Could it be that he got hurt during the battle?
The hero kept squinting and moving his eyes rapidly.

“This isn’t good.”

The possibility of the hero losing his senses was something I couldn’t even joke about. After all, the only one who could kill the Demon King was the hero himself, so I had to somehow bring him back to normal.

“Hero, wait a moment.”

“Hmm?”

I decided to conduct the most primitive yet reliable diagnosis.

“I don’t think you have a fever…”

“Louis, what are you doing...?”

I placed my hand on the hero’s forehead, but I didn’t feel any heat. In fact, he felt cool, which made me want to keep my hand there.

“Hero, are you feeling unwell anywhere?”

“Uh, why...?”

“You keep trying to distance yourself from me, and you can’t even meet my gaze.”

His slight actions reminded me of someone who had caught an illness. This was something that Aria, the saint, could fix in no time, but if that happened, it would disrupt not only my gem crafting skills but also Serelin’s date plans.

I looked at him with a genuinely worried expression.

“...It’s nothing like that. I’m perfectly fine.”

“Then why are you acting like this?”

“Uh? That’s...”

“If you’re not sick, then come closer. The path is narrow as it is; you’re blocking it.”

“Ah, fine. I got it, so stop pulling my sleeve...”

The back alley of Alphares felt completely different from the outside the moment we entered.

Even though it was early evening, the darkness was striking.

“There aren’t as many strange people around as I thought.”

Perhaps it wasn’t their active time yet, but the alley was surprisingly clean. The lights from the shops above softly illuminated the area, creating a dreamy atmosphere.

“It’s better than I expected.”

“Indeed.”

The hero also looked around with an expression of surprise.

If it was going to be like this, I could have skipped changing my clothes altogether.

“...But considering that the hero said he was fine, it might not be the case.”

Anyway, I had changed to refresh my mood after a long time.

“From here... turn right. If you go this way, the first... ugh.”

“Ah, sorry. There’s a big branch there.”

Suddenly getting pulled back, I realized that the hero, worried about an obstacle ahead, had drawn me in.

I was grateful, but because of that, my shoulder collided with his, which had been feeling quite empty.

“Thank you.”

After nodding, I moved aside to avoid the branch.

Honestly, with my mind occupied by gem crafting, I probably wouldn’t have noticed that branch.

If I had been wearing a robe, it might have been less of an issue, but now my legs were completely exposed, and I could have ended up hurt.

“Thinking about it that way, I really appreciate it.”

But since I had already thanked him, it felt awkward to repeat it.

“...I should buy something at the magical tool shop.”

Then that would balance things out.

In fact, considering the performance, it would be better for me to make something and give it to him myself. But since this was more about expressing gratitude, there was no need to overthink it.

Moreover, having already given gloves and shoes to all the party members, that meaning diminished quite a bit.

“And now I need to give him one more.”

I planned to make another one either tomorrow or the day after. So, this time, I would just settle for buying something.

“This is the first stop.”

To naturally connect the hero with Serelin, I chose multiple magical tool shops, and the first was the [Red Fox’s General Store].

“[Red Fox’s General Store], huh? Just as the name suggests, it has a red roof and a fox painting.”

“Yeah. It features magical tools that can be considered ‘general goods.’ Now, let’s go inside.”

Pulling the hero's sleeve, I opened the wooden door and stepped inside.

Whoosh.

As if for security reasons, I felt a magical barrier the moment I entered. The hero also examined the door frame as if sensing something unusual.

“Hey there, big brother~? Peeking like that won’t get you anything~.”

“Ah, I’m sorry.”

After hearing that from the owner, the hero trailed behind me, looking deflated.

“This way.”

I led him to a corner with several baskets. Most of the magical tools were very basic and smaller than the palm of my hand.

“What’s this? It’s really small?”

“These tiny ones are mostly made for one-time use. For example, this one... Ah, thank you. This one purifies contaminated water.”

Standing on my tiptoes to reach a magical tool that was above my head, I couldn’t grab it, so the hero took a cubic magical tool out for me.

“Purifies contaminated water? This tiny tool?”

“Yep. Most mercenaries and adventurers can’t hire priests or wizards. This can quickly solve the drinking water problem.”

Moreover, the weight of the water is considerable, so it’s obtained this way.

As I shared a bit about the fascinating world of magical tools, the hero’s face showed intrigue.

Seeing that made me smile involuntarily.

“And what about this...?”

.

.

.

We had been there much longer than I expected.

“Let’s hurry and leave. We’ve been here too long.”

“Uh, what?”

“Come on~. A couple with big hands~.”

We are not a couple, and my hands aren’t even that big! We had only bought some slightly rare magical tools and materials, and it was just the two of us—me and the hero.

“Thank you! I’ll put this purification capsule you gave me to good use...”

“We’re late.”

While I was too absorbed in looking at the magical tools and lost track of time, that wasn’t particularly important.

This was all thanks to the hero, who had listened to me so well and reacted so positively.

“Let’s go to one more place. We need to go there for sure.”

“Where is it?”

“It’s a shop called [Witch’s Garden].”

“Witch’s? No way...”

“Yes, it’s run by a witch.”

Of course, in this world, there are several witches besides the future witch heroine. The [Witch’s Garden] we were heading to was also a shop established by a rather skilled witch.

“I think this is it.”

“Here? Hmm, it looks more like a house than a shop.”

Unlike the [Red Fox’s General Store], which was clearly identifiable as a shop, this place had no sign.

Only the numerous flowers and vines growing around the door were present.

Thus, it was fittingly named [Witch’s Garden].

Knock. Knock. Knock.

As I knocked on the door in a specific pattern, a captivating voice came from inside.

“Come in.”

The moment the door swung open, it pulled both me and the hero inside.

Bang!

With a rough sound, the door closed behind us, revealing a small garden filled with shimmering flower gems. In the midst of that, a witch quietly sipping tea.

“What a cute child and a charming one. So, what brings you to my shop?”

She was Diayursil, the owner of [Witch’s Garden] and known as the [Gem Witch].

In fact, the witch Diayursil standing before me was mentioned in the original story.

“She was an ally of the witch heroine...”

A figure who had helped the persecuted witch heroine, possessing a kind heart despite her somewhat dangerous appearance.

So, what was this dangerous appearance?

“Hmm...”

The hero tried hard to avoid looking at Diayursil.

Indeed, she was wearing a rather unsightly outfit for a man to behold.

It was just a form-fitting black dress, but the problem lay in the fact that it was form-fitting.

Watching the hero fumble and feel awkward made me feel a strange emotion rising within me.

“...I’m feeling a bit annoyed.”

I didn’t know why I felt that way.

Ah, perhaps it was frustrating that he didn’t notice the flirty nature of the heroines but reacted only at times like this.

Well, that could be the case.

In the end, it was me who had to deal with Diayursil.

“I came to learn a technique from you.”

“A technique?”

“Yes. The technique of inscribing mana and magical formulas into gems, your technique.”

“Oh my, you’re a bold one, aren’t you?”

There was a reason she reacted that way.

Depending on the type of wizard or witch, some treated their magic as a kind of visionary art. Thus, for someone like her, known as the [Gem Witch], gem crafting could be seen as a form of visionary art.

“She indeed has the right to be called a visionary.”

Her crafting methods and skills were exceptional.

However, I spoke so confidently because I knew she would agree to teach me.

“Hmm...”

“...Or maybe not?”

As the witch smiled mysteriously, I couldn’t help but feel tense.

“I can teach you a technique. But there must be a price, don’t you think?”

“Ah, regarding that, I was thinking of exchanging materials and magical tools you might like...”

“No, what I want is something different.”

“Excuse me?”

Her gaze shifted past me, then upward.

Following that, I turned my head and saw the hero looking at me instead of Diayursil.

That’s when I realized what Diayursil wanted.

I quickly blocked the hero’s path with my arms wide open.

“This person is off-limits.”

“Oh my, why is that? Wasn’t he brought along for the transaction?”

“No. No matter what, I can’t let you have him.”

If the hero stayed here and got close to Diayursil... I couldn’t even imagine how much time that would take.

The hero is busy.

“Then what if I don’t tell you?”

“Yes.”

Then there’s no choice.

While learning from her would be the best, if that’s not possible, I’d have to seek another method.

I noticed mana subtly leaking from her body and took out my pen.

A few seconds of silence passed, and the first to speak was Diayursil.

“Just kidding, magician. I won’t touch the hero.”

She stood up with a light smile.

“Come on in. If my technique can help catch the Demon King, I’d gladly assist.”

As she waved me in, I followed her into the inner garden.

“...Wait, how did you know he’s the hero...”

“You're a witch, aren’t you? You probably knew the hero’s face long ago.”

Not only that, but witches tend to have more insight than wizards.

“Perhaps it was just a light joke. But even in jest, I can’t give the hero away.”

“Uh... what do you mean by that?”

Ah, I forgot to add a word.

“Not the heroine.” I should have included that...

But I figured she would interpret it correctly.

She might even think of it as me saying that as a member of the hero’s party.

“Hero, please wait here for a moment.”

Now the time for Serelin’s date was approaching.

Before that, I needed to buy something from Diayursil.

“Diayursil, please sell me one of your crafted gems. Right now.”

“Right now? Why?”

“I want to give the hero a magical tool.”

“Hmm...”

“...?“

“Then... let’s make it this one. I won’t take any money.”

She handed me a gem called Opal.

Unlike the typical white base with colorful hues, it had a more translucent base.

“It’s like water. This will probably be good for you right now.”

“Um, thank you.”

After a brief expression of gratitude, I took the opal and stepped back outside.

At the same time, I pulled out a brooch I had made long ago from my spatial pocket and fitted the opal into it.

“I was originally going to buy it... but there’s no helping it.”

“Hero! I’ll give this to you.”

“This is... a brooch? Why?”

“It’s because of the branch from earlier. I’m giving it to you as thanks.”

“...Thank you.”

Fortunately, the hero seemed to like it.

“And... since it might take a while, I think it would be good if you went back first.”

“No, I’ll wait.”

“No, you need to rest, hero. It’s not good for you to stay here for too long.”

“I’m fine with this much...”

The hero insisted on staying, but I eventually succeeded in sending him away.

“Phew...”

Now all that was left was for the hero to meet Serelin after returning to the mansion.

I had already informed Serelin about the return route, so they would meet well.

I stepped back into the garden, wishing for the success of their dinner date.