CH 61

Chapter title: Three Women Shopping

「Hmm, which one should I wear?」

In front of me, Serena-san is struggling choosing between two outfits.

I’m observing her.

Her long, slender legs stretch out from her skirt. Her breasts are not large, but you can see them even from the top of her clothes. In addition, she had a fantastic beauty that everyone could admire, and it was safe to say that she was a perfect beauty.

I’m currently shopping with her…….

「Hey, Alicia. Can you bring me some clothes that are the same as this one?」

The curtain opened and Alice-sama appeared in her underwear.

「Alice-sama! Why did you come out here dressed like that!?」

「It doesn’t matter, this is a women’s only armor store, and I even bathe with you.」

As Alice said, this is a high-class store that deals in protective gear for women only.

They look like a stylish piece of clothing, but by adding effects such as automatic cleansing, magic resistance, and physical resistance, it can provide the same level of protection as conventional armor.

Women need to be agile because they are not as strong as men, so they cannot wear leather armor or metal plate armor. So I came here to buy some light armor.

The problem is that they are expensive because they take a long time to make, but thanks to the money that Elt gave me, I can buy them.

「That’s not the point! I’m saying you should be more embarrassed.」

「Jeez. You’re really strict. That’s not going to get you Elt.」

「Wh!?」

My mouth dopped at Alice-sama’s words.

I casually looked at Serena-san, but she didn’t seem to mind.

「That’s none of your business! Me and Elt……..」

My body became hot as I spoke. It reminded me of what happened yesterday.

「What’s wrong, Alicia? What’s wrong with your face?」

「I, it’s nothing. 」

I took the clothes from Alicia and moved around the store looking for something else.

「So, Serena-san. I’d like to ask you a few questions, if you wouldn’t mind?」

After buying our respective armor, we left the store and went into a nearby cafe to talk.

Serena-san bought both pieces of clothing that she had been struggling with, and I picked out some clothes that I thought Elt would like.

I had other preparations to make for the Lost Forest, but I wanted to talk to her before that, and that’s when Alice-sama invited us.

「Fine, but I have a condition.」

Then Serena-san looked at me.

「You’re Elt’s childhood friend, aren’t you?」

「Y, yes I am.」

She blushed and awkwardly moved her gaze….

「In exchange for me answering your questions, I would like you to tell me some of Elt’s old stories.」

I could tell just from that gesture. I knew she liked him.

I pushed down my complicated feelings and…….

「Okay, Serena-san. I’m fine with those terms.」

I replied.

「So, what do you want to ask me?」

Serena-san sipped at her straw and prompted me with a question.

「We only know what happened just before he stepped on the magic circle. If you could, could you tell us how you met and what you did to get here?」

This was the part I was most curious about.

「I understand. I’ll tell you.」

What was going on between Serena-san and Elt? I clutched my cup and listened intently.

「――So, he protected me from the attack of the Wind Spirit King. That was really cool.」

Serena-san said with an enraptured look in her eyes. Her eyes are apparently like a maiden in love…….

「Umm, just to confirm, are the two of you lovers?」

At Alice-sama’s prodding, Serena-san stirred her drink with a straw.

「No, me and Elt are not like that.」

I was relieved to hear that…….

「I just confessed to him and I’m not following him.」

「Ehhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!?」

I stood up and shouted loudly.

「H, hey, Alicia. You’re standing out.」

「E, excuse me! Alice-sama」

I rushed to sit down. But it’s not unreasonable to be surprised. The beautiful elf in front of me had expressed her fondness for Elt earlier than I had.

I held the cup in my trembling hands and sipped my drink to calm down.

「So, Alicia. You like Elt too, don’t you?」

「MUGH! Mugghhhh!」

I almost spit out my drink at the sudden words. I managed to hold it in, but it made me choke.

「Kyu, what are you saying all of a sudden?」

With tears in my eyes, I glared at Serena-san.

「You’ve been on his mind ever since we met, and it was obvious from the way you reacted when I walked into your room.」

It was true that I was acting suspiciously at that moment. My face was red, and I wasn’t even trying to hide it.

「Alicia, you too. Aren’t you and Elt already lovers?」

Then Serena-san’s serious eyes looked at me. She has a different expression of anxiety than before. It seems that she was also worried when she saw me suddenly appear.

「No, not yet.」

「I see….」

Serena-san gave me an overtly relieved look.

「But I did confess yesterday.」

「Eh? What, Alicia. When did that happen!?」

Alice-sama peeks out from the side. I look straight at Serena-san and…….

「I see… Alicia also likes Elt.」

So said Serena-san, smiling in a strangely satisfying way. For some reason, that smile made me feel more familiar than hostile.

「Serena-san」

「You can call me Serena.」

I called out to her, and she allowed me to call her by her name. I coughed once and said…..

「I’m not going to lose.」

「Yeah, I won’t lose either.」

We held out our hands to each other and shook hands.