I Am Not the Heroine

No way, this is nonsense.

I stared dumbfounded at Ariya and Serelin, holding their breastplates.

Then, when no one was watching, I secretly covered my face with one.

Is it really normal for just one side of my face to be almost fully covered?

But the problem is, I’m starting to feel a bit stifled even with this.

“I need to add a few convenience-related spells.”

Good ventilation or a lot of reduction in that hard metallic texture would surely be appreciated.

A Space of Space and a makeshift workbench appeared around me, along with golden letters floating.

“They must have met by now, right?”

If the operation was successful, the Hero wouldn’t be able to take his eyes off Rapirie.

I planned all of this, including the timing, location, and atmosphere.

If the two of them come back holding hands like this, it’d be the best, but even if not, it should still be a moderate success.

The main reason I helped Rapirie first was partly because of the original story.

Of the three who hadn’t progressed in a year, Rapirie was the first to start building feelings.

It wasn’t the flower field I spoke of, but the two had a chance to get to know each other in a similar place.

Thanks to that, Rapirie undergoes a sort of awakening, and she becomes able to better fulfill the role she felt was lacking compared to the others.

“Ariya, Serelin, it’s all done!”

“Oh, already?”

“Wow… Can I try it on?”

“Of course. While we’re at it, I added convenience, durability, and defense-related spells.”

Upon hearing this, both of them sparkled their eyes and helped each other into the breastplates.

“Wow…!”

“Oh… It’s so comfortable…”

Ariya exclaimed while looking at the breastplate from various angles, and Serelin sighed in comfort, relishing the performance.

Nothing in this world is a stronger driving force than a user being extremely satisfied with their equipment.

“Lu, Rui…!”

“Oh, you’re here.”

Just then, an elf rushed toward us from the forest, her face completely flushed, indicating that things had gone well.

“What happened?”

“Aswel was staring at me blankly…! Then he hurriedly turned his head and went somewhere else!”

“I see.”

That ‘somewhere else’ likely meant he went to pick the flowers I asked for.

Thinking about it, it feels like I shouldn’t have asked for the flowers after all.

If I had said something else, maybe the Hero and Rapirie could have spent a bit more time together.

“I think he’s taken an interest in me. You were right all along.”

Rapirie touched her burning cheeks and expressed her gratitude to me.

There hadn’t been any groundbreaking improvement in relationships, but this was still significant progress.

“On the contrary, considering Ariya and Serelin, this might be just right.”

I’m planning to help the two of them anyway.

If Rapirie sets the bar too high, it might ruin the remaining heroines’ relationships.

Thanks to the Hero appropriately drawing the line, upcoming plans seem like they’ll be pretty smooth sailing.

“I’m going to finish scouting now! Thank you!”

“Sure.”

Without needing to ask, I could tell right away that she trusted me.

Even if someone suddenly asked, ‘Does the Mage of the Hero’s party like the Hero?’ I could confidently say, ‘No! Rui just helped me!’

“Rui.”

Shortly after Rapirie left, the Hero came to find me.

There’s no train whistle or anything, and he comes running to me one after another.

“Is this it? It was blooming all alone on the hill.”

“Yes.”

Fortunately, the Hero did indeed bring the flower I mentioned.

The Moonlit Flower.

Contrary to its name, this flower blooms before the moon rises and serves as an excellent mana catalyst.

It seems to hold special meaning in every kingdom or region, but I haven’t looked into it that far.

“I recognized it right away because it’s such a pretty flower.”

“Thank you. This should lead to great progress in my next research.”

Really. Apparently, the magic I’m planning to study next eats up quite a bit of money, so having something like this is a rarity.

I sincerely smiled at the Hero and expressed my gratitude.

“Um, I’m going to prepare for camping now.”

The Hero flinched, avoiding my gaze, and hurriedly distanced himself under the pretext of preparing for the camp.

Were they really laughing, or did he just lose face?

“Or could it be that he thought of Rapirie?”

Already causing a ruckus before anything has even started, it seems I’ll need to move independently from the Hero soon.

After all, there should be a city at the end of this road, so I can find a small horse if needed.

After this big event, the Hero’s party set up five tents around a campfire.

That’s right. I’m also planning to sleep in a tent instead of my lab.

“I feel like I’ll lose the camping spirit, so I think I’ll sleep outside.”

“Sure, the room you gave is really nice and comfortable, but… it’s just too comfortable.”

“You can do whatever you normally do, Rui!”

Even if she says that, there is no way I’m going to sleep alone in the lab.

I’ve already had about a month’s worth of experience sleeping outside since I reincarnated.

The varied experiences of searching the mountains for my teacher, who taught me magic, and sleeping with tree roots as my pillow.

So sleeping inside a tent shouldn’t be too big of a problem.

“By the way, the residents of Intrel Village shared some carrots and grains. I was thinking of making carrot soup for dinner…”

“!!”

This was an unexpected surprise.

I was so shocked that I jumped up and looked at Ariya.

“Lu, Rui?”

“I love it! Carrot soup.”

The Hero’s party typically makes a bit more than five servings due to basic calorie consumption.

Ever since I’ve become this body, my appetite has decreased, so I don’t usually go for seconds, but carrot soup is an exception.

“Hehe.”

I’ll be the one cleaning up the leftovers today.

“Rui really loves carrot soup.”

“It’s delicious.”

“Is it really that tasty? Enough to hum a tune about it?”

Hmph. I seem to have unconsciously started humming.

Rapirie chuckled and handed me a plate.

Since I hadn’t had carrot soup the day before or this morning, I really wanted to taste the village’s special recipe that included their unique grains.

“…Hero? Why are you looking at me?”

“I-I’m not.”

The Hero covered their mouth and avoided eye contact.

I thought to myself how the Hero also seemed to be spaced out while waiting for the carrot soup being made by Ariya.

That warm energy from the carrot soup warmed my body, and even though it was in a tent that night, I slept deeply.

*

The next day, the Hero’s party began to move again.

The destination was the city of Trasse, approximately a day’s ride away.

Before reaching the nearest major city to the [Fortress of Twilight], this is the last place we can properly stock up.

Which means today is the last chance for me to ride with the Hero.

“As long as Rui isn’t uncomfortable, should we keep going like this?”

“Huh?”

But suddenly Rapirie started saying strange things.

“Is it because Rui can’t ride alone properly?”

“What do you mean…?”

Do I look like I can’t ride at all?

I stared at Rapirie with a dumbfounded expression.

“I actually ride really well, okay? I rode a unicorn once before…!”

“A unicorn? Oh please, that’s a mythical beast. I haven’t even seen one, and I’ve been around longer than you!”

“But it’s true…!”

I know it sounds unbelievable.

But I was just stating fact, yet Rapirie’s expression soured.

“Sure, sure. Let’s say Rui rides well.”

“I really do ride well.”

“Yeah, right. Rui can even ride a unicorn.”

“Ugh…”

The tone of Rapirie made my teeth grind involuntarily.

I glared back at Rapirie, looming menacingly while gripping the Hero’s waist with both hands as she followed closely.

“Y-you’re tickling me.”

“Hero, do you also think I can’t ride a horse?”

I asked him as neutrally as possible, without revealing any of my emotions.

As he looked at me to ‘analyze’ my expression, the Hero slowly averted his gaze and replied.

“I suppose… you’d be fine. Well, if it’s a young horse.”

“I ride well even on fully grown horses.”

So, now it seems I have to prove my skills with riding?

I have no choice but to find my steed as soon as we arrive in Trasse.

Then, I’ll show off a mount superior to the Hero’s white horse.

At that point, the Saint would be stunned, the elf archer and the female knight would be in a frenzy, and the Hero would be trembling.

Every plan is perfect.

“Rui, are you uncomfortable riding with me?”

“Why?”

“I just wondered if I might have overlooked something.”

“No, it seems you might be the one who’ll be more uncomfortable. Besides, I can’t keep riding like this forever.”

If we’re a proper party, then it should ideally be one mount per person.

And more than anything, the Hero has the most responsibilities in our party.

If I stay on the same horse as him, it could delay his response in case anything happens.

“I…”

“Huh?”

“…Never mind. Let’s check out the horses that suit you once we reach Trasse.”

What’s that?

Are we seriously going to have the entire party follow me to buy a horse?

That feels quite embarrassing. We’re not kids shopping for school uniforms, and we’re all grown adults!

But since they want to help me, I can’t say anything against it.

When we arrived in Trasse, we quickly got accommodation with the help of the city officials.

I stood silently outside the lodging, staring at the sky while waiting for the others.

Since we were supposed to stay for about two days, I could take my time to explore before we had to leave.

“Rui, did you wait long?”

“Yes…Where’s everyone else?”

But something felt off.

Only the Hero had come out; the other three heroines were nowhere to be seen.

“Ariya said she had business at the church, and Serelin and Rie went to the Adventurers’ Guild.”

“Aren’t we supposed to be going together?”

“Where to?”

“To check on the horses…?”

“Umm… I thought it was just the two of them who wanted to check the horses.”

The Hero was slightly hesitant in his speech.

In that instant, I thought about whether I should decline for the sake of the three heroines.

‘I really have no skill when it comes to riding horses.’

The Hero rides a fine steed, so he should have a decent eye for spotting good horses.

I gently nodded, intending to use the Hero as a ‘good horse detector.’

“Then let’s go together.”

With that, I set off with the Hero toward the outskirts of the town where the stable was located.

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