Chapter 144: It’s a Lover’s Duty
I told Elysia that I would come to pick her up at noon tomorrow, gave one kiss, and left the room.
Closing the door and looking to the side, Erika was walking this way.
The figure elegantly walking while swaying the blond vertical rolls makes me re-recognize that she is Elysia’s daughter.
When Erika saw my figure she smiled with an alluring yet somewhere maternal smile and spoke.
"Has the talk with Mother finished?"
"Ah, it finished. ...Erika, do you have time from now? There is something I want to give."
"It is fine. Please come to my room."
Saying that Erika smiled happily, took one of my hands, and pulled me along.
Putting out an alluring atmosphere and doing cute things is foul play.
How many times must I say foul play in my heart toward Erika.
The innocent smile she occasionally shows is unbearably precious.
When Erika opened the door of the room at the dead end she released the hand, turned her face to me, and said "Please."
The inside of Erika’s room had furniture arrangement similar to Elysia’s room.
What was a little different was that there were many things with girlish color tones.
Perhaps Erika likes pink; there are many things using pink.
Actually what she is wearing now is a light crimson blouse, a black skirt, and a pink cardigan draped over the shoulders.
While looking at Erika who entered the room and was preparing tea I took out the box of the Sephrim Necklace from the magic bag.
"Erika."
"What is it? ...It is beautiful. The gemstone color is different from the necklace Mother is wearing, isn’t it?"
"Ah, about that..."
Erika placed two cups on the two-person table and was tilting her head.
While showing the necklace to Erika with the box open I explained the effect and the mechanism of the gemstone color changing.
When showing the necklace to Erika, did Elysia not explain?
To Erika who reacted as if a little surprised I asked whether she did not hear from Elysia.
Then Erika placed a finger of one hand on her lips, smiled sexily, and spoke.
"I was told by Mother to hear that directly from you. Quietly waiting looking forward to a gift from a gentleman is also a lady."
"Sorry for making you wait."
"Ksu, please do not apologize. Waiting for when I would be given it was also quite stimulating, you know?"
"...You keep becoming more beautiful, so I worry whether you will be discarded."
"Then please capture me."
At Erika’s words I smiled troubledly, took out the necklace from the box, went behind Erika, and put it on for her.
Then returning to the front of Erika, Erika gently wrapped the gemstone with both hands and began flowing magic power.
From the gap of both hands red light shone; immediately settling Erika released both hands from the gemstone.
The gemstone had changed to a vivid red color like a rose.
Thinking it is a color that suits Erika I unintentionally touched the gemstone; as if the gemstone is expressing Erika I am captivated.
Even captivating with a gemstone; what a scary lover...
Looking at Erika’s face she smiled affectionately, narrowed her eyes, and was quietly staring at me.
"Please live as you like."
"...Don’t make me cause trouble."
"Fufu, it is too late now."
I wrapped an arm around Erika’s waist and pulled her close, giving a kiss that touched the glossy lips.
As if confirming the sensation of the soft lips I kissed many times.
After that, after a little chat I left Erika’s room.
After returning to the inn I called out to Nimi and Pafa, returned to my room, and sat at the desk.
There was something a little concerning about tomorrow; I pulled out the materials I had summarized from the bookshelf beside.
Rather than concerning, something was catching.
There is a reason for the Dwarf Merchant Association head to aim at me, and from Sharle’s report the expectation hit.
But why did he try to use the tavern gathering?
I have been concerned the whole time, but it remained unknown.
Perhaps, there was something I recalled; opening the materials I found it.
...No, is it related?
This event does not involve the Dwarf Merchant Association, you know?
Thinking that far I shook my head, breathed a large breath, and calmed my feelings.
Wait wait, what am I thinking. Toward events whose order is beginning to go wrong, thinking of common sense is no good.
Thinking that I stood from the seat and went out to obtain a certain thing.
The next day, time around 12 o’clock.
Boarding the carriage stopped in front of Erika’s house, we began running toward Fifth Street of the gathering place.
The carriage Erika arranged; the driver is Roll who will escort Elysia today.
In front Elysia was wearing a white blouse and a white skirt arranged with frills that reaches mid-knee.
Wearing a light blue thin fabric outer garment; from me who had only seen the dress figure, Elysia’s current appearance is fresh.
"I am glad I received the consultation from Elysia."
"Um... sorry."
Sitting beside Elysia, Fia was floating an alluring smile and crossing her arms.
Wearing a black dress that is fluffier overall than usual, Fia is sitting together.
Yesterday’s matter; when returning from shopping, Fia who heard the circumstances from Elysia was waiting with arms crossed.
Already, as if admonishing a child, I was quietly told many times why I did not consult.
Being cornered without collapsing the smile, it was a little, no... considerably scary.
And it was decided that she would sit together at today’s gathering.
Elysia placed both hands on her knees, smiled troubledly, and spoke.
"I am sorry. Because Raide was thinking too little about himself..."
"...I thought I could somehow manage."
"It’s all right; that is why I am receiving the consultation. Supporting is also a lover’s duty."
"Thank you."
At my words the two smiled happily; Fia fluttered the dress with a fuwari and floated, approached me, and stroked my head.
Recently I am often stroked on the head, but being stroked at this age is unfamiliar.
Becoming embarrassed and averting my gaze from Fia’s face, I ended up being kissed on the cheek.
Elysia looking at such me giggled; Fia returned beside Elysia and was laughing enjoyably.
For the sake of the two as well I will tighten my nerves from now.
Even if safety rose greatly thanks to Fia coming, I cannot be at ease because I do not know what will happen.
Before long we arrived at the tavern on Fifth Street.
While thinking as expected a carriage is fast I descended first and lent a hand for the two to descend from the carriage.
The size of the summarizing tavern is probably 1.5 times the size of Suzuya’s tavern.
This is basically business from evening toward late night; inside there should be no customers... was supposed to be.
When I walked at the lead and entered inside the tavern, adventurers were drinking alcohol inside.
Furrowing my brows and surveying the floor, in one part it was noisy as if fighting; the surrounding adventurers were also looking there with surprised faces.
I gestured with one hand for the two to step back, and requested the two to Roll who came beside.
Looking carefully through the uproar I let out a large sigh.
What are those guys doing...
The ones fighting were adventurers who often stay at Suzuya’s tavern.
When walking toward the two who are fighting, the surrounding adventurers who noticed me prepared themselves.
Looking at that from the corner of my eye I released killing intent and intimidated.
"If you do that you’re not adventurers but the same as bandits!"
"For a period you were the same kind of thing, right! Don’t interfere!"
"The target has come for you?"
"Instructor!?"
"Wha!?"
The two looked at me and made surprised faces; the known adventurer Sagua made an apologetic face, and the other one made a cautious-like expression.
Looking at the state of the adventurer who was trying to attack me I ended up laughing as if fed up.
Trying to attack yet being cautious is so funny I cannot help it.
If truly trying to do it, one should immediately take out a weapon and attack.
Wondering what leisurely things one is doing I stopped laughing and let out a sigh.
"You, what’s so funny!"
"Shut up. ...Sorry Sagua, can you let me hear the story?"
"Ah, listen..."
I silenced the adventurer who had intimidated; Sagua let out a sigh and began speaking.
Hearing that I honestly could neither laugh nor be fed up.
Because the adventurers gathered in this tavern now were in the same situation as the adventurers gathered at Suzuya for a period.
Without releasing the killing intent I was putting out to the surroundings I crossed my arms; thinking a little I spoke to the cautious adventurer.
"Hey, shall we negotiate?"