So, I got isekai’d

...

"Hm..."

Squinting my eyes further, I look at every nook and cranny of my sword, carefully looking for any spots that I missed

"...That will do"

I said to myself, as I put the Madbit's horns aside

I then swung my sword a couple of times, assessing the results of my work. It cuts nicely through every branches of the trees I could find

"Sharpening's a success I guess"

Yes, this was the second time I sharpened my sword. The first time I did it was a big failure, I used a random stone that I tried to modify with my earth and water spell, but I couldn't achieve the results that I wanted similar to what a whetstone's features has. Nevertheless, I tried to sharpen it with my sword, but all it did was damage the edges of my sword. I thought it would have enough abrasive surface like the whetstone, but it only just removed dirt and grime as well as the sharpness of my sword...

...That's also exactly why I have been using spells this whole time

But right as I started to collect not only Madbit meat, but also Madbit's horns, I almost felt the same textures of the horns like what a whetstone would have. From thereon, I thought that maybe if I sharpened it with my sword, maybe I could get better results from it...

...I was about to do that earlier than should've been, but I was prioritizing getting herbs that time, as well as it led me to meet Mashiro and Lura, which completely didn't gave me time to check up on my sword

But now, since things have calmed down, and Lura is now starting to fit in to us, I was able to finally pay attention to my tools

"But I really can't believe how effective the Madbit's horn was, it really sharpened my sword to this extent..."

Is this how its intended to be used? I feel like its not...

There are gales, loudbears, and such that had different drops, but I never really knew where their drops could be useful for...

Then again, I didn't even bother to try and experiment with those items

...

Right as I was cleaning my workspace at the workshop, Mashiro had gone back from her usual routine

"Rui sama!"

She called out to me from far away, happily waving her hand as she wags her ears and tail cutely

"Oh? Lura's not here with you today as well?"

"She said she wanted to stay behind on that place, I think she's grown attached to it!"

"I see, ever since I introduced that place to you two, I figured that it would be a good place for you two to have fun and relax, but I never expected Lura to like it that far, I figured that you would hang out to that place more often than her"

Right after I decided to take Lura in, I thought of the waterfall as the place where they can have fun and have more time to themselves. Plus they can also take a bath as well as train in there if they want. Its the only place second to our home that Master Shin entrusted to me, so now I'm entrusting it to the two of them as well

Their appearances may have matured a bit, but they're still a kid on the inside. So the waterfall is sort of a 'Playground' that I came up with for them

"Well I would be lying if I said that place wasn't mesmerizing that I do want to spend more time in it..."

"...?"

"...but I rather want to spend more time...with you"

"I see..."

 "..."

I obviously know what she's hinting at, but as her caretaker, I'm more focused on taking good care of her

...Lura isn't here right now, so I may as well be direct with her right now

"Mashiro..."

"Y-Yes, Rui sama?"

"I know very well what you feel about me, I really do, and I appreciate that"

"H-Huh?! W-W-Was I that obvious?!"

She said while pacing back and forth

"I've been avoiding it all this time, but I knew that I can't keep being oblivious about it"

"...I-I see...t-then-"

"But I'm sorry, until the time comes that you can finally stand up on your own, is probably the time I'll be looking at you as a woman. Right now, I only see you as someone that I have to take care and protect"

"..."

Mashiro stops on her tracks, taking every word that I said into heart

"...Thank you, Rui sama"

"...?"

"That means, I still have a chance...right?"

"Well...that can also be meant like that..."

"I'm glad...its just a matter of time then...I just need to make you fall for me"

"Wait, what?"

She titled her head at me as she smiled warmly

"You know that I just turned you down, right?"

"Yes. I know, but that's just temporary right? Because you don't see me that way yet, right?"

"..."

I mean...she's not wrong...

"How can you be so positive?"

"*Chuckles*, because I believe in destiny!"

"!"

Aaaaand ladies and gentlemen, this is where her pure smile was able to strike through my heart once again, just like the day we first met...

I try to calm myself down, breathing heavily in and out

"O-Okay..."

"Hm? Is that a blush I see?"

Mashiro said, as she leaned closer on me

"S-Stop doing that please"

She chuckled cutely, backing down as if she's satisfied. She then turned her back on me as she says-

"I won't give up on you just because you turned me down once, Rui sama. I can't give up on you. I will fight for you"

"..."

Seriously...this girl knows who to break through my defenses...

...But I have to uphold my promise

"Right...about what you said earlier..."

"...?"

"I just got done sharpening my sword, so I can go with you right now to where Lura is"

"! Really?!"

"Yeah. I've been wanting to spruce up that place ever since I showed it to you girls"

"Let's go, let's go, let's go, Rui sama!"

She said as she cling onto my arms like a child

"H-Hey, don't pull me so suddenly!"

But in front of us, was Lura, who had just gone back from the waterfall

"...that's the 7th time...they're persistent..."

She seems to be thinking something, but Mashiro quickly caught her attention

"Lura! We'll be heading back to the waterfall"

"Huh? Sure- What?! I just came back here!"

"Sorry Lura, it wasn't intentional, but you can stay here if you want"

"..."

"T-That means Rui sama and I...j-just the two of us?!"

Why do I feel like Mashiro has something in mind?

"I can't say no to my Leader, so I'll go with you"

"What?!"

"?"

Lura looked at Mashiro with a confused expression, but suddenly changed her expression into a smirk face

"Are you sure you want to come with us?"

"Don't worry Leader, I won't be meddling with you two"

"Don't worry, you aren't"

"...?"

Of course she looks puzzled, she didn't knew what just happened after all

"Can you still Flash Step?"

"Yes, I can do it as many times as I want to, and I'm faster than Mashiro"

"I-Its because you can use a spell that makes you travel faster!"

In contrast to Mashiro, Lura can apparently use her mist spell on her to travel as seamless as the wind. Surprisingly enough, her mist is also transparent as well, as clear as the air

But according to Lura, I'm still faster than her if I can utilize my Flash Step even further...

...I'm pretty sure she's suggesting something similar to a teleportation spell...

"Alright, save your banter for later, we should go now before the sun sets. I'll clear the path by heading on first"

...

and just like that, I left the two behind as I scan the area once more on the way...

...

"Say...what just happened while I wasn't here?"

"W-Well..."

Mashiro then told Lura what had just transpired

"No wonder Leader said that just now..."

"But I won't give up! I still have a chance! I will make him look at my way!"

"Well I'm glad you're optimistic"

"Ahaha, thanks...but may I ask why you decided to come with us?"

"Oho? Why? Did I ruin the chance for you two to be alone?"

"?! O-Of course not! I mean I was hoping for it but-"

"I'm just kidding, its about what I told you last time"

"!"

Mashiro then got serious right after that statement

"They're still at it?"

"Yeah. They can't break the illusion once they enter of course, but what's alarming is more of them are coming now more often. I did ask for our Leader for permission to guard the place, but I haven't told him what's happening lately"

"Hm...should we tell Rui sama?"

"I want to, but I don't want our Leader to think about these kinds of problems, especially he has a lot of things on his mind lately"

"That's right...he does have plans to expand some parts of our area"

"I also want to protect the place that's dearest to him, but if the time comes that we need his help, we will tell him"

"Mm! Just like how he protects and takes care of us, we will also protect what's dearest to him!"

Right after they made a silent nod to each other, Lura took a step forward

"So, I know that you're in a disadvantage, but care to race with me again?"

"Bring it on!"

Mashiro said, as she bravely face on Lura despite of it being a one sided battle...

...