"alright!" Hohenheim smiled and looked at the improved gear he made from mixing the steal armor and the shadow finger blade and lizards scales, it's still can't handle a sword like Desperate, but will do enough for upper floors
he then organized his loot and went back the guild...
*****
reaching the guild main gate, he reached the accountants office to see redhead demi-human from wolf clan sitting in boredom, she looks up and her cold look just a tiny bet had a smile on it, "how was your exploration, Hohenheim-san?" she heard from Eina when she arrived here that's they bet on something interesting, "I'm happy you took my advice to the heart and studied well." unlike the frown that's she usually had on her cold face, there is slight smile hanging on her face
Hohenheim was pleased to see her smile, "a smile suits you better than a frown." he said with a chuckle
Rose smiled slightly become happier, "as long you keep your life, I would smile for you.", she can't help but took some liking to the former immortal, as unlike most adventures who were hot headed and rash, who constantly tries to flirt with her, and with her animalistic instincts, she can tell the smell of lust increased upon seeing her and Eina for that matter, his eyes only looking at hers all the time
"Oh yes, I remembered something." Rose said, "you did something to Eina did you?" she asked in curiosity
"I did?" he asked in confusion
"Yes, before she ended her shift, he said I would hit you if you did the same to me..."
"Oh! so that's what it is..." Hohenheim realize what she meant and chuckled, "let's say I did something that men usually do the women they admire, well that's how culture was in my hometown far away."
"was it inappropriate?" she asked narrowing her eyes, "I wouldn't say inappropriate..but rather unusual, to Orario, at least." he explained with a smile
"I see... well, she wasn't angry about it, just embarrassed, so I was curious...I will take your word for it, now, how can I help you?" she nodded and change the subject, causing the teen to laugh wryly and put a bag of crystals, "I would like to exchange this please."
"As you wish." she took the bag and sighs, "which floor have you advance to today?"
"only 6th."
"only 6th?" she doesn't know about the details of the bet, "do you want to get yourself killed?!" she looked at him coldly, "it's just your 2nd day! yet you advance to the 6th floor already! you don't value you life?!"
Hohenheim didn't say anything, and let her vent, seeing that's he isn't responding, Rose realized she is in public, so she immediately said, "That's was unprofessional of me, please accept my apology."
yet Hohenheim didn't say anything, Rose looked at him eyes and see something shocked her! instead of gentle eyes and tender smile he is usually has, his eyes were utter cold, and his expression was ruthless, let's not forget he is man who let a million life die in order to achieve his goal, despite regret doing that, he still has the heartless side he kept buried deep
Rose was lost in this cold eyes, and some cold sweat was falling of her forehead, his instincts wear screaming not pushing this gentleman too far, her body start to slightly shake, until she felt a hand on her hair, she looked up and found the gentle smile she thought it never left the teen face, "I'm sorry about that." Hohenheim said with apologetic smile
"huh? about what?" she asked, quite nervous, luckily his caressing hand somewhat calming her down
"about earlier, I know your previous outburst is just your way to express concern about my well-being, and I'm grateful for that." He said while rubbing her fluffy ears, 'there are fluffy.' he thought, "but I wanted to know I can take care of myself, and that's only way I can think of, I hope you forgive me."
the redhead nodded, the previous stare wasn't of normal teen, if anything, she felt that's the stare of god of death, if she was worried he might get himself killed, she was sure now that's he won't face such ordeal, "I understand...I was overboard earlier...but can you not look at anyone you might to care about like that..that may scare them for life." Unlike her usual cold eyes, she is now looks like kicked puppy
"I'll keep that in mind." he said with a smile, "but don't Rose-san always looks at every one with cold eyes?" he said teasing, causing the wolf-woman to have bright cheeks, she slaps his hand out of her head and said with a snort, "these trash adventurers are even aroused with such looks, it's revolting!"
"Then don't give that." he said with a laugh
"As if it's this easy! I always had this look, change it now..." she shook her head, "anyway, won't you give me your loot already to calculate?"
"Sure." he smiled and rose start to calculate, after she done she sighs , "
1200 * 20 (kobold)
+ 1200 * 40 (goblin)
+ 1500* 80 (dungeon lizards)
+ 3000 * 6 (frog shooter)
+ 5000 * 1 (war shadow) = 21500 - guild fees (5% of total) = 204250 vlais , would you like to add tem to your card?" she Asked as the teen nodded, "add this too." and handed over a 100,000 vlais, "it's not my place to ask...but who give you this?"
"oh, I had a friendly spar with an adventurer, and she gives this as Compensation for ruining my armor." he opted to say silent about the self-injuring part since it's not necessary
"oh? I see." she didn't ask for more, and ended the transaction, "is there anything more?" she asks
causing Hohenheim to shake his head and said , "that's it, you seems in hurry to get rid of me?", but Rose denied, "no that's because I'm..." but before she continued, a sound is heard
𝑮𝒓𝒐𝒘𝒍
her cheeks are redden, "yes I'm hungry! I have not eaten yet! and forgot to bring lunch are you happy?!" she snapped waiting Hohenheim to react, He only chuckled lightly, and took something from his bag, "fancy to eat with me?" she wanted to refuse, but seeing his lunch, she almost drooled, "I- I don't eat with adventurer you know..." she tries to resist, but couldn't, as the smell of well done meat was brought to her nose, "...but I guess I can make an exception this time..."
Hohenheim only smiled and get down with her eating, the two moved already to private room the time he calculate his loot, Rose slowly took a bite from the hot meal she didn't know how it's works since it not magical box that's where in, but such thoughts are out of her mind the moment she starts to eat, "....good." she muttered as she continue eating like a man finding water in a desert
"there is plenty, don't rush." Hohenheim chuckled and begin to eat, soon enough only the sound of chewing and sallowing is heard, Rose liked silence, and Hohenheim is used to it, so it's wasn't an awkward silence but rather a cozy one
after a while the two finished, Rose was first to speak, "... thank you for this...I'll remember this favor.."
"haha, just take it as thanks for that book.." he then give her the book back, "if you wants more, I'll gladly share with you." he said with a smile
Rose stared at him for a while and then said, "why did not you do that with me?" she asked
"do what?" he asked in confusion
"k-kissing my hand..." she said with an unusual stutter, he looked surprised as he didn't tell her, "Eina told me...is Eina better than me?" she asked with some strange tone
Hohenheim shake his head with a smile, "better? I don't know...but definitely more approachable, you seems likely detached and uncaring about anything,and anyone who tries to approach you, you shot then down, so doing something like that to you might resulting in negative reaction
"...that's indeed who I am..., and if you done that I'm might slap you." Hohenheim smiled wryly, but a hand reaches his face, "you can do it ..." she asked avoiding eyes contact, "don't get the wrong idea, it's just a thanks for the lunch!"
Hohenheim chuckle and he gently grabbed her hand and kisses it, Rose pulled her hands quickly, "it's late now, I must return to my shift..." she quickly ran like a frightening rabbit
"wolves hunts rabbit..." Hohenheim laughed, took the card, and went home humming a tone~