Chapter 19

### If It's a Girl, It's Safe Theory

This time, there's a slight character breakdown for Levi.

#### Side Ruri

Today, Setsu left for Evilbrough. As I was starting to set up the stall I received in the town below the castle, Setsu came over to say goodbye.

"Ruri, I'm leaving today."

He said it as casually as if he was just going to the bathroom, and I was left speechless for a moment. During that time, he rummaged through his pocket and threw something string-like at me. When I hurriedly caught and checked it, it was a necklace. A white string was threaded through a strangely shaped stone. When I asked what it was, he said it was an accessory he gives to close friends when parting ways. Is it the same as the brooch Desus has, a parting gift?

I was so happy that I felt a bit giddy, but Setsu looked at me with a mischievous eye. I got angry, but he slipped away smoothly. For some reason, I thought, "If I had an older brother, it would be like this." The way he treats me is like he's dealing with a younger sister. I wish he would see me as a woman...

When I started to get teary-eyed from being teased, he put his hand on my head. Setsu's hand was warm, and before I knew it, he was gently stroking my head, and I couldn't resist at all.

"Anyway, do your best with the stall. If it's thriving when I come back, I'll help out."

With that, Setsu walked towards the gate leading out of town. I still had a lot more to talk about, but stopping him here would be a bother. Suppressing my reluctance, I watched him go.

If I could run this shop with him, it would be the happiest thing. To make that new dream come true, I have to make this shop successful and meet Setsu's standards. I put in extra effort to prepare for the opening. It was supposed to open tomorrow, but I decided to open it in the afternoon today. I tightened my resolve and started preparing the ingredients I was supposed to use tomorrow.

---

"---The number of people I've given accessories to has really increased..."

I muttered to myself, recalling the moment I gave the necklace to Ruri.

Basically, the accessories I give have my blessing. The blessing isn't much—just making mental interference attacks ineffective, nullifying one potentially lethal attack, and instantly alerting me if the wearer is in danger. I'd like to add more physical enhancements, but the stones I use don't have the capacity to hold that much power. Right now, the only ones who have it are the three I traveled with, Yūhi, Desus, and Ruri. There's one more, but they're far away from these three continents, so I'll introduce them later.

While thinking about this, I reached the gate at the edge of town. The guards checked if I was allowed to leave (we can't let criminals out), and I stepped outside the city.

"---You're late."

As I was breathing in the outside air, someone suddenly spoke to me. Looking for the source of the voice, I saw Levi standing at the edge of the road.

"Yeah, I went to see Ruri. You could have come with me."

"It's fine. I don't want to intrude on your time together."

Our time together? It wasn't that serious of a farewell...

"Well, I'll get some alone time with you, so I can give you this much."

Saying that, Levi walked up and stuck to my side.

The reason Levi is traveling with me is that I asked her to. We'll be moving by sea again, and she's a great asset in battle. She was planning to return to the sea anyway, so there was no reason not to go together. Still, she's being unusually honest today. She usually acts all tsundere...

"By the way... do you remember our promise?"

"Hmm? The one where you said I'd listen to you? Is it decided?"

"...It's so unfair that you remember things like that... you womanizer..."

She said it in a whisper, but with my enhanced hearing, I heard it clearly. Don't lump me in with insensitive guys.

"Yes, it's decided. Anything is fine, right?"

"Yeah, within my limits."

If you ask for something out of my range, I'll flay you. Got it?

"Probably within your range... remember the wedding dress Desus was wearing?"

"Ah, the pure white one that didn't suit her. By the way, who could I ask to make a black and red dress? Can I just get it made normally?"

"---I want to wear that... I want to wear that..."

Her voice got softer and softer, and she ended up looking down. When she's honest, she becomes so cute. I wanted to hear more, so I encouraged her.

"A sea-colored dress... and a place made of ice on the sea..."

"Hmm, hmm..."

"---I can't say it, it's too embarrassing!"

I thought I could tease her a bit more... but in short...

"---I want to marry you."

"Ugh!! Don't say it so directly!!"

I easily dodged the angry punch that came at me with a whoosh. For a tsukkomi, it's way too powerful. A normal person would be splattered. Also, violent girls aren't in high demand.

"Don't dodge!!"

"Can't do it."

I caught her punch with my hand and gave her a light tap on the head. Levi, who was hit, became quiet and held the spot.

"Ugh... sigh, I can't be honest. It's too hard for me."

Suddenly, the strength left her shoulders, and she slumped.

"You were trying too hard to be honest, weren't you? Why?"

"Because... Desus is so straightforward in expressing her feelings to you. There are other people who admire you too... and my feelings don't seem to reach you..."

She said this while looking down even more.

...In a way, it's not about being honest or tsundere; it's just that it doesn't get through to insensitive people. For someone like me who enjoys teasing, it's pretty clear...

"---Your feelings have reached me, so don't worry. If you want to marry me, just say it, and I'll respond."

I egged her on, of course with a sleazy face.

Levi's face turned red, her lips trembled, and she tried to form words through her tears of embarrassment...

"Me and... m-marry---"

---There's no way I can say that, you idiot!!

"Haah!? Hey, stop the Water Laser!!"

I dodged the water magic that hit my face like a fire truck's hose and ran around. Levi's rampage didn't stop for a while, and by the time it did, the sun was high in the sky.

---Strange, it was morning just a moment ago...

This was the moment I realized that my departures are always this messy...

---

"Haa!!"

At the outdoor training ground of Distenia Castle, two girls were intensely casting spells at each other. One was firing ice shards, and the other was releasing sunset-colored flames.

"Yūhi!! Pay more attention to your output!! You don't need such a large flame to counter these shards!!"

"Y-Yes!! Ms. Elka!!"

This time, she countered the ice with a slightly smaller flame. They met, and steam rose violently. But---

(Gah... this time it's too weak!?)

The shards that weren't melted through pierced through the flame and hit Yūhi's head. She fell to the ground, having received a strong impact from the roughly baseball-sized chunks.

"---Let's stop here for today, are you okay, Yūhi?"

"Yes... somehow. Ow..."

Yūhi got up, holding her head. With body enhancement always active, she wasn't seriously injured, but it seemed she had a cut. When she let go of her hand, blood was on it.

"Hmm... that output wasn't enough... if I make it a bit larger and thicker---"

"---Yū!!"

Suddenly called by her name, Yūhi stopped her thoughts and looked in the direction of the voice. There was Hikari running towards her at full speed. In no time, he reached Yūhi, supported her as she sat up, and cast the healing spell, Heal, on her head. Healing magic is a light attribute, and Hikari, who has an aptitude for it, is skilled at Heal.

"You're doing such intense training on your day off... that's why you get hurt."

"U-Um...?"

Hikari, with a serious expression, healed her wound and helped her stand up. Yūhi could have stood up on her own, but she couldn't refuse his concern and went along with it.

"Let's go back to the room and rest today."

"..."

"Do you understand?"

"...Yes."

"Good."

The two walked to their room. As they left, Hikari turned to Elka and gave her a resentful look. Elka, without a word, turned her back and walked away. Even she, who is M, doesn't like such looks.

---

Back in the room, Yūhi was laid on the bed by Hikari. She could have moved around on her own, and she could have continued training, but since Elka had stopped her, she didn't intend to continue. However, being forcibly brought back by Hikari was quite frustrating.

"Your daily training is already tough. Adding such intense training on top of that is---"

"---I have to do it."

"Why?"

To be with Yuki-kun---she started to say but remembered that Hikari was from Distenia. She stopped herself, as she was strictly told not to talk about this to anyone Elka hadn't approved.

"---I just want to get stronger."

"Is that so..."

He didn't seem convinced, but Hikari couldn't push further due to Yūhi's seriousness.

"---But you're not resting enough. Let's go to town together next time. Okay?"

"---Sorry, I have to train."

Hikari, who was bluntly told, opened his eyes wide in shock. Yūhi, seemingly unaffected, got up from the bed and walked towards the door. She was a bit unsatisfied with today's training and thought about asking Elka for additional training.

Her arm was grabbed from the side by Hikari.

Whenever Yūhi works hard... it's always when that Sasaki Yuki is involved.

"Eh?"

Caught off guard, Yūhi was surprised. Indeed, whenever she worked hard in the past, it was usually because of Setsu. When he took a break, she would prioritize taking notes for him, and no matter how busy she was, she would complete her tasks at an incredible speed and head straight to his house. When he was exhausted from reading too many novels and fainted at school, she carried him to the infirmary on her own.

Most of Yūhi's efforts, for which she was often called a hard worker, were for Setsu.

"Is it the same this time? What's so good about that shut-in? I'm definitely---Ow!?"

Suddenly, Hikari's arm, which was grabbing Yūhi, was in intense pain. Looking at it, her free hand was gripping his wrist tightly, almost making a cracking sound, and her fingers were digging into his arm.

"Don't say bad things about Yuki-kun. If you say too much... even if it's Hikari-kun... I'll burn you."

"Ow!?"

A killing intent, unimaginable from her cute and well-put-together appearance, hit Hikari. He lost his strength and almost collapsed, but he was pulled up by the arm he was holding.

The gap between Yūhi and Hikari had already grown this much. It hasn't been long since Setsu left, but with Elka's serious training, a talented person like Yūhi couldn't help but grow.

Letting go of Hikari's arm, Yūhi tried to leave the room again.

"Don't worry, I'll keep the training to a level that won't affect tomorrow's dungeon training. Relax?"

Leaving that last message, Yūhi left the room and closed the door. Hikari, who was concerned about that, was still unable to move.

The next time he recovered from the killing intent from the one he loved was a few minutes later.

Next time, arrival at the port town.

So, what will happen to Hikari's love? (It's obvious)

And how will Yūhi grow from here? (Mysterious)