"I did hear about a highly regarded inn in the capital, but this really is fancy!" Leila said as she looked at the building. I could tell that Leila was always busy so such outings happened rarely for her, more to the point, she felt outings tedious since people usually disturbed her. A girl really has a lot of trouble in her life.
As we went inside, I went to the restaurant area. since mainly we were here to have dinner and a little drink. We would be staying at the castle so we didn't need to stay in the inn.
"I will take one of everything you have here." I gave the order to the waiter. He was the same waiter that had served me back then, when I first came to the capital. I wanted to take my grandparents here too but they looked busy today, so I had to come here with only Systy and Leila oh and Rose.
"Um Sir.. d.. Did you say 1 of everything?" Asked the waiter just to be clarified…
"Hmm yes. One of every dish you have. And bring your mixed fruit wine.." as I ordered, the Waiter looked at 4 of us but then again looking at me, as if he remembered something, he nodded and took off towards the kitchen.
"Are you sure about ordering one of everything on their Menu? It is quite large…." Asked Rose thinking the food could really get wasted…
"Don't Worry Lady Rose, master is a heavy eater." Said Systy.
"Well if the food is good then you should eat your fill. Last time I was here their food was good, so I am sure we can finish it." I said while smiling. The restaurant was on the high end so the other customers here were also sophisticated. I was glad to find a place where I could eat peacefully. normally in a fantasy world you go to taverns and such, but then again, I got a lot of money, I have to use it no?
"Rekka.. I just remembered that dinner night! in the open sky that High up, really nothing could compare to that." Leila said from beside me, the moon was high up in the sky a full moon. It was able to make Leila remember our night together.
She really looked happy right now, that night really was in my favour, I had not only chosen a place that Leila would have liked by pure luck but I was also able to convey what I felt for her. Maybe the impact that night had on both of us differed from each one of our experiences but to me it was something that I will never forget..
As for Leila. It probably was far more greater, she had chosen a partner that she could look at with love for the first time. And the first man that she put her trust in.
"It was special... Even though it may look recent to you, I really get nostalgic remembering that." Maybe since I have grown up, Leila was also feeling nostalgic. I still could remember Leila being in my embrace the first time.
"Can't be helped, I just have to make new memories with you!" Well Leila was certainly happy. She was in full bloom. Today was also a full moon night. Has it already been a few month since then? Or rather, probably longer.
After Leila and I chatted about her new life at the mansion, we started to go through different subjects.
"Hmm… I am getting worried, you know?" I said to Leila, it was because Ridge still wasn't showing herself. But as if on cue, I heard her voice. it was in my head.
"Sorry for avoiding you!"
Ridge….!
Ridge! Where are you!? Can't you see I am getting worried? why won't you show yourself!?
"I was just afraid that if I came now you would reject my offer…."
You fool! Show yourself right now or I'll never look for you again! And I'll void the contract!
I said with a slight irritation. I knew she was shy but she was falling into anxiety like this. I needed to make this clear with her.
"What! Noo! I am coming, you wait there okay! I am coming!" She got panicked hearing me get angry, this was the first time I got angry with her so it must have shocked her to no end but sometimes you have to be firm. Since you have confessed, obviously you have to also have the guts to hear the reply.
As I waited, something small, the size of a fist sat on my head. I picked her up. It was Ridge. As I took her in my hand and grasped her so she couldn't run away again. I looked at her straight.
"If you are gonna confess your love to someone, at least make the courage to hear the answer too okay…" I said with a bit of a harsh tone, well I can't say anything about that, since I myself would have jumped of that high pillar had Leila rejected me. anyway, to me it felt as if meeting Ridge after a long long time. I was bound to get this way. In a few weeks after meeting her, I was able to get so close to her. She was like a kid free spirited and easygoing. Moreover, we had made a contract. It was a bond as close as a familial bond. I could feel her emotions you know? she too could feel mine, so that clearly represented how close the contract was.
I took her close to me and hugged her, since she was now small. I had to hug her carefully.
"I am sorry.." she looked really down. I never saw her like this… This spirit! She had become unstable from the stress. their physical form should always look healthy since unlike human, they don't actually need anything other than spirit energy, but Ridge looked like she had been in major pressure and tension which even affected her physic.
"You know I wouldn't mind that relationship…. but you are a spirit. You can live nearly forever. I on the other hand will fade away. Do you still want to love me? Remember that I will die one day. I don't want your rest of your immortal life to be full of sadness."
I said this because spirits could easily get attached to their loved ones. but if they died, the spirit would usually mourn for the rest of their life. Since they were beings who lived truthfully, they were just like that. of course Ridge could find another partner, but knowing her if she and I lived together for close to 50 years, I don't think she could just change to another partner, even more so since I have the blessing of the goddess of love, won't I be leaving a heavy expression on her?
a sprits love was greater than mortal love and relationships too, That was why once one family received their blessings, usually as long as that lineage existed, the whole family would still get blessings for the same reason. they made bonds for life and would never forget bonds, even the trivial ones, so what about me? I was not taking a blessing… no, it was a lifelong companionship. As Ridge heard me, she looked like she could understand my sentiment but a while later, she looked at me with the brightest smile I had never seen before, with tears forming in her eyes ready to fall any time.
"I still love you! I want to be with you! I won't ever regret this!" As Ridge said, looking straight at me without the concern of being seen by Leila and the others, I looked at her unwavering eyes that now leaked large tear drops and said.
"Then allow me to be your lifelong companion. I love you too Ridge…." I said, holding her in my hand. She looked out of breath even though she said she didn't need oxygen to survive.
Looks like hearing my answer made her really happy because I could see her small face grinning like she didn't have any care in the world.
Now that was someone who was super proud of herself. I thought people made different expressions depending on their personality so I guess She was proud…. But wasn't I the lower existence here? Well anyway, even if Ridge is proud to be with me. I too am the same.
"Congratulations Master, it looks like you have found your 3rd Wife!" Systy made such a comment which made Ridge break out of her dream.
she promptly looked around and saw that Leila was even here and she was showing her a V sign maybe for victory. I had already discussed Ridge to Leila. She already knew the answer and having a spirit as my 3rd wife really surprised her, but she said it would be great to have her.
Since Leila was of course all about research about magic, and spirits were all about magic so it was win-win for both of them. Or rather I was happy that they would get along with themselves.. I had no idea what I would have done otherwise.
"Noo! This is so embarrassing! why does Leila get a nice single moonlight dinner and I get a public view!?" As Ridge tried to flee away, I caught her and made her transform into her real form, where she looked like a young adult. Her features were really eye-catching. as she was in a white one piece dress, and her clear eyes that had shed tears just a while ago, looked even more beautiful.
As she had suddenly Transformed to her real form, she was practically sitting on my lap. This made her even more flustered but I patted her head and moved her to the next empty seat. I put her down like a little kitten. It was charming to see how docile she got though.
"How'd you undo my magic?" Asked Ridge. she had finally been able to get out from her flustered state.
"Ha ha, I am constantly improving. I have already figured out how you guys use spirit magic. so I can undo your spells, since I am in contact with you too, it was easier." I said a bit haughtily. I mean I had figured out the ups and downs of the spirit magic thanks to the System of course but system and me were a 2 in one pair!
"What is happening here? A rather beautiful girl appears out of thin air, then this Man just gets lovey-dovey with her too. in front of her soon to be fiancée! and he even confessed to another girl! Miss Leila! please tell me you're sane! and not marrying this man!" OOH! Looks like Rose finally bursted. She was observing us all while being quiet but I guess she had already reached her boiling point.
"Lady Rose, this is nothing, at home there's more than 50 people waiting for master…" As Systy said with an understanding tone, it only made Rose even more bewildered.
At Least don't make it sound like I already went and captured all of them. If a girl wants to be with me I can't be blamed for that can I? Was this the trouble every handsome man has to go through? I kind of envy that I like and dislike this situation at the same time.
"Hmm what can he do? That's just him. And the girls are at fault here too, I actually never saw Rekka intentionally being forward with anyone other than me and Alice." Said Leila, I wonder if stealing women's hearts without realizing it was a jerk move or not.
But I had to admit. I thought when I would come out looking like a grown up, the girls would stop fawning over me… like hell that would happen..! I had completely disregarded the reality where a cute kid could certainly grow up to be a handsome man..
"You guys are making too much of me. I never even touched any of them. You know I don't even remember if I ever even flirted with them….. Well maybe some of them… but it's not like I was aiming for all of them?" I was making my own case worse.
It looks like I really have become a pervert. The maids at my home were all beautiful. What could I do? I mean I was a growing teen. I could take a glance or two can't I? Moreover I was a kid when I was back with the maids. As an adult I think they will hold themselves back… since my cuteness as a kid should be gone now. I think at least… but I also remember the looks I had gotten after I had gotten out of the lost dimension…. Ah… what a blissful trouble I am facing...
"Well that is true. it is more like they just fall for you. At this point where even a spirit has joined the fan club it is better to view it as inevitable!" Leila gave such a review. Were all girls in this world so carefree about their partner? Where did all their jealousy go?
"Lady Leila you have already been corrupted.. I thought you were one of us!" OOh it looked like Rose was on the man hating team too. No wonder Leila and She looked like close friends.
"Come on Rose, Rekka is a good man… he is thoughtful and even strong with a gentle side to him and understands my feelings. What more do you need?.... Say Rose, If you stay with him too, I can certainly say that the same would happen to you. I am sure you never had experienced a man that could view you as an equal no matter who or what you were." Leila said to Rose which made Rose glare at me like I was a sex fiend.
"Come on Leila, what are you talking about….?" was she actually fixing me up with her juniour?
"Oh come on, we have come this far, why stop now. you could go for more you know?" Leila said mischievously….
"You have really been teasing me a lot lately you know?" I said to Leila as she was chuckling to herself…. I know that I already have 3 girls at this point but that should not make it clear that I should go for double digits too.
It was then that our food came, there were many varieties of dishes meat based and vegetable based. I even saw rice there. it may be their new dish. As the table piled up with food, many different aromas trickled at my nose… the dishes looked super delicious and the captivating aroma made it even more captivating.
"Can we really finish all this?" Rose said, looking at the pile of food which was only being added… but she didn't know just how much we ate….
Because of constant training, our body has changed a lot. The training made us eat even more. To keep the energy up it was mandatory. So as we trained, our appetite passed normal humans to insane levels where eating 10 people's worth of food gets transformed into solid energy in only a few hours or even minutes…
"Don't worry, there won't be anything left when I am done!" I said as I dug in. The various dishes all had their own special way of bringing out flavour. Me and Systy were zeroing in on the food at light speed. Soon it could be seen that the table had gotten considerably empty. Leila and Rose were still on their first dish. They haven't even finished half of it.
One after the other, I savoured the flavours of Fresh ingredients of the highest quality.
"Ahh! That was great!" I sighed with delight. Unlike me who had eaten like there was no tomorrow, Systy had eaten a large amount too with ladylike elegance, so I had to say.. There really were great differences between us.
We had finished our dinner with a good helping of dessert after all that. Everything was cooked to perfection. I had to say this chef was really one of the top chefs I could think of. Even with such low species being used… he really can bring the most out of each ingredient...
"Well that certainly was surprising…" Rose said as she looked at me. she was totally stunned after seeing me eat. I had surpassed even Systy. finishing 20 of the huge dishes also with a good helping of desserts…. Systy had stopped after eating 10 big bowls of rice… since we ate rice a lot when we were training, I guess it became one of her favourite dishes… still, the rice could have been better, I should really check out other regions for this.
"Hmm I can certainly say you have reached the pinnacle of humanity…." Ridge said from my side. ofcourse after analyzing my body and the spirit energy inside of it, it was apparent to Ridge.
"Yeah you guys have changed so much…." Leila agreed to Ridge. And in fact, I was surprised that Ridge didn't get surprised over my change, but I guess spirits tend to follow many other things apart from the appearance, so maybe it was natural for her to not get surprised.
At that time, we saw that the alcohol had come in. but since the night had progressed, we decided to pack them with us so we could have them while in the castle.
This time I bought half of their supplies. The manager of the place had become shocked but he still obliged and sold me that much. Staying in the Lost dimension made my food supply and other drinks supplies diminish so I needed to resupply again… not only juice but I also got a lot of wine this time too, in the end, it was better to keep it since I will be meeting a lot of people from now.
Rose also got surprised that I could just shove all those liquor in my storage. She thought my storage was meager at best, but she was totally off. My storage was an unlimited void. there was no limit to it. Of Course I didn't say that to her. I just let her believe that My mana pool was so deep that I had nearly unlimited space.
Like that dinner filled with some laughs and cries (especially from Rose who believed that her high miss had been caught by a wolf) went by, the time that we shared was something that made me believe that the training may not have been in vain, I want to protect these faces, for the time being I loved the time we had.