Chapter 245
Chapter 245
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 245
Chapter Title: Chapter 6-1. Iris
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Black Crown.
It was a tattoo symbolizing the king of the Shadow Kingdom. He hadn't deliberately checked it out—it had simply caught his eye naturally as they shook hands. He stared at it for about a second before immediately meeting her gaze. The movement was so natural and free of awkwardness that she probably hadn't noticed he'd seen the black crown. He gave her hand a couple of light shakes and released it.
"……."
Iris quietly looked down at the hand she'd used for the handshake. She clenched it into a fist and then opened it, which made him wonder if perhaps she was displeased, but her favorability and expression didn't suggest that at all. After the handshake, the two of them awkwardly stared at each other's faces for a moment before heading toward the temple without another word. Even though it was evening, plenty of people were gathered in front of the temple. Fortunately, they weren't too late—Arhil was visible even from the entrance.
'Where is she?'
Was she still inside learning a skill or something?
"Shall we go up?"
In response, she simply nodded. Even for a small temple, they had to climb the stairs. They passed people coming down, ascended all the way, and entered through the open door. Just as they stepped inside, they spotted Arhil greeting the bishop. She bowed reverently in greeting, then descended the stairs. Spotting Yuda, she placed her left hand on the railing, rose onto her tiptoes to make herself taller, and waved energetically. She seemed aware they were inside a temple, as she didn't shout.
Her appearance as she bounded down the stairs was slightly different from that morning. The nun's habit she'd worn before had been plain, simply accentuating her figure without any embroidery. But this one featured silver thread stitching, making it beautiful in its own right. Above her ample cleavage hung the cross necklace that Sara, Viscount Jenner's daughter in Uruun, had made—one for each of them to share with Jeanne. She even wore a veil she didn't usually use, and her white garter belt had been changed to black. Her skirt was still short. The way her breasts bounced with her vigorous movements was more than enough to set a man's heart racing.
"…Wow."
People's gazes naturally turned toward her. Men gaped, trying to drink in even a little more of the sight, while a few innocents blushed and looked away. There were others nearby wearing the same priestly robes, but the difference between them and Arhil was incomparable.
'Hmm.'
It was tricky. Being her companion was truly a joy. Seeing Arhil like that every day was incredibly fortunate. She was talented, had a great personality, and was perfect in looks and figure—it was pure luck to be with her. He even knew secrets about her that others didn't, and they'd burned hot together through the night.
That was why the stares from the crowd grated on him. Her sleek thighs, tightly clad in stockings, drew eyes like magnets. Yuda let out a small sigh and opened <Bag> to pull out a robe. He didn't care if others were watching. It was a clean, luxurious robe made of fine fabric. Viscount Jenner had it tailored along with his suit in Uruun, just in case it might come in handy later. It was on another level from what a general store sold. He draped the robe—far darker black than her nun's habit—over Arhil as she approached.
"You're beautiful. I don't love that it draws everyone else's eyes, though."
The moment he saw her, Yuda said it honestly. Arhil's eyes widened as the robe settled on her shoulders. Then she let out a "Hehe" giggle and flung the robe open wide in front of Yuda. He'd never actually seen a Barbie doll, but if he had, this would be exactly the pose. With her legs neatly together and a shy smile, she felt more like a model than a doll. Tilting her head to the side, she flashed an eye smile and asked Yuda.
"How's it look? Pretty, right? Pretty! It pinches a little, but it's super comfortable!"
Her seductive pose as she drew close and spoke with that eye smile was troubling. Her unique voice, gaze, and gestures. Thanks to her special trait [Irresistible Charm], her allure never grew any less potent no matter the days that passed. Naturally, the people nearby blushed as they watched her.
"You look beautiful. Really."
At Yuda's reply, Arhil broke into a satisfied, loose grin. Giggling "Hehe," she noticed the stares around them, clutched the hem of the robe closed, and sidled up to Yuda. It was only then that she belatedly realized there was a familiar-looking woman behind him.
"Huh? Who's this?"
It was the server from Veil of Light, the shop where she worked. The one called mute by people because she couldn't speak.
-Hello.
Iris pulled out her notepad, wrote the greeting, showed it to her, and bowed her head. Arhil bowed in return. She seemed a bit puzzled as to why this woman was waiting here with Yuda. She looked to Yuda with an expression asking for an explanation.
"I saw her being dragged into an alley on the way and helped. We went to the guards, and since she was coming here anyway, she came along."
"Oh… Are you hurt? Are you okay?"
At Arhil's question, Iris smiled to indicate she was fine.
"Alright, let's talk as we head back."
It might have been nice to keep chatting in the temple's warm, light-filled space, but too many eyes were on them. After covering Arhil with the robe, the stares had lessened a bit, but people still glanced their way. It felt uncomfortable. Arhil and Iris seemed to feel the same, as they followed after Yuda as he walked out.
Iris walked demurely with her hands neatly clasped, looking less like a server and more like a maid. Meanwhile, Arhil was so excited about something that she chattered away in her pleasant voice about what had happened that day. There was no room for Iris to interject, nor for Yuda to speak. He simply nodded and listened. They safely returned to the shop. Iris bowed her head deeply and took her leave.
"You haven't eaten yet, right?"
"Yeah. I got lunch there, but the temple food doesn't taste good, so I didn't eat much."
Arhil stuck out her tongue. It wasn't picky eating on her part—the meals Yuda and Lime had made were just so delicious. And this place was an inn, but how was the food so good? The temple fare wouldn't go down at all. She'd barely forced down some soup and bread. Yuda watched her fondly, then called the mute server, Iris, and ordered food. After eating, they took a short walk to digest before returning to their room to rest.
Even though a man and woman were sharing the room, the day ended without any special events.
The next day, he escorted Arhil to the temple in the morning. This would likely be their routine for a while. When he returned to the shop, he spotted Iris just about to head out. Yuda approached her with a friendly greeting.
"Hello? Heading out somewhere?"
He was now used to waiting for her to pull out her notepad.
-Yes, just for a bit. I need to go shopping.
"Oh…."
Reading the note, Yuda thought for a moment before asking if he could borrow her notepad and pencil for a second. Notepad and pencil? Iris gave him a puzzled look but handed them over without much thought. It had been a while since he'd held a pencil. He took the notepad and wrote on it.
-Need any help?
Iris read it and made an amused face. Pen-and-paper talk—up until now, no man had responded to her writing in kind. Not just men, but no one at all had ever replied to her notes with notes of their own. It was refreshing. Iris felt her interest in the Yuda before her grow a little stronger.
-You'll help? This isn't just pity, is it?
She handed the notepad back. Yuda took the pencil and wrote below it.
-If it's carrying stuff, I can help anytime. And it's not pity. I just get anxious seeing you get caught up in incidents every day. I've saved you twice already—if there's a third, I can call it fate. Chance, connection, destiny.
It was a fairly long note, but she didn't mind.
-Isn't that the saying: first time chance, second connection, third fate?
-Is it? I prefer chance, connection, destiny.
Iris read it and let out a silent chuckle. Her expression brightened. After laughing, she wrote another note and showed it.
-Alright. Then I'll take you up on it.
He headed to the market with Iris. She had a lot to buy. Whether she always shopped alone, before entering each store, she wrote down her order list in the notepad. When they entered the shop, the merchant was finishing a deal with someone else and reacted a beat late.
Mute server.
She bowed politely to the merchant. He saw off his previous customer, then approached with a smile and extended his hand. They knew each other—he asked how she'd been. Iris nodded and tore out a page from her notepad to hand him.
"Hmm. Quite a list. Makes sense with business booming."
This one, yes. That one too…
He muttered as he checked off each item on the paper. After a short wait, he approached with the paper and showed it to Iris, letting her know what was out of stock.
"Price is the same as last time. I can prepare it today, but… deliveries are backed up, so I can send it out tomorrow afternoon. That okay?"
Iris made a troubled face. The merchant scratched his head, equally helpless about the situation. Yuda, who had been watching quietly, tapped her shoulder.
"?"
He asked for the notepad from her as she turned. Then he wrote and showed her.
-I'll help.
-How?
-Didn't you see yesterday? No brag, but I've got that subspace.
Iris's eyes went wide. She seemed to recall it belatedly. He returned the notepad to her and approached the merchant. Seeing the note-writing, the man quietly asked.
"You too, uh, mute…? No, can't speak?"
"No."
The prompt voice made the merchant clear his throat with a "Ahem." Yuda told him they'd be back later, so please gather the items in one spot. Thinking him a porter, the merchant agreed. It was the same at the other shops. He'd tell them the items needed, pay, and ask them to pile everything up since they'd return soon. The merchants obliged. Back at the vegetable shop, Yuda stored the piled goods into <Bag>.
"If you made deliveries your trade, you'd never starve."
One merchant marveled as the items vanished from sight like they'd been stolen. Even Iris, watching beside him, clapped her hands and scribbled hastily that it was amazing. He replied it was nothing and returned to the shop with her to unload.
-Thank you for the help. Wait just a bit. It's lunchtime, so you'll order food, right? It's not much repayment, but it'll be on the house!
Iris held out her notepad. Was she asking for a reply? Yuda glanced at the proffered notepad and pencil before taking them.
-It wasn't any trouble, but if you're offering, I'll gladly accept. So, order now?
-Yes.
As Yuda wrote his order in the blank space, he glanced at her handwriting above. So pretty. His own looked awful by comparison. Embarrassingly so. But Iris didn't care at all—she checked the order and told him to wait a moment before leaving.
========== Author's Note ==========
1) Please hit the recommend button once each. It's been a while with consecutive updates, so seeing the rec count keeps me motivated.
2) You bad humans! Someday I'll flee to a world where couples can live in peace! Nearly 100 comments, and not a single hopeful one among them. (Sigh)