After my second 'heart-to-heart' talk with Ed, it's now time for a 'heart-to-heart' talk with Catherine.
Two hours later, right on time, Catherine opened the door to my room. To my surprise, Arin was also trailing her. So it seems like they've had a good chat already. I hope it's good news.
"So, Daniel, how are you feeling right now? Your girlfriend and a girl you've slept with are both in your room." (Arin)
"Eh… to be honest, it feels pretty good. This is my first time interacting with females in this capacity." (Daniel)
"Brutally honest, I see. Can't you have at least covered with some flowery words, like how we're so beautiful, or how it pains you to see us suffering like this?" (Arin)
"Ah? Is that something I'm supposed to do? I'm sorry, let me do it one more time." (Daniel)
"Wait, wait, wait, stop! Jeez… it really kills the mood if I have to tell you to do it." (Arin)
My only response is to laugh sheepishly. After all, I've never had much tact when it comes to female interactions.
"Um… so Catherine, what did you want to talk about?" (Daniel)
"… I…I-I also like nyou! So… please go out with me nya!" (Catherine)
What I heard was more of a shouted whisper than a soft voice. It seemed like she had mustered up all of her courage just to say those two sentences.
And because of that, my face abruptly turns red. Despite having received confessions twice by now, this is the most passionate of them all.
Naturally, a confession followed by seduction is the most effective, but a pure confession like this isn't something I've experience before.
Against such a thing, there's no way for me to say no.
"Yes, I'll be in your care, Catherine." (Daniel)
While Catherine was crying in joy, I turned my face around to look at Arin.
"What are you looking at? I'm the one who encouraged her to do this." (Arin)
"W-Why would you do something like that? I don't want to force her…" (Daniel)
"I'm not being forced nya! I genuinely like nyou… and it's all thanks to Arinnya that I can express that, nya." (Catherine)
Ooh, she recovered quite quickly. Maybe it's because what I just said was doubting her conviction.
"I'm sorry I doubted you, Catherine. As an apology, I'll do whatever you want." (Daniel)
"Really, nya? Then let's go nyeet my mother!" (Catherine)
Meeting the in-laws this quickly?! I'm sweating buckets right now.
"U-Um… are you sure we should be doing that so quickly?" (Daniel)
"It's fine, nya! My mother's been watching you ever since you came here, nya!" (Catherine)
Uuwah. Now I'd rather if she didn't reveal that last piece of information. I feel like my privacy has been breached. And that hasn't happened ever since I deactivated my Facebook account back on Earth.
"W-Watching you say… i-in what way?" (Daniel)
"Don't worry about it, nya!" (Catherine)
Okay, that just makes it more suspicious. Are you sure your mother is normal, Catherine? Are you sure YOU'RE normal for accepting something like that?
"Hey, what are you waiting for? Let's go!" (Arin)
"Wait! Arin's coming too??" (Daniel)
"Of course! Her mother is my mother now that we're sisters…" (Arin)
Uh-oh. Their faces are telling me that they have something planned. And I'm probably not going to like whatever it is.
I feel like I'm a carriage right now. Once again, I'm being dragged; this time by two girls though.
I was forcefully brought to the kitchen, where Catherine's mother was resting.
*Gulp*
This is the most nervous I've ever been since my reincarnation. I wonder what's worse. Meeting your potential mother-in-law with another one of your girlfriends or approaching your girlfriend's parents about a shotgun marriage. Not that either of them are pregnant. At least I hope not.
"A-Ah, hello, auntie!" (Daniel)
"Un." (Catherine's mother)
"Mother, this is my boyfriend, Daniel. Daniel, this is my mother, Elinor." (Catherine)
"Hello, Mrs. Elinor." (Arin)
"Un." (Elinor)
It was probably evident that both Arin and I have question marks above our heads.
"Ah, don't worry about that. She doesn't talk much… not since father passed away…" (Catherine)
"I'm very sorry for your loss." (Arin and Daniel)
"Un." (Elinor)
"Mother, this is Arin, who is also Daniel's girlfriend!" (Catherine)
"Un." (Elinor)
"I want to leave with them. I'll find a replacement for my job, so can I?" (Catherine)
"Un." (Elinor)
"Thanks, mother! I'll miss you…" (Catherine)
"Un." (Elinor)
No offense, but this is… starting to get weird. Maybe Mrs Elinor has some memory problem, or maybe she's just running from reality; from the grief of losing her husband.
Either way, it's probably not healthy for a young girl like Catherine to stay around her too much. This might sound cruel, but Elinor is not fit to be a mother.
But don't worry! I'll try my best to take care of her! Since I won't get a proper response from her, I'll just vow in my mind. It's the same thing anyway, right?
Now, all that's left is to talk with Arkan. This will be a bit troublesome. From my last run-in with them, it seemed apparent to me that Arkan likes Arin. Now that I've become Mister Steal-yo-girl, I wonder how he's going to react.
I really don't want a repeat of my second life…
And to ensure it doesn't happen, I won't be present when they talk about it! Perfect plan! 100%!
I kind of want to see his reaction though… and if he actually confesses at such a timing, it'll be hilari – *ahem* rather sad.
Maybe this is what Casanovas feel all the time? I've got to say, quite the enjoyable feeling… muhahahahaha!
No? Not working? Maybe my character just doesn't fit the evil sadistic type.
---
[3rd Person POV]
"Welcome, O Holy Knight. What brings you here?" (???)
"I-I come in peace! I've defected from the Church." (Olaf)
"Hmm… another one? How can you prove your worth?" (???)
"I know what they are planning! They want Holy Spring Water for some reason." (Olaf)
"That may seem like important news to you, but we've already received word before you even started your mission. What else?" (???)
"That's impossible! It was a secret mission!" (Olaf)
"If it was a secret mission, as you claim, then would they really send just one incapable Holy Knight?" (???)
"N-No way…" (Olaf)
"You obviously have no other worth. Farewell, Olaf." (???)
"W-Wait! How do you know my na –" (Olaf)
The last expression Olaf had on his face was shock before he succumbed to the darkness.
2nd chapter for the day!
Expanding on Catherine's backstory a bit, as well as the power of the Dark Guild.
Also, this chapter was not designed to be netori. It's just that I foreshadowed this conflict a bit in the earlier chapters.
Things in Border Town will soon wrap up. It's almost time for an exciting new adventure!
Thanks for reading!
Please review, comment or vote.