I Was Caught up in a Hero Summoning, but That World Is at Peace

Watching the meteor shower while quietly sharing a drink with Sieg-san was deeply comforting, giving me the sense that time itself was drifting along more slowly.

No, in fact, more time had likely passed than I felt, but perhaps the calm atmosphere was what made it seem to flow so gently.

[……Come to think of it, when I went back to Rigforeshia, it was nighttime as well, and I feel like most of the times I drink with Kaito-san are at night.]

[True…… well, neither you nor I drink during the day anyway. If we drank together in the daytime, it would probably be tea.]

[I see, then it’s only natural that we’d drink at night more often. Though honestly, I almost never drink in the first place……]

[Ah, right, aside from times like this when we drink together, I don’t think I’ve ever really seen you drinking. Even at the ship party you were holding juice, weren’t you?]

Now that I thought about it, I could hardly remember ever seeing Sieg-san drink alcohol at all. Really, it was only times like this, sharing a quiet drink together. At the ship party and even at my birthday party, she hadn’t touched any alcoholic drinks.

[Given my position as Lili’s guard, you know. I can sober up instantly if I want to, but there’s still the matter of public perception. Even if I’m attending an event as an individual, I generally don’t drink alcohol where many eyes are on me.]

[I see.]

Indeed, just like during the ship party or at my birthday party, even when Sieg-san is attending purely as an individual, she is usually serving as Lilia-san’s guard, so there must be many situations where people still perceive her as Lilia-san’s escort.

At events she attends on her own, it is not as if drinking alcohol is forbidden, and in reality, those around us probably do not pay that much attention to it. Even so, there are undoubtedly aspects she has to be mindful of, and it might be difficult for her to enjoy drinking freely.

[And on a simpler note, I have far more chances to drink tea. I love tea, so I’m more likely to think of drinking tea before I think of drinking alcohol. Which naturally means I end up drinking alcohol less often.]

[Yeah, the image of you drinking tea is much stronger than that of you drinking alcohol.]

[I do like alcohol just fine though…… except for beer.]

[Oh, right, you said you weren’t good with it.]

[Wine or fruit liquor, I mostly stick to those.]

I remembered her once saying that she disliked both ales and lagers. Wine too, but Sieg-san preferred fruit-based alcohols, and didn’t seem to care much for anything else.

While those thoughts drifted through my mind, Sieg-san let out a soft, amused sigh.

[But if I’m drinking at night like this with you, Kaito-san, then alcohol is better. Tea just doesn’t have enough romantic atmosphere for this kind of mood……]

[If it’s at night, then yeah, something like wine definitely feels more like…… well, a nice moment shared between lovers.]

[Yes. So for me, alcohol is something I only drink with someone I feel I can truly relax around…… let’s put it that way.]

Sieg-san smiled with a hint of mischief, and it was incredibly adorable. Or rather, today her mood seemed a little more upbeat than usual. She still had her usual calm, gentle air, of course, but on top of that, she was showing so many cute expressions that I couldn’t help feeling happy.

[……Ah, right. Another reason I don’t drink very often is that I don’t feel like drinking when I have work the next day. I mean, I can instantly erase any intoxication, but still……]

[Ah, I get that. Thanks to Shiro-san’s blessing, I can sober up immediately if I want to, and my breath doesn’t end up smelling like alcohol either…… but if I have something scheduled early the next morning, I don’t feel like drinking. Arehh? So that means…… Sieg-san, do you have the day off tomorrow?]

[Yes. My next shift is the night watch the day after tomorrow, so from now until then I have about two full days off.]

[Ohh, then it sounds like you’ll be able to relax quite a bit.]

Sieg-san worked as a guard at Lilia-san’s mansion. She herself said “Nothing really happens, so it’s basically patrols and training or giving instruction, it’s a very easy job”, but her shifts alternated between day and night, and she also accompanied Lilia-san whenever she went out, so all things considered, it seemed like a demanding position.

[That’s right, relax and……]

[Unn?]

[Ah, no, I’ll say it a little later, so please don’t mind it.]

Sieg-san had been laughing cheerfully, but midway, she stopped and stared straight at my face. When I tilted my head in confusion, she just smiled wryly and said she’d tell me later.

As she raised her glass, she seemed to murmur something quietly under her breath, but I couldn’t catch what it was. It did make me curious, but since she said she’d talk about it later, I decided to just wait.

[……Since staying up late wouldn’t be a problem…… and staying in a different room would also be…… That said, I should probably confirm Kaito-san’s plans for tomorrow first……]

<Afterword>

Serious-senpai : [G- Ghaaagh, a shared-bed flag……? M- My body is really turning into a star-shaped cookie……]

Makina : [munch munch]

Serious-senpai : [Kuh, because I’ve become a milky, crumbly cookie, this deranged god is eating me again……]

Makina : [Mm, no, you’re a little moist, so you don’t really have that crispiness…… but the flavor’s good. 85 points.]

Serious-senpai : [You’re eating my body, criticizing it, and giving it a score!?]