On the first floor of Heil & Kraut, which is sweltering with the scent of tea leaves and medicinal herbs.

　Me and Tiana stared at each other for a while, then

Hey. Hey.

...... Yeah.

　We passed each other only by exchanging "Thank you".

"Thank you very much!

　So, Tiana goes straight to the register, pays the bill and leaves the store.


'Tch, Emma,'

　On the other hand.

　As expected of me, I realized that Emma was unnecessarily distracted, and returned all the items in my basket to the display rack.

　That's right.

　There was no need for me to go shopping for them.

　Because all the items in the memo were in Tiana's basket.

Please come again!

　I didn't buy anything, to be clear, but I left the store too.

　Chillin Chillin ......♪

Ugh. ......

　Then I saw Mink's coat, which I thought had left, waiting for me next to the glass shop door, and my feet involuntarily clenched.

''Let's go to .......''

　So Tiana straightens her glasses and starts tsk-tsking down the road.

　I had no choice but to hurry after her and she slowed her pace to give up half a step ahead of me.

'Give me that ....... I'll have it.

　I put my hand on the heavy brown paper bag Tiana is carrying.

　It's some brave party herbs I'd bought at the store.

'...... Thanks,'

I don't mind.

　Zuri......

　Thus, when receiving the package.

　The cold wind swayed the blonde's "blonde" braids.

Oh, ......

　A white breath escaped his lips.


'So you're cold.

　Blue eyes looking up at the decadent colored sky.

　A flicker of crystals falls on her tilted cheek.


The boat to Goetheburg Castle is leaving soon!

　The voice of the man arriving at the ship's landing site echoes sadly as the white snow begins to dance.


'Don't!'

　So Tiana flipped her empty hands and used her defensive magic power to materialize an umbrella.

　Glitter, glitter, glitter, glitter, ...... poof!


Come in.

'Oh? Good. That's about right.

That ...... snow on the medicinal plants is degrading them.

"...... chuckle, I see.

　I laugh a little after I put my head under her defensive magic umbrella.

　That kind of fussy about maintaining the quality of items and such, hasn't changed.

You're still the same.

What is ......?

No, it's the part that always puts the party first, you know?

　I meant it as a compliment.

　But the blue eyes turned away and

Not really: ......

　He says as he disappears.

'? ...... What's going on?

Hmmm: ......

　I asked anxiously, but still Tiana leaned in one more time toward me, trying to keep the snow from covering the herbs.

　Her thin, fluffy, fur-covered shoulders cling warmly to mine, and the magic umbrella sways erratically with our steps.

......

......

　Then we walked in silence for a while.

　The path along the river.

　The sails of a boat sliding down the embankment, passing us.


　Where the hell are we going anyway? ......, I thought for a moment, well, since I'm doing it with Tiana's luggage, I can give her a lift to the Grant Hotel where the brave party is staying.


　With that thought in mind, I turned down the river road and turned into the main street, and the Schwerz Theatre in the city came into view, with a hemisphere of bricks in full view.

'So, world tour, you're coming here too?

　And as we walked past the theater, Tiana muttered that.

　Oh, you mean the activity photos.

'But you guys watch activity pictures all the time, don't you?

　After all, it's an S-class party called by Zahalbert.

'No. Come to think of it, I haven't seen one yet.

'Never? Heh. You've been pretty busy too, haven't you?

......

　As we were walking along, the Grant Hotel was already in sight.

"Oh, by the way, I think I got this.

　Then I remember those two tickets I got from Aqua.

　Pilla: ......

'It's Holy Night (Christmas), so the day after tomorrow or the day after that: ....... Tiana, do you want to go with me?

I'm coming.

You're going?

　I thought you were going to say no, but I was just kidding.

"No, don't go. It's bad for Cross.

No, no! ...... There's nothing wrong with that!

Oh? ...... What's that?

　We had just reached the front of the inn when we stopped, and Tiana turned to me and replied.

'Because I ...... don't plan to date anyone anymore. Ever since you told me to 'break up' with you, I've been .......

...... Yeah.

　Then.

　Gaya Gaya Gaya: ......

　I can sense that a lot of people are coming out of the inn's lobby.

　The reporters who had surrounded Cross earlier are coming out of the inn.

'......!'

　When Tiana saw this, she looked a little frightened by the press and flipped her braids with a snap.

'Tiana!'

　But then I grabbed her arm as quickly as I could.

　This is not good.

　A newspaper article I'd seen in Scarama before came to mind.

　What am I doing here?

　The reporters are on their way.

"Eiga: ......

The Holy Night 《Christmas》...... 1 p.m. At Heil & Kraut.

　I had no choice but to let go of his arm and run away from him after I told him just that.



　◇



　Then.

　I was curious about Tiana's condition earlier, but I couldn't help it, and I found myself just walking through the snowy city.

'It's cold ....... Anyway, let's go home.

　I thought to myself, but when I passed the corner of the mall.

　I remembered that I had an important business to attend to at Lantis' blacksmith shop, so I hurried over.



'Quick! Now, your copper sword is now a [Copper Sword +3].

　Liv's chest is proud of herself like that.

　Right.

　After the other day's solo dungeon attack, my copper sword 《Vine》 was hurting to look at, so I was having it re-hit.

''Seriously! You got a '+3' too?

I'd say, "Hmmm, who do you think I am, ......, but I didn't do this.

　Saying that, Liv looks over there to the shaved head that is hitting the metal.

　Oh, it's Ichitaro-kun!


　Kung! Kung! Kung! ...... Can! Kang!


　He seemed so lethargic, and now he's swinging his hammer with such vivacity!

　I'll also keep my mouth shut for now about the occasional glances at Liv's tits and the way she seems to be chasing her passions.

　And the owner of the tits, the tank-topped female master of the tits, doesn't seem to notice the gaze in the heavens.

'Even at ......, Liv! You've been training your disciples properly, too!

Well, yeah, ....... You asked me to do this, so it's no use.

　Liv rubs her cheeks in embarrassment.

　It's a good idea to be able to have a good time.

It's a good idea to have a good idea of what you're looking for. I thought it was possible for you to do it too.

　I'm not sure if you're talking about Ichitaro-kun or .......

　Even this guy can call out to people in such a cute way.

　When I was admiring it like that.

...... But then again, your guy is a total rarity.

　Liv muttered sincerely.

'Oh? What?

That sword or sword blade. Looking at the shape, it must have been made for some kind of ritual purpose, right?

Hmm? Well, I guess you could say that.

　This is a gift from the great king at the ceremony where I became the lord of Tokumo, so it must be sacred.

But it's just a bronze sword, you know?

I don't care what status title you have. I'll be better than '+25' with me. I can do better than '+25' with me.

Huh! ...... Seriously!

　I've never heard of a +25 sword.

　I thought that the level added to a weapon by the blacksmith's rehearsal was at most the 'Sword of Justice, Tsurugi' +5' of Cross.

Well, the Copper Sword itself is an elementary level weapon. The copper sword itself is an elementary level weapon, but if there is a sacred meaning to it and the metal's soul is good, the maximum level of training is also high. This is a two-thousand year old monster in terms of its sacredness. Its original power as a weapon is at the elementary level, but from now on it will be at the intermediate or even advanced level.

'Advanced level! ...... So, you mean, 'Elementary Weapons with Advanced Level Strength'?

Yeah.

Oh, so even a guy who can't afford advanced equipment can do that?

''Of course. No matter how strong it is with a '+', beginner equipment is beginner equipment.

......!!!

　What a surprise: ......

　This was the first possibility for me, who was talentless to equip advanced weapons, to be able to use an 'advanced level strength' weapon.

　Sublime in terms of ritual, but in terms of combat, it's sublime, but in terms of combat, it's a 'beginner' weapon that can be cultivated to become an 'advanced level strength' ......?

That's why you. You shouldn't treat weapons so carelessly!

What?

That bronze sword was -2 when you brought it back to me because you said 'I invaded the dungeon today'.

Seriously?

Seriously. Watch out for that.

　Certainly.

　I've been very particular about the equipment I want to raise, and I've done my utmost to consider the customs of the people of my domain, but ......

　I may have neglected my own weapons in some ways.

　The reason I've been using that copper sword until now is because it was given to me at the ceremony to appoint me as a lord, so I thought 'Oh, I'm lucky to get a sword bill,' and since then I've just been using it since it doesn't break.

But this copper sword, if Liv strikes it, it will go up to '+25 or more', right? So get on with it, then.

d*mn it, ....... You, you don't understand Kenshin, don't you?

Huh?

　Kengo?

　Is this guy's head boiling over?

A sword is to be used by its owner and then gradually grown. The metal will grow out of your soul by using and striking it, and only then will it grow out of your soul. That's why I'm not going to let this bronze sword get a +25 if I strike it. But ......

　Liv brushed back her long, untied hair as she lit a cigarette with her oil lighter and continued.

It's not a good idea to let it grow too fast, as that would rob it of its potential for further growth. It's a shame to end up with a 'just a nice little weapon' like that. It's better to take your time in cultivating it at the right speed.

Hmm, Kenshin. I'm pretty good at understanding women's mindset too, you know.

...... I'll pretend I didn't hear that one.

　Liv let out an unintelligible sigh.

It's a good idea to have a "+3" for now, because that's the proper training speed. I'm sure that with that level of speed, even another person should be able to hit it, so I just let him do it.

　I see.

　So the plan was to raise swords and apprentices at the same time?

　That's the reason why I'm so successful. It's a training plan that makes me look like a pro.

"You're not a bad teacher, huh?

You're trying to tell me that "is not even ...... a gala. If you want to laugh, you can laugh.

　I looked at Liv, who was fidgeting with her denim buttocks, and decided to offer her a story I had been thinking about for a while.

...... Hey, Liv. You want to come to my territory if you want?