"Mom!" Bel shouted with tears in her eyes. "I know it's really good, but I do better than this!" Bel said, puffing up her cheeks like a child.

  "She's right. I'm not a professional. Besides, I spent aire day to draw these, and they're not even colored."

  "You did all these drawings in one day? Seriously?" Bel's face turned pale.

  "BWAHAHAHAHA." Meteria ughed even harder. "Bel takes days to do just one cover, and you did all of these drawings in one day. You'd better find another job, Bel, he doesn't need you anymore."

  "Mom! Stop saying that. Luan won't fire me, right?" Bel looked at me with tears in her eyes.

  "Should I do that?" I said, joking. But Bel didn't take my words lightly and began to cry, beggi to fire her.

  "Please, no!!! I love this job! Please!"

  "I'm just kidding, calm down."

  "You promise?"

  "Yes, I promise. I don't have time to draw all the covers and illustrations. Besides, I don't know how to color." If I tried, I'd probably ma thanks to the "Drawing" skill, but it's better not to mention that.

  "Phew~~" Bel sighed in relief. "If that were true, I think I would die."

  "You're exaggerating."

  "She's not exaggerating, Luan." Meteria wiped the tears from the er of her eyes (she cried from ughing) and said, "She loves drawing the covers for her books. She talks about it every day and works really hard."

  Bel's face turned red. "Mom, don't say things like that. I'm embarrassed…"

  "Hahaha, it's o know she works so hard. That's why the covers are so beautiful."

  Bel's face turned even redder, and she hid it behind the papers. "Please, stop saying those things!"

  ####

  "Now I just have to wait for Bel to finish the arts," I said while walking dowreet, heading back to the mansion.

  But on the way, I found Mikoto walking alone ireets.

  I approached her from behind and tapped her shoulder.

  Mikoto immediately reached for the hilt of her sword and turo face me, startled. "Who!?" she shouted, getting ready to attack. I was surprised by her rea, so I started ughing.

  "Hahaha, what was that? Why are you so scared?"

  "Luan!?" When she saw who it was, Mikoto's face turned red, and she started coughing. "Cough… Cough… It was just my instinct, sorry."

  "It's fine. So, what are you doing here? It's far from the dungeon."

  "Oh, I was just taking a walk."

  "I see. Why don't we have lunch together? We go somewhere after." I said, smiling.

  "I'm not sure if that's a good idea..." Mikoto said relutly.

  "Why?"

  "It's just that I'm a bit tired, so..."

  "Don't worry, it's fine. Shall we go?" I extended my hand for her to hold. Mikoto stared at my hand for a few seds and then took it.

  "Alright, but don't try anything perverted. We're just eating, okay?"

  "Don't worry, everything will be fine~~"

  Mikoto knew she couldn't escape after lunch, but she still agreed to eat with me.

  I'm looking forward to doing this again with her.

  ####

  We went to a nearby restaurant I'd never been to, and I ordered food for Mikoto and me. I also took the ce to have some drinks. While we ate, I talked a little with Mikoto about our training.

  I made it clear that I wao ti.

  "It would be great. Sihe time we traiogether, I've improved a lot, especially avoiding attacks."

  "It's great to hear that."

  "But… I don't think it's a good idea to keep doing THAT in the dungeon… Urgh..."

  "Takemikazuchi saw everything, didn't he?"

  "Yes… And he asked me about you. I told him you were a friend and that I like you… That's why I did that…"

  "I imagine his rea."

  "He didn't seem to care too much about what happened. But he was worried you were using me somehow, so I expio him that we're close."

  "I see, I'm happy to hear that." I held Mikoto's hand. "Invite me to di your house ter, I'd love to talk to God Takemikazuchi."

  "What? Are you sure?"

  "Yes, of course."

  "I'll talk to him about it." Mikoto seemed happy.

  After we finished eating, it was time to leave. Of course, my pn wasn't just to have lunch with Mikoto.

  I also want to have some fun with her during the afternoon. Mikoto khat.

  So even though she told me not to try anything perverted, from the beginning, she was already expeg it.

  When we walked and arrived at the hotel door, Mikoto looked at me with a red fad said, "It's going to be the first time we do this in a room… In a bed. Plus, the first time was in the heat of the moment. I'm really embarrassed."

  "You don't o be embarrassed. We'll take it slow."

  "Alright." Mikoto nodded, smiling cutely.

  Theered the hotel and got a room.

  'Last time I didn't get to enjoy it much, but today I'm going to enjoy it.'

  ParodyGirl