We're walking in one straight street, a couple of kiloters long, with a few side alleys. On one end, are stores and stalls, and on the other end are residential houses or rundown buildings, between those buildings, are people walking scattered on the street and living their daily lives. This town was the place that I visited last ti with Stephanie before eting Professor Eukla. Then now, I'm with her alongside a new person whom we invited to accompany us, Erik. He has an odd personality which perfectly summarizes his appearance, but at the sa ti, he doesn't—however, it kinda does? He's too complex to understand.
Unlike earlier, Erik was now walking next to my left side whereas Stephanie is on my right, sticking her body closer while looking ahead.
"I haven't explored the town," Erik remarked.
"You haven't?"
"No, I haven't really explored the place. It's either the dormitory or the academy. The first ti was basically when I visited to register my na. That's basically the places that I've been on, sotis to tend my wounds in the elven building. Moreover, Lars hates the idea of going out also. He said to that it was to avoid confrontation."
"Confrontation? Like, to avoid any unnecessary problem?"
"I guess so."
"By the way, what's with people from before? You called them perverts."
"I'd rather not tell it, but I would say that they're people of insolence."
Insolence? Pervert? What a choice of words to describe those people. They might have really done so outrageous for Erik to say those words to them. Hence, they imdiately took my interest. The academy is filled with mystery and goofy wonders, both good and bad. Maybe, one of these days, I will take a look at other factions.
Stephanie has been relatively quiet all this ti, looking at the distance. So, I ruffled her hair.
"Stop that! You're ruining my hair! Don't ss with a woman's hair."
"Yeah, yeah." I chuckled.
"Hmm... Perhaps Lars is right." Erik said.
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Our first stop was the rchant shop. Upon taking our first step inside, the woman behind the counter recognizes Stephanie. "Steph? Great to see you! How are you nowadays? You haven't been visiting for quite a while." The woman who greeted us was a quite young adult woman, as her skin and face were glowing in youthfulness.
"Hello, Ms. Alexandra. It's been a while."
"How formal. No need for that." Alexandra jokingly said.
"From the looks of it, you're accompanied by two well-defined young gentlen. You're living the life, Steph. I envy you. So, how may I help you, two gentlen?" She locks her gaze at Erik and . Her gaze gives goosebumps.
Stephanie stepped in front, pulling behind her. "Stop that. You're making them uncomfortable."
"I don't think so. Right?" She smiles at us.
"You do," Erik answered her straightforwardly.
Alexandra was taken back by Erik's straightforwardness. Then she burst into laughter. "You. I like you." She pointed her finger at Erik.
"It's great to see you, associating with a lot of interesting people, Stephanie." Alexandra smiled aningfully.
"Because I need to. She's just playing with you two. Don't get swayed by her, okay? She acts like that to sway you two into buying her rchandise, not because you're good-looking, but because your faces are new in here. I almost got swayed by her when I first ca here. She really knows how to lead the conversation on her way." Stephanie warned us.
Alexandra's eyebrows furrowed and angrily said. "Steph! Stop sabotaging my business! I'm making a living here! Just to let you know, all my words are genuine, they ca directly from my heart."
"Just don't, Ms. Alexandra. You also said those words to , the first ti I ca here."
"Beh, it's called being courteous. Ever heard of that?"
Stephanie didn't reply.
"Anyhow, I'm Alexandra, a rchant and the owner of this wonderful shop that you're stepping on. As you can see, inside my shop, there are various items that you haven't seen back in your ho, as most of my rchandise ca from various parts of the world. Most importantly, all the equipnt that you see hanging on the wall was crafted by the town's best blacksmith. Everything here is high-quality! It's always a pleasure to see new faces coming to my place. May I know the nas of our two fine gentlen?" Alexandra said cheerily while resting her chin on the desk.
"I'm Erik Halvig, a first-year student, classified as an F-Rank student in the academy. It's a pleasure to et you." Erik introduced himself.
"Likewise," Alexandra replied before shifting her attention to .
"I'm Claude Weiss, in the sa class as Erik Halvig. It's also a pleasure to et you too."
"Claude? That's his na? Oho~? My, my, so he's the person that—Mmmph!"
"Don't ever say a word, understand?!" Stephanie shoved her palm into Alexandra's mouth.
Alexandra removes Stephanie's hand. "Puha! Jeez, you can't take a joke."
"Stop!"
"Jeez, okay, okay. So, how can I help you?"
"Here." Stephanie handed a piece of paper to her.
"I see, I see. Give a few minutes, I'll prepare it. Call my na when you need more." Alexandra gave us a smile as she entered the door behind her. She winked at us before the door closed.
"So, she's not a simple rchant, but also a friend of yours? How adorable."
"...Yeah. I guess so. She's a trustworthy rchant. Now, let's talk about the eting for tomorrow. Your schedules are open for tomorrow, right?"
"Yep, good to go. My schedule is clear."
" too. I spend most of my ti in training... Uh... Would it be a wise decision if I let Lars join us?" Erik added.
"If Instructor Sienna gives him permission then I wouldn't see any problem with it."
"That makes sense..."
As we wait for Alexandra that's preparing behind the door, we were looking at the items around the shop. A few minutes later, nothing has caught my eyes yet. Every item in this shop is not particularly interesting. They're certainly different and it's my first ti seeing them, but nothing took my interest. Perhaps because they're not suited for . For so reason, despite my quintessence technically still mana but purer—I can't activate any item that's not specially made for quintessence. I attempted to use a dagger with special enchantnt, but it broke into pieces once I poured my quintessence around it.
For a rchant shop, Alexandra's store was quite packed with various items from weapons, mana accessories, and basically everything. Then finally, sothing caught my eyes, a paper talisman with written scripture on it in black ink. Among the items, this piqued my interest. It's unusual to see an item yet a nostalgic piece of paper.
"An Ofuda...? 'Prosper'?"
"Are you interested in that, Claude?" Stephanie approached .
"Yeah. Do you know where this ca from? Are you familiar with this language?"
"The northern. From Adelle's birthplace."
"Are... They... Oh, never mind."
From Adelle's getup, it's basically the samurai country of so sort. I shouldn't have asked that question because it felt idiotic to ask in the first place when I already knew the answer. However, I'm not familiar with Adelle's hoplace.
"Haven't Adelle told you stories about that place?"
"No, she hasn't. She's doesn't seem to like telling stories about her past."
"Why not ask her? Did that not occur to you?"
"I did. However, her reaction told that it's a sensitive topic to discuss, so I didn't bring that up anymore."
"Is that so?"
"Yeah... She's trying her best to open up, but she's still having a hard ti."
"That's quite odd... From what I've read, physical intimacy would bring two people closer, resulting in infatuation. Isn't that the case?"
"Not every case. Not every physical intimacy will lead to that. So just seek comfort or a way of coping chanism through sex, and many more, but that doesn't an they're in love with each other. Relationships of people are complex. Not everything was because of love. At tis, we misunderstood that emotion as love, but in reality, it wasn't which leads to the bitter realization in the end. For instance, obsession."
"Yeah... Where did you learn this?"
"From Master Irene. She made read books and gave lessons about those books. Kind of weird, but I learned a lot.
"Wow. She really did say all of those?"
"She did." At that ti, Master Irene is explaining to all about her race, succubus. And halfway through her explanation, she began spouting the importance of differentiating love and sex. I don't know why it suddenly lead to that, but it just happened.
"With your explanation, are you implying that's how you view your relationship with Adelle?"
"No... A likely chance... It's hard to tell."
From the ti we spent together, it's hard to grasp what goes through her head. Other than our physical intimacy, we're bonded together by an oath from the mark that she gave . I can't think of a world where Adelle will leave ...
"Do you feel infatuated with her?"
"Obviously," I said without showing any hesitation.
"Then why did you answer like that?" Stephanie lets out a huge sigh before putting her hand in my head.
Afterward, Stephanie began ranting. "You're finally hitting realization, huh? What did I tell you before? When you started this, it cos with complications that may ruin you in the end. Did you take everyone's feelings into consideration? You did, but because of that, it beca complicated where you're stuck in a loop with no way out. As we grow older, our minds beco mature and eventually change, as we understand how the world functions."
I was flabbergasted by her. "Steph, cool yourself down."
"Ah, sorry, I overheard everything... But if I can weigh into the conversation then I will give a piece of advice that I receive from my father. Stephanie's last statent is true, Claude. My father had a concubine back ho who now lives with my mother now. You cannot please them all the ti, jealousy is part of love. That's what my father said." Erik interjected, standing behind us.
"See? That's my point. Great advice, Erik." Stephanie said.
"What? Pardon? What the heck is happening here...?" I look at the two in bewildernt. At this point, I'm trying to figure out how the conversation derailed so much that it beca about .
"Also, another piece of advice. Man up." Erik slaps my back while laughing.
"From what I've seen, Adelle holds you dearly because I can see myself in her. So, stop doubting." Stephanie patted my back.
I'm still processing all of it together. I an, Adelle wasn't the only one. The only person who was really open was Stephanie. I only spent ti with Lily for a few weeks. Clara doesn't talk much. Then, Master Irene... She's a secretive person because it's part of her Saintess duties. But still, how did the conversation derail so much? I'm peacefully checking the items, and once I asked for sothing from Stephanie it all changed in a matter of few exchanges. Unbelievable. On top of that, Erik added a few bits of advice! I'm speechless.
I glanced to the Ofuda once again before a scream reached my ears.
"All done!" Alexandra ca out of the door, carrying four pouches in her arms.
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