An Invitation

“So you’re already married.”

Ewan’s gaze drifted to Elka’s ring finger. He hadn’t noticed it before in the heat of the moment, but now he saw a delicate diamond ring sparkling there, a clear and undeniable symbol.

“Mm-hm. We just got married last night.”

“Last night?”

Ewan froze. Do people get married at night? Is that a thing here?

“It must be a different custom,” he reasoned, quickly dismissing it. This was another world, after all. He’d already met a gay bandit who was searching for the love of his life while robbing people. At this point, was anything really impossible?

“Well, in that case, congratulations on your marriage, Elka.”

“Thank you.”

“By the way,” he asked, his curiosity getting the better of him, “is it normal to be out wandering in the middle of nowhere on the first day of your marriage?”

“I had to take care of something in Belland, regarding my husband’s work, and pick up a few things along the way,” Elka said, pointing a thumb at the small, sturdy backpack she was carrying.

“Work…” Ewan looked her over, taking in her practical, travel-worn attire and the sword-emblem badge pinned to her chest. “You’re an adventurer, right? Is your husband one too?”

“He is. But because we just got married, we’re not planning on taking any quests for a while. That’s why I went to the Guild, to let them know. If we disappear for too long without notice, they might assume we’re dead and mark us as such. It happens quite a lot, apparently.”

“I see,” Ewan said with a genuine smile. “You’re working so hard, even on the first day of your marriage. That’s rough.”

“It’s not rough at all,” Elka said, a faint, happy blush coloring her cheeks. “These things are necessary to ensure we have a happy life together.”

“Haha, it sounds like you two are very much in love,” Ewan said, a hint of genuine envy in his voice. “I’m a little curious what kind of person your husband is. To have captured the heart of a beauty like you, he must be an outstanding man.”

“You really have a sweet mouth. I bet you’ve charmed quite a few women in your time,” Elka giggled, covering her mouth with her hand. “My husband is just an ordinary person, really, but it’s true that he loves me very much.”

“Nonsense. I don’t even have a girlfriend,” Ewan sighed with an exaggerated, and very serious, expression. “It’s a crying shame I didn’t meet you sooner. I could have crashed your wedding and met one of your bridesmaids.”

“I wouldn’t have let you,” Elka teased, her eyes sparkling.

“How cruel…”

“By the way,” she said suddenly, “my home is just by the lake at the end of this river. Would you like to come over? After all, you did save me from those bandits.”

“I wouldn’t say I saved you. In the end, I was the one who needed saving,” Ewan scratched his head in embarrassment. If she hadn’t stepped in, he probably would have been carried off by that scarred man to become his bandit bride, a fate too horrifying to contemplate.

“As for visiting your home…” Ewan thought for a moment. Normally, he would have jumped at the chance. But they had just gotten married. They were probably looking forward to enjoying their private time together. It wouldn’t be right for him to intrude as a giant, naked third wheel.

“I think I’ll pass. I should just…”

GRRRROOOOOWWWWWL—

Just as Ewan was about to politely refuse, a low, rumbling, and deeply mortifying sound erupted from his midsection, cutting him off.

“Huh? Was that thunder?” Elka looked up at the sky in surprise. But it was a clear, beautiful day, without a single cloud in sight.

Confused, she looked back at Ewan and saw that his face was a brilliant, spectacular shade of beet-red, like a teenager whose secret stash of dirty magazines had just been discovered by his mother.

“You…”

“Haha…” Ewan let out a dry, awkward, and deeply pained laugh.

Damn it. I completely forgot I haven’t eaten in a whole day and a night. Combined with the intense, prolonged, and life-threatening physical exertion, he was so hungry his stomach was practically eating itself from the inside out.

“I see.” A mischievous, wicked grin spread across Elka’s face. She cupped her cheek in her hand and said with a look of mock pity, “Well, if Mr. Ewan doesn’t want to come, then I certainly can’t force you. It’s just a shame. I was planning on making a big feast tonight. I suppose it will just be me and my dear husband enjoying it all by ourselves.”

“A big feast…”

“That’s right. A whole roasted lamb.”

“Gulp. A whole… roasted lamb?”

“Sigh. It’s a bit difficult for just two people to finish an entire lamb, but I suppose we’ll have to manage somehow, since…”

“MY SINCEREST APOLOGIES, MISS ELKA—I MEAN, MRS. ELKA!” Under the irresistible, divine allure of a whole roasted lamb, Ewan shamelessly clasped his hands together and bowed deeply. “Please, allow me to be a shameless, thick-skinned, and very hungry freeloader and join you for dinner!”

“Oh my. But didn’t you just say you wouldn’t come?”

“Who said that? For a taste of your legendary cooking, Mrs. Elka, I would gladly become a thousand-watt lightbulb, shining brightly and generating an uncomfortable amount of heat for you all evening!”

“You really know what to say.” Elka, who had no intention of actually teasing him for long, couldn’t help but let out a genuine, happy laugh. “Alright then, let’s go.”

“Thank you, Mrs. Elka! You’re a true goddess!”

Ewan was overjoyed. He grabbed a nearby stick for support and eagerly followed her toward the lake at the end of the river.

…

“I love you.”

…

Huh?

Ewan frowned and looked around, a strange feeling prickling at him. He could have sworn he just heard someone speak.

“Um… Elka?”

“Yes? Is something wrong?”

“Did you just say something?”

“Say something?” Elka turned her head, a confused look on her face. “I didn’t say anything.”

“That’s strange. Maybe I’m just so hungry I’m starting to hear things.”

Ewan scratched his head, not thinking much of it.

A gentle breeze rustled the leaves, its soft sigh covering up any and all discordant sounds.

…

“This is my village.”

Ewan followed Elka to a small, quaint fishing village nestled on the shore of the lake.

“Hey, this is quite nice.” Ewan looked out from the village entrance and saw the clear, sparkling lake and the breathtaking scenery. He recognized it now. This was Lake Bepor, the very same place he had visited with his family last year.

“To be able to live in a scenic spot like this and see such a beautiful view every day… I’m incredibly envious.”

“It’s not that amazing,” Elka said with a shy smile. “Even the most beautiful scenery becomes ordinary after you’ve seen it for a long time. And there are many inconveniences to living by a lake.”

“But still, it must be nice for the soul.”

Having recovered some of his strength, Ewan tossed the walking stick aside and clasped his hands behind his head, closing his eyes and enjoying the gentle, cool breeze coming off the lake. He realized that ever since he had transmigrated to this world, he had been constantly running from one disaster to another. He hadn’t had a single, solitary moment to truly relax. And because of that, this simple, peaceful moment felt all the more precious.

“Let’s go.”

Seeing that it was getting late, Elka led him deeper into the village.

“It’s so quiet,” Ewan commented, looking around. All the houses were shut tight, and there was not a single person in sight.

“It’s because everyone is busy right now,” Elka explained. “The autumn fish are plump, and the harvest is about to begin, so almost all the villagers are out working. It’s normal for them to stay on their boats or in the fields overnight.”

“That sounds tough.”

“It is. Everything happens at once, so even the children can’t rest. But this is what a bountiful harvest is all about. Once this period is over, there will be nothing but joy.”

Elka suddenly stopped in front of a small, charming courtyard, a happy, radiant look on her face. “We’re here.”