But, looking at it from another angle...

...if I replaced every beautiful female adventurer’s face with ViniVini’s...

...one ViniVini, two ViniVinis, three ViniVinis...

I counted on my fingers up to eight. My eyes widened. I froze mid-step, thrust both hands skyward, and shouted ecstatically, “Eight ViniVinis! This is heaven!!! Absolute heaven!!!”

Seven days a week—one ViniVini to warm my bed each night. The extra one? Daily roleplay: cop uniform play, nurse play, teacher play… even lace bikinis…

I pictured ViniVini’s adorable, perfectly sculpted chest.

*Spurt!*

Nose blood gushed out.

“Look at that lunatic…”

“Sigh… ruined so young. What’ll become of him?”

“Poor guy…”

My two bizarre outbursts drew stares and whispers from nearby adventurers. Many called me brain-damaged; others claimed madness ran in my family.

I didn’t care.

Right now, my heart held only ViniVini.

Excitement surged through me. My mind drifted to fantasies of marriage, children, and a future with her.

…Settling down in Lazio. Waking up, working, flaunting our love… and *ahem*.

Then morning kisses, more *ahem*, idle-time *ahem*, post-work *ahem*…

…*There it is.* My Hero’s dream. The path to my ideal utopia.

…

“Excuse me,” I wiped my nosebleed and politely stopped a passing adventurer. “Where’s the arena tournament being held?”

ViniVini had mentioned wanting to compete. Knowing her obsession with the hefty prize money, she’d definitely be there.

Her fixation on “cash” defied normal comprehension.

Still, despite her greed, she was law-abiding. She’d never touch others’ money—but mine? She’d sneak it whenever possible.

Just these past few days in Goinbair City, I’d flicked her forehead five or six times for trying to “sneakily” snatch coins right from my palm. Her seven-second memory meant she’d try again moments later.

Huh?

To my surprise, the adventurer I’d stopped merely glanced at me before darting to the roadside, pointing and whispering.

I tried another—same reaction. They all avoided me, huddling along the street edges, eyeing me with fear.

*What’s wrong with them? Am I that scary?*

It was just a self-punch and a shout. No big deal.

Confused but helpless, I turned to ask someone in the next block.

I jumped back.

A heavily armed military unit stood behind me—*the same one* I’d seen leaving Goinbair City’s central district days ago, the one I’d assumed was on patrol.

A carriage sat amid the troops. Two female knights in ornate armor stood before it.

One strode toward me, scowling. *Shing!* Her Knight Sword pressed against my throat.

“Adventurer,” her voice turned glacial, her expression dripping disdain. “Do you know whose path you’re blocking?”

I had no idea what I’d done to earn her contempt. But raised with manners, I knew better than to provoke armed soldiers.

I bowed deeply. “My deepest apologies, fair knight. I was lost in private thoughts and didn’t notice your unit’s approach… truly sorry.”

I flashed what I hoped was a charming smile.

Her blade shifted to my shoulder. I nearly wet myself.

“Less talk. Move. *Now*.”

Her frown deepened.

Chastened, I shuffled to the roadside, eyes fixed on the carriage guarded by troops.

Exquisitely crafted. Adorned with a flaming blossom crest…

*Nobility?*

This was a sword-and-sorcery world with kings and nations—nobles must exist. Whoever sat inside was undoubtedly a major figure.

*Someone worlds apart from a country bumpkin like me with ten measly gold coins.*

The knight signaled the troops forward once I’d cleared the way.

But—

“Halt.”

A woman’s voice drifted from the carriage.

The second knight snapped to attention, pulling back the curtain. A slender leg emerged, then another.

Out stepped a woman with flowing violet hair, a face veil, and a figure that defied modesty. Her attire radiated opulence—yet no vulgarity. It simply *belonged* on her, as if expensive fabrics existed only to frame her presence.

…A wealthy, magnetic noblewoman.

My thoughts shattered the next second.

She glided toward me—graceful, assured.

Up close, her aura of absolute authority crushed my chest.

“What’s your name?” Her voice was lovely but hollow, like an empty shell speaking.

“…Rogied Diflute.”

“Your profession?”

I almost said “Hero.” Instead: “I’m a ‘Swordsman’.”

“A ‘Swordsman’…” She chuckled, the sound beautiful yet devoid of warmth. “A ‘Swordsman’…”

Her veiled eyes pinned me. Unblinking. I squirmed until she giggled, fingertip lifting my chin.

“I’ll ask one question. Answer carefully.”

“…I’ll try my best if I can.”

Pressure mounted. Her words weren’t requests—they were commands I *had* to obey.

*This woman’s presence is overwhelming.*

She leaned close, her neck’s fragrance intoxicating—sweeter than ViniVini’s, yet laced with danger. Like a monarch butterfly: stunning, venomous.

Her whisper slithered into my ear: “When starving… is bread better? Or candy?”

“…Bread,” I answered. After a pause: “I’m not fond of sweets. When truly hungry, you need food that fills the emptiness. Candy tastes good, but it won’t satisfy real hunger. That’s just greed.”

“Filling the emptiness…” She murmured, head bowed. Then she lifted it, smiling. “My apologies for stealing your time.”

A dismissal. She’d lost interest.

Fine by me. I still had to find ViniVini, confess, and chase my Hero’s dream.

I turned to leave—

“That sword,” her voice floated behind me, casual yet weighted. “It’s Yubis, isn’t it?”

I froze. Glanced back.

She still smiled. Warmly this time.

But her eyes…

They held the sharp focus of a hunter locking onto prey.

And I was the prey she’d just claimed.