274: The Use of Palm Reading in Another World
Liz had agreed to a date, and we had arranged for Elisha-san to make her an outfit, but it wouldn’t be ready right away, and more importantly, her vacation schedule hadn’t been decided yet.
To be suddenly told, “I’m taking the day off,” was something I would only accept in the case of a sudden illness or a death in the family. As a self-proclaimed sensible person, I had no intention of being so inconsiderate.
So, with that in mind, I called out to Liz.
“Liz, it’s your break time, right?”
“Yes, it is.”
It had recently come to my attention that my vice-commander, Liz, had a rather black work environment, with no vacation time. …Come to think of it, Samarkand, Rebecca, and Harken also didn’t have any real vacation time.
And I, too, had no memory of taking a ‘vacation.’ But at the very least, we had break time.
We moved to the parlor and, as we relaxed on the sofa, I spoke to Liz.
“Liz, in my homeland, we have something called ‘palm reading.’”
“As usual, you’re so abrupt. So, what is this ‘palm reading’?”
“It’s a type of fortune-telling. The lines on your palm are called your palm. And it’s the idea that… your health, your fortune, and even your future are all written there.”
“…Hah.”
“Well, whether you believe it or not is up to you… but can I see your hand?”
“Alright. You’re just going to look, right?”
“Look and touch.”
“That’s not ‘just.’”
But Liz held out her hand, palm up. I gently took it, tracing the lines with my index finger.
After a while, Liz spoke.
“…So, what do you see? In my ‘palm’?”
“Huh? What?” I tilted my head, feigning innocence.
“What do you mean, what? …You were just reading my palm, weren’t you?”
“Yes, I was.”
“It’s a type of fortune-telling, right?”
“It is.”
“Then why can’t you tell me what you see?”
“Because I don’t know how to read palms.”
Liz’s expression was one of confusion.
“…Um, Master? I don’t really understand what you’re saying. Then why were you reading my palm?”
“Liz, I’m touching your hand, right?”
“Well, yes.”
“And when I said I would read your palm, you showed me your hand without much hesitation, and you let me touch it.”
“That’s right.”
“In my world, palm reading is quite popular.”
“Yes.”
“‘I’ll read your palm’ is a common technique used as an excuse to touch a member of the opposite sex’s hand.”
“I’ll give you points for honesty.”
Liz snatched her hand away.
“But your hand is so cute, Liz. So supple and soft… and compared to my hand, your dark brown skin is so healthy… I could touch it forever.”
“Y-you can’t fool me.” Liz hid her right hand behind her back, covering it with her left.
“I’m being sincere.”
“…………”
I decided not to mention the faint blush on Liz’s cheeks and continued.
“But you don’t have any calluses, Liz. I thought you’d have some from your knives.”
“That’s a sign of using unnecessary force. A novice might have them, but for someone of my skill, it’s impossible.”
“As expected of Liz.”
I reached out and took her hand again, this time with both of mine. I held it gently, as if it were something fragile, but firmly, so she wouldn’t pull away.
“…Master, what is this?”
“I wanted to touch it.”
“You’re not even trying to hide it.” Liz’s eyes were cold. But this time, she didn’t pull her hand away.
“…What are you doing?”
Rebecca, a moth to a flame.
“Rebecca, in my homeland, we have a word, ‘palm reading.’”
“I’ve heard it’s a method of fortune-telling by reading the lines on your palm, but in some circles, it’s used as an excuse to hold a member of the opposite sex’s hand.”
She’d spoiled the surprise.
“To use it as an excuse to hold a member of the same sex’s hand… as expected of the Lord of Disease. You really don’t choose your means.”
And then Rebecca’s gaze became distant.
“Well… it’s the same everywhere. In Listrea, too, you sometimes see people pretending to be worried about an injury, to hold someone’s hand and gain their favor.”
“Wait, Rebecca, what are you talking about? Is that really a thing in Listrea?”
“It is. When you have men and women, it’s only natural that such things would happen.”
“Honestly, what kind of impure thoughts do they have, to join the army?”
I said, while still holding Liz’s hand firmly.
“Our master seems to be serving as a supreme commander with impure thoughts.”
“It’s fine, because we’re both women.”
“Huh?”
“It’s fine, because we’re both women.” I repeated, since Liz had looked at me with a confused expression. It was an important thing, so I said it twice.
“R-Rebecca?”
“Well, demons and undead can’t have children… But even so… no, because of that, if they love each other… well, it’s not a problem.”
Come to think of it, Crado-san, the vice-commander of the First Army, had said something similar.
“Wait, no, but, um…”
“Don’t think too much about it. There’s no right answer in love, and it’s only painful to try to rationalize your feelings.”
Rebecca was saying something very mature. Well, I knew she was mature.
“Can two women really not have children?”
“Give up on that.”
“Rebecca, do you want to be adopted?”
“Give up on that, too.”
“Do you want to be my sister-in-law?”
“I said, give up.”
And just like that, a possible future was crushed.
“By the way, Master, how long are you going to hold my hand?”
“I could hold it forever.”
“…………”
I held Liz’s hand until she, after a long silence, her gaze darting around, finally said, “I have to prepare dinner.”
