My Dream is to Get My Own House

I stared blankly at Dylan.

The stern gaze.

The towering figure is like a mountain.

Even the subtle aura emanating from him.

All of it matched the Dylan I knew…

Blushing shyly, he emphasized once again.

“Baby.”

What on earth happened?

I froze as I watched Dylan take out a lunch box bag.

I hope that’s not a bomb instead of a lunchbox.

* * *

In fact, the story of the ‘baby’ nickname incident goes back to last night.

Dylan had never been to a picnic in his entire life.

Even though he didn’t say anything, his heart raced and trembled.

So I decided to give him special training for the picnic.

There was no one to help, but…

It was the articles that crossed his mind.

Inside the knights’ quarters, there were some knights who idolized Dylan.

Dylan entered the knights’ quarters.

The current knights were lying down like beggars, with their blankets turned over.

“Sir Dylan is leaving.”

“Who will entertain us now?”

Right at that moment.

“I’m back.”

The people who were lying down like beggars, covered in blankets, jumped up.

“S-Sir Dylan! You’ve returned!”

“We didn’t believe the rumors that you left!”

“You are as sharp as a sword every minute and second!”

Dylan couldn’t understand why these people showed an attitude of adoration towards him.

They were quite overwhelming and made him want to keep his distance from them.

So he coldly cut off their words and brought up a prepared topic.

“I came to get relationship advice.”

His words created a tremendous response among the knights.

“There’s a woman who I’m interested in…”

“Why… are you… in a relationship with a girlfriend?”

“…I thought you were married to the sword…”

They even showed jealousy towards Dylan’s girlfriend.

It was when their faces turned red and blue.

“Do you have any complaints?”

It was a simple question.

But the knights instantly crowded around.

“No, none!”

“We will make amends.”

Dylan nodded silently.

He, who didn’t listen to others’ words, also vaguely realized it.

His face looked terrifying.

Even though he had used transformation magic to change his appearance, the intimidating atmosphere remained the same.

Thanks to his youthful face, it was easy for him to convince others without speaking much.

Deciding not to correct their misconception, Dylan opened his mouth.

“Rather than that, I wish someone could teach me how people date these days.”

When he said it with a seemingly indifferent expression, the knights exchanged glances.

Wouldn’t it be great if they could help Dylan in this state?

Maybe there will be an opportunity to face a sword later.

They might even receive proper guidance!

Ambitious knights started adding their opinions one by one.

“So, um… From what I know, when you meet someone and feel attracted to them, you confess your feelings. Once you become a couple, you start using pet names.”

“…Pet names?”

“Yes. Well, honey, darling, things like that. And there’s baby, teddy bear, and other similar ones.”

‘Baby is a bit much.’

Dylan narrowed his eyes and cautiously retorted.

“Baby seems fine.”

Ishael’s blushing cheeks sometimes looked cute like a baby.

Besides, come to think of it, Ishael seemed to enjoy that kind of sentiment.

She even liked Ford’s peculiar jokes.

Without knowing Dylan’s thoughts, the knights were constantly complaining.

“Oh, other ladies asked me to introduce them to Sir Dylan….”

“We even received money under the pretext of introductions, but it’s over.”

“By the way, where does Sir Dylan meet this lady?”

“Could it be Lady Garnet, the famous socialite?”

At that moment, Dylan spoke.

“Do you have anything else?”

Sir Dylan praised their opinions!

The knights eagerly shared their knowledge of dating.

They clearly mentioned that women like sudden skinship, excessive obsession, and public confessions being the ultimate confessions.

“Especially if the lady is a noble, it’s said that confessing on the debutante ball day in high society is the best.”

“….”

“Oh, if she doesn’t attend the debutante ball… Hm, could she be a workaholic?”

“It’s said that confessing during her presentation is the best!”

“I heard that affection sprouts through public confessions!”

Dylan delicately finished taking notes.

However, if there was one thing Dylan didn’t know…

“Will we really be able to help Sir Dylan?”

It turned out that all these knights were confirmed lifelong singles.

* * *

Emmanuel opened his trembling mouth.

“Um, is that an endearing nickname?”

…What’s with that sparkling gaze and expression?

Emmanuel had changed.

A warm spring-like radiance greeted us.

“No way, no way, did the term ‘baby’ actually work…?”

I spoke with a trembling voice.

“…Yes.”

“Wow, really. It’s so affectionate and tender.”

“That’s right. It’s our couple’s endearing nickname… right?”

The gazes of the surrounding newlywed couples were piercing.

“Wow, that’s extreme….”

The newlywed couples who were kissing all along had betrayed us.

“That kind of nickname can only be used by ‘real’ couples.”

Fortunately, it seemed like no one suspected anything.

“Is it considered an excessive display of affection to call my delicate and small baby sweetheart?”

No, my delicate and small baby sweetheart is even more excessive. Very excessive.

But I nodded stiffly.

If our contract marriage is revealed here, my dream of having my own home will go up in smoke.

“Well, yes. Because you’re my baby. I mean.”

“A baby who’s over twenty years old.”

In other words, a giant baby.

Without realizing it, I exerted more strength in the arm that touched Dylan and tightly held his hand with my fingers.

I didn’t expect to end up holding hands with Dylan like this.

His firm hand, covered in calluses, firmly intertwined with mine.

Ignoring the strange fluttering of my heart, I whispered softly.

“To be precise, my own baby, right?”

Even after uttering those words, it felt disgusting.

Unlike when he happily whispered “baby,” his body was stiff…

“Is this going to be exposed?”

At that moment, one of the administrators muttered without sincerity.

“Well, people with a naturally cold expression are like that.”

“….”

“But if you’re calling someone ‘baby,’ it’s not easy unless you have an affectionate relationship.”

Who is this person exactly?

Why are they so impressed by this?

Fortunately, Dylan naturally had a cold impression, so it seemed to pass smoothly.

I let out a sigh of relief and nodded.

Seems like an appropriate reaction.

If it’s just calling me “baby,” it’s fine.
“I hope the picnic ends soon.”

However, the trials were endless.

That impression… the administrator, who felt like a sleazy snake, kept targeting me.

If my memory serves me right, that guy was one of the fish in Soldika’s  pond.

He seemed to be a friend who loved Soldika so much that he spread rumors about her.

Sorbon coughed falsely and spoke cowardly.

“Why don’t you open the lunchbox lid?”

“…?”

“Other people feed each other and stuff. Oh, why? Is it embarrassing?”

At his words, I quickly looked at the lunchbox.

…Come to think of it, Dylan packed the lunchbox.

I couldn’t tell at all what it looked like.

I stared at Dylan with a mix of anxiety and tension.

He always exceeded my imagination.

“Could it be that he prepared another 50-layer bento this time too?”

Fortunately, the lunchbox was small in size…

“Since hearing the term ‘baby,’ everything feels uneasy.”

I spoke with a brave face, hiding my anxious heart.

“Well… I’ll open the lunchbox.”
* * *

Administrator Sorbon, currently 33 years old.

He paused inwardly after seeing the startled expression on Isahel’s face while calling for a joke.

“Is this how he behaves, fussing over someone else’s marriage and love life just because of a lunchbox?!”

He seemed quite contemptible and villainous.

He was clearly from the capital.

But it felt as if he was someone who came from the slum leaf village.

“If I can figure out their situation, I can earn points with my love Soldika.”

He was one of the fish in Soldika’s pond.

According to Soldika, that sister was not only vulgar but also malicious.

“She even said she met a new guy shortly after breaking up with her boyfriend.”

Sorbon gazed uncomfortably at Dylan and Isahel.

“They seem quite awkward and stiff. Emmanuel seems to be unaware, though….”

It was embarrassing to see him enthusiastically praising the sign inside the placard and cheering.

I didn’t like my superior either.

Moreover…

“Ah, I’m sleepy.”

“Ah, I’m tired. Damn chronic fatigue.”

“Ah, I should’ve taken a fatigue recovery potion. I forgot. It’s because of this damn workload at the Ojagyo Bridge.”

…Because of the administrator next to me, who had no enthusiasm but was full of dark circles, I felt drained.

But I had to gather strength.

Sorbon, who had a crush on Soldika, glanced at Emmanuel.

“If I embarrass Soldika’s wicked sister, it will help my love.”

Sorbon glanced at Emmanuel’s narrow, puzzled eyes.

It seemed like he also had suspicions about that fake couple.

So, he decided to fuel his suspicions.

He gave Dylan a slightly cowardly and contemptible look.

“Did you say Dylan and Isahel?”

“Ah, yes.”

“You seem to act like a contract couple, just like that.”

Isahel’s face turned red with embarrassment.

“People here personally pack and feed each other, engage in affectionate skinship, and such.”

Dylan still had a fierce impression.

There was a youthful vitality in his gaze.

“Allow me to open this.”

Dylan approached the lunchbox lid with a solemn posture, as if defusing a bomb.

And finally, the lunchbox lid opened magnificently.