Reincarnated as an SSS-Ranked Blacksmith Who Refuses to Forge Weapons-Chapter 204. Second Date with Marina

Lylia put the teapot down and sat down across from him, laughing. "She is right, you know."

"You’ve been avoiding the relationship part of having two girlfriends by working too much."

Greg said, "I’m not trying to avoid it or anything..."

"I’m just... getting used to it because this is a new thing for me."

"I’ve never dated one person before, let alone two at the same time."

Lylia said softly, "That’s why you need to try."

"Marina is being pushy because she knows you’ll just keep putting it off if she doesn’t. And to be honest, I think a real date would be nice for both of you."

"What do you think?" Greg wanted to know. "Don’t you want to go out with me too?"

Lylia’s cheeks got a little pink. "Yes, but I’m more patient than Marina, so I can wait."

"Also, it’s fun to watch you try to figure this out for now."

"Greg said, "You’re all plotting against me," but he was smiling.

"Yes," Lylia said with a smile. "Welcome to being part of a family."

"We plot because we care."

...

Greg would never forget the shopping trip with Marina. She dragged him through Ferndale’s small market, which had grown a lot since he got there, and then turned down about fifteen different outfits for different reasons.

"Too stiff! You will look like you are going to a royal event!"

"Not formal enough! You’re going to look like you’re going to clean out stables!"

"Too many colors! You’ll look like a performer at a festival!"

"Not interesting enough! You’re going to look like a monk."

After the twentieth rejection, Greg said, "Marina."

"I’m starting to think you just like to torture me."

"I do," Marina said without shame. "But I also want you to look good."

"This is our first... wait, no! Second real date, so it matters."

They finally agreed on a simple but well-made outfit: dark pants that fit well, a deep blue shirt that Marina said "brought out his eyes" (Greg didn’t even know his eyes needed bringing out), and a vest that was nice enough to wear on a date but not so nice that he felt silly.

"That’s better," Marina said, looking him over with approval. "You don’t look like a hermit who lives in a forge."

"I’m keeping you like this."

Greg said, "I’m not going to change all of my clothes."

"Let’s negotiate about it later," Marina said with a smile. "Go home now, clean up well, and meet me at Lylia’s Kitchen when the sun goes down."

"Don’t be late."

Greg said, "It’s my workshop, and I really live above the restaurant... how the hell could I be late?"

"You’d find a way," Marina said with complete confidence. "You’d get sidetracked by a piece of metal that needs hammering or suddenly remember a repair that needs to be done right away."

"So I’m telling you now... don’t be late~!"

She kissed him quickly, a quick press of lips that still made his brain short-circuit, and then waved goodbye and walked away.

Greg stood in the market with his new clothes and thought about how hard his life had become.

When he got back to the workshop, he saw Bork and Felix arguing about the right temperature for tempering steel. Seraphine was reading in her corner and writing down notes from time to time.

Elwen was drawing something with a pencil that moved quickly and with confidence. Mira was rearranging the kitchen in a way that only she knew how to do.

"Sensei’s back!" Felix said, looking up. "And he’s got nice clothes!"

"Wait... Oh shit...! The date is really happening!"

"What date?" Bork asked, then saw Greg’s face. "Oh. The date. With Marina. While Lylia is watching."

"This is going to be very awkward."

"Thanks for your support," Greg said in a dry voice.

Bork said, "Oh, I support you alright. I also think this is the most fun I’ve had since we beat the Calamity."

"Both things can be true."

"Why does everyone keep saying that shit?" Greg grumbled.

...

Greg stood in front of the small mirror in his workshop for a few hours after Mira had helped him clean up and pointed out places he had missed. He tried to convince himself that he didn’t look silly.

The clothes fit him well, and he had taken the time to shave.

His hair was as neat as it could be. The prosthetic arm gleamed, making it blend in seamlessly.

He looked like someone who was ready for a date in every way that mattered.

Why did he feel like he was getting ready for battle?

"You look great," Lylia said from behind him, which made him jump.

She smiled and apologized while giggling. "I’m sorry! I didn’t mean to scare you."

"Marina told me to check on you to make sure you didn’t try to get out through a window."

Greg said, "I wasn’t going to run away."

Lylia said, "But you did think about it. I can see it on your face that you’re worried."

Greg said, "I’m scared."

"What if I screw this up? What if I say something dumb or do something wrong or—"

Lylia gently interrupted Greg and moved closer. "It’s Marina."

"You’ve fought monsters and survived the end of the world together, and she chose to share you with me instead of keeping you to herself."

"She won’t think less of you for being nervous on a date... besides, it’s the second, right?"

"Y-Yeah..."

Greg said, "It sounds silly to be worried when you put it that way."

Lylia agreed that it was silly. "But it’s also nice, and it shows that you care."

"Now..."

"Go downstairs before she comes up here and drags you down herself."

Greg walked down to the restaurant part of the building, and his heart was doing strange things in his chest. With the exception of one table by the window, the main dining area was deserted and Lylia’s Kitchen was closed for the evening.

Greg’s breath caught when he saw Marina there.

She had also put on elegant clothes. She wore a deep red dress instead of her usual adventuring gear.

The dress was both fashionable and practical. Instead of being tied up, her hair cascaded down past her shoulders.

Greg’s vocabulary completely shut down when he saw how beautiful she looked.

Marina said, "You’re staring," but she was smiling.

"Shut your mouth before you catch flies." Marina giggled.

"You look great," Greg said.

"I know," Marina said, and then she softened. "You look pretty good too. Blue looks lovely on you, and I was right to force you to wear it."

They sat down, and for a moment, there was an awkward silence. Then they both tried to talk at the same time, but they stopped, laughed, and tried again.

Marina said, "This is strange, right?"

"We’ve known each other for months, fought together, and almost died together."

"Now we’re acting like strangers at a formal dinner."

Greg agreed, "It’s different because it’s more stressful."

"If I say the wrong thing, everything will fall apart."

Marina said, "You’re not going to ruin everything."

"After seeing you beat Elias to death with your bare hands and then cry about it, I doubt anything you say at dinner will shock me."

Greg said, "That’s a sad way to compare."

"That’s true," Marina said.

She put her hand on his across the table. "Let’s just take it easy, okay?"

"This should be a fun second date for us... we’re two people who care about each other and are eating together. That’s all."

Lylia came out of the kitchen with plates, and Greg saw that she was serving them herself. She said, "Tonight’s menu is special."

"I’ve made something I think you’ll both like."

The food was amazing. Lylia had done a fantastic job of making dishes that were both familiar and fancy. With skill and care, simple ingredients can become something amazing.

As they ate, the conversation flowed more naturally. Before she met Greg, Marina told stories about her adventures, like silly quests and almost disasters.

Greg talked about his first days in Ferndale, when he was trying so hard to stay out of sight but failing miserably.

Marina laughed and said, "I still can’t believe you thought you could make legendary items and not have anyone notice."

"Like, what was the plan there?"

"Oh, this SSS-rank frying pan that can kill wyverns? That’s completely normal."

"Everyone has one."

Greg said, "I was hoping people would just think it was good work."

"I didn’t know that the system would let anyone who was paying attention know about my accomplishments."

"Good craftsmanship," Marina said again, smiling. "Right... because good craftsmanship often makes things that break the laws of physics."

Lylia brought out dessert, a delicate pastry that melted in their mouths, which broke up their conversation. Marina grabbed her hand as she put the plates down.

"Thanks," Marina said earnestly. "For this. For being open to sharing. For making tonight special."

Lylia held her hand tightly. "I care for both of you, of course, and I am happy if this makes you happy."

Marina gave Greg a look that he couldn’t quite understand after she came back to the kitchen. "You know, she’s great."

"Lylia. I can see why you liked her too."

Greg agreed, "She is." "But you are too."

"Both are amazing in their own ways."

"Smooth like butter, huh?" Marina teased, but she was blushing. "You’ve been working on that line."

Greg said, "I haven’t."

"In fact... I’m not good at this."

Marina told him, "You’re doing fine."

She got up and walked around the table to stand next to him. "Better than fine, really."

"Come on now! Let’s dance."

Greg said, "There’s no music."

"So? We’ll set our own beat." Marina pulled him up, and before he could say anything else, they were swaying in the empty restaurant to a beat that only they could hear.

It was perfect, even though it was clumsy and awkward.

Marina said softly, "I love you," with her head on his chest. "I know I don’t say it enough..."

"I love you, even though I tease you, push you, and make things hard for you."

"Just in case that wasn’t clear."

Greg said, "It’s clear," and wrapped his arms around her.

"I love you too, even when you are being impossible..."

Marina said, "Especially when I’m being impossible."

"That’s when I love you the most."