Finally, the day arrived when Hime, Luke, and Yuu-chan were supposed to go to the ancient ruins to investigate what lay inside.
Before the time loop reached that point, I had no idea at all what they intended to do or where they were going.
At that time, none of them told me anything, so all I could do was comply with Iris's request.
If I really was supposed to go with them on this day, then perhaps that was what should have happened.
Luke was putting on his clothes, and I was sure he intended to leave the room without telling me.
"Oi, Luke. Are you heading out?" I asked.
"Yeah… I've got some business outside," Luke replied.
It seemed he truly had no intention of telling me anything. Maybe I needed to push him a little.
"Are you planning to go with the other two? If that's the case, shouldn't I come with you as well?" I asked again.
My question made Luke fall silent for a moment, until he finished what he was doing.
Once his clothes were neat, he walked straight toward the door and opened it.
He stopped for a moment, which made me look at him as well, before turning his head and staring straight at me.
"Yukito, I don't know how you found out that the three of us are going out. But I'm not going to take you with us. It'd be better if you stayed with the princess," he said.
"You know, if you hurry up and settle your relationship with her, we can go somewhere else and defeat the Abyss more quickly, right?"
"That way, we can reach a peaceful life sooner. Alright then, I'm heading out."
Krak.
He closed the door from the outside, leaving me alone inside the room.
Hah… I failed to get him to take me along.
Sure, I could force it, run out right now, and go after him, but I knew it still wouldn't work.
Well, whatever. Maybe the few words I said earlier would change what happens in this time loop. All I could do now was wait.
In the meantime, it seemed that today I could only spend time with Iris… but this time, I didn't want to be her taste tester for new dishes.
Hmm… that's true. Maybe I could invite her to go out, or perhaps I could ask her something.
Then… where should I ask her to go? For a walk again, or maybe—ah! I couldn't think of anything at all.
——
I went to the kitchen to see who was there, and sure enough, Iris was cooking several dishes that were different from before.
She was alone. Forn-san wasn't here; maybe she had some business elsewhere.
Loki-san? On days like this, Loki-san always visits settlements in various places, so he usually comes home late at night, at the earliest in the evening.
I didn't know what time he left, but it was probably very early in the morning, when we were all still asleep in our respective beds.
"Iris, what are you doing?" I asked softly as I walked over to her side.
I wanted to take a closer look and let her notice that I was here.
Maybe I would taste some of her cooking again, but as long as it wasn't too much, it should be fine.
After all, if she felt happy, that would be a benefit for me as well.
"Yuusha? I thought you were going out with the three of them," Iris replied, glancing at me briefly before focusing back on the food in front of her.
"No, no. I didn't go with them. By the way… what are you cooking?" I asked again.
Judging from the pot she was using, she seemed to be making soup, just like last time.
"I'm trying out a new recipe. Oh, right, how about you try it? I've already prepared some on the table," Iris replied as she asked for my help.
"It might not be tasty enough to enjoy yet, but I really want you to taste it."
"I actually went to your room earlier, you know, Yuusha. But unfortunately, no one was there, so I thought you were all out together," she continued.
I slowly walked from Iris's side and picked up a spoon to sip the soup from one of the bowls she had placed on the table.
Alright, I didn't expect it to make my stomach feel comfortable at all, but at least it should be tolerable—
Umm~
My eyes widened slightly as I tasted the soup. This was safer than I had expected.
It was a little salty, but I could say it was just right. I even found myself getting a little hooked on the soup.
The texture was thick, yet it didn't feel heavy at all. Instead, it felt similar to other soups, whether clear or lightly seasoned with spices.
In this time loop, had Iris's new cooking become this good?
"This is good!" I said as I continued sipping the soup.
Iris stopped cooking for a moment and turned around to look at me.
She looked incredibly excited and enthusiastic, her eyes sparkling when she heard my praise.
"Really? That's great then~ I thought it would be spicier than before, but it turns out it's not. Thank goodness~" she said, her voice adding to the sense of comfort around us.
"If you like it, how about you try my other new dishes as well?" Iris asked with a smile.
"I need your help, okay?"
She closed her eyes briefly and smiled as she said that.
Here it was—just as I thought, Iris was about to ask me to help taste her new cooking.
As I had planned earlier, I wasn't going to go along with that request. Instead, I would replace it.
"How about we go out?" I replied quickly.
"Huh?" Iris muttered, seemingly confused by my suggestion.
Of course she would be! She asked for my help, but I suddenly changed the topic, so she must have thought I didn't want to help her.
Ah, or maybe she thought I was uncomfortable being with her? Either way, I had to give her a clear reason.
"I want to ask you a few things about Yggdrasil, and some other matters related to the Riruyo barrier and our relationship," I continued.
"I want to know more about elves like you, and also the details of how I can awaken your power."
Iris fell silent for a moment. I thought she was considering my suggestion.
"Yuusha…" she said softly, her voice possibly sounding a little annoyed or upset.
I started to panic slightly and could only wait for what Iris would say next.
"If that's what you want, I'll give it to you~! I didn't expect you to be the one inviting me out. Just wait a moment."
"I'll tidy up these bowls and pots before going out with you," Iris replied cheerfully.
I didn't expect her to like my suggestion this much. That was good—I managed to avoid the things I didn't want.
"That's fine. I'll wait here. I'll help too," I said as I stood beside Iris while she washed the dishes.
—
After that, the two of us left the house and went out for a walk together once more.
If this time were to repeat, then this would be the second time I went out alone together with Iris.
I asked her several things in more detail about the barrier, Yggdrasil, and the story of the relationship between the princess and a man in the hero's party.