The sun dipped below the horizon, casting a golden glow over the hillside.
Gray sat on the grass, surrounded by a gaggle of chattering children.
He was vividly recounting his battles against Slimes in the Labyrinth, drawing gasps of wonder from his young audience.
Katy sat nearby, counting blades of grass out of sheer boredom, occasionally flicking away insects that tried to crawl onto her skirt.
“Blue-eyed Big Sister,” a little girl approached Katy, blinking her large eyes.
“You’re so pretty. Are you Brother Gray’s bride?”
“Pfft!”
Gray was just wetting his throat and immediately sprayed water everywhere.
A suspicious blush crept onto Katy’s face, but she maintained her composure as she explained to the curious children gathering around.
“No, I’m Mr. Gray’s Captain. Our relationship is strictly professional, perfectly innocent.”
“Eh? You’re Brother Gray’s Captain?”
The girl gasped, covering her mouth.
“Then are you even stronger than him? Brother Gray can drive away Demon Race monsters!”
“That’s right. I’m actually much stronger than Mr. Gray.”
The young woman turned her head, flashing a meaningful smile at Gray, who was still coughing.
Gray scratched his head, offering a wry smile.
“Yes, yes, Captain Katy is the strongest.”
Since Miss Katy said so, it must be true.
The children erupted in admiring cheers, swarming Katy with endless questions.
The young woman basked in the attention, feeling a bit lightheaded with pride.
‘Hmph, of course. After all, the only dungeon BOSS your Brother Gray could never defeat in his life is me, Noctiluca! Heh heh!’
***
At dinnertime, the Old Matron warmly invited them to stay.
The long church table was laid with simple stew and bread.
Katy sipped her vegetable soup, feigning indifference while observing Gray across from her.
Even while eating, the man was surrounded by kids, busy convincing a child who didn’t want to eat carrots.
‘This guy… an orphan who lost both parents, a powerful yet misunderstood lone wolf with a mysterious past, and now a group of children to protect… what kind of protagonist archetype is this?’
‘Wait, if he’s the protagonist, doesn’t that make me a romanceable heroine? No way. My Special CGs are for my eyes only. I won’t let this loser have them.’
“Speaking of which, Gray,” the Old Matron said as she served him a bowl of soup, “that pink-haired girl who came with you before… I haven’t seen her in a long time. How is she doing? Are you two still in touch?”
*Crack.*
The wooden spoon in Katy’s hand let out a sharp snap.
Gray felt a chill run down his spine as he took the bowl, as if an ice blade were pressed against his back.
Out of the corner of his eye, the girl’s expression remained unchanged as she continued to sip her soup, but the smile on her face made his heart race with fear.
“Matron, that was so long ago!”
He gulped, explaining rapidly.
“I had too much to drink that time and came with several people from my old team, not just Lobelia!”
“Oh? Did I say it was that girl named Lobelia?”
The Old Matron smiled meaningfully.
Gray’s lip twitched.
He felt a cold sweat breaking out.
Since when was the Matron such a gossip?
Katy shook her head, her face still wearing a gentle smile that terrified Gray.
“It’s fine, Mr. Gray. Even if you came alone with Miss Lobelia, I wouldn’t say anything.”
“No, Miss Katy, you have to believe me! She and I are really—”
A slender finger pressed lightly against the young man’s lips, silencing his next words.
The blonde girl leaned in, her blue eyes staring directly into his.
Her tone was soft, but Gray could sense an undeniable pressure.
“Right now, I’m the one by your side, aren’t I, Mr. Gray?”
“Is the Lobelia from the past more important to you than the current Katy?”
“Ugh, I…”
Gray, a Xiao Chunan who had been solo since birth, had no idea how to answer this classic “obsessed girl” death trap of a question.
Just as his brain was about to overload from deep thought, the Old Matron, who had been watching their interaction with a smile, spoke up to break the tension.
“Gray, sorry to bother you again, but could you help me distribute the fruit to the children?”
“Sure, okay!”
The young man felt like he’d been granted a royal pardon.
He pulled back his chair and dashed out of the dining room.
Watching his retreating figure, Katy huffed, though the corners of her mouth curled upward.
‘Hmph, small fry. Easily handled.’
Although that last question sounded like she was jealous of Lobelia, it wasn’t the case.
After all, she had asked whether Lobelia or “Katy” was more important—not Noctiluca.
The girl named Katy didn’t actually exist; everything about her was a phantom woven to complete her Undercover Mission.
Therefore, she wasn’t actually jealous.
‘Yes, perfect logic! Everything I do is to complete the Demon Lord’s mission, so it’s only natural to want to keep that guy under my thumb!’
Having successfully convinced herself, the young woman nodded in satisfaction.
***
After dinner, to maintain her persona as a “well-behaved little Priest,” Katy ignored the Old Matron’s protests and went into the kitchen to help with the dishes.
Of course, she had selfish motives.
To truly control Gray, gaining the favor of the important elders around him was essential.
She wasn’t actually trying to romance him, but having more information or an elder wingman was always better.
“Matron, what kind of flavors does Mr. Gray like? I remember his birthday is coming up, and I wanted to prepare a gift.”
The girl whispered as she dried a plate, smiling bashfully.
“Gray…”
The Old Matron recalled Gray’s childhood as she chopped vegetables, her eyes filled with affection.
“He loves sweets. Especially pancakes with lots of honey.”
“Don’t be fooled by how tall he’s grown or being an A-rank; his palate is still just like a child’s.”
“I see. Thank you, Matron.”
Katy’s eyes lit up as she noted the information.
While she was calculating how to use Earth sweets to manipulate the local, the Old Matron suddenly stopped her movements.
Her cloudy eyes looked directly at her.
“Child, do you truly like Gray?”
Katy froze.
A blush crept onto her cheeks, and she instinctively moved to deny it.
‘How could I like that guy! I’m Demon Race, and he’s human! I’m the former BOSS, and he’s the Hero who’s supposed to farm me!’
But as the words reached her lips, she realized something was wrong.
The Matron was like a godmother to Gray.
If she rejected him here, the Matron might tell him, “That Priest girl isn’t interested; you should go back to the pink-haired one.”
That would be pushing herself toward a dead end.
No, she had to find a way to answer this “yes or no” question with an “alternative.”
“Um… I-I don’t know.”
The girl’s damp fingers gripped the edge of her skirt as her voice dropped.
“I don’t know… what kind of feeling is called ‘liking’?”
She decided not to lie, since she truly didn’t know what “liking” felt like.
She had been solo since birth in her past life, and the world of the Demon Race only knew survival of the fittest and exchange of interests.
All her knowledge of romance came from two-dimensional media.
Should the girl “Katy” like Gray?
Perhaps.
He was strong, had a kind personality, and was… passably handsome.
But Noctiluca felt her feelings for him probably weren’t love.
“Why do people fall in love? There are all sorts of answers, like looks, personality, kindness, or strength,” Katy murmured, looking at her reflection in the sink.
However, even if one said they liked someone because of their kindness, being treated kindly by someone else wouldn’t necessarily lead to liking that person too.
It just so happened that the person they liked was kind.
While light novels detailed motives like “I fell in love with the prince because he was strong and handsome and saved me,” real-life romance wasn’t always so logically consistent.
At the moment, she didn’t feel romantic love for Gray.
“Those things don’t need a reason, child. You just have to ask your heart for the answer.”
The Matron wiped her hands and gazed at her tenderly.
Katy sighed inwardly.
She had gone in a giant circle and still couldn’t escape the question.
“Um… my answer is still that I don’t know.”
Katy looked up, revealing a somewhat helpless but incredibly honest smile.
“But what I do know is that I worry about Mr. Gray’s safety. I care about his past with Miss Lobelia. I want to help him move past the shadow left by the Demon Race this past one year…”
“Matron, please tell me… what kind of feeling is that?”
The kitchen fell silent, save for the sound of winter cicadas outside.
The Matron remained silent, reaching out to stroke the back of the girl’s water-streaked hand.
“The light of the Goddess will guide you to the answer, child.”