A Small Date
At the village market—
"Where should we start?"
Fer only stared at her without a word.
"What is it? Is there something on my face?"
"No, it isn't that…"
"I figured you'd take one look and insist we head straight home."
"There's nothing fretting about it now would change," Armel said. "And honestly, if it's our son… I don't feel the need to worry."
"Why do you think that?"
Armel pointed a finger at her own face.
"You mean the wound?" Fer asked. "It might be better to have it treated."
"That isn't what I meant. Did you see Lizette's cheek?"
"Lizette's cheek?"
"Ah. So that's what you're talking about."
"Exactly. The cut on Lizette's cheek was put there by our son."
Armel walked slowly forward.
"Lizette learned combat from me. She's stronger than most A-rank adventurers. Even if she was holding back, for her to take a wound to the face…"
A cool smile curved at the corner of Armel's mouth.
"Even holding back. After everything I taught her, she still took a hit. Lizette is clearly going to need more training."
The moment those words left her lips, a wave of pity for Lizette rose unbidden.
Inside the Master's office—
"Achoo!"
"You catching a cold? Don't spread it. Get out."
"No, it isn't that. I just felt like someone was talking about me."
"Hey, Lizette."
"What?"
"You saw her earlier, in the office, right?"
"Yeah… I saw her. Didn't Armel's mana disappear after that whole affair? What was that power, then? The air itself felt like it couldn't breathe."
"That was Armel's mana."
"I don't know. Master told me her mana was gone, too. Ugh… I have no idea what's going on. Even if I wanted to help, I couldn't. Those two hate putting anyone else in harm's way."
"True enough. Lizette—you're on leave for a while."
"Leave? Why are you suddenly giving me time off?"
"The second Kasha gets back, file the request. You'll be fine without me here?"
"Yeah, we'll manage. Go ask Armel to put you through some training."
Lizette rushed forward and slammed both hands down on the desk.
"For real?! No take-backs later!"
"Fine. Got it. Now get out of here."
"Thanks, big brother!"
Lizette practically bounced out of the room on light feet.
"To be that happy after getting wrecked… What a strange kid."
From somewhere down the hall, Lizette's voice rang out.
"Don't talk trash about me!!!"
Just how good are those ears…
Back at the village market—
"By the way, Fer."
"Hm?"
"Where should we stop first?"
"Well… How about we start with a meal?"
"Sounds good."
"Your order is ready."
Seafood dishes and warm bread were set before them.
"Shall we eat?"
"Gladly."
And so they sat together, sharing the meal in easy companionship.
"Come to think of it, our boy loves seafood too. Should we pick some up at the market?"
"Let's do that."
Armel ate with a contented smile on her face.
"Fer? What's wrong?"
"Nothing… Watching you enjoy your food like that. It reminds me of him. He must get it from you."
"Was that… strange of me to say?"
Fer rested his chin in his hand and regarded Armel with unhurried warmth.
"You're beautiful."
At that, Armel whipped her head away in a hurry.
"Honestly… Don't say things like that when there are people around."
"Armel. Your ears are turning redder by the second."
"Be quiet…"
"Haha. I'll stop. Eat up, and then we'll go look at clothes. I'll buy them for you."
"Clothes? You're being awfully generous today."
"The way you say that, people might think I'm never generous."
"I'm joking, of course."
Armel brushed it off as a joke, but the truth was that yesterday still sat heavy in her heart. The thought that she had hurt him deeply refused to leave her alone.
They left the restaurant and made their way to a clothing shop.
"Go on, Armel. Pick out whatever you'd like to wear."
"All right."
When Armel first stepped out in a dress, the deep green fabric caught every eye. She moved with the elegant sway of a butterfly in flight.
"You look stunning. That color suits your golden hair and green eyes perfectly."
"……"
Whoosh.
"I'll try the next one."
"Armel…"
The moment she shut the curtain with such finality, Fer wondered if she was angry.
"Are you upset?"
"It isn't that. You're really going to be the death of me today…"
Armel kept finding herself on the receiving end of every one of Fer's remarks.
Swish.
"This is the second one. What do you think?"
"It's lovely. That soft blue makes your eyes look even deeper. Like looking at a flower blooming in the heart of a forest."
"Fer!"
"What is it?"
"That's enough."
"Understood."
For some reason, Fer's smile looked more handsome today than usual.
"I like both of these… What should I do?"
"What's there to deliberate? We'll take both."
"Even so—thinking about your adventuring expenses, we ought to be careful with money."
"Don't worry about that. I've been setting aside emergency funds for just this sort of—"
In that instant, the hand drawing money from his sleeve began to tremble.
"Oh…? Emergency funds, you say."
"Armel?"
"You might want to calm down a little…"
"Why? Planning to buy another useless magic tool like last time?"
"That isn't—"
"You remember the self-chilling beer mug you bought last time? The one that broke in a single day and got thrown out?"
"Armel…"
"Calm down and just tell me. What were you planning to buy this time?"
"Well… I saw something amusing."
"What was it?"
"A cushion that makes a farting sound when you sit on it…"
Crack.
"Fer… Would you rather get hit and lose the money, or just hand it over?"
"Here it is."
"We'll take both dresses!"
Jingle.
"Thank you!"
"Ah—I think I'm in a good mood today."
"I'm glad you seem happy."
Fer's shoulders sagged.
"Haa…"
"Fer."
Tap.
"I'm giving it back. Just don't buy anything useless."
"Truly?"
"When you get down to it, it's money you earned. I only took it to make a point."
"Thank you."
"We should head home now."
"Is it already that late?"
"The sun's starting to set. We still need to make dinner."
Fer hung his head, looking thoroughly dejected. Seeing that, Armel suddenly leaned in and pressed a light kiss to his cheek.
"Armel?"
"Next time, let's bring our son and go out just the three of us. We have plenty of time, don't we?"
"That we do. We should stop by the market and head home. I miss the boy."
"So do I. Oh—Fer."
Armel stopped walking for a moment.
"What is it?"
"Thank you for working so hard to lift my spirits today. So stop walking on eggshells around me. You're at your most handsome when you're full of energy."
At those words, Fer turned as red as a ripe apple. More precisely, he had fallen for her all over again—for the way she smiled so brightly.
"Haha… I can never win against you."
Fer stepped close and kissed her.
"Consider this my final gift for the day."
"Honestly…"
The way Armel covered her mouth was utterly endearing.
Armel and Fer headed straight for Serina's house.
"Serina! We're here!"
The door opened, and their son came running into her arms.
"Mom!"
Armel caught him as he flew toward her and held him tight.
"Sweetheart, were you good for Serina?"
"Ugh… Don't even ask. That little one dragged my entire life story out of me today."
Serina emerged from inside the house, looking thoroughly worn out. Fer took one look at her and said,
"Serina, you look older than the last time I saw you."
Serina fixed him with a terrifying glare.
"Really… Armel must have it so hard, living with a man who has no sense for other people's feelings."
Armel laughed softly.
"Hehe… There are times when he truly is a handful."
"A-Armel, is that true?"
"Of course I'm joking."
Hearing that, Fer exhaled in visible relief. Serina shook her head at the sight of him.
"To think that man is a famous adventurer in the guild… I still can't believe it."
Armel smiled faintly.
"Thank you again for the medicine last time. You really are incredible, Serina."
"Oh, it's nothing. Ah—wait a moment."
She went back inside and returned with several small vials in her hands.
"I made these recently. Take a few with you."
"Pardon? We didn't place any order for medicine…"
Serina answered with a smile.
"It isn't that. I heard the little one has been getting hurt a lot lately with all the sword training and such." She pressed the vials into Fer's hands. "These are stamina tonics and healing potions. Use them if you need them. Free of charge, of course."
"You didn't have to… Thank you so much."
"Think nothing of it. It was tiring, I'll admit—but thanks to the little one, the house felt a lot less lonely. Right, kiddo?"
"Mom, Auntie told me about how she fought with her first boyfriend—"
Armel clamped a hand over his mouth in a panic.
"Haha… He really does tell me everything… Please forget whatever the little one said…"
"…Of course."
"Well then, Serina—what are you having for dinner tonight?"
"Uh… I was thinking I might skip it."
"In that case, if you don't mind—would you like to eat with us?"
"No! Really, I'm fine. I only gave you the medicine because I wanted to."
Serina shook her head vigorously.
"Please don't refuse. We bought plenty of ingredients today."
"I'm truly all right."
Growl~~
The moment he heard it, Fer burst into a booming laugh.
"Hahahaha!"
Serina turned a deadly look on him.
"Fer, I just might stop selling you medicine."
"Sorry…"
Their son took her hand.
"Auntie, you said a stomach never lies. Come on, let's go eat."
"…All right. Then maybe I'll impose just a little?"
"Of course! Let's go."
They climbed the stairs, chatting about this and that. Just then, a breeze stirred, and pink petals from the tree on the hill seemed to drift down in welcome.
"It's truly… beautiful."
"It is, isn't it? Come on, let's go inside."
Once home, Armel began preparing dinner.
"Mom, can I help with anything?"
"It's fine. Sit and talk with your auntie."
"Okay."
"Darling, is there anything I can help with?"
"Why? Looking to break another plate?"
Fer quietly returned to his seat. Watching the exchange, Serina finally couldn't hold it in and burst out laughing.
"As expected—Armel is the one in charge of this house."
Fer could only nod in silent agreement.
"But when did you start teaching your son? He's sharp. Did Armel teach him?"
"Most of it was Armel, yes. I know everything a person needs to get by in life, but Armel knows far more than I do."
"Listen to you, just bragging away. Hey, Fer—normally in a situation like this, you brag about your child, not your wife."
"Exactly. Most people would be boasting about their child."
Serina fixed Armel with a pointed look.
"Armel."
"Yes?"
"Your face is red."
She, too, seemed to have been caught off guard by the remark without realizing it.
"The two of you are still so young at heart. Though… I suppose early forties still counts as young?"
Serina looked thoroughly entertained by the pair of flushed faces before her.
Settling into her seat, Armel turned to her son and struck back.
"So, sweetheart—want to tell me about Serina's first love?"
"Well… Auntie's first love was when she was seven. The teacher who treated her was so handsome—"
Shove.
Auntie hastily stuffed food into his mouth.
"Not another word. Please don't dig up my painful memories…"
"Oh ho… So the herbalist teacher was your first love. That's why you looked up to him and learned herbology yourself?"
"Be quiet…"
"Fer—but that's wonderful, isn't it? To remember that teacher and grow this far because of him."
"Even you, Armel… Haa… I'm sorry. I just felt like I'd been taking hits all day. Armel… you're quietly terrifying, you know that?"
"Am I?"
The smile Serina had been holding back finally broke free.
"Well, if it's the two of you, I suppose it'll be fine."
"We're grateful you think so. And since we've all gathered here for a reason…"
Serina set down her fork and looked at their son.
"There's something I'd like to ask of you."