I return to my room, sat on my bed, and saw Euphilite standing at the door holding a dinner tray.
The innkeeper look dismayed as I returned.
I took the dinner prepared and asked if I could eat it in my room, she then brought it to the room.
「 Don’t just stand there, put it on the desk and sit down 」
「 I understand 」
Euphilite does what I tell her to do.
「 Want to eat? 」
「 No thanks 」
「 Right.. 」
Her face is clearly tensed up.
She’s not being modest, it’s just that she doesn’t have the composure to eat.
I’m not that hungry either, and I’m not in the mood for that right now. We can put that for later.
「 Let’s start with names first. I’m Kotori Daiki. You’re Euphilite, right? It’s long, can I call you Euphy instead? 」
「 Yes, that’s okay. Master 」
「 !! 」
M-Master?
I’ve been called that once when I was at a maid cafe when I tried it out with a friend, but this was completely different.
「 That’s over the top, call me Daiki 」
「 I understand, Daiki-sama 」
She doesn’t like it, she’s resisting.
It’s a little hard, but that doesn’t mean she has to shy away from it.
「 Euphy, that’s too far, come closer 」
「 Y-Yes… 」
Euphy’s a little nervous, she got up from her seat and came to my front.
Looking at her up close, she has a well-defined face.
She’s got no make-up, and yet, I wonder how her eyes are so big, why her skin is so beautiful, not a single blemish, and her voice, when she replies, is dignified, and yet it’s still cute.
It makes me wonder if she’s not a human but an elaborately crafted work of art.
Her eyes are giving out a strong gaze.
But those eyes seem to lack confidence, or perhaps a sense of weakness inside.
Well, it’s most likely because of this situation.
I pull Euphy’s hand, who looked uncomfortable being watched closely, flipped her around, and pulled her towards me.
Then, her slender body fell into my arms, to my embrace.
Oh boy, so slender, small, and she smells nice, soft, cute.
I spoke to Euphy while holding her hands, which were stiff as she leans on me.
「 Euphy, your skill is sewing, right? 」
「 Y-Yes, I’m sorry 」
「 That’s nothing to apologize for, that’s not why I chose you, Euphy 」
「 Thank you 」
I chose her because of her face and age.
However, I get the vibe that there’s something about her skill.
In a world with a system like this, she might’ve struggled with her skills.
But, sewing is useful, right?
Oh, speaking of which, this girl’s a former noble.
I heard that nobles don’t sew, right?
I don’t know what’s her situation, but that doesn’t stop me from touching her little hand.
Objectively speaking, I’m considered a creepy old man.
Suddenly weirdly objectifying myself, I continued the conversation, still holding her hand.
「 How old are you again? 」
「 F-Fourteen 」
「 I heard that you were a former noble, is that correct? 」
「 Yes 」
「 Did it collapse? 」
「 Are you not aware that Mugdam has been destroyed? 」
「 It’s my first day in this place, so I have no idea what the current affairs are 」
「 Is that so? 」
「 Sorry, I don’t mean ill-intent with the question 」
「 N-No… 」
I already know her age, but I checked on other things because I was fawning over her and couldn’t remember the other details.
I asked a question that’s hard to answer, I’m going to ask her about the area later anyway so I’ll put that on hold.
Even so, she’s quite obedient. Is it because she’s a slave, or is it her nature?
From how it seems. She doesn’t look like she’ll do anything scary that’ll invoke the slave crest.
「 We’ll see about that later. Hmm. Oh, there we go 」
I grab the two beads lying around my waist and bring them to a place where Euphy can see them.
These are skill orbs, you get a skill when you use it.
The tiny Goddess left it behind and I know how to use it.
I gained knowledge about it when I got punched in the stomach.
I have two skill orbs, but both of them are swordsmanship 1.
「 This is a swordsmanship skill orb, can you use it? 」
When I offered the skill orb with a pleading tone, putting it on Euphy’s hand, her body turned stiff.
I peeked to see what was going on and saw her eyes wide open, staring at the skill orb with the most despairing look I’d ever seen.
「 Is that an order? 」
「 Well, yeah. I’m going to use this one, so you can use this one, Euphy 」
「 D-Daiki-sama too? 」
「 Yes, if not, I can’t test what I need to 」
「 ………… 」
「 Then, you’re going to use it, right? 」
「 Gusu…If that’s your order…. 」
Huh?
Why are you crying? Do you hate it that much?
No, well, if I don’t use it, I can’t test the power the tiny gave me.
I have to force it on her.
I took her hand and place the skill orb on it.
Sniffing, she hesitantly accepts and turns her head away.
「 Do you hate it that much? 」
「 If Daiki-sama knows about skill orbs, then you should know. Furthermore, it’s swordsmanship 」
「 Huh, what about it? 」
「 U-Using skill orbs meant that the skill won’t ever grow! 」
「 Oh, so that’s what you mean. Just to confirm, is a skill something you can acquire late in life? 」
「 Eh, i-if the person has the background and training, there’s a possibility….but… 」
I see. I get it now.
Euphy’s reluctant to use the skill orb because if she used this, she won’t be able to gain any more than one level of swordsmanship.
From how it seems, not even effort can’t master it.
She’s depressed, I’m feeling sorry
Tiny Goddess quit putting your half-baked knowledge.
Even so, Euphy’s slightly angry face was incredibly cute.
「 Well, either way, take and use this kill orb. I’ll do the same, endure it. Besides, it won’t obstruct the plan I have. If it failed, just blame the Gods 」
「 Uuu…uuu… I understand… 」
Realizing that I had no sign of changing my intent, Euphy finally grabbed the skill orb.
Even so, she continued to hesitate. Her face looks grim.
After a while, she made up her mind, put her strength into her hand, and grabbed the skill orb tighter.
Then, the skill orb shattered with a crackling sound. At the same time, a white smoke-like substance came out and entered her body as if it were seeping into her.
So that’s how it works.
I get how it works, but I didn’t know before, so it’s a surprise.
「 It’s over 」
「 Sorry for giving you a hard time. You did well. Now, it’s my turn. 」
I stroked Euphy’s silky blonde hair and used the other skill orb.
I wondered if it’ll hurt her if she breaks it but it seems to be a futile worry, so I put more strength into my hand that was holding the skill orb.
It also cracked, and the white smoke got absorbed into my body.
「 I see, you don’t sense anything weird 」
I should have learned the skill, but I don’t feel anything.
Well, that’s how it is, so I switched my attention to the next action.
Finally, with this girl…
I involuntarily swallowed the thoughts of what was I about to do with Euphy who was in my arms and hugged her from behind.