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“Whew, that was delicious. The best in the kingdom really is something else.”

Fortunately, Zion came out smiling from the dining area, clearly satisfied with the meal.

I couldn’t let Zion down on our first date, so I did my best to react positively, managing to restore the atmosphere somehow.

The food had been pretty tasty, and the service was, of course, top-notch.

I was grateful that the restaurant was so outstanding, which naturally lifted my spirits.

“Let’s take a break and head to the next place!”

“There’s a next place?”

“Of course! You’re not thinking of just eating and heading straight home like usual, are you?”

Normally, our weekly food adventures would involve eating and hanging out for a bit before heading back home.

In my case, I couldn’t spend too much time since I had work to take care of even on weekends.

“I didn’t mean that. I was just surprised that you have another place planned.”

“Serin specially prepared a date course for us. Isn’t that great?”

“Oh… so where’s the next place?”

“The Opera Theater.”

“The opera?”

“Yep.”

An opera theater? After a top-notch course meal, now an opera?

It sounded like an incredible menu.

Opera is a common pastime even for common folk, but as someone from the modern world, it felt like such a foreign form of entertainment.

Is this what dating in a medieval fantasy world feels like? What a curious thought.

“We’re here.”

“Oh my, is this the Opera Theater…?”

Zion led me to the Opera Theater, adorned with dazzling posters and decorations, bustling with all sorts of people.

It was right in the center of the capital. All the transportation routes converged here, making it a truly central location.

“Is this your first time at the Opera Theater?”

“Well, I’ve spent my whole life just working…”

“Actually, me too. I’ve lived my life on the battlefield. We have a lot in common.”

Zion smiled, saying we had many similarities.

I returned the smile while facing Zion, and soon we entered the Opera Theater.

Among the five-story audience seats surrounding the main stage, Zion held tickets for the best view—premium seats.

As expected of premium seats, the surroundings were filled with nobles and ministers, and since it was the most popular opera performance on a weekend afternoon, the seats were packed with people.

“Oh! Isn’t that Director Hop Harvey? What a surprise to see you here!”

“Good to see you, Minister of Finance.”

Right next to us was the Minister of Finance, who seemed quite shocked to see me, displaying exaggerated gestures and failing to hide his surprise.

“How did you get a ticket? No offense, but it can’t be easy for a commoner to get a seat like this?”

“Not me, Zion here got it.”

“Zion? You don’t mean…”

The Minister of Finance keenly observed Zion sitting beside me.

“Hello?”

Once their eyes met, Zion bowed her head awkwardly, greeting the Minister.

“Director, could this person be the hero?”

“Yes, this is Hero Zion.”

“Wow, if it’s Hero Zion, then she would have no trouble getting this seat! Of course, the best seat should be offered to her!”

The Minister of Finance nodded vigorously with admiration upon recognizing Zion.

Due to his enthusiastic reaction, the attention of nearby nobles and ministers suddenly turned our way.

“A hero? A hero is here in the theater?”

“I heard the hero was in the kingdom, but to see them here!”

“Oh no! I can’t see from back here!”

“Hey, Baron Loeb! Are you trying to block my view? I want to see the hero’s face too!”

“Oops, sorry, Count!”

“Hero! Please show your face over here!”

Unbelievable. Is this how the nobility reacts in this country?

The nobles were in a frenzy, acting as though they had seen an idol, and each was trying to rise from their seats to get a better look at Zion.

“The reaction is intense. I didn’t expect Zion to be this popular.”

“Yeah, me neither. I wasn’t expecting this at all.”

“The nobles of the kingdom know how to honor great individuals! They understand the wonderful contributions of soldiers and warriors. It’s a point of pride for the kingdom to have established the first rehabilitation center for them. Of course, it wouldn’t have been possible without your presence. Haha!”

The nobles, forgetting their decorum, began bustling around in the premium seats.

It seemed that Zion would need to step in and calm things down.

“Mr. Hop, can you give me a hand?”

It appeared that Zion also felt the need to take action as she reached out her hand to get up.

“Of course.”

It was still difficult for me to support Zion’s body with just one hand, but if she put in the effort, it would be possible for a brief moment.

And since the nobles were watching, she’d likely want to show the healthiest side of herself.

As I got up first and extended my hand to Zion, she took it firmly and slowly rose from her seat.

The only connection between us was that left hand, but I could feel her strength being pushed into my hand, relying on me.

Zion stood without saying a word and slowly turned to bow toward the nobles in greeting.

“Wow, so that’s the hero!”

“How can someone be so beautiful? Strong and beautiful at the same time!”

“Indeed, a hero is the most perfectly created life by the Creator!”

“But who is that next to her?”

“That’s Hop Harvey, the Rehabilitation Expert. My son has been under his care.”

“Oh, he’s the one said to perform miracles!”

“Miracle? Really, can’t you refrain from such ignorance? Not knowing what rehabilitation medicine is means you need to expand your knowledge.”

“But didn’t the hero just look this way?”

“Looks like they’re scanning the crowd, so of course, they must have seen you as well.”

“This is incredible, to see such a treasure before the opera begins!”

“Indeed! This opera might be the most boring one I’ll remember in my life! Hahaha!”

As Zion showed her face, praises and sighs erupted from every direction among the nobles, and after a brief moment of revealing herself, Zion sat back down, exhaling deeply, as if quite nervous.

“Phew, nobles seem to like me a lot more than common folks.”

“You think so? It wasn’t hard, was it?”

“I’m fine. This is nothing. Oh! The opera is starting.”

The host stepped onto the stage to announce the beginning of the opera, and soon it began.

The opera was a musical play. Throughout the performance, the powerful voices of the opera singers resonated in the hall, and while I thought it was amazing, honestly, I couldn’t remember much of the content.

After the opera concluded and a wave of audience members rushed out, I decided to wait for a moment before moving, as it might be hard for Zion to navigate through the crowd.

“How was it? Was it fun?”

“This is my first opera, so I’m not sure, but it was quite enjoyable. The singers’ vocal abilities and acting were incredible, and the building itself is fascinating.”

“Really? Then that’s a relief.”

Though I said it was nice to hear it was fun, Zion’s expression didn’t seem very cheery.

“Hero.”

“Huh?”

Then someone else approached Zion to talk again.

From their attire, it seemed like another noble wanted to see Zion.

“I’m Lady Uriya, the owner of this theater. It’s truly an honor to have you visit our establishment.”

Ah, the owner of the theater…It seems the nobles who exchanged greetings with Zion earlier were looking for her so as not to be the only ones left out in case it became a laughing stock.

“The honor is mine. It was a magnificent performance.”

“The performers are the ones who do the work. I merely provide support. The reason I’m here is—”

Lady Uriya presented a small badge to Zion.

Zion calmly accepted the badge, looking puzzled about what it was.

“This badge signifies that you have priority access in our theater. Regardless of who is seated where, you can have them removed if they don’t possess this badge, and you can access any areas of the theater, including our performers’ waiting rooms. You can also command all our staff and enjoy all services for free. It’s so rare in the kingdom that you could count the number of holders on one hand, so please visit our theater often.”

Wow, such an item exists. Does this mean there are special rules applied inside this theater?

The nobility of this kingdom knows honor and is truly committed to culture, allowing such a space—it felt like their sense of authority wasn’t overly inflated.

“Thank you, but…”

Zion looked up at Lady Uriya with the badge on her palm.

“Is it possible to get another one?”

“Huh? Who do you need it for?”

“For Mr. Hop here, the one beside me.”

“Oh, that’s…”

Lady Uriya wore a rather awkward expression.

Indeed, just from the explanation, this badge sounded like an extraordinary item. Asking to receive one of the fewer than ten in the kingdom was certainly stretching things.

“That would be difficult. Distributing this is not solely my authority…”

“Then it’s unnecessary if I can’t have two.”

“…I understand. If that’s the case.”

Not receiving the badge, Lady Uriya had a somewhat disappointed expression but acquiesced without further dispute.

“What a pity. Sounds like an amazing item.”

“Is it? While it’s as stated, I don’t need it unless I can have two. I won’t be coming here alone anyway.”

She had a point about not coming here alone.

“…Mr. Hop.”

Against the grand backdrop of the opera house, Zion, in a beautiful dress, looked toward me.

Her orange eyes and dress shimmered in the gentle light falling from the stage, creating a warm and mysterious atmosphere.

After pondering something for a moment, Zion glanced down before looking back up at me and said,

“Shall we head back now?”

with a slightly bittersweet smile.

“Already? Are you feeling unwell or tired?”

“No, I’m fine, but I feel like you’re not in a good mood.”

“Me?”

“Yes. I felt like you were awkwardly smiling all day, looking bored, and trying hard to accommodate me…”

Ultimately, Zion honestly expressed her feelings, lowering her head and withdrawing her smile.

Maybe I was too focused on adjusting to her and ended up making it obvious, just as she indicated on our first date.

“Mr. Hop, do you find it boring being with me? Is it tedious or annoying? I know only how to fight—maybe I’m ruining the mood with my lack of knowledge on how to have fun? Or is it that seeing others greet and smile at me makes you uncomfortable… Or is it something else…”

Before I knew it, Zion clenched her fists tightly, placed on her lap, and was subtly trembling.

Was she trembling in anxiety because of me?

Did she think I wouldn’t like being with her? That I might be uncomfortable? That I might have unpleasant feelings?

Could it be… that she feared being abandoned?

“Zion.”

“If I’ve made a mistake, please tell me. I’ll be careful next time… so please…”

“Relax, don’t tremble. You haven’t done anything wrong.”

I placed my hand over Zion’s trembling fists to calm her down.

It’s only in this situation that I’m feeling excited—what on earth is wrong with me…

“I’m the one making you anxious. I’m sorry, Zion.”

“Huh? You shouldn’t be apologizing…”

“As an apology, I’ll choose where we go next. Is that alright?”

“Next?”

“Yes, the next place. You’re not really thinking of parting ways right now, are you?”

“Well, um…”

Zion’s expression shifted instantly to relief and joy.

“Of course not! Where do you plan to take us?”

“Let’s head outside for now. I won’t tell you until we arrive.”

I extended my hand to help Zion up.

Since a wheelchair was at the theater exit, she had to lean on me to get there.

“I’m looking forward to it. Let’s hurry!”

Zion grabbed my hand and leaned toward me.

I was relieved she seemed to have regained her mood. I almost ruined our first date.

Now, the next place we were headed was none other than…

 

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