, "Never let a woman feel ashamed." It's obvious which one a man should prioritize. Love is something we can nurture after the fact.

Besides, this idea of wanting to "lose my virginity in the perfect way" is nothing more than a sweet delusion unique to virgins. Right here! Right now! How could I possibly use words to escape this situation?

O-Okay. Resolve: Complete.

It's my first time too, but I've done plenty of "study sessions" with video materials, so I'm sure my preparation is perfect. I shouldn't have missed anything—hopefully.

Even as I told myself my resolve was complete, I reached out my hand toward Rebecca-san with the slow, trembling hesitation of an elementary schooler committing his first shoplifting crime—and in that moment—

FLASH!

The room was suddenly hit by a blinding, intense light. So dazzling!

W-What happened...!?

A meteor? Lightning? A solar flare? A flashbang?

Slowly opening my eyes, I saw a floating ball of light in the air.

Wait... Isn't this the spirit magic Diana always uses as a light source back at the mansion?

It was floating there, looking all harmless and fluffy.

"...Nya? Is it morning already? Huh...? What is this? What's wrong with everyone? Ehhh?"

Etowa, woken up by the sudden brightness, started to stir. She gave a cat-like stretch, now fully awake.

Meanwhile, I was currently frozen in a state of absolute terror, my back drenched in cold sweat.

Rebecca-san was also frozen, sitting on my bed with a face as red as a tomato and a strained, half-smiling expression.

Just as things were about to proceed! To expose us to broad daylight (not literally, but close)...

Diana! You're cruel!

Diana herself was standing straight as a board on top of her own bed, with Marina standing beside her like an adjutant, looking down at us.

What is this girl doing? What does she want?

"Nununu... I will not allow you to get a head start nodesu, Rebecca!"

"That's correct de-arimasu!"

"I thought we'd sleep quietly in this big room, but an unexpected ambush appeared nodesu!"

"That's correct de-arimasu!"

"I never thought even Elepipi's on board, leaving me out nodesu!"

"Marina's left out too, de-arimasu!"

"And Goshujin-sama too, what on earth are you thinking nodesu!?"

"It's called 'ready-to-serve meal,' de-arimasu!"

Diana and Marina showed a mysterious united front. Where did Marina even learn that phrase?

Rebecca-san and I remained frozen.

I can't believe we were interrupted like this... everything's deflating.

Should we just have everyone join in now? That's impossible.

So... what now?

There's nothing I can do but take control.

Ughhh! Now my stomach's starting to cramp up!

"...H-Hahaha. Don't get the wrong idea, Diana. This is... you know, it's that..."

"That?"

"You know... that. It's a traditional night ritual from my hometown..."

"A traditional one?"

"That... word-chain game, Shiritori?"

I failed! It turned completely into a question.

Now that I think about it, there's no way this world has a game like Shiritori...

"S-So that's how it is! Okay, goodnight! Everyone go to sleep!"

I shouted "goodnight" to force an end to the conversation (it was 100% a desperate cover-up) and pulled the covers over my head. I was at my limit! My sensory capacity was already full the moment Rebecca-san sat on my bed!

"If it's Shiritori, then it can't be helped nodesu... Misumikandallu."

What?

"Lucraella!" Marina shouted.

Huh?

"A-Ah, uh, then... Laminara."

"...Rara."

"Another 'Ra'? Then... Rakkasei."

What the hell?! It's actually continuing! My stomach was seriously starting to hurt now, though!

"It's Goshujin-sama's turn."

"Eh? Um... 'I'... Istomach medicine...?"

"Nekorumi! That's a wave completion! Goshujin-sama, you lose!"

Diana clapped her hands together... What kind of mystery rule is that?

Wait, so they do have Shiritori here?

In the end, this mysterious Shiritori game continued for another hour. I lost miserably... Of course I did! There are way too many words I don't know in this world!

And the curtain closed with Rebecca-san as the winner.

After that, we just went to sleep... I mean, what else were we supposed to do!?

* * *

The next morning, by the time I woke up, everyone except Diana had already finished getting ready. Only Diana was still sprawled on the bed, staring blankly into space.

People in this world wake up early. Even though I technically live in the mansion, I always pass through the mirror to sleep in my own room in Japan (since the mansion doesn't have a single extra bed yet), so I tend to oversleep in my usual "Japanese NEET style".

I really should move to the mansion full-time, get my own bed, and start a proper "Lord of the Manor" life where a maid wakes me up...

Checking the clock, it was 7:00 AM.

That's not late at all—if anything, it's early—but by this world's standards, it's more like "I've already finished one job before breakfast." Since we're traveling, it feels like we could sleep in more, but waking up early became a habit. Once your body's used to it, you just end up opening your eyes.

Besides, we didn't exactly have a "night of physical combat" or anything, so no one was particularly tired.

After freshening up in the washroom and returning to the room, I casually glanced out the window.

"Geh. Rebecca-san, that kid's still there. Or should I say 'still' or 'already back'?"

The boy who had been following us yesterday was loitering on the street in front of the inn. Yesterday he was dressed so lightly he was practically half-naked, but today he was wearing leather shoes (though worn-out) and a cotton shirt. I could even swear he'd put some effort into styling his hair.

Judging from his sturdy build, appearance, and apparent age, he should already be working. Even Etowa works at thirteen, and that boy looks older than her. Besides, this is Lucraella—a city where physical labor is always in demand. If he were doing manual labor, work should've started by now.

"Well, I guess we'll find out once we step outside."

I decided not to dwell on it.

Lucraella is essentially governed by the same standards as Erische, meaning the public safety is about the same. It's unlikely he'd suddenly decide to "kill us and take our things." At most, he's looking for a handout or maybe wants to try some amateurish shakedown.

We ate the breakfast provided by the inn, got ready, and headed out.

Our first destination was the [Lucraella Chamber of Commerce Guild]. I needed to ask for the location of the Dwarven blacksmith's workshop that the old man from the Meeker Company had written a letter of introduction for. Since none of us had been here before, we had zero sense of the local geography.

As soon as we stepped outside, just as expected, the boy approached us.

He wore a peppermint-green shirt with rolled-up sleeves, indigo-dyed long trousers, and a milky-white linen waist-wrap. His hair was slicked back with Laira oil. While he looked like an elementary schooler on summer vacation during his clumsy tailing mission yesterday, today he radiated the vibe of someone "ready for a big job."

"Hey, mister. Got a minute...?"

"Sure."

I answered casually.

"Thanks. First time in Lucraella? My name's Pivot, and I'm an appraiser specializing in minerals."

Heeh.

Sounds suspicious, but [Appraiser] is an actual thing here. Meaning there's a Vocation for that.

Whether he actually has that Vocation or not, he probably wouldn't talk about a non-existent job so confidently. Since the [Mirror of Truth] is my unique skill, if an [Appraiser] Vocation exists, it likely means they develop a keen eye over time, growing into a [Super Expert Appraiser] by their thirties.

The boy called himself a specialist in minerals. It might be a highly specialized Vocation like my [Gemologist], perhaps something like [Mineral Appraiser]? Either way, it's probably not a common Vocation.

"Ho, a specialist in minerals? That's rare. So, what do you want? And yeah, this is our first time here in Lucraella."

"Yeah. Actually, this is just between us, but—"

The boy began his story.

He claimed that as a mineral appraiser, he has a contract with a certain mine. Since mineral appraisers are rare, they are contracted by specific mine shafts to appraise the minerals extracted there. He claimed to be in charge of a very influential shaft and was a veteran of five years...

He told me that a "rare white metal" had appeared there. It was very small, and even he, as an appraiser, had never seen it before. He admitted to lying to the miners, telling them it was a worthless metal. It continued to turn up occasionally, and since it was deemed "trash," he had been secretly collecting it.

...Or so the story goes.

Backstory aside, he's basically trying to sell me a souvenir, isn't he? At least it wasn't baksheesh or extortion.

In that case, I might as well take a look. Depending on the price, I might even buy some. Buying weird mystery souvenirs and regretting it later is part of the fun of a trip, after all.

"So you want me, a supposedly rich guy, to secretly buy it off you. I see, I see. Sounds like a very good story."

"Right?! And here is the metal—"

"But I refuse."

"E-Eh!? Why!?"

"It's too early in the trip to buy souvenirs. Souvenirs are something you buy in the latter half of the journey. That's an important rule. Keep that in mind from now on."

I didn't mind buying it—but not right at the start of the trip.

"Uh... O-Okay..."

The boy obediently replied.

Looking closely, he has cute eyes.

"...However, I am interested in the metal itself. Let me see it."

The boy showed me the metal he was keeping carefully in a pouch.

When I took it, it was surprisingly heavy. Hmm, I see—no wonder he says it's worth more than gold by weight. Maybe its density is close to gold's. Inside were a handful of very small, whitish grains. Each grain was a few millimeters in diameter.

Hmm. I feel like I've seen this metal somewhere. Was it back at my "black company" job... or here in this world? It looks like the little beads formed when you melt solder. Solder is made of lead and tin, isn't it? The weight might be similar. But surely not.

Then again, this is a world with things like "Mithril" and other mystery metals. It's more likely that it's a metal unknown to me.

I'll check it, just in case.

[Mirror of Truth]

[Category]

Metal Material

[Name]

Reshia Metal Group ※ Sourced from Luk River

[Description]

A metallic material with various uses. River-sourced varieties can be used as alloy materials without refining. Requires a recipe for alloying.

Rarity: A

[Magical Properties]

None

[Spirit Blessings]

None

[Owner]

Marco Pivot

It was a metal I'd never heard of. A fantasy-type one.

"W-Well? It's something incredibly valuable. No one in Lucraella knows about it, but in the Imperial Capital—" The boy continued his desperate pitch.

Mmm... it really does have a high rarity (A). Even though he lied about getting it from a mine (the Mirror says it's from the river), the "rare" part seems legit. I could buy it, but there's no doubt the boy is trying to swindle me by making up a story to sell stuff he found in the river.

But for some reason, I couldn't feel bad toward this kid. Maybe it's because he wore his one good outfit for this deal after being so ragged yesterday. Or maybe I'm impressed he actually crafted a backstory to sell his product. Whatever it was, I felt like rewarding his effort.

He's different from bandits or thugs. He plotted, searched for a likely customer, and took action to sell a product.

The metal is likely common enough in Lucraella that local merchants wouldn't buy his story, even if the Mirror labels it "Rare." He's targeting newcomers because he's betting on them not knowing what it is. That's why he watched the entrance, waited for new arrivals, lied about being an appraiser, and approached us.

"So, how much?"

I was swayed by that [Rarity: A]. I was in the mood to buy depending on the price.

"W-Wait, Jirou? You're going to buy it?"

Rebecca-san looked shocked. Well, fair enough.

"Depending on the price, yes... So, how much do you want for it?"

The boy's eyes lit up. He's too expressive to be a good con artist.

"S-Since it's precious... for this one bag, I'll take... three silver coins."

That was cheaper than I thought. Well, not cheap—one silver coin is worth 15,000 yen ($100+).

"Heh. 'One bag' means you have more?"

"Eh? Ah, yeah, I have more."

"You've sure hoarded a lot for something 'precious.'"

"Urk..."

"Well, whatever... Hmm. Like I said before, it's still too early for souvenirs. I'll buy just one pouch. If I have money left tomorrow, I might buy a few more. But in return, sell me this first pouch for one silver coin. I'll buy it on that condition."

"One coin!? That's a total loss!"

A "loss" is an overstatement.

There's no way he acquired an item of uncertain salability for more than one silver coin.

I pulled one silver coin from my wallet. I wonder how the cost of living differs between Lucraella and Erische. Since they're close, it's likely similar. Either way, one silver coin is a huge sum for this boy.

"Make it two silver coins, then!" the boy persisted.

"......"

I held the single silver coin between my fingers and stayed silent.

"O-One silver and eight white-copper coins!"

"......"

"One silver and five white-copper coins..."

"......"

"One silver is fine..."

He folded pretty quickly.

Feeling bad for him, I added two white-copper coins as a bonus.

"T-Thank you!"

"Sure. Wait around here again tomorrow around the same time."

With that, we started walking toward the Guild.

Whether I actually buy the rest tomorrow is undecided—but at least I've got a sample. If I ask around at the guild, I should be able to learn what this Reshia Metal really is in Lucraella. If it's common, there's no reason to buy it from the boy tomorrow.

Well, given the Rarity A, it might just be uncommon rather than valuable.

The problem is that it doesn't seem to have any obvious use—but rare items should be secured first. That's just my nature.

Now it all comes down to how much the dwarf master is going to charge to forge a sword. Souvenirs are nice, but I need to spend my money wisely.