Chapter 19

1.

I kept insisting that we go to the department store first, and eventually Dojin gave in and took me there.

This time, I was dressed in a comfortable date outfit—a loose-knit sweater and shorts—so I was completely unsuited for a meeting-the-parents sort of occasion.

I dragged Dojin to the women's clothing section.

Then I tried putting together all sorts of outfits, as if I were making a lookbook.

First, something with a similar feel to what I was wearing now: a button-up shirt, a short skirt, and a coat that came down to my knees.

"How about this?"

"It looks nice."

I changed again. This time, I wore a white button-up shirt under a black blouse, with a flared skirt for something like an office look.

"How about this one?"

"That one looks nice, too."

"Be honest."

"No, they both suit you and look great."

Apparently, just as I had rose-colored glasses for Dojin, he had the same for me.

I guess I couldn't help liking a boyfriend who always thought I was pretty.

"Hehe..."

The sales clerk seemed to be looking at us like we were two peas in a pod. But there was nothing embarrassing about a couple being all lovey-dovey, so I ignored it.

It wasn't as though I were so shameless that I'd act all lovey-dovey in public and then complain, "What are you looking at?"

"I'll take all of these, then."

"Of course, ma'am."

When you have a big spender, the staff can't help smiling. Now that I was A-rank and had plenty of money, I bought clothes by the armful.

In the end, I kept the coat I'd worn at first and put it on. Underneath, I wore the sweater from earlier, and I chose a skirt that was a little longer.

It was the first time I'd ever thought there was nothing I could wear because of a length restriction. Until now, I'd only thought it was a hassle.

It was a shame about the several pairs of jeans I'd thought were cute, too.

With the clothes taken care of, Dojin and I went to buy wine. Ginseng extract and things like that probably wouldn't mean much to someone who had mana.

I considered getting a set of fruit juices that would at least taste good, but since the Sword Saint was in his thirties, I settled on wine.

Of course, even when I'm in my thirties, I think I'd still drink fruit juice because I like it. But wine sounds good, too.

"This should be enough, right?"

"Plenty."

The wine I bought wasn't exactly top-shelf, but it was a fairly common, respectable premium wine.

The wine merchant told me that the truly high-end wines worth bragging about were so scarce that even department stores had trouble getting them.

Honestly, cities were getting half-destroyed practically every day, and even some heroes were involved in the rebuilding... I figured it must be incredibly difficult to age liquor for a long time in this world.

"I'm glad you have a car now, at least. You can keep your clothes in it."

"So that's why you bought so much, knowing that?"

If we couldn't do that, we would've had to head straight home after shopping. Luckily, thanks to Dojin, that wasn't the case.

"Thank you."

I gave Dojin a quick peck on the cheek.

2.

Dojin's home was far more impressive than I'd imagined. I'd pictured a house with a few floors, but it was a two-story penthouse on the top floor of a building, complete with a rooftop.

The place Dojin showed me and called his 'room' was actually a whole apartment, with its own kitchen. It wasn't some tiny studio, either; to Dojin, a 'room' meant a 'house' with two bedrooms and a living room.

"This is a room...?"

What on earth was my room, then...?

Was this what people meant when they said we lived in different worlds?

I could only stand there in Dojin's enormous room, dazed as I looked around.

The bed was huge, just like the one I'd seen at the hotel last time. Dojin was so well-behaved when he slept, so why did he need such a big bed?

On the desk, there was something that looked like a computer, along with books piled up everywhere. I guess Dojin studied, too. There was a notebook and a pen, as well.

The bookshelves were packed with books, including ones on philosophy and things like that.

Glancing around, I noticed there was a balcony outside the room, with a table where you could sit and have a drink.

Was this what a rich man's room looked like...?

While I was looking around, Dojin appeared with a glass of water.

"Here, have some water. The old man hasn't arrived yet."

"Oh, should we prepare some food or something?"

"Apparently, the old man ordered it. It's a catered buffet."

"They do catering for buffets?"

When Dojin opened the door, I heard a little bustle and saw people hurrying around. I wondered what was going on, but it seemed they were from the catering company.

It looked like the Sword Saint had gone to a lot of trouble to prepare everything, which made me even more nervous.

"Dojin!"

"Oh, what? Lapis is here, so talk to me later."

A young man with golden hair that looked like it might glow on its own burst through the door. Dojin answered while pushing him back with telekinesis.

The Sword Saint had two people living with him under his care: Dojin and a dragon. It seemed this boy was the 'Dragon.'

"Show me, too! You never show me pictures!"

"You'll wear her out just by looking. Later."

"Aaaah!"

The Dragon was pushed out of the room by Dojin's telekinesis and fell over backward. The door shut under telekinetic force and locked in an instant.

"I won't wear out."

"You will. Besides, there's no need for you to meet that guy."

He was merciless to his housemates. Come to think of it, the guys I knew who had younger brothers always seemed a little distant with them.

Dojin sighed and sat on the edge of the bed. I started to sit down right beside him out of habit, but stopped myself, thinking we might start making out, and sat in the chair by the desk instead.

Dojin looked a little disappointed.

"Because if I sit next to you, I feel like you'll kiss me."

"So what? You can."

"No. If the Sword Saint comes in, I'll be too embarrassed to even look up."

I couldn't exactly say, 'You don't know that I get wet when I kiss you,' so I made up another excuse.

I'd come here to introduce myself, after all. If the girl who came to greet him was making out with his son (?) in his room, I felt like she'd forget why she'd come in the first place.

Dojin wasn't his son, but he was sort of like an adopted son.

"Tch."

"Don't sulk over something like that. Later, okay?"

Though I wasn't sure we'd have the energy for it.

The Sword Saint arrived sooner than I expected. We hadn't waited even an hour before he showed up.

"Uncle! Dojin brought his girlfriend!"

I'd never met the 'Dragon' before, but he seemed a little cocky... Or was he just free-spirited?

"Yeah, I know."

The Sword Saint let out a sigh and roughly loosened his tie.

It didn't look like he'd just been out destroying a 'nest' or anything like that.

Just as things were about to quiet down, it hit me that I should introduce myself now.

"Hello. I'm Lapis Lazuli."

"Nice to meet you. You can call me the Sword Saint."

The Sword Saint accepted my greeting with a hearty laugh. I could feel his eyes briefly scanning me, but it seemed more like he was taking in my outfit than checking me out sexually.

"Here, it's just a little something, but I brought wine. I couldn't think of anything more suitable..."

"Ah, you know I like this wine? Dojin must've told you. Haha."

Maybe that was just polite small talk. Either way, I'd been a little worried he might scold me for bringing a useless gift, so I was relieved.

"You know Dojin already, but this is your first time meeting him, right? Do you know who I mean if I say Dragon?"

"Oh, yes. The Three Heroes come up everywhere."

The Sword Saint laughed bitterly. He seemed to dislike being called one of the Three Heroes. I had no idea why, so I decided to ask Dojin later.

After exchanging greetings for a while in the entryway, we naturally moved into a large hall. According to Dojin, this was the 'dining room.'

By then, everyone who'd been setting up the buffet had left. There was food everywhere, laid out just like a real buffet in appliances that used mana to keep it warm automatically.

"Please, sit down. Well, I wasn't going to interfere much, since Dojin's an adult now..."

The Sword Saint sat at the head of the table and took off his suit jacket as if it were a bother, draping it over the chair.

"He kept bragging about how pretty you are, so I called you over to see for myself. I hope that wasn't rude?"

"N-no, it's fine!"

What an outrageous reason. My stomach hurt with nerves. 'He kept bragging that you were pretty, so I called you over'—what kind of reason was that? I'd never heard anything like it.

If I'd known, I would've brought Ruby and Peridot along! They were just as pretty as me, both in the face and figure!

Maybe my reply had sounded strange, because Dojin nudged my side and spoke quietly.

"You're getting nervous again."

"Ugh, what on earth did you brag about...?"

"I just told him exactly how it is. I'm not good at dressing things up."

"You mean you just don't."

Dojin was straightforward and honest. He hardly ever exaggerated when talking about someone. Even when it came to himself, he'd sooner say he didn't know than talk himself up.

But those sincere compliments were unbearably embarrassing right now.

"Y-you flatter me..."

My face was burning bright red with embarrassment. I could tell, because it felt incredibly hot.

The Sword Saint continued with a smile.

"Come now, you certainly live up to all the praise Dojin gives you."

"H-how much did he praise me...?"

It sounded conceited, but even I thought I was incredibly pretty. I couldn't even begin to imagine how much he'd praised me for the Sword Saint to say that.

"That's the first time I've ever heard Dojin call someone pretty."

I hear that in bed every day... But saying that would be nothing but self-sabotage, so I decided not to.

It wasn't as if we were so short on things to talk about that I had to bring up everything that happened in bed!

"Yeah, yeah! It's the first time Dojin's praised anyone, too!"

"Please, just shut up for once."

The moment the Dragon opened his mouth, Dojin immediately snapped at him. I wondered if he was about to say something embarrassing, but Dojin shut him down before he could get it out.

But the Dragon, who seemed like the very embodiment of youthful vigor and free-spiritedness, didn't look bothered at all. Maybe he was always like this.

"He never even showed me one picture of the girlfriend he bragged about so much, and now he brings her here!"

"I never bragged."

And why was I the one getting embarrassed...?

I was the only one ending up embarrassed by their conversation, rather than hurt.

The meal itself was peaceful. I mean, it'd be even stranger if a meeting where I was introducing myself as the woman Dojin was happily in love with wasn't peaceful.

"I hope the food was to your taste."

"Yes, it was delicious."

"It's a caterer we order from once a week, so I'm glad you liked it."

"Oh, please. Stop making small talk like an old man and wrap this up already. I need to take her home."

Dojin seemed eager to leave the house as soon as possible. It was a little surprising, since it was the first time I'd seen him in a hurry.

I sidled up to him and asked quietly.

"Why are you in such a hurry? Is something going on?"

"We haven't had a date. I want to fit in even an hour."

I hadn't expected such a cute reason.

"That's cute."

"...You'll regret saying that later."

"Hehe, go ahead and make me."

As the two of us quietly giggled and teased each other, the Sword Saint spoke first.

"You're right. So stop being all lovey-dovey in front of this old bachelor and take her home already."

"I'm staying out tonight. And you didn't fail to get married—you chose not to."

"Do what you want."

The Sword Saint sighed and headed to another room.

"I'm bored. Can I come with you...?"

"Go to your room and play a game."

Dojin sent the Dragon, who was clinging to him, flying into a room with telekinesis. I heard a crash, but he didn't seem to care.

I could've sworn he'd said the boy was dragonkin, so maybe a little bump wouldn't hurt him. From the sound, I could tell the Dragon had just smashed into the furniture with his body.

"Let's go."

Dojin led me by the hand all the way down to the parking garage. The Dragon didn't follow us.

Honestly, if he'd followed, I was ready to glare at him for being so clueless and let him know he was annoying me.

"You don't have to go home tonight either, right?"

"Ah..."

He stole my line.