- Lucy's point of view.

"I'm going to find a goblin!
　Makoto declared that first thing in the morning.
　It's so abrupt.

"Lucy, S-San, what do you want to do?
　With a woozy look on his face, he invites us to join him.

'I think I'll refrain - I'll take a walk around town.
　I didn't miss Makoto's momentary look of sadness when Aya refused.

''I'm going to do some shopping in town, too,''
　I said no.
　It was just a chance for me and Makoto to be alone.

I'm done!　Both of you. Okay, I'll go on a solo adventure then!
　Muttering sulkily, Makoto went dashing off.

'Hey, Lucy. Where are we going?
　Aya asks, as a matter of course, assuming we're working together.
'A cafe with good cake or something?'
　I need to talk to Aya, too.
　Alone.

　◇

　With Aya, we visited clothing and accessory stores.
　We had lunch at a pasta shop.
　We found a small park, so we bought some drinks and took a break there.

　I glanced at the profile of Aya, who was drinking a large cup of fruit juice.

(Cute...)

　The gesture like a small animal in the round eyes.
　The way he's swinging his legs around on the bench is a bit childish.

(With this, he's as strong as a brave man, that's a foul play...)

　However, it seems that he can't use magic.
　If you can use magic, you would probably be recognized as a hero.
　In terms of adventurers, it's the highest rank, the 'Orihalcon' rank.

　The vanguard of our party and the highest fighting strength.
　It's an indispensable existence.

"Hey, Lucy-san.
　Casually. Like making small talk.
　Aya spoke to me in a natural way.

'I was surprised to hear about Fujiwara-kun's marriage, wasn't I?
　Ki, here it comes.
　Fujiyan-san's marriage, who's also from another world.
Yeah. It's amazing to have two wives.
　As a matter of fact, it's not unusual for a human race to have lots of noble wives.
　So, this is a conversation starter.

''I wonder what Takatsuki-kun thinks about it...''
'She said she was relieved. Nina and Chris have gotten together.
Haha, that's me too.
　What can I say, it was crusty all the way to the airship.
　Today's breakfast was the first time in a long time that we ate in peace.
　That's a good thing, I think.

''........It's hard when you fall in love with someone close to you at the same time, isn't it?
Well....
　With Aya's statement, which came out in a blur.
　The air changed.
　This is already that, right?
　You're talking about someone with a different subject, right?

How does Lucy feel about having two wives?
As a rule, elves only marry one person.
I heard about Lucy?
　I was a little disgusted by the way he said it.

What about you, Aya?
'In the world I was in, no one could have a big marriage. By law.
I asked you what Aya thinks?
　I feel like I'm getting a bit fried.
　But isn't Aya's question cheating in the first place?

　We glanced at each other.
　We stare at each other for a while.

'I wonder how Takatsuki-kun is doing.
　Also off topic.
　No, more like the real deal.

'Makoto said his wife wanted to be alone.
But in reality, it could be the same as Fujiwara-kun. Apparently, men like harems, don't they?
I'm sure you're not.
Lucy, you know everything about Takatsuki-kun.
　His words irritated me a bit.

'Aya, you've known Makoto for more than four years, right? Ah, we're no match for each other.
What do you mean, you're no match for me?　That's a funny thing to say, Lucy.
You know what's weird, Aya? What do you mean by that?
Nothing.　
Hmm, I don't want to tell you.
What?
What?
....
....

　We found ourselves staring at each other on a narrow bench.

(Huh?)　(How did this happen...)


　◇


- Aya Sasaki's Point of View -

　Oh, what?
　How did we get here?

　In front of me is Lucy, with her stinging gaze.
　Her glaring face is still beautiful.
　She's more beautiful than Saki Yokoyama and Eri Kawamoto, who were rumored to be the first or second most beautiful girl in her class (my subjective opinion).

(Hah, I can't compete with them...)

　My heart is filled with sadness.
　She is Takatsuki-kun's first companion, an amazingly beautiful elf girl who likes Takatsuki-kun.
　She's an amazingly skilled wizard, but she's not very good at magic and tends to rely on Takatsuki-kun.

(Takatsuki-kun is such a caring person!)

　I can't leave it like this.
　He's the kind of guy Takatsuki likes.
　I think it's not fair.

　Be that as it may, what should we do about this situation?
　I think I stirred something up.
　I was actually supposed to speak more calmly........

''........''
....
　Ugh.....
　What do I do?
　I want to run away!
　But you can't run away!

Aya-sama, Lucy. This is a coincidence.
　Mr. Nina is here!　Thank God.
　Apparently, Nina was in the middle of her own shopping trip.

I'm just going shopping with Aya.
'Yes, yes!　I went shopping with Lucy. We should go home now.
Well, Aya!　I think it's time to go home.
You're with us, Nina!
　We were breathless.

'Ha, ha...'
　Nina nodded with a pout.

　◇

　The three of us walked back to the inn.

'Hey, Nina. Are you going to be a nobleman when you get married?
　Then maybe I should change what I call it?
''Hmm, I don't know. I didn't want to be a nobleman, I just wanted to be the master's wife.
　Duh, call me sir.
　Nice.

"Very nice, Nina.
　Lucy's got a voice.

　I'm utterly jealous.
　But I've heard Nina's troubles up until then when she was teaching me martial arts.
　So I can wholeheartedly congratulate Nina on her marriage.

　That's what I'm thinking about.

''The two of you and Takatsuki-sama, since you are getting married, ha?
　Nina smiled and dropped a bombshell.

''What?''
　Lucy's and my voice hummed.

'I was just talking to Chris this morning. He said that maybe the two of you will get a head start on the wedding. Apparently, aristocratic weddings are a lot of work to prepare for.
Oh, really?
That's a lot of work.
　Lucy and I respond with dry laughter.

　The way home.
　The rest of the conversation was silly all the way through.

"Well, I'm going to your husband's.
　Nina went up the stairs in a flutter.
　She skipped five steps, just like the rabbit ears.

　Lucy and I were alone again.
　When I glanced next to her, our eyes met.

I'm sorry about earlier.
I'm sorry, too. That wasn't very nice.
No I don't either.
　I managed to make up for it.
　But I don't think it's a good idea to keep things vague.

We'll talk about it later.
Yeah, next time.
　We'll talk about it.
　We're members of a party.

　


"There were no goblins...
　It was a little cute to see Takatsuki-kun trudging back before dinner.


　◇　

-Makoto Takatsuki's Point of View: Back in the Morning

　The main job of an adventurer is to slay bad demons.
　Lately, I've been doing a lot of training, but I had to get my demon-slaying instincts back, so I went out in a cool way.

But I don't see any demons.
　Not a goblin.
　Not a single large rat or horned rabbit.

　This is a small forest on the shores of Lake Shimei, just outside the main gate of the royal capital.
　It looks a bit like the forest near McAllen.
　So I thought there was some kind of prey here.
　Well are you serious?

'So Lucy and Sa-san were right........'
　You're lucky I didn't bring you along.
　I was about to make him go along for the ride in vain.

　I had no choice but to practice water magic in the waters of Lake Chimay.
　The capital city of Horne is on the opposite side of the lake from McAllen.
　He continued his training for a while.

'....Takatsuki Makoto?
　I was approached from behind.
　When I turned around, the former guardian knight man who was beaten up by Sa-san the other day was standing there.
　No, or was it his subordinate who got bumped off?

''You have an unusual training.
　I was standing on the surface of the water, playing with the lake water as a flock of birds.
　It's pretty much the latest thing I've been doing as a way to improve my proficiency as it requires a lot of concentration.

"I've always wanted to hunt goblins,
　When I blurted out, he looked surprised and then laughed at me.

''Haha, our nation's capital is warded against demons. There's no way a goblin could get close to it.''
What's...?
　I was astonished and shaken.
　Oh my God.
　You can't hunt goblins in King's Landing, you know!

So you don't need a patrolman?
　I'll poke at it.

"Idiot!　That carelessness can be fatal. And thieves and scoundrels are in the mix. Our daily patrols will serve as a deterrent.
Well.....
　Your ambition is admirable.
　His character is a bit of an arsehole, though.

"We have received word that there is a strange wizard in Lake Chimay and it is you. Don't surprise the people of the city too much.
　Oops, they called the cops on me.
　I've been using magic in the same way that McAllen did.
　Let's be careful with conspicuous magic.

　The former guardian knight man turned around and was just about to leave when he turned around.
''The defeat of demons in the Land of Water (Roses) relies heavily on adventurers. I would appreciate it if you would come to King's Landing and go out to slay the goblins.
Huh....
　All of a sudden, what?

I'm sorry for everything.
　In a whisper, he apologized.

　What, did you delve?
　We went back to the inn after seeing the (not so happy) rarity of an old man's tsundere.

　Lucy and Sa-san had been shopping all day today.
They're always good friends," Nina said, smiling at me.

　I should have joined them, too.