Chapter 65

EP.65 The End of Vacation - 2

Currently, the traffic in the Magic Tower has reached a saturation point.

People whose homes were destroyed by the terrorist attacks, a flood of injured pouring in, and immigrants trembling in fear of subsequent terrorist attacks.

The Warp Gates, including trains, are now so busy that they can only be used by reservation. The traffic in the Magic Tower is bustling to the point of saturation.

Thus, the party of the Reinhardt family also had no choice but to wait their turn.

At first glance, there seemed to be no problem...

“Aria-sama~”

This waiting time was nothing short of a painful period for one young girl.

“Where could she have gone~?”

The evidence of this chase and escape was a young boy with eyes glowing with aura, looking around.

This pursuit and escape began with the 'First Kiss Incident.'

***

“Aria-sama? Why are you like this?”

Aria could proudly say that she had faced many life-threatening situations.

When fighting orcs and wyverns,

When battling Balrog,

Even when fighting the Claymore,

“Do you not want to take a walk with me?”

The most terrifying thing was Leo's innocent smile. After all, it was thanks to Leo's cooperation that she defeated Balrog and the Claymore.

“...Ah... Well, it's just that...”

Cold sweat poured down her body. She had no idea how to explain this.

“Ariasphil-sama? Why are you so nervous? People might think I'm angry.”

Isn't he angry? Well, since Leo is smiling, if I just explain it well...

Smack!

At that moment, Leo clenched his fist in the air. Everyone around him flinched instantly.

“Ouch, there was a mosquito nearby.”

Leo wiped his hand, showing the scene of the brutal murder. The mosquito was squashed, and the blood it had sucked was oozing out.

It was all too clear who would be the next target, and the image was vivid in Ariasphil's mind.

“So, how far have you...”

Click, Thud

Aria ran away. Love or anything else, if she died now, there would be nothing left. She wanted to survive now for the sake of future love.

“...Why do you make a simple answer so difficult? You're really cute, you know.”

It was clearly a compliment, but even Ameri, who clearly had a crush on Leo, and Rios, who enjoyed pure love, felt a chill.

“...Um... Brother...?”

“Yes, Rios-sama.”

Leo looked at Rios with narrow eyes and a smile. Rios felt an overwhelming sense of alienation from Leo's rarely seen expression.

“By any chance... If... you find out who that one person is... what will you do...?”

“...Surely... not... kill...”

When Ameri asked cautiously, Leo laughed lightly.

“Kill? No way.”

“Phew... Thank goodness...”

A shadow fell over Leo's face. Beneath the shadow, a murderous intent was smiling.

“Why would you do such a precious thing?”

Everyone pretended not to hear the rest.

At this time, the sage, who was resting in a cave, couldn't follow the story at all and was in a difficult situation.

***

And back to the present.

[Why are you such a wimp? Your heart is as small as an ashtray.]

Seeing Leo searching for Aria with eyes glowing with aura, the sage clicked his tongue.

<Is an ashtray a heart?>

[That's what I mean.]

The sage, who was not involved, spoke bluntly. After all, he had only heard the scene, so it didn't really resonate with him.

<As a dedicated knight, I have the right to reprimand the lady for her promiscuous behavior.>

Indeed, the head of the family and her father, Gladio Reinhardt, had said this to him.

- Sometimes point out when you think she's wrong, and correct her if she's not.

He did say that. The head of the family didn't know it would be used in this way, though.

<So I'm just doing my job.>

[...But think about it, isn't it most promiscuous when you're with her?]

Everyone who saw the relationship between Leo and Aria would think that.

<What? Why?>

They themselves didn't seem to notice at all. Their insensitivity was at the level of losing the concept of awareness.

[...Fine. Just finish what you're doing.]

“Hmm... She's not here.”

Unaware that Aria was pressed against the ceiling, Leo closed the door.

“...Phew...”

Relaxing her arms and legs, Aria landed on the floor again. It had only been a day since then, but it felt like a month to Aria.

‘...Should I just tell him?’

Actually, she wasn't the only one who kissed. Leo had boldly taken her lips too...

‘...Ugh... But...’

The problem was the scene before that.

‘Such... beastly acts... with Leo...’

Being almost assaulted by a fake Leo in a dream, and not really rejecting it, if he remembered that when the kiss was mentioned, she would faint from shame for the rest of her life.

‘...Absolutely can't be found out...’

[Aria, hide.]

Aria quickly hid under the table.

Bam

“Still not here.”

[Why are you acting surprised when you already saw?]

<It felt like Aria-sama.>

[What's that? A dirty intuition.]

It was a kind of breath or smell, a combination of things that could be felt. Of course, it was a rather unpleasant sixth sense.

Click

Leo looked around for a moment, then closed the door again.

[...He's really gone this time.]

<Thank you... I'm alive...>

Ariasphil sighed in relief as she came out from under the table.

In fact, she was able to escape from the tracking and seduction expert, Leonardo, thanks to the spirits.

The spirits in the Magic Tower had informed her of Leo's location in advance, allowing her to narrowly avoid him.

But

‘...I can't keep doing this...’

She couldn't avoid Leonardo for the rest of her life. Eventually, they would have to return together, and she needed to reconcile with him by then.

‘...Really... I didn't want to use this method...’

She had no choice but to use her last resort.

***

“So, you called us for this?”

Rios, sitting in the sage's research lab, glared at Aria with a slightly cold look.

“...Yeah...”

Rios, who had been sipping coffee, whispered to Ameri, making sure Aria could hear.

“Look, Ameri. This is a prime example of hypocrisy. A very annoying type in romance novels.”

“That's not it!!”

Aria, clearly annoyed, huffed and puffed in anger. Rios, with his narrow eyes, asked maliciously.

“Then imagine if Leonardo had his first kiss with someone else and acted like this. Wouldn't you be angry?”

“...That's... not it...”

Meanwhile, Ameri, who had been listening quietly, spoke up.

“That's not it, Rios.”

Sipping her coffee, Ameri shared her own opinion.

“Ariasphil-sama is, after all, of a certain age. Isn't it a bit petty to get so worked up over just a kiss?”

Aria felt a strange mix of emotions. It was true, but it was strangely hard to agree.

“It's true, but Aria pulls out her sword if Leo even holds a girl's hand. Isn't that a bit too narrow-minded?”

“...That's... true...”

Ameri, who had experienced Aria's possessiveness firsthand, couldn't deny it.

“But still, to make a big deal out of a kiss and talk about virginity. Having experience isn't wrong, after all.”

Aria felt a pang in her heart, as if she was being judged on her character.

“The problem isn't that.”

Rios's expression became serious. He was serious and broad-minded about love.

Aria and Ameri secretly thought he was 'a bit too serious' all the time, but that was a secret.

“The problem is that you, Aria, ran away without any explanation.”

“Ariasphil-sama also has some responsibility.”

Ameri agreed.

“Think about it. You suddenly left in the middle of a conversation, and kept running away without any explanation. Leo would naturally be worried, regardless of whether he was angry or not.”

Aria couldn't deny that. She herself was the one who escalated the situation.

If she hadn't run away then, this chase and escape wouldn't have happened.

“And Leo,

Even if he wasn't angry, he must feel a significant sense of betrayal. He's been by your side without a moment's rest since becoming your dedicated knight... and you kissed another man behind his back. Leo didn't even know about it at first.”

He was probably very angry, but the sense of betrayal was also significant. While reprimanding her as a dedicated knight might not be the main purpose, it wasn't just an excuse.

“...But...”

“Just explain it properly. Honestly, I don't think Leo would hurt you. Remember what he said to that woman who came to visit you when you were sick?”

Indeed, what Leo said then was very touching and loving. It was hard to find someone who thought of her that way outside of family.

“Still...”

“Well, the man you kissed should be prepared to run for his life. If he doesn't emigrate, he'll really die.”

Ariasphil's sense of shame reached its peak.

“...That's not it!!”

The flood of emotions burst out. It was more embarrassing to hide it now.

“...I kissed...!”

Her love exploded.

“It was Leo's first kiss...!”

The room fell silent for a moment. It took Ameri and Rios a few minutes to understand the meaning of her words.

“So, it wasn't when you gave him the potion...?”

“...Yeah... So...”

“...Then, maybe... before...”

She couldn't say any more and tightly closed her mouth. No one would mistake her silence for a denial.

“...Why did you run away?”

“But... why doesn't Leonardo remember...”

Love makes everyone fools, but this was enough to make them consider a study on whether love lowers human intelligence.

“...It's... not that I did it secretly... but in a way... it was...”

It was impossible to explain without mentioning 'that incident.' They kissed each other, but Leo's memory was erased, which was impossible to explain even with the sage's help.

“...So...!”

Knock knock

At that moment, someone knocked on the door.

“Ameri-san, I want to consult something... Are you there?”

It was Leo. Leonardo was knocking on the door.

(What should I do...)

Click

While Aria was hesitating, Rios and Ameri had already disappeared. Rios's teleportation barely beat Aria's reflexes.

On the table where Rios had been, a small note was written with a pen.

[Good luck~!]

“...Are you kidding?!”

Aria, who had spoken without thinking, naturally heard her voice outside.

“Aria-sama!?”

Leo, who heard the voice, was not one to sit idly by.

The timing to hide was long gone.

“...It's...”

Aria tried to run out of the room.

“Sorry...!!”

Thud

“Please stop running.”

Leo, who caught her, pleaded. Then he blocked her way with his arms on either side of her.

“If you keep this up, I'll really get angry.”

“...It's...”

Leo's face was close. It was a genuine smile, not a forced one, but a rather angry expression.

But it was more powerful than scary. She could feel his breath, and his arms against the wall blocked her path.

It was like when Leo had almost assaulted her in a dream.

“...If you really can't tell me, please lie. I'll believe you.”

“...Huh?”

“There must be a reason for you to hide it. Please lie. I won't ask any more questions.”

Aria hesitated for a moment, then spoke again.

“...If... that person is a man I truly like...?”

“...Truly?”

Leo's expression was a bit shadowed, but he answered.

“...If... the person you choose... I will help make it happen. I'll persuade the head of the family if the family opposes, and I'll try to persuade the entire family if they all object.”

His serious determination made her want to laugh. The fear of Leo was gone from Aria.

Leo was just inexperienced.

“If that man isn't proactive with you... I'll tell him all the good things about you without end.”

Leo's expression was a mix of various emotions. He didn't know which was his own, but at this moment, he wanted to do it for Aria.

He had come back for that.

“Really? No matter what happens?”

“...If that man only looks at you.”

Her smile deepened at his answer. A mischievous grin played on her lips.

“You.”

“...You... What... No, yes?”

Leo's strength completely left his arms at this unexpected answer.

“You mean... Sir Leonardo.”

Ariasphil smiled and grabbed Leo's chin with one hand.

“So, you'll do as you said?”

“...Yes? No, what...”

“Why? You said you'd believe even a lie.”

Now, Aria had become shameless and had somehow freed herself from Leo's grip.

“So, it's a promise? You'll persuade the entire family and be proactive with me.”

“No, that's not what...!”

“Ha... I'll go first! Thanks to you, I couldn't even eat properly.”

She left the room with a carefree smile, a truly worry-free and refreshing smile.

[...I think...]

“I don't want to know...”

Interrupting the sage, Leonardo stared blankly at the room. The lingering scent of Ariasphil remained.

Was that a lie, or the truth?

Or, rather,

‘...Did I hope it was a lie... or...’

Did I hope it was the truth?

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