Chapter 77
Chapter 77
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 77
Chapter Title: 21-3. Emotions Like Fireworks Shot into the Sky
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Tree shops were common in the Empire.
Since Emperor Locke's original profession had been a woodcutter, his influence was bound to be strong.
"Welcome! Knights!"
As Mardol and I stepped into one shop, a man with bear ears appeared from the back.
"Nice to meet you, Druid."
Judging by the vines growing around, he was a Druid. He was watering the flowers and trees.
"...Hello."
It was an improvement over the first time he'd met Mardol. Normally, he would have just bowed silently without a word.
He used informal speech with Kainel or Ariel but polite speech with those older than him.
'I thought he'd treat the princess casually because of her status.'
He had to hide his identity, so maybe that was why. Poor guy, Mardol. I gave a small nod, understanding her situation for a moment.
"...What are you doing? Licht...?"
"Nothing. Ah, do you sell oak branches by any chance?"
As I was lost in thought, the glass helmet turned toward me, golden eyes gleaming. To change the subject, I asked the Druid.
"Of course we do! What do you plan to use it for?"
"For a Querr costume. Not for me, but for this one."
"Yes. That's right."
I pointed at the glass knight in heavy armor and continued. The man narrowed his eyes, sizing it up.
"Hmm, definitely... For a Querr, that works!"
"I think so too. It's certainly huge."
"..."
"I'll go get the branches and soil! Please wait a moment, knights!"
With that, the Druid headed into what looked like a storage room in the back. Now, the only ones left in the shop were Mardol and me.
'Come to think of it, it's been a while since I heard "knight" as a title.'
Today, the nostalgic feeling lingered in my body. It was an endearment the Nameless Saintess often used for my character.
That was when it happened.
"...Licht."
Tap. The glass knight lightly poked my side with her armored elbow. Why the sudden action? Her head drooped, gazing at the ground dejectedly.
"...Sorry. Pervert. Licht."
"What's wrong?"
"I thought you wouldn't say it to anyone... "
Ah, no way. Was it because I said "huge"? I just meant tall or big in stature. The misunderstanding had deepened. I waved my hands frantically to deny it.
"I just meant it's as huge as a Querr, that's all."
"..."
"Mardol?"
Thud. Thump. The pokes had escalated from taps to thuds. The glass knight was now drumming on my back with both hands like she was wielding a club. It didn't hurt since there was no real force behind it.
"Not huge. Licht. Idiot..."
She was holding back because of her strength. If she'd hit full force, my ribs would have cracked. A slight chill ran down my spine.
'Must be a choice that lowers affinity.'
Seeing her reaction was actually a relief. I let out a sigh of relief to the rhythm of her thumps.
She wasn't a tsundere like Ariel, and she was just misunderstanding on her own, so I decided to let her be.
"Knights! Sorry for the wait!"
How long had Mardol been silently pressuring me?
"To make your costume more realistic, I specially brought Querr branches instead of plain oak!"
"Ah, thank you."
The shopkeeper knew his stuff. The Druid returned and showed us the items. I smiled contentedly inside my helmet.
"Thank you so much! Come again! Knights!"
I pulled silver coins from my pouch and paid. I beat Mardol to it before she could try.
"Ah, let me pay..."
"It's fine, Mardol."
No way was I letting a debt notice or some suspiciously white paper come my way with a bill. Besides, I'd been receiving too much already.
"We've got all the materials for your costume, Mardol. Now I just need to buy my helmet."
Now we could head back to the clubroom and pick up a knight helmet on the way. I turned to leave,
"Um, Licht."
but a mumbling voice from beside me grabbed my ankle again.
"...Can you help me?"
"What's the matter, Mardol?"
Was this a fame event? Asking for help usually led to good outcomes.
I stopped moving. To save our Saintess, the protagonists' help was essential. For the companion route, it was best not to miss events like this.
'No way affinity rises in a tree shop.'
It should be fine. Not like last time's dinner. This wouldn't even count as a date. Even with zero dating experience, I knew that much.
"Help with the costume."
I couldn't refuse the princess's request with her guards possibly around. I nodded in acceptance. Now that she wasn't a girl in my eyes, I just had to be careful.
In a corner of the shop, Licht and Pine sat facing each other.
"...Do we have to do it here? Mardol."
"Yes, Licht."
She wanted to be alone with the black knight a bit longer. She was still a little upset from his earlier words,
'And it's comfortable since I don't have to worry about it.'
Licht right now was someone who put her at ease, so her emotions slipped out without her realizing.
"Well, it would be hard to do the costume alone, so I'll help."
This oblivious man was always like this toward her. He seemed to take two steps closer,
"I'll buy my helmet quickly anyway."
only to take one step back. She was running a parallel line with him, close but never touching,
"Thanks, Licht."
but Pine didn't dislike him. He was considerate of her in heavy armor, so clumsy at lying it showed,
"It's nothing."
and his emotions were like a soft black puppy, embodied in those brown eyes of the knight.
He began applying soil to her armor with his hands. Rough, bumpy hands from years of gripping a sword. That was when it happened.
"...Mardol?"
"Ah, uh."
"Is something wrong?"
"..."
Flinch. Every time the man's rough touch met her glass armor, she startled violently.
"Is the soil cold?"
"...Yeah. A bit cold."
Pine Granasia lied without thinking. Actually, Licht's hands were cold. They hadn't been before. Why now? He was just applying soil over the armor.
'Why am I like this...?'
She steadied her slightly trembling body, regulating her breathing.
"I'll warm it up with my hands before applying."
"...Thanks, Licht."
She found it endearing how he kneaded the cold soil to warm it,
"Better now?"
"Yeah, it's good..."
but it hadn't calmed her at all. How much time passed?
'Finally calming down.'
Only when his touch stopped did she regain her relief. Her shoulders dropped, tension easing.
"Now, attach the branches here..."
She thought, 'It must be the tickling from Licht or surprise at the sudden touch.'
She grew annoyed at his brown eyes glaring this way and that at her armor.
'...Pervert. Father was right; all men are wolves.'
Pine puffed her cheeks inside the glass helmet.
If she invited him to the palace later, she'd warn the maids, she pondered,
"All done. Take a look."
but those thoughts faded quickly.
"..."
"What's wrong now...?"
"This... isn't cute... Licht."
She gazed at the tree monster costume Licht had made in the mirror. The heavy armor looked downright eerie to anyone.
"It's a Querr costume from the start; it can't be cute."
The man in the black knight helmet scolded her. It was a horror experience; scary was the point. But even so, there were limits.
"...I don't like it."
Pine crouched down right there. Her current appearance was grotesque enough to make passing children burst into tears.
"W-Wait a second. Hold on!! Mardol!"
"Licht...?"
Footsteps pounded loudly several times. Seeing her dejected in costume, the man dashed off somewhere. Watching him, Pine felt puzzled.
"Mardol, how about this?"
Soon after, a sweating Licht returned to her.
"...Huh? Flowers...?"
"Dried ones, but bear with it to keep the scary vibe."
Dry flowers.
Where did he get these? He decorated the dull branches with various colored dried petals, like flowers blooming in spring.
"...Pretty."
Colors painted over the armor. She felt Licht had a good eye for detail.
For a moment, Pine sensed something off. No Empire national flower.
'Ah, no roses.'
Was he thinking of the Nameless Saintess here too? No roses among the flowers he brought, though they must sell them.
'...Mana Rose too; I'm jealous.'
What was their relationship? He'd become a Sword Master for someone he liked, apparently,
'Lover...? No, doesn't seem like it.'
Pine checked his emotions in his eyes and his careful movements attaching the flowers.
"Finished. And additionally here..."
From the start, Licht had been extremely careful not to touch anywhere improper. Armor made it fine, but he was thorough.
As she felt a twinge of jealousy, Licht pulled out something shiny.
"A small doll."
"...Fox Slime."
"Yes, we saved one together last time, right? Thanks then."
A finger-sized doll linked by an iron ring. She noticed the black knight's eyes looked somewhat sad.
"...Licht. Sad?"
"Huh? Me...?"
"Looks like it."
"I'm not sad at all, Mardol."
Another lie. Even the wording was awkward. Shouldn't he ask why she thought he was sad first? Denying upfront was a mistake.
"...Dolls are perfect for a scary vibe."
"Licht."
"Even cute ones are small, so people won't notice much."
"..."
He awkwardly changed the subject. Gazing at the dangling dolls before her, she got inexplicably angry. Probably because of that Saintess.
'...Doesn't seem like they've met.'
She hadn't appeared even after he nearly died facing the Demon King, and she'd made him dishonorably second in the year-end exam to get Mana Rose.
'Probably... asked him to take good care of her for some reason.'
Pine recalled what Licht had said before.
That look didn't appear if they'd reunited. Even without her keen eyes, his gestures dripped with longing.
"...Cheer up."
She knew not to offer empty comfort, but it was all she could do.
"Thanks for the support, Mardol."
The black knight's gaze toward the distance looked more vacant than ever.