Chapter 68

"Thank you for the bookmark rating m(_ _)m

Also, this one is a bit short.

It might be better to read it with tomorrow's.

I'm really sorry m(_ _)m

「H-Hi! My name is Shirsieu! P-Please remember me!」

「I am called Witeeu! P-Please, let's have a meal together sometime!」

「...H-Ha」

After treating the maid, Lily and I returned to the corner, but for some reason, we were now surrounded by noble young ladies.

Until just a moment ago, they hadn't even glanced at us, but now their reaction was as sudden as turning their hands over. Honestly, I was at a loss.

「Nestoo. It's so hot.」

Lily, who was still clinging to me, had been caught up in the commotion and couldn't get away.

「Really, what's suddenly going on...?」

As I looked around at the increasing number of young ladies, I muttered this to myself.

「Haa... I'm so tired...」

For a while longer, I was jostled around by the young ladies, but finally, I was released.

「You must feel good, being approached by such cute girls.」

「Were we really being approached...?」

I turned to Aula, who had called out to me from behind, and said this. When I turned around, I noticed that Aula looked displeased, as if something was bothering her.

「If you use healing magic in front of everyone, they'll think you have enough funds to learn healing magic. And since you treated a maid, they might think you have a good character.」

「Haa, so that's what it was...」

I had been complacent, thinking that treating such a minor injury wouldn't make people think I had an extraordinary healing magic, but I hadn't realized there was such a pitfall.

「...You should be more careful from now on.」

With a tone that still carried a hint of displeasure, Aula left, returning to where she had been before.

「...?」

Not understanding why Aula was displeased, I tilted my head.

「Did something happen...?」

I thought about asking Lily, but she had disappeared, perhaps because she had found being surrounded so unpleasant.

「Well, let's go dancing then.」

Luna, the holy maiden, who had appeared at some point, announced this with her clear voice.

「...Maybe I'll just go outside and kill some time.」

I quickly slipped out of the venue. If asked why, it was because I had no experience dancing. I couldn't bring myself to go to something where I knew I would embarrass myself.

Wandering around the castle, I eventually found myself in what seemed to be a courtyard.

「...There's a place like this?」

I had run around the castle when I sneaked in before, but this was a new place for me. The grass underfoot was neatly trimmed and very well-maintained.

「Haa...」

Feeling guilty about lying on the grass, I gently lay down. The courtyard had no ceiling, allowing me to look up at the sky. The sky was dominated by darkness, stretching endlessly, giving the impression of infinite expanse.

「...It's beautiful...」

In this courtyard, I felt as if I was not in the crowded city, but at the edge of the world, where no one else was. The grass was soft and comfortable, and thanks to the cool night air, it felt refreshing.

『Crunch...』

Even such a small sound of footsteps was easily heard.

「...Is someone there?」

Perhaps they had also slipped out of the party like me.

「...」

After a moment of silence, a shadow slowly emerged from the darkness.

「...It's Lily.」

There, wearing the dress the maid had prepared for her, was Lily, who had disappeared earlier.