The Extra's Harem In Dead End Game
Chapter 99 - 99: Sprouting Affection[1]

"Phew, that's a relief," I said with a sigh of relief.

"Uh, yeah," she nodded.

Then she continued speaking.

"…Thank you for today. If it weren't for you, I would have been in big trouble."

"What? If you decide to help, you should definitely help."

There was a brief silence after that conversation. It was definitely different from usual, for both me and her. I suddenly had a strange feeling, but why did she feel that way? Did she even think of me as a man at all?

…No, that can't be. I don't think that's the kind of character she is.

At that moment.

[Complete the surprise quest 'High Elf Wants Help with Homework.']

[She is truly grateful to you.]

[Your successful handling of the unexpected situation and your manly attitude seem to have had a more positive impact on her feelings.]

[It seems like a little affection for you has sprouted in her heart.]

Huh...? What?!

Hogaaaaam?!

At that moment, I was so embarrassed that I almost screamed out loud.

A game where favorability isn't expressed as a number, but sometimes, a window like this will pop up, saying that your favorability has increased. Only then can you clearly tell that your favorability has gone up.

But.

I've never seen a message like that from Hiresia. Of course, it's a window that rarely appears in the first place.

Aside from that, there were very few situations where I felt like my favorability had increased. She's a character that is difficult to please.

However...

I've already won her favor. That too, for sure.

So, it is inevitable to feel confused.

"Why is your expression like that all of a sudden?" Hiresia opened her eyes wide in question.

"Ah…I just remembered something I had forgotten for a moment."

"What is it?"

"This." I took my lunch box out of my bag.

It was a pretty skillful response considering how flustered I was.

"Lunch...?"

"Yes, I prepared it just in case, but I just remembered it now."

I handed her my lunch box. She took it with a bewildered expression.

"But somehow, I ended up preparing very well. It doesn't look like the rain will stop any time soon."

"Yeah, yeah."

Huh?

…Why is she making that kind of expression over something as simple as a lunch box? You're not one of those easy elves. That's a very difficult elf.

I was so shocked that I could only laugh in absurdity.

At that time,

[Your well-prepared lunch box seems to have had a positive effect on her emotions. It seems like it will be a very pleasant meal.]

Another pop-up message window. What the heck is this…?

It's ridiculous.

The quest has been completed, but now he's sitting there giving an explanation as if he's narrating something. Is something still in progress?

And leaving that aside…

If you say it like that, I can't help but feel self-conscious, right?

It's starting to get a little hot.

"…It's a little hot. Can I open the window a little?"

"Uh, yeah."

I opened the window a little. The sound of the rain grew louder. A cool breeze came in. My heart calmed down a bit when I felt that wind.

"Oh, there's a table over there. Let's go there."

"Huh."

We went and sat down at the wooden table.

"It seems like it's already lunchtime. Should we eat?"

"Okay."

Her answers seemed strangely short. Is it because she's in a bad mood?

Anyway, we opened the lunch box. As it was a high-end lunch box, the presentation was quite nice. I chose a lunch box with a lot of meat especially with her in mind.

"Meat."

Her eyes lit up.

As expected, it's the meat-loving elf, Hiresia.

She ate the meat absentmindedly as usual. Only then did I chuckle at her usual appearance. Yeah, I feel at ease with that look. I also ate my lunch slowly.

Some time passed.

In the meantime, she had already emptied her lunch box, leaving out the vegetables she didn't like.

"I ate well."

Hiresia smiled with satisfaction.

"It was worth the effort." I smiled brightly too. Now it seemed like things had finally returned to their usual atmosphere.

"Do you hate rain too?" I asked.

"No way. Rain is a precious thing that gives us all the blessings of life."

"Okay."

Dislike, or rather, aversion to it, seemed like deep water.

"Hmm."

Hiresia looked at me as if she was thinking about something. Then she said a word.

"There are a lot of people who gossip about you."

"I know."

I nodded once. I knew I'd hear something like this someday.

"That's understandable. I've lived long enough to hear such things."

I admitted it cleanly. Even though it was Max's life, it was something I couldn't cut off, regardless of my relationship with him.

"Hmm."

She seemed lost in thought for a moment after hearing what I said. After a while, she opened her mouth.

"At least, from what I've experienced, you don't seem like that kind of person."

"Thank you for your kind words."

"This body judges only by what it sees, hears, and experiences."

"Okay."

As expected, she is a good elf. Especially now, definitely.

A moment of silence passed. She changed the subject.

"Why do you want to learn archery?"

A question that has never been asked before. I've never heard of it, even when playing as the protagonist.

I seriously considered the answer. There was only one answer.

"Because I want to become stronger."

"Why do you want to become strong?"

"To live."

That is the truth without a single lie. But to others, it might sound like nonsense.

But Hiresia's expression was serious.

"I can sense the desperation."

"That could be true. You only live once."

The words kept flowing out. Maybe it was nice to know that there was someone who took this story seriously.

"Everyone only lives once."

"That's true. But since you've lived a very long time, I think it might feel a little different."

"I don't know. There were only people like that around me. But maybe I could feel the difference in the human world."

"It definitely will."

"Hmm."

Hiresia looked straight into my eyes. Today, her silver eyes felt mysterious.

She suddenly blurted out a word.

"Focus."

"Yes?"

"There is no technique more helpful to the training of archery."

"Yes?"

"If you see the arrow, you can see the path of the arrow."

Those words hit me in the head.

Path. The path of the arrow. A technique that shows the length of an arrow. Can you see the length of the arrow?

…Why didn't I know?

It's like being able to study by looking at a model answer, or rather, a perfect answer.

A perfect answer that tells you which way to shoot and which direction to go when the wind blows in which direction.

'That means...'

That she taught me this technique intentionally.

"Thank you, senior!"

I was so excited that I unconsciously grabbed her hand and expressed my gratitude, without knowing what consequences that thoughtless action would bring.

Holding a woman's hand.

I have lived a life where I refrain from holding the hand of a woman who is not my girlfriend.

However.

Is it because I feel too comfortable, or is it because I feel too grateful?

I ended up holding the hand of a woman who wasn't my girlfriend.