Chapter 45: The Date and the Wizard
Lilly: “That meeting with the Grand Duke was so brief, Captain Lura.”
Lura: “I’m sure the nobles are all very busy people.”
The Grand Duke is the top leader that is governing the Principality. It was easily assumed that such a person would be incomparably busier than the common folk.
Kurara: “Could…..you walk…..a bit more…..slowly?”
Lura: “EーExcuse us, Lady Kurara.”
Kurara walks using the sword as a walking stick and walks slowly forward.
Seeing her like this, you would never imagine that she is an [Extreme].
She’s just a cute girl.
Kurara: “Igni…..are you free…..after this….?”
Igni: “Huh?! Um...yes, I am free afterwards but…”
All that’s left now is for Igni and his party to return back to the Kingdom.
Kurara: “Then…..could you…..take me….on a tour....through town?
Igni: “Of course, if it’s okay with me being the guide.”
Igni stretches out a hand to Kurara.
Popularity Etiquette No. 2ーーThe man should always take the lead. Since yesterday night, Igni memorized the stores in this area.
Lilly: “Wーwait! You can’t do that!!”
But it was Lilly who objected.
Kurara: “.......why?”
Kurara tilts her head towards Lilly.
Igni is also a reflecting on Lilly’s actions.
Igni: (..........she seems to be more ‘tsun’ {prickly} than ‘dere’ {loving}...)
Lilly: “BーBut…! Won’t you be in danger?!”
Kurara: “Danger….? Lilly….I am….an [Extreme]....”
Lilly: “.........that’s true but….”
Lilly is obviously trying to come up with something on the spot and her eyes are swimming back and forth.
Kurara: “Besides…..that’s why…..I’m taking…..Igni with me…..”
Lilly: “Oh…...but…….”
Lilly wanted to say something, anything that would stop them.
Lilly: “Bーbut what if something happens……?”
Kurara: “Nothing…..will happen…..”
Lilly: “Ughhhh………..”
This was rare.
Lilly will typically easily accept orders given by Lura and Kurara. It’s rare sight to see her objecting this much.
Kurara: “Don’t you…..think so…..as well…..Igni?”
Igni: “Um...well, yes….”
Igni’s words were also a little garbled.
It’s just taking a guided tour around the city with Kurara.
Is it something that should bother Lilly that much?
So Igni had a hard time recognizing what bothered Lilly and tilted his head in thought.
Lura: “Lilly, it’s just as Lady Kurara says. There’s no chance of anything happening.”
Lilly: “But………..but………..”
Lura: “But?”
But Lilly had no response to Lura’s question.
Lura: “Lady Kurara, when can we expect you to return?”
Kurara: “Let’s see…..we’ll be back…..by the evening…”
Lura: “Then we shall see you back at the inn in the evening.”
Lura bows her head.
Igni: “.....are you sure about walking around town?”
Kurara: “If it’s….just a little…it’ll be fine. And...you don’t ….need to be…..so formal….with me….”
Igni: “Sure thing if that’s okay with you.”
Kurara: “It’s just….a date….between….two good….friends….Formality….will just….get in…..the way….right?”
Igni: (Good friends? A date??)
Igni: (Has our relationship already progressed that far and deep?!)
Since there is no one to correct Igni, his imagination wanders onto the wildest paths available.
Kurara: “Okay….then….let’s go….”
Igni: “Yーyeah…”
Igni: (But where should I take her….?)
Igni: (Since she’s blind, where would she want to go…?)
Igni: “Is there...any place you like to visit?”
Kurara: “......I’ll leave that... to you…”
And as Igni thought, a memory of his past slowly resurfaced gently….
<<<<>>>>
[Oye, Igni]
[What’s wrong, Grandpa?]
[If you’re a man, always have at least 5 dating spots ready.]
[Fーfive?! That’s impossible!!”
<SLAP!!>
[OWWW!!! THーTHAT HURT…!!]
[What kind of idiot gives up before he even tries! You fool!!]
[BーBUT….FIVE……..?!]
[YOU FOOL!! I TOLD YOU FIVE BUT THAT’S THE BARE MINIMUM!! WHAT YOU NEED IS A MEMORABLE LOCATION THAT THEY WILL NEVER FORGET…!!]
[.....NーNEVER?!]
[EXACTLY!! IGNI!! SO WHAT’S A MEMORABLE PLACE YOU CAME UP WITH RIGHT NOW?!]
[Thーthe weapons shop?]
<SLAAAAAAAP!!!>
[UUUUUUUUUGGGHHHHH…….!!]
[.......A FOOL!! A COMPLETE AND UTTER…….FOOL!! THE PEOPLE THAT LOVE WEAPON SHOPS ARE……..MEN!!]
[WHAT?! REALLY?!]
[THAT'S RIGHT! SO WHAT YOU NEED TO DO IS…..GO TO A STORE ENJOYED BY WOMEN……!! THAT IS THE ONLY WAY……!!]
[..........!!! I…..I SEE!!.....YOU’RE RIGHT……!!]
[BUT DO NOT WORRY, IGNI! I WILL TEACH YOU THESE THINGS…….!!]
[WHOOOOOAAA!! GRANDPA!! THAT’S WHY YOU’RE THE BEST!!!]
<<<<>>>
Igni: (.........THーTHINK, IGNI……..!!)
Igni: (This is why we have brains…..!!)
Igni: (If I don’t use it here…...then what’s the point of having one…….!!)
Igni: (What is necessary to allow Kurara to have…..a good time…..?!)
Igni: (A place where women love to go……!!)
Igni: (A place…...women…….love……...to go…….!!)
The next moment, a lightning bolt struck Igni’s brain.
Igni: (Sーsweet things……!!!)
Igni: “Kurara, this way then.”
Kurara: “Wow….are you...used to....these kinds of…things....?”
Igni: “Definitely not.”
Igni takes Kurara’s hand and they begin walking into the city.
And Lilly watched the two go off as a dark, thick swirl of emotions ravaged inside her chest.
<<<<>>>>
Kurara: “It’s….sweet……”
Igni: “It’s fruits covered in honey. Do you like these kinds of things?”
Kurara: “Hehe…...yes….I love them….”
Igni: “That’s a relief.”
Igni: (Fweeeeeeew!! I’m so glad~~~.....)
And Igni secretly let out a huge sigh of relief without anyone noticing.
Igni talks about becoming popular and popularity this and popularity that, but this is his actual, first-ever date with a girl.
Igni: “Oh, the honey….”
Igni was watching Kurara eat the fruits when honey drips from the fruit she’s holding. He quickly catches it with his fingers and…
<nibble>
Kurara clapped her mouth over Igni’s fingers.
Igni: “OH.......?!?!”
Kurara: “Oh….I didn’t…..want it…..to drip on the clothes….”
Igni: “Bーbut my hands might be dirty?!”
Kurara: “It’s okay…”
And Kurara smiles at Igni.
Igni: (She must be an angel…)
Kurara: “I’m done…..eating…”
Igni reminisced on the softness of Kurara’s mouth over and over again in his head as they headed to the next location.
Since Kurara can’t see, they would have to go to a location that wouldn’t require sight to enjoy.
Kurara: “Where…..should we….go next?”
Igni: “Next….”
And Igni thought about where to go next when a horse carriage stopped next to them.
“Igni! It’s Igni, right?!”
And from the carriage, and girl jumped down.
Hair the color of the blue skies and blue eyes.
“I knew it! That face…! You’re definitely Igni!!”
Igni: (I know her…)
Igni: (That face……………..)
Igni’s mental database crunched, churned, and spit out a girl’s name in less than a second..
Igni: “RーRose?! Is that you?!”
It was <the girl whose marriage agreements were broken between him> - his former fiancé.
Igni: (Why...is she hereーー)
But before that question left his lips, Rose spoke first.
Rose: “So you came here too! I knew it! I knew we were tied together by destiny!”
Igni: “DーDestiny….??”
Igni: (Wait, something’s not right. Was Rose always like this?)
Rose: “Yes! Destiny! It was God who brought us together!!”
Igni: “IーIs that...so…?”
Igni tilts his head to wonder, but Rose smiled as she pointed at Kurara.
Rose: “So who’s the girl?”
At that moment, Igni felt all of his instincts scream that his life was in danger.