Chapter 131: The Precious Place Is….
Arriving at the black-tented stall’s front, I released my body from Aurora.
Perhaps a little used to it, she still had a red face but was looking with interest at the lined-up goods.
Many of those lined up were related to accessories.
They were probably handmade, but one could immediately tell that rare ores were being used.
The shapes were also various; compared to the accessories sold in the royal capital, the variety was probably greater.
I greeted the male shopkeeper in his forties who looked like an adventurer, and we exchanged words while smiling at each other.
"Is there red?"
"No."
"Blue?"
"No, but there is Afia."
"Then I want the door."
"...Follow me."
The shopkeeper grinned and pointed with a finger to the back of the tent.
I pulled the hand of Aurora who had been looking at the accessories and entered the back of the tent.
Aurora tilted her head blankly, but followed while being pulled by the hand.
Afia is the name of a ruin in the mountainous region near the maritime city of Wheelbu.
In the deepest part of the Afia Ruins, beyond the final door, gemstones usable for magic tool crafting can be obtained as rewards.
A characteristic different from other ruins is that once one goes outside they can be obtained again.
In exchange, the monsters encountered inside are strong.
If told it is for the hopelessly dedicated, that is probably so, but considering the obtainable gemstones one wants to challenge it.
At this stall, for some reason magic tools using gemstones obtainable at the Afia Ruins can be purchased.
I think the management probably prepared it as a temporary measure, but above all the prices are high.
A minimum price of five large silver coins is a price one cannot easily reach for.
At the back of the stall, accessories were lined up just like at the front.
There a young female adventurer was the shopkeeper; seeing the figures of Aurora and me she smiled.
The accessories sold at this stall back use gemstones that are quite difficult to obtain even at the Afia Ruins.
In other words rare gemstones are used, and the minimum amount is one gold coin — a terrifying price.
But because they are expensive, many have expected effects.
Players save money to visit and purchase, but many players did not know the method to go to this shop back.
That is only natural; if one is playing the story the password cannot be learned.
By completing quests in the maritime city of Wheelbu in free play, one can learn the password.
I released Aurora’s hand and searched for the targeted item with my gaze while walking.
Aurora whose hand had been released had sparkling eyes and was examining the accessories while standing in the middle.
As expected, women like accessories.
I also like gemstones, so I somehow understand.
That is why I like touching the lovers’ hair and peering into their pupils.
If it became known it would be embarrassing, so I have never said it, though.
While smiling wryly by myself, I found the targeted item.
A necklace with one transparent gemstone about the size of a blueberry attached.
The name is Sephrim Necklace; the effect is that when it becomes dangerous one returns to a precious place.
In the game the effect was that the moment one received an attack that would make HP 0, one returned to a save point.
As a lower item there is a one-time disposable, but the Sephrim Necklace returns one any number of times.
In this real world I do not know in what way or to where it returns one.
But more than not having it, one can hold hope.
Looking at the female shopkeeper I pointed at the Sephrim Necklace and requested confirmation of the stock.
The female shopkeeper who smiled and nodded immediately began checking the cargo bed of the carriage parked beside.
Looking carefully, several adventurers could be seen as if hidden in the shadow of the carriage.
Handling such expensive items, escorts are necessary.
"A beautiful necklace."
Turning my face to the side at the voice, there was the figure of Aurora peering with sparkling eyes at the Sephrim Necklace I had pointed at.
It is beautiful as is, but I taught her that if worn it becomes even more beautiful.
Hearing that, Aurora looked at my face and smiled enjoyably.
Until just now her face had been red, but now curiosity is probably stronger.
There was no embarrassed appearance; looking at the figure enjoying herself I breathed a sigh of relief.
Thinking that, the female shopkeeper returned and told me there were twenty.
One Sephrim Necklace is one gold coin, so I handed over the two white gold coins I had withdrawn at the bank earlier and purchased them.
Considering the point that one never knows when they will come and that there are times when they are available and times when they are not, buying them up is no loss.
I requested that they be put one by one into boxes and wrapped.
When one is prepared I want it immediately; glancing at Aurora and requesting, the female shopkeeper smiled enjoyably and nodded.
I received the beautiful long thin box she brought immediately and called to Aurora.
"Aurora."
"Yes? What is it, Instructor... eh, this."
"Will you accept it?"
I opened the lid of the beautiful box, showed the Sephrim Necklace to Aurora, smiled, and asked.
Aurora opened her eyes wide with a surprised expression and looked at me and the necklace many times.
I gave a simple explanation of the Sephrim Necklace and brought the box closer to Aurora.
Receiving the box with both hands as if handling something important, Aurora murmured while looking at the necklace.
"A precious place..."
"Yeah, that’s right."
"...My precious place is"
Aurora murmured that, flushed her cheeks red, moistened her eyes, and looked up at me.
As expected, not acting after sensing this would be embarrassing as a man.
While taking the necklace out from the box Aurora was holding, I asked.
"May I put it on?"
"Yes."
I went around behind Aurora, brushed up her hair, and put the necklace on for her.
When my hand touched her neck her body reacted with a pikku; that was cute and I ended up smiling.
Returning to the front I instructed Aurora to flow magic power into the gemstone of the necklace.
While tilting her head Aurora followed the instruction, gently grasped the gemstone part with one hand, and flowed magic power.
Then the gemstone began shining crimson and after a little settled.
When Aurora released one hand from the gemstone, the transparent gemstone had been dyed crimson.
"That gemstone expresses the wearer’s personality with color."
"Personality?"
"Yeah, I don’t know the principle. ...Is it fine if it’s me, Aurora? Our ages are quite apart, and I think I’ll make you worry."
"..."
"No matter how many times I’m cautioned... I am careful, but my body moves first."
"...Yes."
"I cannot choose the option of doing nothing, and I think I will continue making you worry."
"That is the Instructor who saved me... and the person I like."
Hearing my words, she smiled as if understanding and grasped the necklace with one hand.
Until just now she had been trembling like a girl, yet why do women grow in an instant.
The current Aurora still had red cheeks from embarrassment, but somehow had an atmosphere as if she had resolved herself.
She was smiling with an atmosphere as if, in order to become my lover, she must not be flustered no matter what happens.
I am aware that I am making her worry, but I end up smiling wryly a little wondering if it is that far.
I pulled Aurora’s body close and requested from me in a serious voice next to her ear.
"I want you to become my lover."
"Please take care of me... Raide."
To Aurora who changed from calling Instructor to Raide I smiled troubledly and brought my face close.
I gave a kiss that only touched the lips and hugged for a while.
In the meantime the female shopkeeper was quietly looking this way from the carriage with the escort adventurers.
Perhaps sensing from the atmosphere that my confession succeeded, their figures quietly rejoicing were reflected at the edge of my vision.
...No, just how good-natured are they.
I understood they are good-natured people to the extent of wanting to drink alcohol together.
What I thought while hugging Aurora was that her body is truly thin.
It is not a thinness of being bony, but I become a little worried.
Worried whether she is doing unreasonable things like dieting, I strengthened the force of the hug.
Then Aurora rubbed her head against my shoulder and moved her body a little bashfully.
Her ears were a little red, and from the red hair a faint good scent came.
Curious about the scent I brought my face close to Aurora’s hair; it smelled of peaches.
Whether intentional or not I do not know.
But thinking I want to eat it, I am quite seriously wounded.
While still hugging Aurora I ended up smiling wryly.