Volume 4 - CH 2

“Fun-fun-fun♪”

It was like a cradle.

“Fufufufufu~n♪”

A soft, warm, and relaxed vibrato that makes you feel as if a cradle is shaking in front of you.

“Hmmmm♪”

It sways and sways, and before you know it, it feels like you’re inside the cradle, not the cradle in front of you.

“Fun-fun-fun♪”

Of course, I don’t have any memories of when I was a baby, but the sweet melody felt so comforting, it felt like I was being soothed──

“Hmm ♪ Hmmm ♪”

But, or should I say, I should not be left to take advantage of it, I was not the one being rocked, and in a twist, I opened my eyes to gently grasp the cradle in front of me. 

“Hmm…”

A dry brown ceiling that is different from an apartment.

Before I could turn my head, the gentle tone suddenly stopped

“Good morning”

The owner of the sweet vibrato was standing in front of the status monolith that was installed between the beds, and smiled at me.

Somehow, the smile that made me want to sleep a little longer, and seemed to forgive me for slacking off today, I blinked twice and sat up.

“Good morning….I’m going to wash my face.”

“Alright.”

Crawling out of bed, I miss the warmth of the futon.

But for some reason, today felt warmer than yesterday.

Asshimar, as usual, had been busily synthesizing, Alchemy, and processing since morning, and had even finished procuring black bread for breakfast and taking a shower in the morning. She’s as energetic as ever.

The usual morning.

It’s still the same, but it’s so precious.

However, even after washing my face and brushing my teeth, I wonder if there’s something I can do about being sleepy.

“Hey, do you have any tips for getting up early?”

While sitting on the bed and opening the package of black bread that Asshimar bought for me, I asked her about my real-life doubts.

“Is there a trick? I wake up early in real life, so I should go to bed early, right?”

“What time do you go to bed early? At least the timing to sleep in Arcadia is the same.”

“I’m asleep around 24:00.”

“But that’s the same as me. It’s too unreasonable…”

I wonder if the quality of sleep is poor. Maybe a pillow? Is it the pillow?

I wonder if replacing it with something like a “self pillow”, which costs about 30,000 yen, would improve it. But 30,000 yen for a pillow is indeed a rich person’s pleasure…. It’s a dreamy pastime. Only for a pillow. It’s so loud.

I shift the responsibility of thinking about trivial things and being irritable because i’m sleepy, and summon Kobotaro with a wry smile at his own smallness.

“Good morning”

“Good morning, Kobotaro.”

“Gauu!”

Accompanied by white light, round eyes and slightly droopy ears appeared. Kobotaro is cute and energetic today as well.

“Asshimar, I’ll meet Akari in a little while.”

“Eh… Akari-san , our classmate Akari-san, right?”

I nodded back at her surprised face. Rather, among my few acquaintances, there should be no other search candidates.

“Oh, um, are you, are you going to be home late? Or perhaps a sleepover?”

“What are you imagining? I’m just going to give her the skill book I got the other day. If you want, you can give it to her.”

Asshimar lets out a breath, then shakes her head sideways.

“No, no, it’s fine… Are you sure I’m sorry for Akari-san?”

“You’re sorry? I don’t know what you mean…”

With a sigh, I finally took a bite of the hard black bread.

──

There are several squares in the commercial city of Echmerde.

To the north is a seaside plaza where you can overlook the sea from a hill, to the west is a hill plaza where you can go back and forth between Echmerde and the mountain range overlooking Echmerde in a magic gondola, and to the northeast is a memorial plaza with a bronze statue of Echmerde’s chief. I don’t know the official  name, but that’s what I call it.

Anyway, there are many plazas in Echmerde, and the reason why I chose the fountain plaza wasn’t to create a mood, and I’m going to meet a girl, so I’ll just be careful. .

Although there are many plazas, there is only one in the center with a fountain, so it is convenient as a landmark.

And above all, it’s close to the inn.

What is this, the second reason is so strong that the first one is blurred.

Due to its location, the central plaza is highly convenient for transportation, and since the market is open at night, it is usually crowded.

If you’re a shy character, you’ll avoid crowds, right?

It’s obvious. So this is the time

After five minutes of walking through the faintly lively town, as soon as I could see the central plaza, I noticed a large two-story stone building next door – the Adventurer’s Guild. This is the place where Epee grass and life herbs were bought until I met Asshimar.

The guild opens at 8:00 in the morning. In other words, many people enter the guild at this time, so the park next door has relatively few people.

When I arrived at Echmerde Central Square a little earlier than the scheduled 8:30, there were few people as I had calculated.

There is a large fountain in the middle of the central plaza, and three columns of water are rising up high with noise. A splash of water flew up to the edge of the circle, carving a number of small ripples on the unsightly face reflected in the water.

Looking up through the water column, I could see the gradation of seven colors gently curving, coloring the blue sky of Echmerde.

On the other hand, when I turned my gaze to the front, I saw a figure in a white robe standing with her back turned towards me on the other side of the water column.

I walk around the edge of the fountain.

Even though her profile was familiar, it was breathtaking.

Putting her hands on her chest, she made a somewhat tense face. But it is also melancholy and sexy.

The inner layer is a plain brown shirt and tight pants, but the white robe with a hood has an innocent cuteness and neat beauty that makes Akari’s long wet hair stand out.

When Akari noticed me, she breathed a sigh of relief and waved at me on the stone pavement. 

“Wow, I thought I came early.”

“It’s okay. It was fun while I was waiting.”

As I suspected, Akari was nervous and seemed to be faltering. Rather than not knowing how to respond, she seemed to have somehow managed to say the lines she had decided on.

“This is the skill book I was talking about.”

“Oh, thank you”

I handed the [Fire Arrow Firebolt Skill Enhancement LV2] obtained from the minor kobold to Akari. She held it carefully to her chest for what must have been about five seconds. She closed her eyes as if regretting the loss of the book, took it into herself, and drowned it out.

“I remember. Thank you very much.”

“That’s good.”

“Yes!”

“See ya”

“Ah, ah, hey, wait a minute…!”

A flustered voice stopped me as I turned my heels.

“Eh, what?”

“You know, uh, uh… today, can I go with Fujima-kun and Ashigarayama-san, too?”

“……Eh?”

My face when I turned to Akari must have been as stupid as my voice. Akari’s question was so meaningless.

I turn my whole body around and ask.

“What about the other guys? Takagi, Suzuhara, Kedoin… you always hang out with them.”

I still don’t remember the handsome BC’s name. It’s unlikely that I’ll get involved from here, so it’s not a problem.

“It’s just me. I’ve already told everyone. …… I guess I shouldn’t.”

“I don’t know what you mean. I don’t know why I’m saying this, but there’s nothing good about it, you know? Most of the day is spent collecting and resting.”

“Yeah, that’s fine. Please.”

However, Akari politely lowers her head. A little later, her black hair under her hood drooped down.

For me, it doesn’t matter which way.

In the unlikely event that a hundred million is one, even if Akari’s confession was real that day, I probably wouldn’t have any romantic feelings left after saying such a bad thing, so it wouldn’t be strange. Or rather, from the point of view of us who don’t have combat ability, Akari’s powerful attack magic is appreciated. Kobotaro should be able to take it easy.

“I don’t mind.”

“Ho, really? Good for you…”

Akari was true to her words, she seemed really relieved, and she relaxed her expression and smiled while keeping her hands on her chest.

I try to look away from her smile, which is too bright for me,

“But I’ll have to ask Asshimar and Kobotaro about it….. why is Kobotaro so far away from me….?”

Kobotaro is usually close by, but now he’s watching from a distance.

When I waved my hand and called him over, Kobotaro looked at me and Akari as if to say “This is no good”, shook his head and then sighed. For some reason, Akari’s face turned red.