Volume 1 - CH 4.2

I’d regularly make a day off work. Not that I’d have some kind of plan on that day—sometimes I’d just end up randomly walking around town, or spending the whole day training with my sword.

Today was one of those days off, but the difference from the usual was that I got Aine. After finishing breakfast at the inn, I went to discuss with Aine about the day’s plans. “I haven’t decided anything in particular to do today, but is there something you wanna do?”

“I mostly trained with my sword on my days off, though…”

“Ah, that’s so you, Aine…”

Of course I wouldn’t mind that either, but It’d be a waste to end the day with swinging a sword since the morning.

Going out somewhere would be fine, too, and I also felt like wanting to get a proper rest if it was a rest day. I’d also be fine if there was something Aine would like to do, though.

“Then, wanna go somewhere?”

“! Well yeah, I was thinking so, too.”

Aine made such a suggestion. I gave her a response, and proceeded the conversation towards going out.

Even Aine would need an opportunity to freshen up. The job yesterday must have taken some kind of burden as well.

“Even if I ask where you want to go, you’re not that familiar with the capital, huh.”

“Guess, so. I don’t really have anywhere I want to go to, though… Haven’t you got any, Lunois?”

“Me? I… let’s see. Usually when it’s a day off, I’m just taking a walk, I guess.”

“Then why don’t we decide as we walk? Let’s go to a good place if we find any.”

“That sounds like a good idea. Okay, let’s get ready then.”

An outing with no particular plans for both of us—I supposed that was also a thing.

After getting ready, Aine and I went out to town without having a specific plan in mind.

When it came to the royal capital, there were a lot of people everywhere. Surely, there was vast enough space to use carriages to get around, but it must also be that the population was large to begin with.

We both decided to enjoy the feeling of sightseeing as we followed the flow of the main street.

And Aine, she seemed to have gotten used to walking around outside for a bit. Even now I didn’t feel her being bothered by the surroundings’ eyes because of the collar.

“Lunois, you often come here, no?”

“Well, I only come here because of jobs and not for any sightseeing, I guess. So, maybe I’m not very familiar with here.”

“Uh-huh… Even though you’re familiar with the location of the cave in the forest.”

“That’s work related after all. In that sense, I’m more familiar with roads like the complicated underground maze than the capital streets, you know?”

“Fufu, that’s funny. You don’t even look like someone living only for work, but you sound like a craftsman.”

“I wonder. I mean come on, Aine, you must’ve spent your days off only swinging your sword, right?”

“I… Well yeah. I mean I wanted to be strong.”

“I think you’re plenty strong.”

“Even if you say that to me.”

It was an honest feeling, but certainly between me and Aine right now, I must be the stronger one.

It was just a matter of one-on-one sword fighting in the end; for instance, Aine was someone who’d been working as a knight—I heard that knights, if anything, mainly worked in several teams more than adventurers.

There was also strength in that sense, but thinking about it, I came to the answer that Aine was, if I had to say it, more of a type to move independently.

“But, I’m gonna take that as a compliment,” Aine added like so while I was troubled about how I should respond. I’d originally meant it as a compliment, so it helped me if she took it that way.

“Ah.” Then suddenly, Aine stopped in her tracks like she’d noticed something.

Beyond that gaze of hers was a cafe—I turned my gaze in that direction as well and then asked. “Do you know that place?”

“Not that I know about it, but… I just thought there’s a big parfait.”

“Parfait?”

When I shifted my gaze downward, there was a big parfait advertisement on a signboard. Apparently, ‘Gigantic Parfait’ was the advertising pitch in the first place.

“Let’s go there then while at it.”

“Eh, are you gonna eat that parfait?”

“I suppose that’s a preference, but… well, I guess I’m feeling like taking a little break.”

“Nn, right. Well, let’s try going there then.”

Then Aine and I entered the cafe. The interior of the cafe was very organized and neat looking. We were shown to an empty seat by the window and sat down facing each other.

“…So Aine, are you gonna have parfait?”

“W-why it comes to that…”

“Nah, I just wondered if you also liked sweet things a lot.”

Just from what I remembered, Aine’s mother used to make fruit pies often.

And I remembered that that was Aine’s favorite food. …And it should’ve been rather sweet pies.

“Well, I don’t hate it, but… eating it alone is just…”

“Then you can just split it with me.”

“I thought you weren’t good with sweet foods?”

“That’s not true. I just don’t eat much of it.”

“Isn’t that just what you call not good with it?”

“I just don’t eat it, really. Ah, excuse me, this one parfait and coffee, please.”

“Wha, don’t just…!”

Aine showed a bit of an angry look, but immediately kept quiet. As as expected, it seemed that it was true that she wanted to eat it because she was interested in it.

I ordered an extra drink for Aine and then waited for the parfait to come. The coffee, which I’d ordered first, arrived, so I took it to my mouth while looking out at the streets.

“…You don’t put any sweetener.”

“Nn? Yeah, because I’m about to eat something sweet.”

“Like, even though you didn’t have to go along with me.”

“I’m not going along with you. I just wanted you to not be reserved if you wanted to eat it.”

“…I-it’s gonna be a lie if I say I don’t want to eat it, but to say I want to eat that amount is just, umm… embarrassing, right?”

Apparently, that was the reason why Aine had been evasive with her words.

I didn’t think it was an embarrassing amount to eat it after sharing it, but from how Aine talked, she seemed to want to eat that amount by herself.

Seeing Aine like that, I couldn’t help but smile.

“W-what.”

“Nope… I just thought you care about that kind of thing.”

“I-I do care about it. I mean, I don’t want to look like a glutton.”

“If you can eat it, then so much the better. You and I are both doing physical work—sweet food turns into energy after all.”

“…Somehow, I feel like you’re looking down on me, huh. It’s like the composure of an adult. Even though I’m the older one…” Aine said discontentedly. Although older, it was only by a year—that was exactly a gap where you wouldn’t have to mind it.

And as we were talking, “thank you for waiting.” The waiter brought a big parfait and placed it on the table.

It was covered with fresh cream and wheat cookies and the like, and furthermore, decorated with several kinds of fruits. Looking at it from the front, it was big enough to cover Aine’s face—it was truly just a gigantic parfait.

There were two forks stuck into it, probably on the assumption that I’d be eating it as well.

As Aine brought the parfait closer to me as well, “…You’re also eating, right?”

“After I finish this drink that is. You go ahead and eat.”

“Nn, I’ll dig in.”

While scooping the cream with the fork, she brought the cookie and fruit to her mouth. The moment Aine ate it, her expression slackened.

Seeing Aine like that was just making me chuckle.

Aine came to herself and showed a surprised look, and then sent a glare at me. She scooped up the parfait with the fork again and leaned forward to bring it to my mouth.

“You’ll also understand it if you eat it.”

“Even though I told you after I finished my coffee.”

“Just take it.”

I reluctantly ate the held out parfait. It was just as it looked… extremely sweet. Aine was staring at me, but I just gave her my honest impression.

“It’s sweet.”

“…Isn’t that just an obvious impression?”

“What do you expect from me, really.”

“…Not really. You’ve already taken a bite, so you don’t have to force yourself to eat the parfait.”

I didn’t know if Aine was being considerate of me or that she wanted to eat the parfait by herself, but as she returned to her seat to eat the parfait again, “…!!”

“What’s wrong?”

“It’s nothing!” She was hesitating as though she had remembered something, but immediately started eating the parfait. And then, her expression relaxed in the same way.

In the end, I left the cafe with a satisfied-looking Aine, who had eaten the parfait practically all by herself.

“Where should we go next?”

“Right… A place where you can move your body sounds good.”

“Body, huh… Then maybe around the park will be a good one.”

“Is it close?”

“It’s just after the main street. Then let’s go over there.”

It was an understandable objective that the reason for it was because she had eaten a gigantic parfait, but I wouldn’t be mentioning it. The two of us were heading to our next destination—on the way there, “…!!”

“! Aine, are you okay?”

“Nnh, I-I’m okay…”

Aine’s breathing grew a little ragged. Although the time today was a little early, it seemed the time for the ‘heat’ had come.

I immediately supported Aine’s body and headed towards a deserted alleyway. If this was the case, it might’ve been better to take a little more time in the cafe.

“H-here, people, nnh, will…”

“No, there’s no sign of anyone nearby. Or maybe we should go back to the inn?”

It wouldn’t be hard for me to go back with Aina in my arms. But Aine showed just a little bit of a troubled look, “here, is, fine…” and replied so in a disconnected voice.

As expected, it might be easier on Aine if the heat was calmed down as soon as possible.

As I supported her body, Aine also reached for her underwear—

“! Aine!”

“Fueh…!?”

And I held AIne’s body and jumped from that spot. Immediately after, a large ‘rock hand’ appeared from beneath where our feet had been.

The rock hand moved with a jerk like it was trying to grab something, but Aine and I were not there anymore.

However, what that hand was aiming after—it was clear that it was me and Aine.

“W-what… just?”

“Aine, sorry, but please endure it for a bit—who are you? You were also near me yesterday, weren’t you?” I asked the rock hand. They were hiding, but I knew they were very close.

And then, the rock hand disappeared into the ground like it was melting. In exchange, a huge man appeared. He was clad in a robe, but his size was far too large for a human.

However, I recognized that appearance. It was precisely because of one of the requests I’d taken, one that was also my immediate objective.

“Dodged. Even though, that was complete opening.”

“Never would’ve thought you’d show up from there. You also matched the description—a mage from Laveira Empire, huh.”

“…!!? E-empire, what does this…?”

Aine reacted in surprise to my words. I hadn’t told her about the Empire’s mages. I hadn’t intended to add unnecessary worries, but I had no choice now that it’d turned out like this.

“I’ll explain later. Try not to move too much.”

“N-no… nnh, I-I’ll become a, burde—”

“You won’t. I have no problem while carrying you,” I declared, cutting off Aine’s words. That there was no problem with taking her along—and now, I’d prove it.

“Like Domiro said. That woman, important to you. That is, your weak point,” the huge man pointed at me and declared so. By weak point, it’d mean that they’d apparently been targeting me and Aine since a little while back.

The presence I’d sensed yesterday where I’d defeated Dill might have been this man.

I had no idea what the intention was, but at least I knew that someone was aiming after Aine, in spite of the fact that she’d been sold as a slave—that was all I needed to know.

“Lu, nois—”

Seeing my face, Aine’s body trembled. Immediately, I held up my hand to block her gaze, “it’s all right. Can you close your eyes for a bit?” and asked her to do so again. It seemed that I currently got an expression that ended up scaring Aine. Putting my hand around Aine’s waist to support her, I placed my hand on the sword at my waist.

And then, I faced the enemy that had appeared before my eyes. As I measured the distance between me and the man, I quietly stared at him.

A distance of several meters away. It’s a distance I can get into range in a single step, but I’m concerned about the man’s body. Probably, it’s a state like wearing an armor of rocks and sand—when he puts his oversized hands on the ground, a small rumble happens.

In the alleyway, it looks like he’d be barely able to move with that huge body, but seeing the way he attacks, it’s probably best to assume that the disadvantage due to location does not exist.

In fact, it was a rock hand that appeared from underfoot that tried to attack me.

“Lunois… I-I’ll, be fine, so put me down, and fight…” Aine spoke to me despite closing her eyes, following my words.

From what the enemy was saying, Aine was the target. Knowing that, I wouldn’t separate from her, nor would I have any reason to separate myself from Aine in her current state.

“You’re a worrywart, huh, Aine.”

“I mean… nnh.” Aine, trying to reply to my words, looked a little pained.

In this current state, I couldn’t afford to have her wait for so long.

“It’s okay, it’s gonna be a bit tough on you, but… I will end this quick.”

“That’s my line,” the man said in response to my words, and then his body went to sink into the ground. Earlier, he’d suddenly appeared out of the ground, too—the magic he was using was undoubtedly earth attribute magic.

Magic could be activated by carving a ‘magic crest’ on the body and the ground—or even in the air. Carving it onto the body wouldn’t take time to activate, but it would then take time to replace it.

Looking at the man’s magic, he must be applying ‘earth attribute manipulation type’ magic to his own body.

At the same time as he disappeared, the ground beneath my feet was contorting mushily again. In the same way, I kicked the ground and jumped backwards—and that landing place was also wriggling.

I kicked the nearby wall and landed on a different spot.

Then, a big rock hand appeared again from the ground and came right at me.

“Fuhh—”

A slash together with my breathing. The sword I’d swung vertically cut off the big rock hand. The hand broken right in half went on to shatter into pieces. One after another, big hands appeared from around me, however—what I must do had not changed.

I cut an approaching hand with my sword, and avoided an attack coming from underfoot.

He must be thinking that my sword couldn’t reach him as long as he was in the ground. Certainly, that was not wrong.

As long as I was fighting with a sword, I’d also have to get close and slash to fight an enemy that was in the distance. If I was on my own, I got other options, but there was Aine now.

I couldn’t make any crazy moves—right, that must be what the enemy was thinking.

That was why he hid himself and just sent rock hands at me.

However, in the sense that ‘my attack can’t reach him,’ the same went for the enemy.

If a rock hand appeared from the ground, I’d leap and get away from that place. Of course the rock hand was chasing me, but I cut it off as I passed it, and it crumbled away.

I got no deciding moves, but the attacks the man set up couldn’t finish me off.

“Fuuh, uwh, nnh…” Aine’s moans reached my ears. I didn’t plan to take too much time—I guess I’ll also take a shot.

I cut down all of the rock hands that came at me again, and asserted while looking at my surroundings. “It’s useless. This level of attack—no matter if it continues for a hundred or thousand times, it will never reach me. I suppose your magic power will run out first, and that’ll be the end of it. Or maybe, you’re thinking of bringing me down with this level of magic?” I asserted to the hiding man clearly.

My opponent probably also knew that he wouldn’t be able to finish me off by continuing like this.

That was why I purposely threw out provocative words.

“…”

No response—however, the silence meant that my opponent had taken up on my provocation. Probably, he was looking for an opening while hiding at the bottom of the ground.

However, that didn’t mean both of our wins and losses were aligned. After all, I even got the option of running away if he didn’t come at me.

The possibility of me getting away would probably be something the man would want to avoid. That was why, in the middle of the silence—he showed up from behind me.

“—”

I turned around with a slash. As if crossing, the blow of the man’s gigantic arm and my sword intersected.

I cut off his big arm, and then followed up with a strike. My sword reached all the way to the man’s ‘main body’ inside the huge body.

“Ng, guh…!?”

The man’s voice was distorted in pain. He swung his other arm, but I also cut it off flying, and then stood over the man’s body.

I thrusted my sword into the rock armor and stopped it right at the man’s neck. All it’d take was just a little more force and I could kill him.

“I’ve told you. That it is ‘useless’.”

I’d also have to find out from this man why he was aiming Aine. Moreover, there were supposed to be two mages from the Empire. I’d also have to find out where the other one was.

“Guh, fuh, fuh…”

Breathing heavily, the man sent only his gaze to me.

He might be trying to find an opening from me, but at this distance, taking down the man was not difficult no matter what happened.

“I have some questions for you. What’s your name?”

“…I am, Gremarev.”

“Gremarev, huh. I suppose you’re a mage from the Empire?”

“Gu, fuh, what will you, do about—”

“Just answer the question. I’m not planning on wasting time answering you.”

I pressed the sword against the man’s—Gremarev’s neck.

Gremarev let out a slightly scared voice. With this, it looked like he’d answer my question.

“…There should still be another one of you. Where is he?”

When Lunois asked, Gremarev replied in a slow tone, despite his eyes darting around.

“Don’t know. But, with this, it’s according to plan.”

“…What did you say?”

“You, will protect this woman. So, Domiro will do something for the rest.”

“What are—!!”

There, I noticed magic power flowing through Gremarev’s huge body. I noticed that a big magic was being invoked—not his, but someone else’s.

“Huh, Domiro… this will, kill me to—”

Gremarev’s voice trailed off—a big light wrapped up the surroundings. I immediately jumped away from that place all the while protecting Aine. Immediately afterwards, the surroundings were enveloped in a huge blast.