CH 9

Love or Love

Dirk had lost his heart to me and was unable to marry because of me. I couldn’t believe my ears, wondering what the hell was going on.

“Uh, what does that mean….?”

“It’s exactly what it sounds like. He’s still brooding over his first love.”

“First love.”

Besides it being the first time I had ever heard that word, Dirk always said, “I’m like your big brother.”

In the first place, Theo was always the one who was scolded by Lara and Owen to learn about love, just like me. It was highly likely that Theo was just making a terrible misunderstanding.

“Fufu, not only Dirk-san, but also Theo-san and Owen-san, you all really love Nina-sama! I wish I could meet Nina-sama too.”

I wondered why Erica-san, who put her hands on both cheeks and had an enraptured expression on her face, was calling only me “-sama.” Sorry, but I was no big deal.

But it still made me happy to think that people might be talking about me that much.

Anyway, I had to say no firmly to Theo because I didn’t want him to be strangely attentive to me with his misunderstanding.

“I appreciate the offer, but a commoner like me is not the right match for the duke’s son, so you don’t have to─”

“Don’t worry about your status, you’ll just have to be adopted by some noble family. Don’t give up! What’s important is how you feel.”

I really wanted you to calm down. Neither of us had the same feelings, and the battle hadn’t even begun, let alone lost.

“And really, Dirk-san is a wonderful person! He is good-looking, kind, and very popular. He treats me well, and I want him to be happy….”

For some reason, Erica-san also seemed to be starting to get fired up, and she clasped her hands tightly around mine.

If you really wanted him to be happy, you shouldn’t recommend him to a woman you had just met.

“Um, but if he’s such a wonderful person, what about Erica-san herself?”

When I conveyed it to change the flow of the conversation, her porcelain-white skin flushed red.

“I-I… Um, I have someone else I like.”

“Wow, I see.”

The way she beamed with happiness and shyness, as if embarrassed, was so cute that even I, a person of the same sex, couldn’t help but be smitten. I nodded my head deeply again and again in my mind, thinking that she was truly a legitimate heroine.

Fighting for the ones you loved, with the ones you loved. This was the best part of “Adolescence of Swords and Magic.”

Her special someone didn’t seem to be Theo, nor was it Dirk. In that case, could it be Owen or Alvin-sama?

Anyway, I wished Erica-san the best of luck, and I hoped she could successfully learn to use her magic.

“You really like that person, don’t you?”

“Yes! I hope he’ll look at me someday.”

A man who was thought of by such a pretty girl must be very happy. As expected, I would like to fall in love someday, too.

“I’ll be looking for more people than just Dirk, so please let me know if you have a favorite type.”

However, I would like you to stay away from introducing me to men for now. I also wanted you to stay away from Dirk.

But people said there was nothing scarier than a freebie, and I guessed they weren’t comfortable unless they paid me with something.

I couldn’t think of any other good way to thank you, so after a bit of pondering, I looked at Theo and said, “Okay then.”

“I prefer a man who is a commoner, good at gardening and annihilating demons. He should be good at long-range attacks and, if possible, be plain.”

“You have unusual tastes, don’t you? Okay, I’ll go find a man like that and make a list, you just wait for me and see.”

“Thank you.”

Rather than being the type I liked, the described preference had become the type of man I wanted to help me with, but that’s okay.

I would use the mysterious list you gave me when I needed someone to help me someday.

“We still have to make our rounds around here, so can we come back in a week?”

“Yes, that’s fine.”

“Thank you! Nina-sensei, I know I’m an incompetent person, but please take care of me.”

“Me too, please take care of me.”

I had no way of knowing that Theo’s “List of Nina’s Favorite Men to Introduce to Nina” would later be leaked and an incident would ensue. I was just idly thinking about what to teach Erica-san.