Why level up in isekai, when you can hack your way through

Chapter 16 - The Journey Ahead

It's been six days since I began training.

A lot of things have progressed quite well, we've built wells, huts, and farms, including defensive barriers... but still, there's a lot to do before we're done with everything.

Athena hasn't been talking much either ever since I gave her the task, she would often give Nuzma'h directions through my head.

I was doing training along with goblins, it was rough but every moment and second was crucial to master.

At the end of the day, I would also do the cooking and go early to bed.

But there was Belle... I did not know what to say to her... I could try with "sorry" but... I don't know...

<Around the same time Belle had enough of how Kazuma was avoiding her.>

And so the night came after he ate his dinner somewhere alone, Kazuma began retreating early to his bed in the newly constructed huts (the reason was their house was in the middle of an upgrade), and then he heard footsteps approaching. The door creaked open, and Isabelle stormed in, her face flushed, arms crossed, glaring at him.

"Kazuma," she snapped, her voice sharp enough to make him sit up immediately. "What exactly do you think you're doing?"

He blinked, confused. "Uh... what do you mean?"

"You've been avoiding me for days!" she exclaimed.

Then she took a step closer, narrowing her eyes, and continued, "Is this about the other night? Is that why you keep running off like a coward?"

Kazuma felt his face heat up, his heart racing. "W-Well, I mean... I wasn't sure how to... you know, deal with what happened... I didn't mean to... I thought maybe you needed space?"

She was scoffed by what he said as she now stands right in from of him.

"Space? You practically ran away! Every time I see you, you act like I'm a ticking time bomb or something!"

Kazuma rubbed the back of his neck nervously. "Well... you were always flustered and mumbling...I wasn't sure if you were mad or—"

Then she interrupted him...

"I'm not mad, Kazuma! Embarrassed? Yes. Flustered? Absolutely. But you avoiding me for days like some guilty little thief is driving me crazy!" Isabelle responded as she uncrossed her arms and sighed in frustration.

Then she continued saying, "Baka, if you're going to act like that, at least be upfront about it. What happened... it wasn't entirely your fault. I didn't think what you meant by your sickness was a sexual habit"

Kazuma rattled in embarrassment, as he was completely caught off guard. "What can I... I just had it... ever since I was a child I had this subconscious urge... that's why I told you we can't sleep together because the body goes all like that..."

Then she replied... "It's my fault... for not giving you a chance to say anything..."

Kazuma blinked as he asked, "So... you're not mad?"

"Not anymore," Isabelle said...

Although her cheeks still had a faint pink hue.

She said, "I just want us to talk. You hiding away like this makes it ten times worse. I'm your wife now, remember? I just feel like... I need some time before I get myself in an activity like that."

He exhaled with a sigh of relief as he felt the weight of days of awkwardness finally lifting off his shoulders.

He said, "I'm sorry. I just didn't want to make things worse."