I set conditions for being summoned to another world, but the Goddess still called me. - Chapter 7

Episode 7 Magical Contract

“Ryuji, let’s hold hands or we’ll get separated.”

　When I asked her to show me around, Nina suddenly started acting friendly. I wonder if she had always been so friendly? Is it because I told her that Alice isn’t my wife? But isn’t she still being a bit too friendly?

“No matter how crowded the market is, we won’t get separated.”

“But, you know, it’s easier to awaken if we’re stuck together, right?”

　I see, that’s the reason. But the most important thing is that it looks fun.

　Maybe this is the legendary Nightingale effect? Does that mean she would suddenly lose interest later?

　When I held her hand, Nina happily snuggled up to me. I didn’t mean it with any bad motives, but I’m sure this is something that will come back to haunt me later, right?

“Hey, Nina, is that your boyfriend?” the man running the stall called out.

“Oh no, uncle…we’re not customers… we’re friends now, right?”

“Well, don’t start talking to me out of nowhere.”

“No matter how you look at it, you look like lovers, Nina,” said the old man.

“Oh man, give me a bag of those.”

“Thank you,” Nina said happily as she bought a bag of sweets. The old man is good at business. Inside the bag were cookies that tasted surprisingly good. So sweets like those from my world exist in this world too.

“Hey, why don’t we grab something to drink and go up to some higher ground? We can look over the city.”

“Oh, that’s good.”

　I bought some fruit juice at a nearby fruit shop and climbed up to a hill a little distance away.

　　=•=•=

　After climbing a slightly steep slope, a large garden spread out before us.

“Apparently this was originally the lord’s garden. There’s no one to look after it anymore though.”

　Nina spoke as we stood at the edge of the garden with a panoramic view of the city.

“You have no lord?”

“For the time being, our town seems to be under the jurisdiction of the lord of the neighbouring town. Look, you can get a good view of the town from here, right?”

“That’s right. It’s a bigger city than I thought.”

“Yeah, but a lot of them aren’t in use anymore. Everyone’s gathered in the city centre now.”

　I wonder how the lord felt as he watched the town decline from up here.

“It will grow back soon.”

“I wonder.”

“As long as you have the motivation.”

“Yeah, maybe. When you say it, it makes me feel like it’s possible.”

“What? It’s nothing special. Ah, you were hoping for magic.”

“Yeah, that’s true. I have a feeling that something new is about to begin.”

“I see.”

　We stood there looking at the city for a while, and Nina told me a lot about the city and the people who live there.

　Before I knew it, the sun was setting, so I hurried back to the inn.

　Nina had completely forgotten to help with dinner and was being scolded by her father.

　　•=•=•

　After finishing dinner and returning to my room, I started thinking about my next move.

　It’s good that Goddess Alice has returned; once her divine powers return, she’ll be able to use her cheat abilities again. Then it’ll be easy to completely change the world…?

　No, if one is a hero, then their job is already decided. It’s just about defeating the Demon King, so even if it’s difficult, they’ll still have an idea about what they are supposed to do. But I’m not a hero. So, is “restoring the world’s vitality” just as difficult as that?

　For starters, I don’t know how to do it. It’s not like defeating monsters. Brute force doesn’t work. There’s no theory behind it. Maybe there is, but I just don’t know it.

　So what counts as a complete mission?

　You say you want to increase the population, but you haven’t given out any statistics or criteria, have you? Now I’m starting to feel a bit impatient. I thought I was being careful, but in the end I was acting like I was living a fantasy. I thought I was being calm, but now I was actually panicking. It’s not really that easy, is it?

　Well, if I can’t understand it, there’s nothing I can do about it. That’s my limit. It’s the fault of the goddess who chose me. I’ll just think about making the world around me easier to live in. That’ll be fine. Actually, that’s all I can do.

　Just as I was thinking about all of this, there was a light knock on the door.

“Ryuuji, are you still awake?”

“Yes. Nina, you can come in.”

“Sorry I’m late.”

　I had no idea about what kind of clothes people wore in this world, but Nina had changed from her daytime clothes into something lighter. They weren’t pajamas, were they?

“Okay. What’s up?”

“Well, nothing at all.”

“Yeah?”

“Umm, well, I was wondering if one would really collapse when the magic within them is awakened.”

“Yeah, that’s right.”

“It’s all right,” Nina said sadly.

“Ah, I see. If you were going to awaken, you would have collapsed by now. Too bad, you haven’t. I guess you won’t awaken that easily. I’ll join you again for a walk some other time.”

　It may have just been a consolation, but I wanted to comfort her after how kind she had been to me the whole day.

“Yes, thank you. But you won’t be staying here forever, and I thought it would be rude to take up too much of Ryuuji’s time.”

“Really?”

“Yeah. So, I thought I might as well try to get a little more intimate.”

　Nina suggested, sounding somewhat embarrassed.

“Intimate?”

“Yeah, intimate.”

“Huh?”

“For example, like lovers.”

“Like?”

“Like, kissing?”

　No, we’re not lovers. When you say it so shyly, I find myself really attracted to you, but it’s still not a good thing.

“Hey, are you talking about me?”

“N-no, it’s not that. It’s a fairy tale. There’s a story about a girl who spends a night with a wizard and awakens her magic.”

What kind of a story is that? It’s not a story for children, is it?

“Nina…”

“But that would be bad, wouldn’t it?”

　Nina said, peering into my face.

“Yeah, that’s bad.”

“So just kiss me. I won’t ask for anything more.”

“When it comes to demands, it’s usually the other way around. It’s the man who makes the demands.”

“But you didn’t ask for it.”

“You want me to do that?”

“That’s… so… only a kiss.”

“No, if you kiss me, I might want to do it again.”

“Uh huh, what should I do?” Nina blushed.

“You sound so happy. You are looking forward to it, aren’t you?”

“N-no, it’s not that. But I want to try everything I can before Ryuuji leaves.”

“Well, if you don’t know what to do to awaken your magic, you’ll just have to try things a little at a time.”

“Right?”

“Really, just a kiss.”

　She is certainly cute, but I still have a strong impression of her from before, so I’m not sure. Just as I was thinking that, she pressed her lips against mine.

“W-Want to suddenly kiss me deeply or something?”

　Nina asked, widening her eyes a little.

“Oh, did I go too far? I thought if I didn’t do this much, it would be the same as holding hands.”

“Yeah, but it was my first time.”

“Is that so? Will this awaken your magic?”

“Maybe, thank you. I’m sure I’ll end up in bed after this. If I collapse tomorrow, please follow up.”

“Okay, I get it. Oh, prepare some water next to the bed.”

“Okay, I understand. Thank you. Well, good night.”

“Oh, good night.”

　Staring at the closed door, I was stunned for a while. It didn’t feel real. Was it a dream?

　　•=•=•

　The next day, I spent the day shopping for everyday items without doing anything special, in case I received a message from the Gods’ realm at any time. On my way home, I passed an antique shop and found a painting from my previous style being sold at a bargain price.

　My divine powers hadn’t returned yet. After dinner at the inn, I returned to my room and found Nina in my bed.

“Why are you in my bed?”

　Nina seemed embarrassed and hesitated for a moment, but then she spoke with determination.

“Didn’t you fail yesterday?”

“Failed? Ah, so the kiss didn’t awaken your magic?”

“Right. So I thought I’d try to get a little
closer today.”

“Are you going to kiss me longer?”

“Y-yes. A lot.”

“Is that going to awaken you?”

“Other than that, I don’t know.”

“Well, would you really believe in fairy tales to that extent?”

“This is a magical contract between you and the Master.”

　That can’t be true, right?