The Hero and the Swamp Girl Chapter 4

Swamp 4

 

“…as I thought, it was no good…”

Unable to hide my disappointment, I got depressed.
I was at the place where the swamp…used to be, in the inner parts of the forest. Currently, it’s a large hole.

I had held on to my optimistic hope that perhaps, after sleeping for one night, the swamp might revive. Hence, I came to check up on it but the world wasn’t that nice. The hole was wide open like there was never a swamp present there to begin with.
While my heart was also feeling a sense of loss like a hole had opened up on it, I felt the sudden presence of a person sneak up from behind me. Upon turning around, I saw that it was Hero Rufus from yesterday.

Wh-why?

While I was freaking out, the Hero approached me and made a relieved face.

“Thank goodness, we meet again.”

“Huh…? Haah…?”

Opposite the Hero that was getting closer step-by-step, I retreated back away from him.

“Afterwards, you ran away so…”

Hahahaha.
Now that I think about it, yesterday, I ran away as soon as I finished one-sidedly verbally abusing him. Not to mention, the last line I said was “Your mother’s navel is protruding”…what a childish exit line.

“I should’ve immediately chased after you but…due to the impact…”

Then, before me, the Hero knelt down on one leg and looked up at me from below. His fresh green eyes were sparkling. I got the feeling that his eyes were sparkling with the joy of living, the completely opposite of this dark forest.

“You said it yesterday, didn’t you? ‘Secure and a.s.sure my future lifestyle from now onーー!’ After that, I seriously thought over about it.”

Please forget that! That was my completely misguided anger. It’s not anything a SS-rank hero like yourself should seriously think over about! Forget it immediately and hurry on over to the next town please!

“I’ll take responsibility and a.s.sure your future lifestyle. I promise you a life with no inconveniences. That’s why…”

I stood there, bewildered, as he took my right hand. At the same time as he grasped onto my hand, he:

“From now on, please scold…no, I mean, torture my incompetent self!”

Wha!?

…What the heckーーー!?

Even if you say that with such sparkly eyes and feverish tone, it’s still scary! I can’t comprehend—!

“…Gross!”

Creeped out, I couldn’t help but blurt out my true feelings. Due to the suddenness, I didn’t have the time to be more tactful. Oh no, by the time I realized it, it was already too late.

…hence, I’m not complimenting you! No matter how you look at it, that wasn’t a compliment just now! That’s why, can you stop blus.h.i.+ng and happily averting your gaze from me while smiling and fidgeting?

“Also…how did you know?”

“Kn-know what?”

“The fact that my mother, Queen Gran, has a protruding belly b.u.t.ton.”

“………”

No, well, it’s actually a cliche line said by kids in fights that has been used from a long long time ago. So, I didn’t know at all that it was actually true.
Somehow, I really don’t know what to do with this hero that keeps on looking up at me with that revering gaze.

“…By the way, I also have a protruding belly b.u.t.ton.”

“Like I care!”

“… I felt destined to be with you when you saw through my everything at first sight…”

Completely opposite from my troubled self, the Hero was calm while directing his burning gaze at me. His gaze was so hot that I almost started to worry if he had a fever and that the said fever had reached his brain, making flowers bloom in there.
While thinking that, the Hero dropped a kiss onto my captured right hand.

“My princess…” he quietly murmured.

GYAAA! Who’s this princess!? (*T-Note)
Without thinking, I stomped on the Hero’s sparkling face.

Ah.

Oh no.

Due to my sudden impulse, I stomped on his face but, although this hero looks like this, he does have enough power to annihilate a large swamp in an instant. If the Hero was serious enough, he could probably, in an instant, turn someone like me into dust, rubble, and ash.
Feeling a certain danger to my person, I slowly~ moved my foot off him.
On his face, my footprint remained. With watery eyes and a smile, for some reason, the Hero seemed happy.

Rather than being SS-rank, isn’t this hero actually M-rank?

No! Such a rank doesn’t exist!
But, it’s right before my eyes right now. What do I do with this?