Chapter 17 – Episode 17. Alone Time (2)
The change was so faint that Celica herself seemed unaware of it, but Verdia was sure to sense it.
Either positively or negatively.
She says that Celica has changed since meeting that man.
‘… No, it will be fine.’
But Verdia was rather relieved by that fact.
If it was that man who did not succumb to her own temptations, nothing special would happen to Celica even if she was away for a while.
Yes, she will surely lead Celica well even while she is away.
Verdia, who controlled her heart like that, she soon told Celica about her business she had come to.
About what to do with her two colleagues who still show no signs of returning.
“Are you going to go find the two of them?”
“Yeah, I thought it would take quite a while for the two of them to come back. So I’m going to go find the two of them myself.”
The youngest Archmage belonging to the Mage Tower.
And an elven sniper whose home is in the Great Forest.
Although not as strong as Verdia, the 10 strongest, they were the ones with the best abilities in their respective fields.
Although Celica’s growth was not over yet, it could be said that the two of them’s help was absolutely necessary to help her grow.
“Ah yes. Then me too…”
“No, you are resting in this city for the time being.”
“Yes? Shirani… Then what about the training?”
“Training is good, but rest is also important. I can bring it by myself, so you can enjoy your rest until I return.”
After saying that, Verdia turned her back on her seat.
“Then let me go first. It will be necessary to airlift the wagon quickly in order to arrive at the magic tower within two days.”
“Ah yes…”
“Oh yes, and another one.”
Afterwards, as she was about to leave, she stopped her steps and looked back at her Celica and said quietly.
“Serica. What do you think of Dave?”
“… Yes?”
Dave Brian.
Why is he suddenly here?
“There is something wrong with Mr. Dave…”
Come to think of it, last night Verdia even had a private meeting with Dave. At that time, Celica, who was alone in her room, felt quite anxious.
I wondered if Verdia had done something to Dave on the spot, or maybe Dave had done something with Verdia.
‘Could it be expelled from the party?’
The moment when you feel a bit scared.
Contrary to such expectations, however, what came from beyond the helmet worn by Verdia was a much lighter voice than usual.
“Dave is a man you can trust.”
“… Yes?”
“At least I think so. So please, spend some meaningful time with him while I’m gone.”
The answer ends there.
Afterwards, Verdia, who resumed her steps where she had stopped, bid her farewell by quietly raising her hand.
After Verdia left, Celica was left alone in the room. Afterwards she chewed on her words as Verdia had said of her and as she felt her relief she rubbed her chest.
‘I don’t know why, but it must be that Dave is recognized first, right?’
Did the conversation last night go well? Whatever it was, it was reassuring that Dave wasn’t leaving right away.
For Celica, Dave was someone she depended on in many ways.
I know it’s an unreasonable ideal, but there was even a wish that he would continue to stay in the party he was leading.
To be alone with such a person from today until Verdia returns…
‘Uh? For a moment. Just the two of us?’
It was only at that time that Celica realized her own situation.
Recalling Verdia’s words again, her face slowly but surely began to heat up.
‘That, so… For now, since Mr. Verdia said you can rest until Mr. Verdia returns, Mr. Dave too…’
A body with nothing to do except training.
While he was at the party, he also assisted with his training without doing anything special, so he must have plenty of time for the time being.
It would be desirable to borrow such leisure time and build friendship with him.
‘Just the two of us with Mr. Dave, intimately…’
Gulp.
Celica, who swallowed her saliva, took out the luggage she had left in her room, took out the clothes arranged in it at random, and began laying them out on her bed.
“Oh, clothes… Do you want something good?”
Was it because he was devoted to practice all the time?
Decorating the body had to be accompanied by more preparation and consideration than expected.
***
After choosing her clothes for most of the morning, Celica, as usual, moved her feet to the tavern she had chosen as the meeting point for her party.
He is a blond, tanned man waiting for him with a drink of water after lunch.
It was Dave, the adventurer Celica cared about most of her lately.
“Well, that’s why Mr. Verdia has left the party for the time being.”
“Yes, it won’t take that long. The Mage Tower can be reached in a few days by carriage from here as well.”
If you go back and forth after doing business there, would it be about a week at the most?
Dave didn’t seem to mind that much either, as if he understood.
“Is the new party member a wizard belonging to the Mage Tower… Hey, if you’re someone like Verdia-san, you won’t bring someone who’s easygoing. I can’t wait to see who will come.”
“… Ahaha. Yes, I hope to become good friends with Mr. Dave.”
Come to think of it, did Dave not know that he was a warrior?
Of course, Verdia also told me not to reveal it right now, so I didn’t intend to repeat his every word, but on the other hand, I could feel his mouth itching.
‘Coming to think of it, Mr. Dave was always conscious of Mr. Verdia. He’s like the 10 strongest, or the priest of the war god…’
Celika is also aware of how amazing her achievements are. However, although she is still a newbie, she was scheduled to be reborn as a being with a mission to lead mankind in the future.
I want the man in front of me to see my presence better.
By the time that desire tickled a corner of his heart, Dave, who grasped the general situation, immediately changed the subject.
“By the way, Celica-san. Your outfit is unusual today.”
“Yes yes?”
Celica stiffens at Dave’s words.
In fact, her outfit was in a state with a big difference from usual.
Sleeveless cloth clothes, not the cheap leather armor worn by new adventurers.
It was structured to reveal not only the shoulders but also the chest, so it is safe to say that most of the skin except for the body was exposed.
Of all the clothes you own, the clothes that make you feel the most feminine.
But maybe it’s because I’m not used to it? Just wearing it makes me feel like my neck is being shackled, and even though I’m exposed, I can feel my whole body burning as if it’s about to ripen.
“Ah, that… Ahaha, what the heck. It’s been a long time since I had a day off, so I guess it gave me a bit of energy without even realizing it.”
“Ah yes. A spirit, do you mean?”
“Yes, yes! It’s a spirit! When you train, focus on swinging your sword, and when you play, have fun! Isn’t that natural!?”
Celica, who was talking gibberish, somehow managed to finish her words. But Dave couldn’t answer that, just stared at Celica’s figure.
She seemed to be belatedly bothered by her own appearance, which she hadn’t been aware of since she had previously spoken to her.
‘Ugh, uh uh. He’s also conscious.’
Does it look weird too?
Yes, it will.
In the first place, before she got her mission, she herself was just an ordinary country girl who helped with farming work.
Even after that, since she devoted herself to training every day, her body also had a few muscles, so even if she worked on her body now, it would be difficult to look good.
‘It’s too much. More than this…’
The moment you regret wearing clothes that don’t suit you.
“Hey, over there!!”
“It suits you well.”
While trying to run away, leaving only her excuses in mind, Dave spoke out his thoughts as if cutting off Celica’s words.
Short answer.
However, the meaning was the exact opposite of Celica’s idea.
“… Yes?”
Celica doesn’t understand the meaning and puts on a blank expression.
“Yes, very…”
Dave looked into Celica’s eyes, and she again told her honestly what she was thinking.
“It is very pretty.”
Other than that, there were no other words.
Is it a polite compliment? Yes, it will. It’s natural to be courteous among colleagues in the same party.
– Pounding, pounding.
Why is my heart beating so loud even though it’s just that much?
I didn’t know why the footsteps that tried to run away were frozen in place as if they had been nailed in, but at least one thing was clear.
“I…”
No matter what his thoughts were, at least at this moment, if he was a man who faced himself calmly, he would accept whatever he said in the future.
“That date man!”
Celica was struggling to keep up with the unfinished words.
It was only after I had already uttered the words that I realized there was a mistake there.
“… Date?”
“Oh no, not that Dave! Mr. Dave!!”
Celica, embarrassed, dyed her face like a blush.
Afterwards, Celica, who was waving her hands, stopped her, and fearing that he might misunderstand her, she resolutely told her business.
“Well, since there’s no training today… Why don’t you spend some time looking around the city like today?”
The purpose I had in mind as I searched for a change of clothes all morning.
Even while waiting for an answer to that, her heart jumped, and Celica lowered her head and began to put her hands on her chest, fearing that her flushed face would be revealed.
Are you okay? Would I be misunderstood?
As her heart tightened at such worry, Dave gave Celica an answer with a kind smile.
“If it’s okay with me, I’ll hang out with you.”
“I, really?”
“Yeah well, I don’t have any special plans other than being with Celica-san, and I was just thinking it was necessary to deepen friendships with colleagues.”
It was only at that time that Celica lifted her head. When she looked at her later, she felt the kindness she had felt towards herself.
Very kind and warm…
A man’s smile like the bright sun.
“Then let’s have fun with each other for the day. Now, shall we go?”
“Ah, yes… !”
Serica she casually joins her hand at his request.
Grabbing her and leaving her tavern, the smile on Dave’s lips began to change more vividly as he walked ahead of her and looked around her street.
As if she sensed that her own plan was going smoothly.
‘Da, a date…’
Of course, Celica didn’t understand the meaning, and she quietly followed him.
‘Seriously, oh, a date with Mr. Dave today…’
Just what happened
She hoped, and looked forward to, that the time she would spend with him would bring good meaning to their mutual future.
