“Hey there. How many do you want?”
Eleonore counts with her fingers.
“Well, Anos-kun, Misha-chan, Sasha-chan… do you have 10 pieces?”
“Yes. Just the right amount, this is the very last of them. I’ll give you an additional one.”
“Wow. Uncle, you’re so generous. Thank you!”
Eleonore hands over the gold coins and receives change and 10 pieces of Holy Light candies. It is a spherical candy attached to the end of a stick, and is rather sizable.
Although the claim is that it is a holy candy made with holy water, naturally no holy water is involved since it is not a food.
“Look, there it is. The Holy Light Candy.”
A joyful voice was heard.
Upon closer look, a woman in a jade green dress comes rushing over. Her hair was as clear as a lake and she had amber eyes.
She was the Great Spirit Reno. The six wings on her back were obscured, perhaps indicating that her true identity had not yet been disclosed.
Behind her was a demon tribe member with a piercing gaze. He is donning a familiar mask.
“Reno. Please do not stray more than five meters from me. If an enemy attacks you, you may not be able to handle them.”
Turning around, Reno looked back and remarked to the masked man.
“Then come along running. If they sell out, it’s Shin’s fault.”
“The more you run, the more it distracts you. The proper speed to deal with any adversary is at walking speed.”
“We are already in Gairadite. There are no enemies in this place.”
“We must maintain our vigilance.”
The man shifts his mask slightly and directs a stern gaze at his surroundings.
The gray hair and unpigmented eyes that are peeking out are undoubtedly those of Shin Reglia himself.
“I have a feeling that someone with extraordinary magical power is lurking around here. Considering the lack of any reaction to my magic eye, I’d say they’re highly skilled.”
Hmm. My magic power is supposed to be perfectly concealed by the .
But to sense it not with the magic eye, but by the presence suggests that this is indeed Shin.
Well, he can’t tell the exact position anyway.
“I won’t take off my mask. It would be a disaster if they find out I am a demon.”
“Rest assured. The moment someone is hostile toward me, their neck and torso will be separated for eternity.”
“Hah,” Reno heaved a hefty sigh.
“Iyan, stick closer to Shin.”
Then the mask’s eyes lit up and adhered to Shin.
His magic is totally hidden.
The one called “Iyan” was probably the spirit of the mask.
“Don’t slay the humans. The only enemies are the divine race, right? They may never appear again anyway.”
“As long as it does you no harm, I will not slay them.”
“I won’t take off my mask. It would be a disaster if they find out I am a demon.”
“… Seriously. But that’s fine. We’re already in Aharthern.”
Reno made her way over to the stall and addressed the owner.
“Good evening. Can I have a piece of Holy Light candy, please?”
“Oh, I’m sorry, little girl. I’ve already sold out for the day.”
“No… way…”
“I’m sorry. Come back tomorrow.”
Reno stands on the spot with a downcast look on her face.
“Even though Titi was looking forward to it…”
“What is not there is inevitable. Let’s go.”
Reno glares at Shin.
“If you had run, I could have bought it, Shin.”
“I apologize. I have prioritized the responsibility of guarding you.”
“… You could have just run for a while…”
“I apologize. I have prioritized the responsibility of guarding you.”
There is nothing that can be done about it.
Reno bit her lip and turned away.
She then lightly stomped on the ground as if to vent her unrestrained fury.
“You idiot, you idiot, Shin…!”
Apparently at a loss for words, Shin pondered briefly before saying.
“I apologize. I have prioritized the responsibility of guarding you.”
Like a broken magic doll, Shin repeats.
“It seems they’ve gotten along pretty well on the road.”
“About what?”
Next to me, Sasha wears an uncomprehending expression on her face.
“It is not often that he utters the same word twice, even though the answer is the same. On top of that, he said it thrice. After explaining once, that man will remain silent the next time.”
“About what?”
Sasha’s expression still remains unchanged as if she has no idea what I mean.
“… Um… here… please take it…”
Zeshia, who has been walking slowly, offers Reno two Holy Light candies.
“Eh..? But that’s yours, right?”
“… I have many of it…”
Eleonore stood next to Zeshia and smiled nonchalantly.
“It’s not a problem. I got an extra one, but we couldn’t finish it.”
“Ah, then here you go. These are cookies I bought at Dilhade. They are tasty.”
Reno places a package of cookies in Zeshia’s palm.
“Thank you…”
“Likewise, thank you.”
“Is the quarrel… over…?”
“Eh?”
Zeshia glanced alternately at Reno and Shinn.
“Umm. We’re not fighting. We are good friends, you know.”
Reno said with a smile.
“Is that so?”
Reno’s smile tightened at Shin’s icy words.
“Shin. You are good friends with me. That’s an order. If you want to be my bodyguard, then do it properly.”
“I understand. I am good friends with her.”
Then, as if reassured, Zeshia laughed.
“I am glad… you both are getting along well…”
“Goodbye. Thanks for the candy.”
Reno waves her hand and heads for the Gairadite gate.
Following behind her, Shin shot a wary glance.