60 - a brief rest and second

It was about the same time that Thor and his friends were enjoying their lunch.

Sola and his friends were walking down the street after placing their order at the armor shop in the alleyway.

"That was a nice store. Thank you for introducing me to this place.

"You're welcome, Mr. Betti."

With her red hair pulled back elegantly, Bettina smiled with satisfaction.

She had ordered a body gown made of white rock lizard skin, and she was probably imagining how it would look like, since it looked great against her brown skin as she adjusted the leather to her body.

It would be two weeks before it would be ready, though.　

"Are you sure you didn't ask for anything, Sola?"

"I asked for Moo-chan's shoes."

They are long leather shoes with firm, hard leather soles and a gentle belt fastening instead of shoelaces so that even a child can easily put them on and take them off.

The owner of the store offered to finish the shoes in two days so that they would be safe even if they stepped on a stone on the riverbank.

"No, no, it's for you.

"Well, I'm not lacking in my current armor, so I thought it would be especially nice. Also, I don't have much money.

"Oh, why didn't you just let me take care of it?"

Sola's eyes twinkled at Bettina's words and she tilted her head like a little bird.

"Yes?　What do you mean you'll leave it to me?"

"I wanted to do something to thank you for showing me the restaurant."

"Did you mean to offer me money instead?

"Yes, and you are a dear friend.

The simple girl who grew up in the village thought for a moment before opening her mouth to the red-haired beauty who had so casually mentioned it.

"Well, I don't think that makes us friends, but more like mothers.

"Huh?"

"I don't know how to put it, but I think friends are the kind of people you play with and chat with."

"If you put it that way, that may be true."

"So I don't think it's right to give me a lot of money out of pocket."

"You are right, Miss Sola-sama."

Godin, who was walking hand in hand with Moe behind him, interrupted their conversation.

The child was munching on a baked good that the owner of the armor store had given him.

"Oh, really?"

"Yes, I believe that a relationship with a friend is only possible because we are equals, and that money should not be easily involved.

"I'm sorry, Sola. I didn't mean to be rude."

The red-haired lady apologizes to Sola in a panic.

But the girl's face turned cloudy.

"I'm sorry if I offended you. I'm so sorry."

"Oh, no, it's not that. I was just a little bit hurt by my own words. ......"

"What do you mean?"

"My relationship with Thor-chan has always been about being protected, and he's been giving me all the money."

"Does Sola want to be friends with that humble hero?"

No, I'm aiming for more than that.

"I don't mean to be presumptuous, Miss Sola. I think that a relationship between a lover and a couple is different from a friendship.

"That may be so, but I would like to be a suitable person first."

The girl's face was not as innocent as usual, and a lack of composure was evident on her face.

Bettina and Godin looked at each other with troubled expressions and suddenly changed the subject.

"By the way, it's already lunchtime. I'm already hungry. Do you know any good places to eat?

"Yes, I'm quite hungry too. I'm going to collapse at any moment.

That's terrible. Then I will take you to my favorite restaurant.

Then I will pay for your lunch in return for your hospitality.

Isn't that contradictory to what you just said?

"It's all right, miss. I am not your friend, but Master Mu's henchman.

Sola led the three of them to a line of food stalls in the central square.

It was quite crowded at noon.

The girls, who had become accustomed to this situation, moved through the crowds with ease.

When she reached a stall with many big pots and pans, she turned her head to look at them proudly.

"Sorry to keep you waiting. Mmmm, it smells so good again today.

"...... What kind of restaurant is this?"

"It looks like a food stall specializing in soup."

Yes, it has an interesting name, a sea hot pot restaurant. They say it's because they sell sea-flavored soup. Hello, Mister.

"Ah, come in, Solar."

The owner, a middle-aged man with dark hair and a slightly slurred speech, has a neck covered with scales that look like fine cracks.

Sola continued her conversation cheerfully with the smiling Soukei man.

"What do you recommend today?"

"Yes, I know. This one with whole onions is the best I've had all day.

"Well, I'll have that one."

What is this red stuff?

"That one has red pepper in it, so it's not good for moo boy!"

Which one has meat in it?　Pops."

"How about this boar tail soup over here?　You can really taste the meat."

I'll have the red one because I'm curious about that one.

"Are you okay with spicy food?"

"Yes, I'm very good at it."

Yes, thank you. How about this for your horned brother over there?　It's made with salted sharp cabbage."

"Oh, that brings back memories. Well, I'll have the owner's recommendation.

After receiving the deep dish, which was steaming hot, Sola next went to the next restaurant, not to the table set up in front of the stall.

The smell of baked sweet wheat was wafting from the large tent that had been set up in front of the stall.

When we entered, we found a variety of breads on the shelves by the wall and on a table in the center of the room.

"I was wondering if this is just a soup store, or is this a bread store?"

"Yes, it's called Shiro-Neko-Ya."

"--No way, they have cat-flavored bread?"

No, the owner has a white cat. But cat flavor sounds delicious.

Bettina, who had intended it to be a joke, scrunched up her mouth at Sola's reply.

"Tei!"

"Oh, my God, why are you hitting me?　Moo-chan."

"Moo will protect the cats' heiwah!"

"He won't eat it anymore. You don't want to spill the soup.

"Come on, come on, stop fighting. Don't fight with each other, you'll make the bread hard.

The owner who approached me was a middle-aged, well-fleshed woman with a lock of dark hair.

She smiled happily and talked to me in rapid succession.

"Well, are there any new customers with you today?　Your black bread is freshly baked and you can still shred it by hand. Your brother seems to be a good eater. How about this one with nuts?　Look, Moo Boy, we have fried bread too."

Please!

Yes, maida, maida, maida.

Wheat prices have not dropped much, but the owner has his own suppliers, which helps to keep prices down considerably, making this a very popular place for adventurers.

The four of us rush to the table outside, which is set aside for eating and drinking.

After sitting down facing each other and saying a prayer of thanksgiving, lunch is finally served.

Bettina, who was watching Sola with a big smile on her face, suddenly brought up the subject of the previous day's conversation.

"Hey, Sola..." she said.

"Hmm?"

"You said earlier that all you do is get protection."

Yes, I did.

"Sora is a magician, so I don't think it can't be helped. But fighting isn't everything. Why don't you do what you can for her in other ways?

Sola nearly choked on her bread and hurriedly reached for her soup as her friend continued to ponder her answer.

"Ngghh,......, you mean you're going to do everything you can?"

"This godan also cares a lot for me. It's the best thing I could have asked for.

"I'm sorry, miss. I have a wife back home. ......"

"Don't mix it up again. I mean, you know, you're going to be around forever, so you might as well try something."

"............ Yes. I know, I think Thor will be happy with this soup. Thank you, Bettie!

Bettina looks kindly at the girl who has regained her energy.

Then, as if a sudden thought had occurred to her, she asked a question.

"By the way, how far has the relationship between Sola and that humble hero progressed?"

"Well, if you want to kiss me, you can sneak a kiss on my cheek ...... while I'm sleeping."

"Well, that's a long way to go. You should try harder."

Bettina cheered him on, but for some reason, she looked overtly relieved.

Sola and the others were enjoying their lunch at the same time again.

Ulil, who had returned home for the first time in three days and cleaned the house thoroughly, was sitting on a chair in the kitchen and breathing deeply.

The two cats, who had been sitting on the floor as if they belonged to the house, had given up their position upon the Lord's return, and were now sitting under the table, gobbling up their share of the dried fish that had been brought as a souvenir.

Yuril looks at the cane on the table and sighs deeply again.

The staff is a little longer than one hand, and has a large cryolite attached to the top.

The silver-haired beauty muttered to no one as she looked at the priest's staff, which she had found while cleaning.

"I don't have very good memories of ...... this..."