I Was Caught up in a Hero Summoning, but That World Is at Peace

I decided to stay at Alice's grocery store for a while to find out about Alice.

After forcing the confused Alice to accept to stay, I left my stuff in Alice's prepared room before returning to the living room.

"... by the way, Mr. Kite. How long are you planning to stay?

"Uh-huh. What if I get to know Alice well?

"That's in a sexual sense - heh!?

"... Did I say something?

"Nandemonaides"

And I ate the food I had bought for dinner with Alice, and there was a lot going on, so I immediately went to bed.

Alice still looked as usual, but still somewhat uncomfortable... she also acted deliberately bright and seemed to be trying to get off topic.

No, maybe that's just something I hadn't noticed before, and it's always been...

Day 9 of the moon of light at dawn overnight. I decided to give Alice's workshop a tour of making things this morning.

Well, in fact, Alice is usually on my escort, so it's a split making grocery store merchandise... this time I asked her to build it on the main unit, and Alice agreed.

"... Um, Mr. Kite?

"Yeah?"

"Well, when you can stare into eating so much... it's spicy..."

Alice looks at this with a flicker as she holds the hammer for the forge in her hand, restless that she is seen jiggling.

Is that the sword you're building right now? I've never seen a blacksmith before, but that's something cool. I don't feel the heat thanks to Mr. Shiro's blessing, and I can enjoy a tour of the work purely.

"... something, Alice is making things, I've never seen them so serious... something cool"

"Huh!? Ah..."

"Ah..."

When I smiled and said a compliment, shortly afterwards Alice's sword, along with the sound of Bokin, snapped and broke.

"Or, Mr. Kite, suddenly what are you talking about! Alice is always determined to be cool and cute!

"Well, you sure are"

"Ugh... Hey, no, no, Mr. Kite? This is Tuccom right now!? What are you talking about? 'Cause you're about to drop one of your gen tricks!! What are you praising normally!?

I should have complimented you, but you are complaining about this situation for some reason... I can't solve it.

Well, but aside from that, in fact, Alice is a lot of nowhere... it's already a pile, and he's a troubled guy who jokes quickly, but he's strong and knowledgeable, and he's definitely a dependable being.

Besides, I tend to fade with the impact of the mask, but I don't think it's a mistake that Alice with the face is cute as a doll, and though she is cool and cute.

"... uh-huh. Well, I'm the one who jokes all the time... but Alice can count on me, and I think she's cute."

"Become!? Ha!?.......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

Alice, who heard my words, blushed so much that she could tell even in a mask, she went to forge to regain her mind.

Seeing a reaction that I haven't had much before, I feel like I may have found out a little bit about the new Alice, and there's a natural grin in my mouth as well.

And I kept staring at Alice's work for a while.

Nothing in particular until sundown, chatting and watching Alice spend a relaxing day and take a bath after dinner.

After a day of pushing to Alice's place, there was a small harvest, though there was no great harvest. He said he could be praised, or rushed off to talk... it was fresh and somewhat delightful to see such a girly Alice.

However, unfortunately, the original purpose has not yet been captured. Alice doesn't seem to be willing to talk either... No, sometimes she looked at me without meaning, so maybe Alice isn't sure if she'll talk or not either.

Either way, you're not in a better position to step into Alice from me than you are at the moment, and now you should wait.

With that in mind, I rise from the bath and move to the living room where Alice would be.

"Alice, I'm up... right?

……

"Sleeping?

When I went back to the living room this was the first sight I saw again...... Alice put her hand on the desk, took off her mask and slept.

Uh-huh. After what happened to Mr. Eden, and no matter how much Alice is awesome... maybe she was tired after all.

Where I was tired in my first battle with Mr. Eden, I suddenly pushed and panicked... I guess I fell asleep feeling loose... Should I have opened the day a little longer before pushing?

It would be bad to wake you up, and I'll keep you asleep for a little while... Sure, I should have washed the blanket I used during the Treasure Tree Festival and put it in the magic box...

Looking at Alice's lovely sleeping face and smiling, I took the blanket out of the magic box and tried to put it on Alice's shoulder...... I noticed.

Something glowing from Alice's sleeping eyes... to tears... yes, Alice was crying as she slept.

……

... What kind of heavy stuff does Alice carry on this little body? I couldn't help but regret not knowing that.

As she gently reaches into Alice's face and tries to wipe her tears with her fingers, Alice's blue eyes open.

"... Huh? That - Huh!?

……

Alice, who opened her eyes and confirmed my appearance, turns to a hazy look and rushes to rub her eyes with her hands and put on a mask.

"You were up from the bath - no - Mr. Boulder Kite. You feel like a good man who drips water too! hahaha......"

"... Alice"

"... Mr. Kite... Um, really... do you want to know?

……

Alice tried to deflect herself from the subject with immediate deception, but when she notices me staring with serious eyes, she lays down her face and squeals in a small voice.

"Yes, isn't it good... you don't have to know that... as it is now... I do stupid things, Mr. Kite scolds me... have fun, be happy... so, okay..."

……

"I'm scared that Kate will find out about me back in the day."

It was the first time she had shown it, a clear weakness.

Just like always, don't let yourself get lost any more... such a sad and weak voice... I know exactly how Alice feels.

Alice thinks that knowing Alice's past will break her relationship.

The feeling is on me too...... as Mr. Kronoa pointed out, I was trying to take a roundabout means because I felt the same way as Alice does now.

That's why I wanted to affirm that mourning here... but already, unfortunately, I've put my hands on that door. I've decided to be ready to step deep into Alice.

And more than anything else... I wish... more than my current relationship...

"... Alice. I want to be able to protect Alice."

"... protect? Did Mr. Kite take me?

"Oh. Of course, my power doesn't even reach Alice's feet. I know that... Alice is a lot stronger than me, she's been through a lot, and I know that everything is better than me."

……

"But I can't forgive myself for not reaching out to Alice in pain. I don't like being protected... and I want Alice... to protect Alice's heart."

"... why..."

Listening to my words, which I tell you quietly, Alice asks back with a voice that is still going to cry out.

I didn't say the details, but I can understand what you want to hear. So I decided to speak my mind honestly.

"... Alice is already irreplaceable to me. Alice said it would be okay if it stayed that way... but I want to be in a relationship much further than that. Not only can Alice protect us, but we can protect Alice... and we want to be supportive of each other."

……

"So... Alice... I want to know about you"

……

I said what I had to say. If this is Alice's refusal, it only afflicts her more than that.

... so I won't say anything more. Wait quietly for Alice to respond.

Alice lays silent on her face and there is a quiet silence between us.

How long has it been? Ten minutes? More than that? After a long silence as if time had stopped, Alice slowly opened her mouth.

"... that's an interesting story... isn't it?

"... yeah"

"Regret...... you might, right? I wish I hadn't asked..."

"Never"

"... ok"

Confirming that my resolve was firm, Alice shook her head vertically after sighing...

Dear Mother, Father - Alice's past, it was like a heavy, hard door to me. What she kept carrying with her little body, the past she kept hiding. This is finally the starting point, Alice's - door to her heart opened quietly as such words came to mind.