Chapter 3: The Perfect First Date (1)

After finishing breakfast, I was sitting on the sofa when I heard someone call my name.

“Luke.”

Turning my head, I naturally found Elaine standing there.

She sat beside me, hesitating slightly before leaning in closer.

“I’ve said your name countless times, but today it feels different. Luke. What a strong and noble name. Luke. I just want to keep saying it.”

“Ahaha, really? That’s embarrassing.”

“Hmph. Are you not going to call my name? It feels unfair if I’m the only one saying it.”

Elaine’s pouty expression left me at a loss.

From the moment I woke up, through breakfast, and even now, Elaine had been closing the distance between us.

She claimed it was because love was new to her and she was confused by these feelings.

From my perspective, though, it was strange to see the dignified and charismatic superior I knew suddenly acting so playful. Yet, it was undeniably adorable.

“Elaine?”

“Yes, yes.”

“You seem happy, Elaine.”

“Keep saying my name. I like hearing it.”

She smiled softly, leaning her cheek against my shoulder.

Her face was freshly washed, and her hair was neatly combed, making her look much tidier than earlier, though she still wore only a camisole. The thin fabric made her skin feel almost tangible, which was a bit awkward for me.

Even so, I didn’t want to pull away.

No man would back off in this situation.

When your ideal type was acting cute and expressing affection, who would turn away?

“You’re so warm. Are you trying to hold me closer? I wouldn’t mind staying like this forever.”

Elaine, clearly in a good mood, said such cheesy lines effortlessly.

She had always been direct in expressing herself, but now that it was in the form of love, her words carried a stronger impact.

‘Well, my body temperature is naturally higher than others.’

The warmth she felt wasn’t just a product of love or her romantic delusions—it was real.

Not because I was holding her, but because of a fortuitous encounter in this novel’s storyline.

One of the hidden rewards of the Blade Road, the [Salamander’s Scale], was an artifact I had obtained in an icicle cave during a mission.

It hardened my skin to match a salamander’s toughness and maintained my body temperature even in extreme conditions, which allowed me to train and carry out missions in the cold northern climate without issue.

Unexpectedly, it also made me an excellent human heater for Elaine.

If it made her happy, that was a good thing.

“So, do you have any plans for your vacation?”

“Well…”

I trailed off, not because I hadn’t thought about it but because my plans had changed.

I originally intended to spend all three days of my vacation training at the guards’ training ground.

A man who dedicated every spare moment to self-improvement—that was Grace’s type.

But since I’d given up on courting Grace, that plan was pointless now.

“Considering how meticulous you are, I thought you’d have plans laid out for your break. This is surprising.”

“Ha, not every moment of my life is planned, you know.”

If I were truly that meticulous, I wouldn’t have ended up sleeping with you.

“Hmm, that’s disappointing.”

“What is?”

“I was curious how you spent your days off. I don’t think I ever saw you enjoying a hobby while you were with the guards.”

“Ah.”

Elaine was right.

I didn’t really have hobbies in this world.

Every moment I could spare was spent on wooing Grace.

And in this fantasy world, devoid of smartphones, the internet, and game consoles, I couldn’t even enjoy my hobbies from Earth.

Perhaps that’s why I agreed to a drinking contest with Elaine despite my poor alcohol tolerance.

It had been so long since I’d had any kind of fun.

“I don’t really have any particular hobbies. I’ve just been busy with life. If I had to pick one, I’d say… eating delicious food?”

“Ah, you do have quite the appetite,” Elaine said, glancing at her chest for some inexplicable reason.

Why are you looking there?

“Ahem! Anyway, that’s not ideal. You can’t just live for work. Taking proper breaks to refresh yourself is part of being productive.”

“Haha.”

“What’s with that awkward laugh? Don’t tell me you don’t know how to relax?”

Elaine looked at me intently, concern evident in her expression.

Once again, she was right.

Every moment of free time had been devoted to training.

Even now, I felt a vague emptiness.

I wanted to rest, but I wasn’t sure how to go about it.

It felt like she could see right through me.

“This won’t do.”

Elaine lifted her face from my shoulder and stood up abruptly.

“I was planning to spend the entire vacation like this with you, or maybe enjoying one of your hobbies together, but now I’ve changed my mind.”

“?”

“Let’s go out!”

“??”

Elaine energetically declared her intention to go out, leaving me blinking in surprise.

Come to think of it.

I’ve never really seen her enjoying any hobbies or leisure activities.

In the guard corps, Elaine always spent her time either working or training.

She didn’t even indulge in something as simple as a casual tea break during her shifts.

I couldn’t help but be curious.

She was declaring her plans to go out, so it seemed she had something in mind.

How does Elaine spend her days off?

Upon reflection, it was only natural to wonder.

I invested most of my spare time in training.

Even so, I also made a point to network and interact with the people around me.

Yet, I had no idea what kind of hobbies Elaine enjoyed.

And the fact that she had indulged in drinking contests with me on the eve of holidays, failing to pace herself, was telling.

“Well, I’m not sure,” I muttered.

Elaine, now dressed in her going-out attire, stood confidently in the street, arms crossed.

“I came out on a whim, but I have no idea where we should go. What do people usually do in these situations?”

“If they were a typical couple…”

The North was akin to a perpetual winter, much like Russia.

The surroundings were covered in snow and ice, painting the town in shades of white.

While the environment wasn’t so extreme as to have constant blizzards, the temperature was perpetually frigid, making outdoor activities rather limited.

Even the local park offered little besides statues and benches—no flowers to brighten the view.

There wasn’t even a fountain because the water would freeze over, and without a blanket, sitting on the benches for too long would make your backside go numb.

That left only indoor options.

‘This being a fantasy world, there’s no karaoke, PC cafés, or multi-entertainment rooms.’

Manga cafés, board games, and arcades? Forget about it.

The only hotspots were taverns, the quintessential gathering places of fantasy Russians.

But since I was abstaining from alcohol for now…

That left just one viable choice.

‘There’s really only that place left.’

I wasn’t an expert in dating, but I had read enough to know what a typical date course involved.

Conveniently, I had a reason to go there, so it seemed like a good idea.

“Elaine.”

“Hm?”

“I just thought of a place. Would you like to go?”

Elaine tilted her head in curiosity before smiling.

“Oh? A man taking the lead? Impressive. I’m falling for you all over again, Luke.”

Her sparkling eyes suggested I had raised her expectations.

I felt a slight twinge of apprehension, but I was confident the destination would live up to her anticipation.

“Oh… I never imagined you’d bring me to a place like this. Honestly, I’m impressed.”

Elaine’s eyes lit up as she stepped into the shop, looking around with visible curiosity.

Seeing her seemingly satisfied, I let out a small sigh of relief.

“Hey, Luke! Long time no see! Looks like you’re doing well in the guard corps. I hardly see you these days!”

A burly, middle-aged man with a booming laugh emerged from the back of the shop.

Then he noticed Elaine.

“Huh? And who might this—”

He abruptly stopped mid-sentence, his jaw dropping.

The rag in his hand quickly disappeared into his apron as he bowed deeply.

“Ah, ah, ah! Lady Commander of the Guard! To think such an esteemed guest would grace this humble establishment! It’s truly an honor!”

“Oh?”

The shopkeeper, who normally treated customers with the familiarity of an uncle at a family gathering, was now unusually deferential.

In fact, I couldn’t recall ever seeing him use formal language.

“Hmm. It’s a pleasure to meet you as well, Master Artisan. But since I’m off duty and here as a guest under my companion’s guidance, there’s no need for such formalities.”

Elaine accepted his greetings with her usual composure.

Feeling a mix of pride and mild embarrassment, akin to having a distinguished girlfriend, I turned to the shopkeeper.

“Bill, enough with the woodpecker impression. Did you finish the thing I asked for last time?”

Bill, glancing at me as if to regain his composure, leaned in and whispered conspiratorially.

“Hey, what’s going on here? Why are you with her, and in casual clothes no less? Don’t tell me…”

True to his sharp instincts as a merchant, Bill seemed to have pieced something together.

Placing a finger to my lips, I replied, “You know I trust your skills, right? Don’t let idle chatter cost you a valuable opportunity.”

“Ah!”

Bill dramatically clamped a hand over his mouth.

Apparently, he assumed I was introducing a VIP client to his shop.

That was precisely the kind of misunderstanding I wanted.

Elaine and I had decided to start dating seriously, rather than letting things end with a one-night stand.

However, we hadn’t yet figured out how to present our relationship to others.

While it wasn’t an issue for me, Elaine’s social standing made it a more delicate matter for her.

Much like how celebrities are cautious about revealing their relationships, she had to consider the implications.

Hence, our precautions—like wearing hats or scarves during outings.

Not that such measures stood out in the perpetually cold North, where thick clothing was standard.

“So, is it ready?”

“Yes, of course. I’ll go fetch it now.”

As Bill disappeared into the back, I approached Elaine, who was inspecting the weapons on the walls.

“What do you think?”

“As expected, there’s a reason you’re a regular here. Every piece is of excellent quality.”

Elaine’s lips curved into a satisfied smile.

She seemed genuinely impressed.

The place I had brought her to was my favorite weapons shop.

Taking someone to a weapons shop as a date might seem peculiar.

Someone might even ask if this was really a proper date spot or if I had learned anything from my reading.

But this was a fantasy world, the North revered strength, and Elaine was a native of the region.

To her, a weapons shop was akin to visiting an Artisan Craft or Luxury Department Store in modern terms.

“Did you bring me here to introduce me to this artisan?”

Elaine grinned as she asked, echoing Bill’s earlier question.

I returned her smile and nodded.

It wasn’t entirely a lie, after all.

“Given the difficulty of our missions, our swords frequently lose their edge. This is the best place I know for quality work.”

“I know plenty of skilled blacksmiths myself.”

“I don’t mean to dismiss their skills, but I can confidently say Bill is second to none.”

I wasn’t just spouting nonsense about a craft I barely understood.

Bill was a master blacksmith.

Though still unknown, he would eventually forge a legendary sword that would bring Grace, the future heroine, into his orbit.

I had invested time in building a relationship with him, knowing it would pay off in the long run.

Thanks to that, I was already reaping some benefits.

My exploits wouldn’t have been possible without the weapons he had crafted for me.

“That seems true. Every weapon here has a perfectly honed edge and has been meticulously maintained. This level of craftsmanship is born of both skill and devotion.”

Elaine’s gaze suddenly landed on a particular sword.

The appearance was that of an ordinary sword, but the finely honed blade gleamed with a silvery light that was anything but mundane.

“Try swinging it once. Just like trying on clothes at a clothing store or plucking a string at a music shop, you need to test a weapon at a weapon shop.”

At my suggestion, Elaine gripped the sword hilt and—

“Hm!”

With a short exclamation, she swung the sword through the air.

Then—

Swish!

The sound of the blade cutting through the wind was faint, a strike so quick and sharp it barely registered.

It was the breathtakingly beautiful swordsmanship of the North’s finest escort knight, something that sent shivers down one’s spine every time.

A weapon shop wasn’t exactly a wide training ground.

Nevertheless, Elaine didn’t stop after one strike; she followed up with consecutive swings.

Swish, swish. Swish.

Her sword strikes didn’t so much as graze any objects, nor did the wind pressure disturb them.

This was Elaine’s swordsmanship.

The Cold Blade Technique.

Her rapid, precise blade moved through the smallest gaps between objects as if frost were seeping in.

Like snow accumulating quickly to blanket its surroundings, each sword trajectory seamlessly connected to form a dance of blades.

Even I, who had encouraged her, was captivated by this masterpiece.

At last, Elaine concluded her test, gracefully sheathing the sword.

“It’s light. A fine blade,” she said with a satisfied smile, gently running her hand over the blade.

“What do you think?”

When she turned to me with a proud expression, so picturesque it was as if she’d stepped out of a painting, I found myself almost clapping without thinking.

“Huhhh!”

A sudden gasp broke the moment.

Turning my head, I saw Bill, carrying something tightly wrapped in cloth, standing frozen in place, mouth agape.

Clutching the bundle like a mother cradling her child, Bill slid dramatically to his knees before Elaine.

“Ooooh! May I, may I have the honor of crafting your sword?!”

“What?”

“I need no payment! Please, let me, with this blade, witness your unparalleled swordsmanship once again!”

His eyes sparkled with a wild fervor as he pleaded, even drooling slightly in his passion.

Faced with his overwhelming intensity, even the mighty Elaine flinched slightly, shifting her gaze toward me.

Success.

I smiled inwardly.

For Bill, a blacksmith, a VIP customer wasn’t someone wealthy but someone capable of fully showcasing the potential of his creations.

The craftsmanship of the artisan who once forged a legendary blade for Grace, the strongest in the North, would now be directed toward Elaine.

Isn’t this the perfect first date?

Indeed.

This wasn’t just any ordinary shop masquerading as a weapon store.

It was, in essence, a boutique for masterpieces.

Giving a luxury gift on the first date—what could be more romantic?

Weapon shop, romantic, successful.