"Just say yes, Elise," Raymund asked. "So that you can continue to be near her. It makes your mission easier."
Renee gripped Elise's hand tighter. The mage's eyes also started to tear up.
"Well, alright… I'll come with you." Elise gave an awkward smile.
"Really!?" The mage almost jumped for joy. "Thanks very much! Have you eaten yet!? Let me treat you! Oh, you have a place to stay? If not, you can rent a room with me! You don't have to think about the cost!"
"Eh? That…" All those cheerful gestures and words made Elise uncomfortable. "You're welcome? But, I'm still full…."
"Let's just rest at the inn then!" Renee pulled Elise away from that place. "It's been three months since I've been on a party! This will be so much fun! I …. Eh, I don't know your name yet."
"Elise."
The mage wore a broad smile. "Good name. I'm Renee. Nice to meet you."
Seeing that lovely smile, Elise couldn't help but smile too. "Nice to meet you, too."
The streets had started to quiet down. Only a few people were passing by. Most were dressed like ordinary citizens, while the rest wore the gear of adventurers from various classes. Starting from those who use melee, magic, and ranged. Some of them glanced at Renee. Elise didn't know whether it was because of Renee's flashy skimpy clothes or for other reasons.
However, Renee didn't care. The woman continued walking, holding Elise's hand while whistling.
"How strange that she chose to become a mage with such close combat abilities," Raymund muttered. "There must be a reason for her to do that."
Elise's gaze fell on Renee's body. Because the mage's clothes are very revealing, Elise can see slight muscle bumps on Renee's arms, stomach, and back, but they aren't that noticeable. You could say that Renee is rather muscular, although she is still far from Anja's. The point was, Renee seemed more suited to be a fighter than a pure magic user.
"Huh?" Noticing Elise watching her body, Renee chuckled. "Don't worry, this outfit has been forged quite a bit by magic. It has the power to warm my body, so I won't be cold… Well, if the weather is extreme, I'll still shiver." The mage laughed again. "You know why I wear clothes like this?"
Elise just shook her head.
"This is to attract other parties to recruit me, especially the male members." Renee explained, "I also wish they'd still use me on their party if I wore a slightly revealing outfit…. Sounds weird, doesn't it? That's how desperate I am to find friends for adventures."
Elise was silent, but she was still a good listener. Apparently, behind her appearance and smile, Renee was hiding something bitter.
"I think she comes from a rich family." Raymund made a guess. "Otherwise, she won't be able to buy the magic-enhanced outfit. Hell, she shouldn't be able to afford food and rent a room. She has been without a party for three months. This means that she did not get money from missions during that time. " After saying that, the god was silent for a moment. "Perhaps now is a good time to ask, Elise…."
Elise listened to Raymund's question, then passed it on to Renee. "Hey, Renee…. Why did you choose to become a mage when…."
"I thought you would ask that." Renee interrupted Elise's words. The mage's smile now changed, looking even sadder. "Sorry, but I don't want to talk about it right now… Maybe next time…."
"Why?" Elise was still asking questions from Raymund.
"I just don't feel comfortable telling it." Renee cleared her throat, then pointed to a simple three-story inn on the side of the road. "We're here! Let's go in!"
The two women entered the cream-walled inn. The male receptionist warmly greeted them. Renee made small talk first before getting the room key and going up to the third floor with Elise. It seemed that Renee had been staying there many times.
"How about you, Elise?" Now it was Renee's turn to ask. "What about your story? What made you come here? From your equipment, I guess you're still a beginner… Well, not that I'm mocking you… Sorry…"
"Don't tell her I sent you there," Raymund warned the woman. "She will think you are crazy and stay away from you. Give a convincing reason, or just say you can't tell about yourself right now."
"Well, I can't tell you that either," Elise answered Renee, still climbing the stairs with her new friend. "Maybe next time."
"Ah, I look forward to the time we can share secrets with each other." Renee smiled again.
***
Renee cheered because she didn't need to wear skimpy clothes anymore. She showered and changed into a nightgown, then threw herself on the bed. Raymund was grumpy because he couldn't see Renee's private parts.
In the bathroom with the flat stone floor, Elise entered the wooden bathtub filled with water that had been heated by Renee's magic.
"Don't be shy, Elise. I really can't see you completely naked." Raymund snorted in annoyance. "That damn white lights."
Feeling her muscles relax because of the warm water, closed her eyes. She really enjoyed it.
"Do you have any plans to help Renee, sir?" Elise asked in a low voice so Renee wouldn't hear.
"Well, I have a few alternatives." Raymund sighed. "But, you better hear it later. You better calm your body and mind tonight. You haven't fully recovered from the previous mission, have you?"
"Thanks, sir." Elise was a little surprised to get such care from her master. "Well, I have a suggestion, sir. Can you bring Renee to the group I met on the previous mission? I don't know they will accept Renee, but I can try to persuade them."
"That's a great idea. What's more, they owe you one. Unfortunately, it's not that easy. I won't tell you the reason. It's just impossible right now."
Raymund didn't even know which side of the world Alex and his friends were in. Even if Raymund knew, he still couldn't bring them together. He doesn't have that ability yet.
The god didn't tell Elise that because he didn't want to be seen as a weak god.
"I see." Elise looked at her naked body, which looked wavy from being in the water. "Thanks for answering me, sir."
"It seems you have an interest in her, huh?" Raymund noticed a gloomy look on his servant's face.
"I don't know, Sir." Elise looked up. "Perhaps, I just feel sorry for her."