“Ugh… I’m so full…”
“Can we go out now if we’re done eating?”
I wanted to enjoy my meal a bit longer, but…
Thanks to Rubia finishing her food like a warrior, I ended up eating quickly too.
“Um…? Can we take a short break before we go? I’m really full…”
“But you said we don’t have time.”
“Time… I guess that’s true.”
Lilith’s rank turned out to be higher than I thought… I wasted a lot of divine power during our meeting.
I think I spent an extra three or four hours more than I expected…
Rubia, who had been staring at me, cautiously asked,
“What time are you planning to sleep?”
“What time? Ah… phew! sniff… Ugh… What time should I sleep?”
To avoid hurting my feelings.
Rubia’s words, carefully phrased to sound pretty, were so cute that I burst into laughter.
“Ha, is it funny…? I-I’m just—”
“Ugh… No, no. Um… Time.”
Checking the divine power in my body, I tried to estimate the time.
With this much, roughly…
“About 1 a.m.?”
“1 a.m…. Got it. Let’s hurry up and go.”
Rubia, who had been looking at the clock, sprang up from her seat.
It’s 6 o’clock now.
We still have about seven hours left.
Nodding in agreement, I hopped- off the chair.
“So, where are we going?”
“There’s a shop I spotted on the way here. Will you go with me? How about some shopping?”
“Shopping? Sure, sounds good.”
There’s nothing else to do anyway, so anywhere is fine.
“I’ll take care of the payment. Would you like to wait outside?”
“Sure.”
The store owner looked like they had something to say, so I dashed out.
I wanted to properly thank them, but… I just gave a quick nod.
Sitting on the bench right in front, people-watching, Rubia soon joined me.
Even in a world dyed crimson, Rubia’s white hair didn’t lose its color and proudly showed off its beauty.
Yeah. She’s definitely pretty.
“I ate well, Noah.”
Rubia said with a smile as she wrapped her robe tighter.
Since Rubia bought it anyway, why is she thanking me for the meal?
After tilting my head for a moment, I replied,
“Yeah. I enjoyed it too.”
“Then, shall we go?”
I nodded and followed Rubia.
Even as time passed and sweat poured down, people continued to laugh and tidy up.
“The heavy snow in Ursphere won’t come down anymore.”
“Probably not, right?”
The heavy snow in Ursphere was caused by the sealed Tylant’s magical energy leaking out.
But with Tylant killed and all the magical energy vanished, there shouldn’t be any problem.
“There won’t be any more casualties either.”
“…Yeah.”
“Perhaps the buildings will change too? There’s no need to prepare for heavy snow anymore. They should look a lot nicer.”
I can’t imagine it.
The Ursphere I know was all gray.
I want to see how things change.
“Those who sold snow-preparation gear might get a bit mad.”
Rubia’s pace slowed.
I didn’t slow down and kept walking.
“But isn’t it good that they survived?”
They say it’s better to roll in a dung field than to be dead.
“…That’s true. If we survived…”
“Exactly. As long as we live.”
But I don’t agree with that statement.
It’s funny how I’m saying it, but… anyway.
“Do you really think so?”
A loaded question.
There’s no need to reveal my reasoning.
“Yeah. Really.”
“…Okay. Look, we’re here. This is the shop.”
“Hmm…? Th-this place…?!”
“Yes.”
A lingerie shop.
The underwear being displayed on the mannequin right in front is…
Unforgivingly provocative.
I feel like I shouldn’t go in.
“Th-this is crazy… I just need bandages!”
“Hehe – but you need something for the bottom, right?”
“That’s true, but…”
“I have to get something too. Let’s go in.”
Rubia, completely disguised in her robe, pushed me from behind.
No… If you’re going to hide yourself like that… we can just go somewhere else!
“I- I want you to choose for me, Noah… Is that too much?”
“Uh, um…? W-wait…!”
But I’m not the Noah Rubia knows!!
If I pick something… I might get… jealous, you know?!
Actually, I’m incredibly jealous, even if I may look fine, you know?!
But Rubia shrugged off my intentions and shook her head.
“I want you to choose. And… I’ll come back tomorrow too.”
“Ugh… okay…”
Taking a small breath, I moved forward.
This moment was even more nerve-wracking than when I faced Tylant.
Jangle-
The door opened.
“Oh my goodness…”
Are those things really labeled as underwear?
Those… those strings hanging? What are they even covering?
What the hell…
What about those with holes in the middle?
Crouching behind the terrifying assortment of lingerie, I heard Rubia swallow hard from behind me.
I’m really scared.
*
“Was it really necessary to change?”
“Of course! How long have those been around?”
“They were extremely clean, though…”
“Nope. If I think so, then it is so.”
Twisting my body at the unnecessarily soft texture,
I bought four sets of bizarre underwear.
“I said I could just use bandages! Why make me buy these…?”
And… I ended up buying some clothing inside too.
I didn’t need much since I could make them from Tylant materials anyway.
They weren’t exactly ordinary clothes either…
Ugh… How many times have I had to try those on?
If it were ‘me,’ I might have died from embarrassment.
“Phew… Now that I’ve digested enough, shall we try some dessert?”
“Huh? Dessert? Already?”
“Already, you say? Aren’t meal and dessert supposed to be separate?”
“That’s… true.”
I don’t quite get it in my head, but my body understands.
Even if I’m full… dessert can still go in?
Especially jelly or sugary fruit, I can eat even more of!
“Come on, let’s go.”
Rubia smiled sweetly and waved her hand.
I want to hold that waving hand, but…
I just nodded quietly and followed behind her.
Did I spend about an hour buying clothes?
People who had been working on the street began to disappear one by one.
The once-bustling street grew quieter.
I guess it’s about time I need to start talking about what I’ve been holding in my head.
“What do you want to eat?”
“Definitely… jelly and sugary apples and strawberries.”
“Huff… Got it. Just find a nice spot to sit, and I’ll bring it to you.”
“Can you carry it by yourself?”
“Of course.”
“Um… okay then. I’ll sit over there in the corner.”
I plopped down in the most secluded spot inside the dessert shop.
Once more.
I checked the magical energy I’ve organized, making sure there’s nothing wrong with my body, and ensuring I don’t have excess divine power left over.
I carefully reviewed if there were any aftereffects from my encounter with Lilith.
Almost done, when Rubia appeared with loads of delicious things.
“I got a few more things besides what you chose, Noah.”
Plenty of fruits, three types of drinks… and Rubia’s order is separate!
“Is this all really necessary?”
“We can pack it to take if we get tired of eating. Plus, we have places to go after this.”
With a bright smile, Rubia picked up a fork and plunged it into the cake.
We really have more places to go?
She’s got quite an elaborate itinerary…
Thinking that, I naturally opened my mouth.
Then Rubia tilted her head.
I also tilted my head… Oh right.
This isn’t how it’s supposed to go.
Clears throat… I was yawning.
I unconsciously opened my mouth.
It became a habit for Rubia to take the first bite of dessert…
I tried to grab the fork without flustering too much, but soon enough, Rubia’s fork was right in front of me.
“Um…?”
The fork wiggled.
“How is it?”
It’s delicious.
It’s tasty, but I didn’t answer.
I bowed my head and chewed silently, hearing a giggle followed by a clatter.
I couldn’t see what kind of expression or actions she was making.
Maybe I should’ve brought the great sword?
I stuffed myself with jelly and champagne-like cake while cooling off the heat inside me.
Then… I took my cue and spoke up.
With the most natural smile.
In a roundabout way.
I began,
“Well… since I’m the ‘main character’ of the festival, I should enjoy it… but after the festival, there’s something I have to do.”
Rubia froze for a moment since I unexpectedly brought it up.
Continuing without minding her, I went on.
“Oh, but before that, there’s a side effect from the elixir Yuria gave me. Most of it is resolved, but I might not be able to grow taller. I think… I might shrink by about 10 centimeters? But it’s not a big problem; I can still swing the great sword without any issues. My head might feel a bit off, but… you’ll take care of that, Rubia.”
Rubia quietly nodded.
“And then… we’re going to Cartia, right?”
“…Yes.”
“The most important thing to prioritize before that is… um, managing magical power above all else. But ‘my’ magical power is different from regular magical power, you know? It’s kind of ambiguous to even call it magical power… but if I had to classify it, it’s more like your divine power, Rubia. So it’s best if you teach me.”
“Noah—”
I didn’t want to stop talking.
“And from now on, you should also be careful, Rubia. When you take the trial at the Temple of Memory, there will be a huge change. Probably mostly for the worse. Tougher situations will come than what you’re facing now. But—”
I recalled the earlier situation.
Remembering the content of the trials I faced at the Temple of Memory.
The blazing flames.
The suffocating smoke.
The red world.
The pitch-black corpses.
Clenching my trembling hands, I took a breath.
“Never, ever give up. No matter what happens, even if ‘I’ end up in a situation where I might lose my mind, don’t give up. Even if you feel powerless or think you might die at any moment. No matter how strong an enemy appears that you can’t handle.”
I’m not sure if I could overcome it or not.
Frankly speaking, I think I won’t be able to.
But.
“The trial of Erden must not happen.”
I need to overcome it.
If I have to go through Erden’s trial,
I’ll have to awaken hypocrisy.
Kill everyone around me, and kill.
In the end,
I must kill Rubia too.
“It’s shameless of me, but please help me not to give up. Help me overcome.”
My skin will tear, bones will break.
I’ll pull out my heart and shred it apart.
“Please.”
Rubia let out a tremulous breath.
“Shall we talk while eating the rest?”
She poked the jelly with her fork and brought it to her mouth.
“Should I tell you how I defeated Tylant too? That guy, even though he looks fierce, he uses an incredible amount of magic, right? That’s why I—”
I wrote it down.
Like crazy.
Nausea rose from within.
But my smile didn’t falter.
I’m really glad.
