kscans

Chapter 133 - When Someone Says They're Okay, They're Not

Ariel stood before the Tree Sea Defense Force’s base.

She had gathered a lot of magic cores. There were many monster carcasses too, but she didn’t have the energy to butcher them all. She couldn’t move all night like she used to. This was a problem.

Do they even need magic cores? They said someone else was doing this job now.

Maybe I should just wander in, hand them over quickly, and make a dash for it. Yes, let’s do that.

The base looked almost the same as she remembered. It was bigger than before, with room-like holes here and there. It used to be just her, but are there more people now? Where should I leave the magic cores and go?

She walked briskly and found a wide space with a table in the middle. A lot of armor was laid out on it.

"Moonshadow Wolf fur... they’re processing it somehow." She found herself captivated by the armor, which had been treated with an unfamiliar alchemical process. How did they do it? I want a closer look.

She couldn’t help but touch the armor, examining how it had been processed.

"Who’s there... eh? Ariel?" A man was there when she turned around. He had called her Ariel. Was he an acquaintance?

He looked to be past thirty. Around Adrian’s age? Then he must be about forty. He was standing there dumbfounded. Well, I did just walk in uninvited.

Time to drop them and dash.

"Magic cores. I got a lot, so you can have them."

"Eh!" Time to run.

"Wait." She was stopped.

"..."

"...Um, thank you." Good. He thanked me. I did a good thing. Time to run.

"Wait." He stopped her again.

"Where are you living now?" Oh no. Adrian had told her she had to leave if someone said so.

"Do I have to leave?" she asked timidly.

"Are you perhaps in the tower?" It seemed he really was an acquaintance. Even though I don’t recognize him... She reluctantly nodded.

"No, you don’t have to leave. It’s just, it’s a long way from here, and it’s night. Let me walk you back."

"Not necessary."

"I see..." The man in front of her was clearly dejected.

"Do you want to walk me back?"

"Y, yes."

"If you walk me back, then I will have to walk you back, so wouldn’t it be the same?"

"Why would you walk me back?"

"Because it’s a long way, and it’s night." The man in front of her was clearly troubled.

"Because you’re a woman."

"Is it bad for a woman to walk a long distance at night?" I didn’t know that. Is it a rule for nobles? I’ll ask Eleonora-fujin next time. But now the man was pondering.

"No, it’s not bad, but... isn’t it okay to just want to walk you back?"

"I won’t stop you if you want to."

This was a problem. I wasn’t scolded, but I had a feeling Adrian would be mad at me. I wonder why.

"Ah, yes, that’s right." The man took out a piece of candy.

"This? Do you recognize it?"

"It’s candy." What was he talking about? However, the candy that Adrian and Eleonora-fujin gave her came with rules of etiquette. It was served on a plate, and you had to pick it up with your fingers.

"Do you like it?"

"I like it, but I can’t eat it without a plate."

"?"

"Candy isn’t normally served as a noble’s table sweet. But since I like it, I’m allowed to eat it only if it’s served to me on a plate." The man thought, looking puzzled.

"Close your eyes and open your mouth." I should close my eyes. Ah, open my mouth. Mmm!!

"It’s candy!"

"This isn’t the kind of candy nobles eat, so this is fine." There are noble candies and non-noble candies? Are they different? I’ll have Eleonora-fujin teach me the difference. The man was staring at me as I licked the candy. But he looked sad.

"Are you in pain?"

"Why do you ask?"

"You look sad."

"No, I’m okay." He muttered to himself, as if in a monologue, that Ariel was as kind as ever.

"When someone says they’re okay, they’re not okay."

"Eh?" The man’s face froze. Did I say something strange?

"It’s strange to be okay when you’re in pain." The man’s eyes filled with tears. I made him cry.

"You are in pain, aren’t you?" I asked. The man nodded.