Me and Laura were leaving our parents' house and walking in the territorial capital of Luminous.
"That's under the Marquis' castle! Very prosperous!
"Not as good as Wang Du, though. It feels more or less like anything produced in Luminous territory is traded here and transported to the King's Capital."
I was supposed to take Laura to show her around the city of Lluminous today. This is where I was born and raised - the city I spent the longest time in. I wanted Laura to see it, and I wanted to feel a little nostalgia myself.
"This is Main Street. There are many different stores. Let's see."
"Wow, that's amazing!
A wide variety of shops line the left and right of a wide range of roads. There are also many people who want to go. The merchants are crying out desperately to get their attention.
This is the heart of Luminous.
It's where lots of goods and lots of gold move.
That's the most active place in the world, so there's a lot of room in and out. When I walk, I realize it's turned into a store I don't know about half of.
... It's been ten years...
I felt the length of the month again.
That's when I noticed Laura walking beside me disappearing.
Is that it?
Looking back, Laura was stopping her legs in front of a small open-air.
"Laura?"
When I approached her and called her, Laura said,
"Oh, excuse me! Mr. Alberto!"
I say and try to walk out.
An open-air merchant called out there.
"Whoa, lady, shouldn't you be more troubled?
"Oh, no, you know, I was just watching..."
"Aren't you interested in this?
The open-air merchant just keeps his eyes open that he won't let you get away. That's the store selling accessories for women, and the one ahead he pointed to was a brooch in the shape of a three-day moon.
It was small and modest, gently coloring one end of the garment - a decoration that suited Laura's atmosphere.
"I'm interested..."
Laura looked sinister.
Probably a financial reason.
The open-air merchant who sensed it called out to me.
"Boyfriend's brother, isn't this where you show a man?
……
……
……
... boyfriend...?
Laura shouted.
"No. No! This man is a respected man and a friend! Because that's not the relationship at all!
"... you're right"
"Oh, that's rude"
An open-air merchant laughs bitterly.
But I thought it wasn't such a bad idea.
It's a good thing I leave my gratitude to Laura as a form.
Besides, it's not that expensive. It's hard to get my hands on if I'm a poor student, but if I'm a working civilian, it's the price I can normally buy.
However, what about buying something?
Me and Laura are friends and equal.
Buy something for no reason - wouldn't it give birth to an upward or downward relationship? Wouldn't you like to break our pure relationship?
I'm noble and Laura is a civilian.
I'm an adult and Laura is a young man.
Wouldn't that make a difference?
That's when I realized.
"Laura, when's your birthday?
"Huh? It's June 6th?
"Is that it? Is it past?
"Yes, it's another 16."
Apparently, when was Laura getting older?
I got a big name.
"Laura. I'm late - I'll give you a birthday present.... as a friend I always take care of"
"Oh, so, so, so, but!
"It's not that weird for a friend to send a birthday present"
"Maido ~"
Give money to a niggling open-air merchant. I gave Laura the brooch I bought.
Laura takes it seriously.
"Oh, thank you! This, dearly - on the shelf as a family heirloom - no, no! As the treasure of the village, I will bow!
"You can use it normally."
"Yes! I would normally use it!
With a happy face, Laura stroked the box with the brooch with her hand.
"Um, when is Mr. Alberto's birthday?
Me? My birthday...
I told you about a day in the winter.
Laura nods yeah yeah.
"I remember! Let's celebrate! Be sure to celebrate! Now I'll give you a present!
Don't worry about it.
I tried to answer, but then I rethought and I said:
I'm looking forward to it.
Yes, that's the equal relationship. It's the right form as a friend.
I breathe relief in my heart that I'm glad my relationship with Laura didn't snore.
Then me and Laura walked off the boulevard again.
That's when I realized I had one.
"... that's crazy..."
"What's wrong with you?
"The missing items are conspicuous..."
Yes, shelf vacancies are noticeable in many stores.
This is the heart of Luminous. The merchants who set up the shop here are all over Kaiqiyama.
The shelf vacancy just misses a business opportunity.
There's no way they're going to waste that. Besides, there's not one, there's shops everywhere. I'm sure there's something there.
I asked the owner when I bought a drink.
"There seems to be a small number of items, but what's the matter?
The moment I asked, the shopkeeper looked like he was in trouble.
"Uh... right. One of the main routes that leads to this city is landslides, making it impassable. Thanks to you the arrival of the product is in great disarray...... It's a headache in every store."
"Does recovery take time?
"He's been hit pretty massively. I'll be ready in a few months."
I thanked the store owner who raised his hands like a boost and we left the store.
"... landslides are tough..."
"Oh yeah......"
So I put my hand on my mouth and thought.
Look at me like that. Laura tilts her neck.
"What is it, Mr. Alberto?
"Yeah, oh......"
At that time, what was floating behind my brain was a sight after the battle with the Seal Master was over.
Large horizontal hole carved into a cliff.
The hole I made with the magic arrow.
"Hey, Laura. Shall we go there now?
"Huh?"
I feel like there's something I can do.