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

2508 - A Belated Valentine's Day Extra Chapter

In Trinia, Valentine’s Day is, simply put, regarded as one of those Otherworld Festivals. It was passed down by the past Hero Actors, and although the detailed origins are unknown to the overwhelming majority, it is fairly well known as an otherworld custom in which one gives chocolates to someone they hold affection for.

Naturally, many people imitate the custom, and in Trinia, where Hero Summoning has been performed countless times, it can be said to be a fairly standard event.

[………………….]

Friendship City Hikari. In the Founder’s chamber within the Central Cathedral, Olivia gazed at the item before her with a troubled expression. She too was aware of the festival known as Valentine’s Day, and it could be called natural, in a sense, for her to consider giving chocolate to someone she held affection for…… someone she revered, Miyama Kaito.

In particular, during his date with Olivia and Kaori, Kaito had mentioned that he liked chocolates, and for Olivia, whose faith overflowed her very being, it was unthinkable to overlook an event centered on giving chocolates.

Olivia possessed an extremely earnest personality, and there was no possibility she could compromise on a gift for the one she revered and worshipped with all her heart.

Just like that time when she sculpted before, she trained to the utmost within a special space where the flow of time could be manipulated, and her chocolate-making technique had already reached the level of a top-tier pâtissier.

Of course, to Olivia this was merely a skill she had acquired out of necessity, and since she had no intention of using it for anything other than chocolate to present to Kaito, it would remain a hidden talent unknown to almost everyone……

Originally blessed with a sharp palate, she conducted repeated research and careful selection, preparing the finest ingredients obtainable through her connections. The chocolates she produced with her perfected technique had already reached a level that could be called a work of art.

Then why was Olivia now wearing such a troubled expression? The answer lay in the chocolate she had made. It was a figure of Kaito crafted with extremely intricate chocolate work, and even in Olivia’s own eyes, it could be called a perfect creation……

(……I made it on impulse, but if I were to present chocolate modeled after his own appearance, would Miyama Kaito-sama not simply be bewildered? To begin with, eating food shaped like oneself does not seem like a pleasant experience.)

Indeed, though her faith was absolute, Olivia fundamentally possessed a sensible mindset. Just as with the sculpture, she had tried making chocolate modeled after Kaito’s appearance, but when she actually considered giving it to him…… she could only conclude that it was unsuitable.

Olivia lightly raised her hand over the chocolate, rewound time back so it returned into raw ingredients, and began to think.

(If one considers that it will ultimately be eaten, placing too much emphasis on form may also be a poor choice. A shape that is easy to eat, yet conveys my reverence for Miyama Kaito-sama, would be desirable…… Might there be a hint within the reference materials?)

Thinking so, Olivia picked up the books and magazines she had prepared as references. Until now she had mainly consulted cookbooks for chocolate-making, but in order to broaden her knowledge she turned to magazines featuring Valentine’s Day specials…… and then froze as she stared at a headline: “Convey your love to someone special with heart-shaped chocolate!”

(……Someone special…… love…… I see…… However, this shape…… No, it would be foolish to judge without trying. For now, let me attempt it once……)

Though she felt the shape was far too blatant, she could not ignore the phrase “for someone special”, and so she decided to try making heart-shaped chocolate.

She paid particular attention to the container as well: a heart-shaped box filled with several small, bite-sized heart chocolates.

There were various types, classic chocolate, white chocolate, strawberry chocolate, and chocolates filled with citrus jelly that Kaito favored. She shaped them all into hearts, placed them into the box, and examined the result.

……No matter how one looked at it, it was a 100% honmei-type of Valentine’s chocolate.

(T/N: Honmei/True Feelings Chocolate.)

(……T- This is far too shameless, is it not? To present something so blatantly expressive…… would that not make me a wanton woman?)

For Olivia, whose purity was such that even slight exposure of skin made her blush, chocolate so brimming with visible affection was difficult to accept.

She ought to rewind it to the raw ingredients and remake it anew…… she ought to…… and yet…… her face flushed red, her expression growing even more troubled than before.

Frankly speaking, just looking at this chocolate was too embarrassing, and she could not imagine handing it to Kaito directly. If she were to present such chocolate to him face-to-face, she was confident she would faint from embarrassment.

And yet…… having seen the finished product…… she also felt that if she wished to express her feelings toward Kaito, there was no more perfect answer.

In other words, to abandon this heart-shaped chocolate would be equivalent to compromising on the gift for Kaito, and such a choice was one Olivia could never make.

(W- Will I really give this to him? This? That would…… no, but…… i- idle thoughts…… I must calm my heart……)

After carefully wrapping the heart-shaped box, she placed it within a special space under a rigorous State Preservation Magic. Then, to dispel her distracting thoughts, Olivia began to pray.

It was an austerity beyond imagination…… and when a priest who had happened to visit Olivia on business witnessed the ordeal, one that would kill an ordinary person every second, he was utterly dumbfounded, thinking…… “As expected, the Founder stands at heights far beyond our reach……”, though such thoughts weren’t something Olivia knew about.

The day of the decisive moment arrived. If it were the actual Valentine’s Day, Kaito would surely have many engagements and be troubled, so Olivia had deliberately invited him to the cathedral the day before.

When Kaito entered the Founder’s chamber in the Central Cathedral, the first thing he saw…… was Olivia prostrating herself on the ground, pressing her forehead to the floor the instant he stepped inside.

[……U- Umm, Olivia-san?]

[Today, you have graciously accepted my request to trouble you to come here for my own convenience, an act that might well be called irreverent, and I have no words sufficient to express my gratitude. The depth of Miyama Kaito-sama’s compassion should be likened to the sun that illuminates the three realms. Even your appearance upon arrival is worthy of being called supreme beauty itself, and for one possessed of proper sensibilities, to bow their head naturally before such divinity is only inevitable……]

[F- First of all, let’s calm down. I don’t really understand what’s going on, but I can tell you’re more flustered than I’ve ever seen…… so please, stand up.]

[To be granted the honor of standing before you moves this unworthy self to trembling. For such a diminutive being as myself to stand facing you is, in itself, an affront to beauty, but I shall accept your words with gratitude……]

[……Olivia-san? Errr, seriously, let’s calm down first. Try taking a deep breath……]

Though he did not fully grasp the situation, Kaito at least understood that Olivia was more flustered than ever before, and he did his best to soothe her.

Thanks to that, after some time…… though she still retained a measure of stiffness, Olivia managed to regain her composure.

[……Errr, so you said you had some business with me today?]

[Y- Yes! To convey my feelings of reverence to Miyama Kaito-sama…… I too took inspiration from an Otherworld Festival…… a- a- and so, I have prepared t- this! I fear it may offend your eyes, b- but if you would kindly accept it……]

Her face flushed bright red, Olivia extended a heart-shaped package with trembling hands. Seeing it, Kaito blinked in surprise for a moment before quickly understanding.

[Ahh, could this be Valentine’s chocolate? Thank you, this really makes me happy.]

[Auu…… I am relieved that it did not displease you.]

[No, not at all, it genuinely makes me happy.]

[A- Auu…… if it pleases you…… t- then It also…… makes me happy.]

Watching Kaito accept the chocolate with a radiant smile, Olivia’s expression softened into a shy smile where relief and happiness blended together.

To anyone who saw her though, she looked less like a devout believer…… and far more like a maiden in love.

<Afterword>

Serious-senpai : [Wha, gahhh!? T- This can’t be, I let my guard down because there wasn’t one yesterday…… Aren’t Valentine’s extra chapters after 2/14 forbidden by the rules!? What happened to the precepts!? The precepts!!!]