Chapter 30: You’re a Real Genius at Conversation

Th-this is my first date ever with Fiora!!

Although he appeared calm on the surface, Leon’s heart was surging with emotion.

Even though Fiora was a little unhappy, Leon—after pulling out all the stops—had finally secured an opportunity to be alone with the girl he loved.

After experiencing a few events together with Fiora, he was certain she still held some affection for him.

Thus, taking advantage of Vivian being away from home for her studies, he seized the opportunity to make his move.

I’m sorry, my dear sister. Your brother must betray you today. Fiora is the one person I can’t let you have!

“By the way, is it alright for me to be walking on the street like this?” Fiora asked cautiously as they walked.

“It’s not really a problem. I asked the Great Sage to use a memory-wiping spell last time, erasing the memories of everyone involved. Basically, no one knows who summoned the iceberg.”

“Then why did you ground me for so long?!”

The two chatted idly, and soon arrived at the Adventurer’s Guild.

The introverted silver-haired girl, under Leon’s encouraging gaze, steeled herself and accepted the slime-clearing quest.

“Well, what do you know. Even someone like you can handle such a basic task,” Leon said, unable to hold back his praise.

“You’re the first one to ever force this royal one like this…” Fiora grumbled under her breath, staff in hand, as she followed Leon out of the city and into the forest on the outskirts.

This quest wasn’t exactly simple for a novice adventurer, because attacking slimes would attract the Slime King.

Slimes could resist all attacks below Lv. 30, so when Fiora simply accepted this quest, she drew astonished looks from the others.

“Why have we been walking for so long without seeing a single slime! How am I supposed to complete the quest at this rate?”

Fiora couldn’t help but complain as she searched for their target in the forest.

How could I let you find the Slime King so early?
Leon snickered internally. He was wearing a bracelet that repelled low-level monsters.

Keep running, Slime King! For the sake of this precious opportunity for a date with Fiora.

Leon prayed for his plan to proceed smoothly, hoping to spend more time alone with her.

“Leon, I see a slime!”

Following Fiora’s pointing finger, Leon spotted a single slime.

Even with a bracelet that repelled low-level monsters, it wasn’t as if they wouldn’t encounter one at all.

Having found a target, Fiora happily prepared to use a spell—but Leon stopped her.

“Stop.”

“Ngh… What is it?” Fiora looked at him, confused.

“Don’t use magic,” Leon said, handing her a woman’s one-handed sword he had prepared. “Use close combat.”

“I’m a mage, not a warrior!”

“Can a mage who can’t even fight up close really be called a mage?”

“Huh—?”

Fiora took the sword, a look on her face as if she’d just seen a ghost.

In truth, Leon was right. Mages in this world learned at least some close-quarters combat. A glass cannon like Fiora—with maxed-out firepower and zero melee skills—was actually the odd one out.

“Hurry up, the slime is about to get away. There’s a penalty if you can’t complete the quest.”

“Damn you, you depraved harem protagonist…”

Fiora charged forward with the sword.

Although her melee skills were a mess, the sheer difference in their stats let her handle the slime.

It was like using a meteor hammer to swat a mosquito—after ten minutes of relentless smashing, she finally killed it.

“Hah… hah… hah…” Fiora panted, hands on her knees.

“Your stamina is pretty bad.”

“None of your business… It has nothing to do with you, anyway.”

Then Leon said something that made Fiora’s brain shut down on the spot.

“With stamina this bad, if you ever get pregnant, how are you going to give birth?”

“…”

“…”

“…”

A deathly silence fell between them.

What the hell am I saying?! Leon wanted to slap himself, horrified that his inner thoughts had slipped out.

Fiora’s face had turned ashen.

You could practically see her affection rating for Leon plummeting.

In her eyes, Leon = Scum was now an established fact.

It’s over. Fiora is already starting to tremble. Say something to ease the tension! Leon, think, quick!

Leon’s gaze darted around before he forced himself to speak.

“Um, don’t mind what I just said. It’s something for the future anyway…”

“So it’s already scheduled?!”

Sweat beaded on Leon’s forehead.

The more flustered he got, the less he thought before speaking.

“I’ve always been like this—the type to speak my mind directly. I’ve said similar things to other girls too…”

“So you want to get other girls pregnant too! Y-you’re too much! You damn stud horse!”

It’s over. My rating’s hit an even more tragic low.

Leon had absolutely no idea how to salvage the situation, so he simply shut his mouth.

Fiora didn’t dare to speak either.

Although they continued searching for slimes, trying to pretend the previous conversation hadn’t happened, an awkward atmosphere hung between them.

Leon didn’t want this.

The date he had worked so hard to arrange was being destroyed by a single careless remark.

This can’t happen! I have to turn this around.

He remembered a friend telling him that the fastest way to make a girl happy was to praise her.

Therefore, Leon decided right then and there to tell Fiora what he really thought—how cute she was, and how much he liked her!

“Fiora.”

“E-eh…” Hearing her name called, Fiora instinctively took a timid step back.

Although hurt by this, Leon still didn’t plan to back down.

“I have something to tell you,” Leon said, raising his voice. “To be honest, I really like dragons like you. Because you’re different from normal humans, it’s very interesting.”

“A monster-girl fetish…?”

“Of course, your human form is also very much to my taste. For example, your…”

Leon’s gaze roamed up and down Fiora’s body like a torch.

“Chest is… great! No excess fat, very convenient for fighting. An excellent size!”

“…!!”

But instead of having the desired effect, Fiora’s expression only worsened.

“And even though you’re a bit mischievous, you listen when spoken to properly. That part is also satisfactory. You have a lot of potential for training.”

“You… you want to train me that much…?”

For some reason, Fiora looked like she was about to cry.

Leon was at his wit’s end, feeling that something was very wrong.

Why wasn’t his friend’s advice working at all?

No matter what, I have to make Fiora happy. I’ll just tell her what’s in my heart. Yes, just like in the novels. If I tell her what’s in my heart, it’s sure to have a perfect effect!

Holding onto this thought, Leon smiled and said, “Fiora, you’re great in all sorts of ways. Very practical.”

“…”

“…”

“H-help me!!”

Fiora looked as if she’d been scared out of her wits, crying out as she ran away.

Watching the girl he loved flee, Leon froze in place, petrified into a colorless statue.