At the dining table.
The atmosphere was somewhat awkward.
The group hesitated to make a move, their knives and forks hovering in mid-air, all eyes fixed on Rudeus, their expressions indescribably complex.
At this moment, Rudeus was holding a little girl with white hair and animal ears.
Holding a leg of meat in one hand and pointing to the various dishes on the table with the other, her lips still glistening with oil, she called out expectantly:
Leona wants that! And that one too! And that one over there too!
"Okay, okay, you can have them all."
Rudeus was somewhat helpless, but still affectionately and gently ruffled Leona's soft white hair.
The next moment, he casually waved his hand.
The food on the table seemed to come alive, floating up automatically and landing precisely on Leona's plate.
This scene plunged everyone present into silence once again.
Roxy stared blankly at everything before her, the spoon in her hand hovering in mid-air for a long time.
It wasn't until she looked down that she realized she had been scooping for ages without actually touching the food in the bowl.
"..."
Looking at the dazed Roxy, Rujierd remained silent for a moment before unusually offering words of comfort:
You'll get used to it.
"That's the kind of person Rudeus is."
"Every now and then, he does something that's hard to understand."
Roxy slowly turned her head, her lips twitching slightly.
"Is that so?"
"But..."
"Turning Sacred Beast directly into a little girl—no matter how you look at it, that's beyond common sense, isn't it?"
Elinalise, who was sitting to the side, finally couldn't help but laugh out loud.
"Haha, Roxy ~"
Doesn't this just prove that Rudeus likes lolis?
"It seems like you have a very good chance!"
"What... what are you saying?!"
Roxy's cheeks flushed instantly, and she retorted hastily.
" Rudeus and I are only master and apprentice!"
"And... and anyway, don't just say things like that!"
"Why?"
Rudeus happened to hear this and turned to look at the crowd.
"I heard you!"
Who is spreading rumors about me again?
When did I ever say I liked a certain type of girl?
The words had barely left his mouth.
Eris froze instantly.
The next second, she suddenly stood up and glared fiercely at Rudeus.
How dare you say that!
"From the moment you walked in, you've been clinging to Leona and won't let go!"
"What else is there to say..."
"Ah~ Leona has just transformed and needs time to adapt to her new body~"
How could you say such a thing?!
"I think you're just lusting after her body!"
"You perverted lolicon!!"
I'm not eating anymore!
After saying that, Eris turned and left angrily.
Watching her departing figure, Elinalise frantically winked at me.
The meaning couldn't be clearer.
Go and comfort her quickly.
Rudeus could only sigh in resignation.
There was no other way but to hand Leona over to someone else to take care of her.
He gently carried Leona to Roxy.
"Teacher, could you please look after her for me? I'll be right back."
"Huh?"
Roxy was taken aback.
"Me... me?"
Although somewhat at a loss, he eventually reached out and took Leona's hand.
As soon as the little guy entered Roxy's arms, he obediently rubbed against her chest, showing an affectionate look.
In that instant, Roxy felt as if her heart had been struck hard.
"Ah..."
" Leona- chan, you can tell your big sister what you want to eat..."
"I want to eat the meat over there!"
Leona stretched out her little hand and pointed to the roast meat on the other side of the table.
Roxy looked in that direction and immediately showed a troubled expression.
Given her current height and the distance, it's indeed a bit too far for her to reach.
"That..."
"It seems like my sister won't be able to get it..."
Leona blinked.
"But Master could have done it with a wave of his hand."
"..."
Roxy remained silent.
"That..."
"I can't do that yet."
Leona tilted her head.
"But aren't you the master's teacher?"
Why can't you do it?
These words seemed to transform into an invisible, sharp blade, piercing precisely into Roxy's heart.
She turned her head stiffly to look at Elinalise beside her.
Elinalise, suppressing a laugh, finally stood up and handed the grilled meat to Leona.
On the other side.
" Eris?"
Eris, where are you?
Rudeus walked around the house, searching as he deliberately drew out his voice.
"Little baby?"
"If I don't see you for even a second, I feel like a piece of my heart is missing~"
"Fool!"
Suddenly, Eris's angry shouts echoed from the room.
Rudeus immediately pushed open the door.
Eris was sitting on the edge of the bed, her body trembling slightly.
"Oh, so you've been here, Eris- chan."
Rudeus walked over and sat down beside her.
However, the next moment, I saw it clearly...
There were obvious tear tracks on Eris's face.
"Why... why are you crying?"
"Waaah..."
Upon hearing these words of concern, Eris's previously suppressed emotions instantly crumbled.
"Heh... heh..."
She began to sob softly.
"Don't cry, don't cry~"
Rudeus panicked at this moment; it was the first time he had ever seen Eris cry like this over something like this.
It's my fault.
"I should..."
"Well..."
"I should..."
For a moment, he didn't know how to explain it.
Just then, Eris wiped away her tears and asked, choking back sobs:
" Rudeus..."
Don't you love me anymore?
"Huh? Why... why would you think that?"
Where have I stopped loving you?
Eris lowered her head and whispered:
You haven't spent much time with me lately.
"I'll go see Roxy whenever I have time."
"Could it be...?"
"Do you really only like girls like Roxy?"
"That's not true, Eris!"
"I was just discussing magic with Roxy."
It means nothing else.
Eris shook her head.
You don't need to explain.
"I'm not stupid."
"I don't object to you interacting with other girls."
"But..."
"I'm scared."
I'm afraid that one day you'll stop liking me.
Rudeus looked at Eris in front of him, his expression gradually becoming serious.
"No way!"
" Eris, I assure you."
My love will never change.
"It will not be transferred."
"It won't disappear."
Eris looked up in surprise, her gaze meeting mine.
"What?"
Rudeus continued softly:
"My love..."
"It can copy."
"It doesn't diminish its feelings for another person just because it loves one more person more."
Eris remained silent for a moment.
What if you lie to me?
Rudeus opened his mouth slightly.
"I'll die if I'm lying..."
He stopped abruptly before he could finish speaking.
I almost blurted out some strange vows from my past life.
He shook his head slightly.
"I can't do something like deceiving a girl."
" Eris, I promise you again."
"As long as I'm alive."
"I will definitely make you one of the happiest women in the world."
"One?"
Eris instantly grasped the key point and stared wide-eyed at Rudeus.
"Hehehe... is this not okay?"
Didn't you just say you didn't object?
Eris blushed slightly and gave a soft hum.
"Hmph! That depends on how you perform tonight."
The next second.
Rudeus was suddenly pushed down by a tremendous force.
Inside the room, only a warm and ambiguous atmosphere remained.