Today is the day of Serelin's happy pub date.
“But I have to get things done.”
No matter how much I was helping, I shouldn’t forget my original mission. So, Serelin headed toward the northern gate, while I went to the western gate.
In fact, the reinforcent work on the castle walls had been completed yesterday. What I needed to do today was to check whether yesterday's work was done properly and, additionally, conduct so auxiliary spells that would be good to have.
“It’s kind of like an alibi.”
I thought of it as a task to avoid suspicion that I knew a lot about that fortress.
“Lux.”
Purr!
“Ah, don’t run away!”
It seed like Knight Lux had caught on to my plan to leave the master key with him again. To be honest, I was a bit disappointed since I had given him a precious special carrot.
“I should probably add a spell that allows him to stand alone with the master key later.”
Reluctantly, I opened a spatial pocket and dropped a large mineral.
Mithril, shining platinum, harder than iron, and excellent at resisting magic.
But for now, it was just a stand for the master key.
“Observation and alarm should be enough.”
Anticipating that an attack from the dimly lit fortress might damage the auxiliary spell, I buried it not near the castle walls but underground. It felt like a makeshift seismic detector.
“Lux. Stop sulking and co here. I’ll give you a carrot.”
Hearing the word carrot, Lux quickly approached , but he was still eyeing the master key, making think he would never attempt to do that again.
“This one is quite a delicious carrot...”
Thud!
“...”
...
What the...?
After I gave him the special carrot, he seed to be dissatisfied with a normal one, spitting it out imdiately. I picked up the carrot that had fallen to the ground with trembling hands and tossed it into the spatial pocket.
“...I’m not giving you any more carrots.”
How dare he throw away a carrot! For a while, there would be no carrot soup either.
The target location to lure the hero—no, to attract him—was the magical tool shop in the back alley.
But that wasn’t the only reason I was visiting.
“I’ve definitely heard that there’s a famous gem craftsman in Alphares.”
In the past five years, I had researched and learned various magic and auxiliary fields, but there were still many things I lacked. Gem crafting was one of them.
“I want to create gemstone-type magical tools soon.”
Gems and minerals have an inseparable relationship with magic. The most basic mana stones, as well as nurous ores and gems, serve as materials for magical tools.
And since I wanted to make them beautiful and impressive, gem crafting skills were crucial for .
So, before leaving the mansion that morning, I asked the hero for a favor when we were alone.
[Hero.]
[Yes, Louis.]
[Could you co quickly to the eastern gate today?]
[Uh... why?]
[I have sothing to do in the central comrcial district... It’s a back alley, so I think it would be reassuring if you could co along.]
[...Got it. I’ll be there without delay. Definitely.]
The ti I had to hand over the hero to Serelin was around 7 PM. Since we had arranged to et around 4 PM, I had roughly three hours to myself.
After finishing the inspection and research tasks, it was almost ti to et the hero.
“Lux. I’ll give you a special carrot.”
Since I needed Knight Lux's help to move quickly, I ultimately agreed to give him the special carrot again.
Purr!
At that, Knight Lux approached with a look that seed to say, “If that’s what you want...”
“...That doesn’t an you, right?”
Such a sly one, like a fox rather than a talking creature.
I climbed onto Knight Lux and headed toward the central comrcial district.
“Lux, you’re good at finding the way.”
Even though I was holding the reins, he guided along the optimized route by himself.
Is this what they call perfect autonomous driving, like in cyberpunk?
When we were almost arriving at the central comrcial district, a thought suddenly ca to mind.
“...Co to think of it, should I change my clothes?”
The reason was because of the reactions I had seen from adventurers and rcenaries the last ti.
[No wonder that robe looked so fancy...]
Now I was going to a back alley magical tool shop. Compared to other places, it was a spot with relatively low-quality people.
You might think they wouldn’t dare touch a noble, but that varies from person to person.
“...Above all, I think the hero would worry too much.”
Anyway, the pretext for bringing the hero along was 'escort.' Therefore, the hero would do his best to fulfill that purpose perfectly.
“The main thing is the date with Serelin, not the magical tool shop.”
So it would be best if nothing interfered with the escorting. I needed to focus on magical tools and gem crafting techniques, and if those guys got in the way, it would only distract .
“...I’ll change.”
In the end, I summoned a door to my lab between buildings and stepped inside. I put on the tidiest black outfit chosen by an acquaintance and stepped back outside.
It felt a little bare on my shoulders, but...
“Anyway, it was chosen by my female acquaintance, so it should be fine.”
“Hero! Great job!”
“Thanks to you, I barely survived!”
Several rcenaries cheered for a man.
“It was only possible because of your support. Thank you for fighting alongside .”
Aswell responded to their cheers, putting his holy sword back into its sheath.
If it was the sa schedule as yesterday, he would have to fight for another three hours after this, but today he had prior engagents.
“Well then, I’ll take my leave. Tempest.”
Aswell called, and a white horse that had been waiting nearby quietly approached.
Mounting Tempest in one smooth motion, Aswell sped away from the gate.
“I’m late.”
In the end, he was a bit late to the appointnt because he had to rescue a rcenary who was in danger.
If it were Louis, she would probably be quite angry for being late, but... just the fact that he had broken his promise troubled him.
“Central comrcial district, this way.”
Aswell moved the reins moderately, guiding Tempest along the fastest route.
About 30 minutes later, Aswell arrived at the central comrcial district.
He left Tempest at a nearby stable and began searching for his appointnt.
“I definitely told her to et under the clock tower.”
The clock tower was one of the places where citizens arranged appointnts in the huge central comrcial district. Luckily, it stood tall and alone, making it easy to find.
As Aswell got closer to the clock tower, he suddenly rembered his attire.
Even though he hadn’t gotten hurt and didn’t have dirt or dust on him, he still couldn’t say it looked good.
It was a relief that he had left his armor in Tempest’s saddlebags. Thanks to that, no one recognized him.
Tap, tap.
With no other choice, he brushed off the dust from his current clothes to make them look neat.
Then, he walked slowly toward the plaza where the clock tower was located.
She was probably wearing a white robe as usual.
Thinking that, Aswell looked around for soone in a white robe.
But no matter how hard he looked, he couldn’t find anyone wearing a robe.
“Is she not here yet...?”
If sothing had happened at the western gate, it was quite possible she would be late.
This was an unavoidable fate as a mber of the hero’s party.
“Still, it might be better for to wait.”
But that wish was easily burst by a finger poking at Aswell’s back.
“Hero, you’re late.”
The voice of his appointnt.
In the end, she was the one waiting first.
“Sorry, the battle request took longer than expected...”
He quickly turned around, apologizing.
No, he tried to, but he stopped midway.
It wasn’t a white robe. It was the opposite—a black outfit.
Or was it a dress? If not, what should he call it?
But one thing was certain.
No word could perfectly describe what she was wearing.
“...Louis?”
She was looking up at Aswell with her arms crossed, her sharp gaze piercing through him.
It was unclear whether she crossed her arms to express her anger or to cover her exposed shoulders.
“No matter how much it’s a back alley, there are closing tis, you know.”
“Uh, ah, that... the battle dragged on, so... sorry.”
At that, she let out a small sigh. Then she straightened Aswell’s crumpled sleeves and spoke.
“Well, since you’re the hero, I suppose it can’t be helped. Fortunately, the doors haven’t closed yet. If we go now, we won’t be late.”
“That’s a relief...”
“Then let’s go.”
She took hold of his straightened sleeve and pulled Aswell along with her.
Confused by her appearance, Aswell barely cald his mind and asked,
“Um... Louis. Is that outfit...?”
“Oh, I thought it wouldn’t be good to stand out, so I changed. Do you think it’s not suitable?”
She turned slightly to look back at him while walking ahead.
Aswell couldn’t dare affirm that question.
“...No way.”
“Then that’s good.”
Is that really enough? If she said so, then maybe it was.
The hero, Aswell, decided to stop thinking any further. If he kept thinking, he wouldn’t be able to predict what would happen.
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