"May I take your order?" Syr asked. I smiled at her and pced my order. I asked for a meat dish, a pasta dish, and a drink. Since I aying, Welf ordered a lot, too.

  When Syr fiaking our order, she stared at me for a few seds before leaving.

  "What was that about? Why were you looking at her like that?" Welf asked.

  "I just thought she retty. 't I look at pretty women?"

  "... She'll think you're a pervert if you keep staring at her like that."

  "..." I was curious about what Syr would say or how she would act. I know she's not Freya, but she's a persona created by her.

  But she didn't act abnormally. She seemed like an ordinary waitress.

  "So, have you decided?" I stopped thinking about Syr and asked him.

  "Decided about what? The magic sword? I already told you I won't make a magic sword for you. Go to another Hephaestus Familia shop to buy a magic sword."

  "Alright, alright, I get it, you don't want money."

  "It's not that I don't want money. I don't want to make a magic sword for you. I offered to make a normal sword, didn't I?"

  "Why do you refuse to make magic swords?"

  "I refuse to talk about it."

  "Hm... I was just curious. Do you have some trauma or something? Maybe you're not fident in your talent?"

  "Don't talk about things you don't know." Welf spped the table and gred at me. "Just stop talking about it. I agreed to e to dinner with you, but I won't sit here and listen to you talk about something you don't know. Don't try to guess things about my life."

  "Sure, sure, I'll stop. I was just curious. Look, our drinks are ing."

  "..."

  Chloe approached our table. Even though I had an ugly beard back then, she remembered me. "Oh, you're that guy. I almost didn't reize you," she said after serving our drinks.

  "You're the waitress from that time. Your name is..."

  "My name is Chloe. It's a pleasure to meet you. Ah, sorry, I won't disturb you, I'm sorry." Chloe said, blushing and bowing her head to apologize.

  "Don't worry. It's impossible for me to feel bothered by such a beautiful woman."

  "Uuu..." Chloe's face turned red as a tomato, and she ran away. Welf was staring at me, not believing what he had just seen. He was looking at me like I was plete trash.

  "You're a womanizer," he said.

  "I'm not a womanizer. I like to plimeiful women."

  "..."

  I admit I o stop chasing after all these pretty characters I see. Chloe isn't even a character I like that much... Just like Aisha.

  What's this? Am I being a "hunter of irrelevant characters"?

  Well... Aisha is a relevant character.

  ####

  I couldn't get Welf to ge his mind, but I did get a little closer to him. When we finished eating, he was already drunk and talking to me much more casually.

  As we left the Hostess of Fertility, I walked him to his shop and said goodbye. He invited me in, but I refused.

  'I don't think I'll be able to ge his mind, so I'll have to go to the Hephaestus shop and buy a on there. For now, I should focus on publishing my book. I hope that old dy does a good job.'

  Then, I returo my room and threw myself on the bed.

  I didn't even brush my teeth; I passed out on the bed and only woke up the day to the sound of someone knog on my door.

  "Wait!"

  A atus windoeared before me when I was about to open the door.

  [ New daily mission avaible! ]

  [ Make Liliruca fall in love with you. ]

  [ Reward: 10 points. ]

  'Huh? Make her fall in love with me?' It's probably Lili oher side of the door. But how am I supposed to make her fall in love with me? It's not easy, even with my [ Charming Aura ] skill.

  If I try, it might be possible.

  No, it has to be possible! It's a daily mission, so I must make her fall in love with me TODAY! Also, there's a penalty if I don't plete the mission. Yes, a penalty! It's the first time this has happened.

  [ Penalty: Liliruca o longer be added to the Harem if the mission fails. ]

  This sucks.

  ####

  I looked at the door for a few seds and then ope. Lili was standing there, wearing her usual clothes and hiding her ears and tail. However, she wasn't carrying her bag.

  "Good m..." she said, embarrassed.

  "Good m, e in. Did you e here to finish reading?"

  "Ah... Yes..." Lili replied shyly.

  "About that, I took the book to a library this m. They're making several copies of the book to start selling it. I am going there now, would you like to e with me? I just o wash my face before we go."

  "Are you sure I go with you?" Lili asked, excited.

  "Of course. Wait a minute."

  Lili walked around the room and sat in a chair. I went to the bathroom and washed my face. Then I put on my shirt since I had taken it off before sleeping. Maybe that's why Lili was so embarrassed.

  "Let's go. It's not far from here."

  "Okay."

  "Do you want to hold my hand?"

  "No, it's not necessary." Lili hid her hand and walked slowly beside me. We went to the library together, and I received some good news.

  They started printing several copies of the first volume. They would also make sure to advertise the first volume throughout the city.

  They are very itted to this!

  ParodyGirl