Follow us on:
Facebook   Discord   RSS



Alternate Route: Straightforward Affection (Mir)

Leave a comment



Author: Shizuku Original Source: Syosetu Word Count: 1930 characters
Translator: Nomad English Source: Re:Library Word Count: 946 words
Editor(s): Robinxen

Required flags:
– The pair must gather the materials within a week.
– Natalia buying all the clothes suggested by Mir in Chapter 27.
– Natalia must show every sign of affection to Mir until the end of Chapter 32.
Once the requirements are met, an extra option will show up during the scene where Mir is hurt in Chapter 32, select ‘Give her the medicine mouth-to-mouth’.


Our surroundings started changing a few months after we fought the golem. The person controlling the golem had been the guild employee that kept mistreating Mir’s father, and he had caused a lot of damage to the city with that stunt. He died in the end, and the Blacksmith’s Guild was held accountable for some of the damages caused by him, so they had to restructure the organization.

Mir’s house was able to get materials without problems again, and her father was able to finish the noble’s order without issue, which served as good publicity for their shop.

Even though she was done gathering those materials, Mir continued working as an adventurer. We kept going into the forest together while I trained under Ophelia’s instructions.

Everything went well for a while, but as orders kept piling up in the shop, her father pushed himself too far and hurt his back just recently. Mir had to start learning how to become a blacksmith to take over from her father, meaning she pretty much retired as an adventurer.


As the sun sets, I see less people walking on the stone paved street near me. Most stores are already closed for the day, the only ones left open being inns and restaurants. The place I was going to is also closed already. But that’s alright.

I open the door and a distinct metallic smell greets me, all things I’m already used to.

“I’m sorry, we’re already closed for the-”

Mir speaks as she walks out from inside the shop, but she smiles when she sees me.

“Natalia!”
“Good afternoon, Mir.”

Seeing her happy face made me smile as well.

“I really thought you were someone else when I saw your clothes.”
“Well, it’d be a waste not to wear them every once in a while.”

I’m not wearing my usual maid outfit, but the dress Mir picked for me before.

“How’s the shop going?”
“Every day is hectic, and there’s still a mountain of things I have to learn. I almost feel like fighting a Tyrannoghavial is easier than this.”

I cover my mouth as I smile seeing her defeated look.

“Well, I actually brought you a present.”

I take out an ingot with a purple luster from my inventory and place it on the counter.

“Wait, is that-”
“I used alchemy to turn the Steel Silk Aria gave me into Purple Steel. Mistress checked that it was of good enough quality too.”

My nerve threads are also made out of Aria’s Steel Silk. That is because the material is a good magic conductor, is resilient, and has a high malleability. Purple Steel Spiders are the only subspecies that could produce it, and they are both rare and rather strong monsters, so it’s usually hard for people to obtain that material. Not to mention that it’s usually sold in its silk form, which made it hard to be used for weapons or armor.

But turning them into ingots increased their use-cases dramatically.

“But I’m not skilled enough to use it properly…”
“You don’t have to use it right away. I just know you’ll one day be a master blacksmith.”
“Natalia…”

Mir seemed overwhelmed with emotion, tears welling in her eyes.

“…Sorry, that was just an excuse.”

Seeing Mir lay her emotions bare without holding anything back, I felt like my twisted personality stood out even more.

“To be honest, I actually just did that on a whim to see you happy. So don’t think too deeply about it.”

I feel so ashamed of myself. I always come up with contrived excuses to not reveal my true feelings.

“Natalia, I said this when we first met, but I’ll say it again. I know you’re a good and kind person.”
“Mm, yes, I seem to remember that you said something like that.”
“You’re calm and collected, just a little bit cunning, but you always prioritize others above you, yet you refuse to admit that. I find that very charming, and it’s what I like about you.”

Mir had expressed her emotions in a straightforward way many times already, but I still can’t get used to this embarrassing feeling. The same happened when she confessed.

No matter how much I tried to hide my emotions and weakness, she always noticed them. She accepted everything about me, and expressed herself without hiding anything. Even if I’m not human and just a magic automaton, she still confessed to me. I think that’s what made me fall in love with her as well.

A magic automaton and a dwarf. A witch’s Servant and a blacksmith. We were basically completely different, but the feelings between us were real. Somehow that gave me the certainty to say this.

I had to pretend to be a magic automaton for my creator ever since I reincarnated in this world. There were almost no times when I would express my true feelings, but I felt this from the bottom of my heart.

“Mir, I love you.”
“Natalia…”

Mir extends her arms towards me. I understand what she wants. I lean over the counter, letting her arms wrap around my neck, holding me tightly as if wanting to never let go.

Ahh…I don’t want to let go either.

Our faces slowly draw closer before touching softly.



 

Subscribe
Notify of
guest

6 Comments
Newest
Oldest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments

Your Gateway to Gender Bender Novels