Chapter 41
Chapter 41
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 41
Chapter Title: Her Date (2)
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Noon, in front of the city fountain.
Standing before the fountain topped with a unicorn statue, Elis checked her hand mirror and tidied her bangs while waiting for Siegfried.
She then glanced toward Ken, who was seated at an outdoor table at a distant café, watching them, as if seeking confirmation.
He responded by raising his thumb in an OK sign.
Reassured by that, Elis took a deep breath.
What came to mind was that moment a few days ago, when Siegfried had asked her out on a date.
'F-Flower viewing...?'
'Yeah, there are some pretty flowers that only bloom at this time of year.'
'E-Early bloomers, sure, I'd love to... Haha, you idiot, you should invite a girl you're interested in for something like this.'
'...That's why I'm asking you.'
'......Huh?'
Recalling that intense, serious gaze of his made heat rise to Elis's face.
She rubbed her cheeks with both hands, trying to calm herself, but she couldn't control her expression.
'W-What do I do? What if I look weird...!'
To cool down quickly, she fanned herself with her hand and stamped her feet.
"Sorry I'm late."
"Kyaaah!"
Startled by Siegfried's sudden greeting, Elis let out a strange scream.
'It went wrong from the start...'
Watching from afar, Ken lowered his sunglasses slightly and let out a small sigh.
He knew those two would hit it off, but seeing how tense she was explained why she'd clung to him so desperately.
"Elis. What's wrong? Are you okay?"
"I-I'm f-fine. I just got here too."
"Your face is red. Are you feeling ill? Excuse me for a moment."
When Siegfried gently placed his hand on her forehead, he looked genuinely flustered—a rare sight.
"Th-This is bad, Elis! Your forehead's burning up!"
"It's your fault, you blockhead!"
Overwhelmed by embarrassment, Elis snapped at him without thinking and kicked his leg to hide it.
But his leg was like a rock—no damage at all.
Ignoring her familiar kick, Siegfried said with relief,
"Not sick, then... Good."
"Ugh."
His smiling face flustered her all over again.
She spun around.
"Gonna hit the bathroom!"
And bolted straight toward Ken.
"Wh-What do I do?! What do I do?! I didn't look weird just now, did I?!"
"You looked super weird."
"Aaaah! What am I gonna do! Now I'm overthinking it and I can't act normal!"
Spotting Elis rushing over, Ken met her in the alley behind the café for a quick strategy session.
"I figured this might happen, so I came prepared."
"What is it?"
Elis's eyes sparkled as Ken rummaged in his pocket, looking like he'd anticipated this.
She knew he'd crafted Siegfried's sword, so anything from his skilled hands had to be something useful for her situation.
Expectations high, she watched as he pulled out a small vial of what looked like potion.
"...What's this?"
"A calming draught. It'll ease your nerves."
"For real? If I drink this, can I act normal?"
"Absolutely. I guarantee it."
Trusting his confident look, Elis took the vial and downed it in one go.
It tasted like sweet strawberry cream soda—her favorite.
"Whoa...! I really feel my mind relaxing!"
"Special ingredients. You should be good now, right?"
"Yeah! Totally! Thanks, Ken! Asking you was the best decision ever!"
"Just stay relaxed, and the date will go fine. Enjoy it."
"Thanks so much! I'll repay this favor someday!"
With a bright smile, Elis hurried back to the fountain.
'She drank it without hesitation.'
Of course, it was a total bluff.
Rafne-brand special strawberry cream soda.
Ken's alchemy skill wasn't high enough to make a real relaxant.
But in the game, Elis was the trusting type who fell for tricks easily.
So, placebo effect it was.
Sweet flavors relaxed people and lifted moods anyway.
Having drunk her beloved strawberry drink, Elis boldly approached Siegfried.
"Let's go, Zeke! I'm so excited for flower viewing today!"
"Yeah, I'm sure you'll love it, Elis."
Elis took Siegfried's hand.
They held hands occasionally before.
But this time, she didn't let go, walking side by side.
Like lovers.
'That potion from Ken is amazing! Holding hands like this feels totally normal...!'
Grateful to her helpful junior, Elis actively closed in on Siegfried.
She was the easily fooled type.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ "What's that? Senior Elis... with Mr. Siegfried?"
"Ken's just watching from outside."
"...No way!"
Three women hiding inside the same café as Ken.
Rafne, struck by a sudden thought, lowered her sunglasses with a shocked expression.
"...K-Ken gets excited watching his girl with another guy...!"
There were people in the world who enjoyed watching their partners with others.
Innocent Emily blushed and denied it.
"N-No one like that exists!"
"No! I read it in a novel! There are guys who get off on that stuff!"
"No, even so, Ken wouldn't..."
"Right! Yesterday he said she was a reliable woman..."
Mary and Emily looked skeptical of Rafne's theory, but she wouldn't back down.
'I knew something was off!'
It felt like puzzle pieces clicking together.
After all, no matter how much she tempted him in the tower, Ken never fell for it easily.
If watching her with other men was his kink, it all made sense.
So Rafne pressed on.
"Maybe we misheard from afar! ...What if that's his thing, and he's watching Elis on a date with another guy...!"
"......"
"......"
Silence fell after Rafne's words. Emily broke it.
"No, that's too much."
She'd thought it over, but common sense said Rafne was overreaching.
"R-Really?"
"Yeah, anyone can see that's a date between Elis and Siegfried."
"Then why's Ken sitting there?! Why watch!? Doesn't he like her or...?"
Emily calmly replied to the confused Rafne.
"Probably, yesterday was Elis asking Ken for relationship advice?"
"...Oh, right."
Emily's level-headed take resolved Rafne's suspicions.
'Phew... good.'
She'd have worried if Ken had that fetish.
Relieved, Rafne sipped her smoothie through the straw.
Then Mary spoke up.
"By the way... what's your relationship with Ken, Rafne?"
The question that had been nagging her.
Now knowing it wasn't a date between Ken and Elis, she asked what she most wanted to know.
Emily tensed, watching Rafne's reaction too.
She was curious about those two as well.
After all, Rafne had suddenly appeared after a year at the survival tournament, crying for Ken.
And soon after, returned to the academy, always glued to his side.
"Well, it's like..."
Feeling their heavy gazes, Rafne shrank a bit and began her story.
"Y-You mean you couldn't talk to anyone for a whole year?! Alone the whole time...?!"
"...That must've been... agonizing."
The tale of being cursed and trapped in the tower for a year, then Ken finding and caring for her.
And finally, how he'd crafted the pendant to free her from the curse.
Hearing about the pendant, Mary touched her raincoat.
'...So Rafne too... was saved by Ken.'
Remembering how she'd tremble in her room on rainy days due to trauma, Mary deeply empathized.
Emily recalled her week in a death loop and took Rafne's hand.
"...Sniff, that was tough, huh?"
"Uh, yeah?"
"...I had no idea. During survival, I thought you were threatening Ken... Ugh."
"I-I'm sorry too... for attacking you out of nowhere."
"Wha—hic...?"
Emily teary-eyed, Mary looking sadly at her.
As they both held her hands, Rafne blushed in fluster.
'This warmth... it's been so long.'
The human kindness she hadn't felt since Ken.
Warmth they could share because both owed him.
"From now on, I'll help if anything comes up. ...Wanna share this cake?"
"I'll help too. Ken's friends are my friends."
Emily offering her cake, Mary petting Rafne's head.
'So kind...!'
Touched by their reactions, Rafne said,
"...I feel like we'll get along great."
Taking a bite of Emily's cake, Rafne smiled brightly, basking in their gentle care.
Thus, the three bonded, the mood warm and fuzzy.
That's when,
"Ah, Ken's coming in."
Rafne spotted Ken rising from the outdoor table with his glass.
"Wh-Quick, hide! We gotta hide!"
"Huh? Why? Just say hi."
"It's suspicious no matter what! We can't get caught!"
At Emily's urgent urging, the three grabbed menus to cover their faces.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ 'Looks like it'll be fine.'
Elis and Siegfried strolling slowly down the flower path.
From the outdoor table, watching their happy, hand-holding backs, the date seemed solid.
'...Should've brought Rafne?'
Watching them reminded him of Rafne in the tower.
Honestly telling her about Elis's consultation probably wouldn't faze her.
Plus, today was peak bloom for those seasonal beauties.
Rafne, always cooped up, could finally go out—might as well let her enjoy some flower viewing.
'Should I go get her now?'
Decision made, I stood.
Still noon.
Rafne had just eaten lunch, so a light walk through the flowers would thrill her.
Imagining her smiling in the flower field—instead of tower-bound—brought a smile to my face.
I entered the café to return the glass.
"......Huh?"
A familiar silhouette caught my eye.
Yellow, red, blue.
The traffic-light trio, faces buried in menus, frozen like mice.
No, it was obviously Emily, Rafne, Mary.
As I stared blankly,
The red light peeked up.
Her with the sunglasses like mine, spying on Elis.
Our eyes met over her lowered shades.
Rafne gave a soft smile and a little wave.
"Wh-What are you doing...! Stay still...!"
Then the yellow light frantically grabbed her hand down.
Rafne buried back into the menu.
"...What're you all doing?"
Caught off guard by the trio, I called out loud.
At my voice, two flinched, shoulders trembling.