Click-click-
Rubia’s shoes echoed down Cartia Street, a sound different from usual.
Click-click-
“Things like this are necessary, you know.”
“W-wait, really…?”
“Of course! A lady’s shoes are a matter of pride, you know?”
“I see…”
Pride…
Just as Rubia said, her pride had been elevated by 10 cm.
But, speaking of pride…
Click-click-
“B-but… why are you radiating Divine Power around your body…?”
“I need a certain dignity, after all.”
“Rubia’s Divine Power… It’s so sparkling, right?”
“Yes, it’s bright enough to be hard to look at.”
“W-whoa…”
Two hours earlier… we had passed through the checkpoint and entered the city.
Getting through the Cartia checkpoint was a piece of cake.
Just like in Ursphere, when the suddenly appearing Rubia appeared, people made way for her.
Seeing that, Rubia smiled satisfactorily and with every step she took, she muttered something that sounded… quite impressive.
I had no idea what it meant…
Well… either way.
Leaving the carriage with the checkpoint staff, Rubia headed straight for a clothing store.
Entering the biggest, most expensive-looking clothing store, Rubia ended her shopping with one sentence.
“I’ll take the most expensive clothes and shoes. Three sets, please.”
And so… I had to change clothes too.
The clothes that had grown too large since my body shrank were sent in for alterations, and now I was left with some ridiculously expensive clothes that fit me just right…
And the skirt got even shorter.
They said it was magically enchanted, so the wind wouldn’t blow it up and reveal my panties… but still, it’s too short.
I felt like crying from embarrassment.
Anyway… after all that, now.
Click-click-
Rubia was attracting attention with her bright, crisp shoe heel sounds.
People in the midst of work, passersby, even couples on dates; everyone dropped to their knees as soon as they saw Rubia, shouting, “Ahh! We meet Lady Rubia!”
Such fervor… I couldn’t help but think of the word… zealot…
What on earth had she done in this city to elicit such extreme reactions…?
And why were they directly praising Rubia instead of Erden…?
“R-Rubia, you must be really famous in Cartia…”
“Well, it seems so, right?”
“W-wait, why…?”
Rubia, who had maintained a haughty expression, gazed at me with a bittersweet smile.
“Some time ago, a serious epidemic broke out, and I helped out back then.”
“Epidemic…?”
“Yes. About 90% of this city’s population fell ill. I hesitate to say this, but if I hadn’t been there… it could’ve been disastrous.”
“Gosh…”
But no matter how much Rubia helped, isn’t it usually the case that people praise Erden, like in other towns?
Is there another reason for this… Hmm…
As I pondered why that was, I noticed a woman who had been secretly following us, now closing in on Rubia, reaching out her hand.
Zing– Everything became focused on one person.
Instinctively, I drew my Great Sword and hid Rubia behind me.
At the same time, a wild surge of Magical Power erupted.
Stronger.
This person was definitely powerful.
Just from the momentum alone, it felt similar to Kalt.
There were a lot of people around.
If a fight breaks out here, can I protect them while fighting this person?
Can I even beat this person?
The surging Magical Power began to absorb into my body.
My muscles became more flexible and firm.
My veins felt tougher.
My blood began to circulate faster, heating my body.
Magic that had lain dormant deep inside me flowed into the Great Sword.
The Fragment of Carpen pulsed.
I will absolutely win.
“N-no…? Why all of a sudden—”
The woman who had been reaching out suddenly recoiled, looking down at me with surprise.
“Uh? Vishur?!”
“Yes. Greetings, Lady Rubia. It’s been a while.”
What? They know each other…?
“When did you get here? Were you trying to scare me again?!”
A smile spread across Rubia’s face.
“Haha… yes, I tried to play a prank, but I failed… This is Noah, right?”
“Yes, that’s right. Noah, this person is Vishur, the head of the Adventurer Guild in Cartia.”
“…Huh…?”
The head…? Ah…
Lowering the Great Sword I had been awkwardly holding, I strapped it at my waist.
I dispersed the fluttering Magical Power around me and smacked the Fragment of Carpen, calming it down.
“I apologize, Noah. I took it too far.”
While I was calming the energies rising within me, Vishur bowed slightly toward me.
The surrounding people began to murmur.
“Eh…? No… um… I’m sorry too—”
“No need to apologize. It was only natural for Noah to act that way.”
Shaking his head, Vishur straightened and bore a faint smile.
“Hmm… I see.”
“Then, may I formally introduce myself? I am Vishur, the head of the Adventurer Guild in Cartia. It’s an honor to meet you.”
Vishur extended his hand.
“Hello… I am the Adventurer Shin Noah.”
I didn’t recite my usual introduction that always played in my head.
I simply shook hands lightly.
This person was undoubtedly strong.
Similar to Kalt? No, perhaps even stronger.
With a slight smile, Vishur nodded and turned to Rubia.
“Your outfit suits you perfectly. You’re even more beautiful than when I last saw you.”
“Ahaha… so embarrassing, but thank you.”
Rubia bashfully lowered her head, still wearing a broad smile.
“So… have you eaten yet? If not, would you like to go to that restaurant we went to ‘together’ last time?”
“Ah… that sounds nice, but for now, I plan to eat after visiting Cartia.”
“Ah, Cartia. Then would it be alright if I help guide you?”
“I would be extremely grateful if you could. But, aren’t you busy? I feel like we’re wasting your time…”
“Not at all. I should have made time to guide you.”
Vishur, who had been wearing a gentle smile, answered brightly.
There was no feigned politeness in their voices.
No subtle changes in expressions or gestures.
Both were speaking sincerely, without a trace of deceit.
Hmm…
“Then, I’ll leave it to you. Hehe.”
“It would be my honor.”
Vishur bowed gracefully, taking out a communication crystal and murmuring something softly.
It was a message instructing that the moment Lady Rubia arrives in Cartia, she should be given the utmost hospitality.
What on earth had happened to warrant this later behavior towards Rubia…?
No, from the very start, Vishur’s attitude towards her was…
Hmm…
“Shall we go, Noah?”
“…Yes.”
Tightly gripping the hilt of my Great Sword, I followed Vishur.
Zing– Clang– Zing– Clang–
The sound of the Great Sword today was just irritating.
*
“You’re still the same. I’m glad to see that.”
“I’m still pleased, Noah. How about you?”
Following Vishur’s guidance, we truly entered Cartia.
Interestingly, the real Cartia was hidden behind another barrier within the city.
At both the path and the gateway leading into Cartia, everyone praised Rubia.
A sour taste lingered in my mouth.
“Um… it’s nice…”
I felt something off, but…
Cartia itself was truly appealing.
Rather than just being visually pleasing… how should I put it…
The very energy of the earth felt good…?
Every time I breathed in, it felt like the Magic within me danced joyfully.
“I’m glad to hear that.”
Once again, a gentle smile.
“Do you like it, Noah? Other people say it’s the same, but I feel slightly differently. I would say… it feels like the Divine Power settles.”
“Ah… that’s right. Breathing has become comfortable, and it feels… nice.”
“Ha-ha… we think alike. So, shall we take a look around?”
Rubia gently extended her hand.
I held that hand just a little tighter than usual.
“Lady Rubia and Noah seem to have a good relationship.”
“Oh my, really?”
With a rich smile and a clear laugh.
“Noah, they say we look close. Isn’t that great?”
“Yes.”
Click-click-
“But thanks to Vishur guiding us, we could get in so easily. I was thinking of forcing our way through. Well… that could’ve been fun too.”
Zing– Clang– Zing– Clang–
“Such mischief. Even if it were another city, they couldn’t stop Lady Rubia, but in Cartia, they surely can’t.”
Click-click-
“Well, you never know what could happen. Something could have changed while I was away… or the policies might have shifted or something…”
Crackle– Tap– Crackle– Tap–
“That won’t happen. Just as Noah is the hero of Ursphere, Lady Rubia is the hero of Cartia. And that will surely be passed down for generations to come.”
“If that’s the case… I’m relieved. But it’s a bit embarrassing…”
Rubia paused, looking at Vishur with a broad smile.
Vishur then turned his head towards me.
And again, a gentle smile.
“So, I kindly ask this of you, Noah.”
“…What is it?”
“I earnestly request that you protect Lady Rubia, the hero of Cartia, ‘our’ hero.”
Ha.
They’ve been rubbing it in since earlier.
I unleashed the unruly Magical Power roaring inside me.
I poured out everything, even the magic that had lain deep within me.
“Even if the Empire, Erden, or even… this entire world tries to take her life.”
As the Magical Power surged forth, my hair fluttered in the wind.
Dust spread across the surroundings.
The Fragment of Carpen pulsed.
Shock filled Vishur’s expression.
“I will do whatever it takes to keep ‘my’ Rubia alive. So don’t overstep the line.”
Gripping the hilt of my Great Sword as if to break it, I made a resolution.
I needed to sort out this ambiguous relationship quickly and establish a definite one.
And then…
Create a symbol that would unequivocally reveal our relationship to everyone.
