Emmy returned to the room with her eyes a bit swollen as Sybilla holds her
on her shoulders while stroking her hair.
Sybilla seated Emmy on to the bed and waited for her to fully calm down
before clapping to get our attention.
[Well then, there's some surprising event along the way but we'll still be
discussing the things we will be doing here as what originally intended.]
According to Sybilla, this city has three dungeons which was simply named
as Seiris' first, second, and third dungeon.
[We will be going in to the third dungeon.]
[Is there any reason in particular why we're going to the third already?]
[To put it in simpler terms, it's quite famous for its strong monsters. That's
why… there're probably few people in there compared to others.]
[I see. It's to prevent other people from seeing me, huh.]
[There you have it.]
My current class is one who's specializing in dark magic called Dusk Magi.
As its name suggests, its power stands opposite to the faith of those who
believe the Sun's Goddess which might cause them to see me as a heretic.
It's not that really a cursed or violent power but… Even I have to agree that
it is not the case from other people's eyes.
[Now that you mention it, how much did you tell Emmy? I only heard you
telling her I started to use dark magic.]
[Emmy only needed a brief explanation about you, Russell. Like how and
why did it happen.]
[…You better did not say anything weird.]
[Ohohohoho. I invoke my right to remain silent.]
This girl sure blabbered about unnecessary things too.
And how am I supposed to know anything from Emmy now that when I
look at her, she just had this huge grin on her face…
[Anyway, that's about it and I don't think the inn will serve anything for
dinner so let's just go out for now since we'll be busy starting tomorrow. I'll
be buying magic tools and stuff myself so please feel free to use this time to
enjoy by yourselves. Just go back before the sun fully sets, okay?]
After saying all that, Sybilla left the room alone.
[…She really likes to move at her own pace.]
[So true.]
Now that Sybilla left, I can't help but get conscious now that its just the two
of us.
Perhaps Emmy feels the same as her eyes continue to move about while she
fiddles with her hands.
I felt like I was just with any other guy before so I didn't really mind it but
now… both of us had changed too much already.
[Well, why don't we too go somewhere?]
[Wi-with you, Russell? Sure, sure!]
Emmy and I then left together to explore the city.
We've been in the market before so we decided to go to a place where we
can see the seas.
[Uwaaa. Sunsets in the seas are so pretty….]
I'm standing right next to Emmy looking at the horizon. The setting sun is
being reflected by the seas as it glows reddish like its surface is ablaze of
fire.
The scenery looks so surreal it doesn't even feel real and it's just like a
painting as we stand on the shore mesmerized by it.
[Emmy.]
[Hm? What is it?]
Emmy then turns to me as she bathes under the color of the setting sun as if
not willing to lose an inch against the beautiful scenery.
She still sounds a bit childish when talking as compared to Jannet, but now,
that childhood friend who had grown up without me realizing is smiling as
she looks on to me.
…Though it felt like she's become weirdly overprotective too.
[I bought something for you earlier and… Will you accept this?]
[Eh? Isn't this…!]
I gave her a simple bracelet that I bought from the market. It's the thin type
metal accessory made of gold.
[I'm not really that familiar with these kinds of things so I just thought of
getting you something that at least won't bother you. How is it?]
Emmy just stared on to my extended hand for a moment before hurriedly
grabbing the bracelet away from me.
[…Is-is this really for me…?]
[Well, yeah. I've just been an excess luggage for you guys back in
Hammond and I can't even afford anything to give something to you.
Please accept this as my thanks for everything. It's not that much but–]
[No! It's not 'not that much'! I can't be more happy! Really!]
Emmy then immediately wore the bracelet and turned once again onto the
setting sun.
The golden color shines under the dazzling light of the setting sun as the
brace-… wait, it's not.
[Thank you, Russell. I'll cherish this.]
[Sure.]
What shines more beautiful under the color of the setting sun isn't the
bracelet but Emmy's golden hair. Is it because of her smile that makes it
more enthralling?
The one who follows the path of light, the [Holy Knight]. I can feel that
even if my heart gets filled with darkness, the dazzling light from this
scenery will wash the darkness and get rid of it.
However, the dazzling golden scenery vanished in a blink of an eye. The
sun has now fully set.
The scenic reddish sky is being encroached silently by the bluish sky.
–Dusk is about to come.
I called out to Emmy who lost her previous shine and now was replaced by
hues of blue.
[You'll be starting officially with us as [Dusk's Oath] starting tomorrow.
I'm counting on you, Emmy.]
[Un! Leave it to me!]
Emmy's eyes brimmed with determination as she smiled and clenched her
fists.
Her expression looks like she's looking forward to it which I didn't see in
the later times I was with the hero party.
If she's like this then I'm sure everything will be alright.
With the relief of being able to see emotions I thought Emmy had lost, we
headed back to the inn.
Following morning, I stretch my body to remove all of the remaining
tiredness and met gazes with Sybilla who's standing beside the window.
[Morning. It seems like all the fatigue from that Demon Lord fight is now
gone, no?]
[I've ate a lot, spent all day playing around, and slept really well yesterday
after all.]
[Well, true. Seafoods are naturally nutritious as octopus helps a lot on
relieving stress and fishes are known to help clear one's head.]
Now that Sybilla mentions it, it might be one of the reasons why she chose
this place.
If that's the case, then… it feels like even the decision to go sightseeing
itself was made for me. If not, then she won't probably talk about that
nutritious things too.
She hit two birds with one stone by being able to do things she wanted to
and the things she needed to. It can actually be done like that, huh.
Really, compare to the Goddess who can't be anything but a reflection from
a stained glass in churches, our Goddess is just too much of a busybody.
Perhaps she heard us talking as Emmy is starting to wake up too.
[What you talking about so earlyyyyy~~ morning~~~]
[Yeah, morning.]
Emmy stretched out as well to clear of all of her remaining sleepiness and
immediately left the bed.
She clenches then opens her fists repeatedly and muttered 'un, all good.'.
Sybilla who's leaning beside the window looked at Emmy and nodded her
head in satisfaction.
Yosh. Looks like everyone is on their top form.
We've finished preparing everything for the morning and headed towards
the guild.
And as expected, not to mention Adoria's, but the guild here in Seiris is far
livelier than Hammond. This must be due to the nature of this city's
residents.
Sybilla handled herself with familiarity even in this place as she presented
her tag to the receptionist and immediately left after registering our party.
[Yo, hey nee-chan. That's so cold of you. Doncha wanna play around a bit?]
…N? Just now… It's that fellow, huh.
It's a guy whose as tall as Vince and has this air around him of someone
who likes to always fool around.
As I was thinking of Sybilla completely ignoring him, she suddenly crossed
her arms in thought. Oi, oi. You better not think of going with that guy.
[N-. Well then, Emmy-chan.]
[…eh? Eh?]
[This guy has been deprived of love from all of women in this world and I
kind of feel bad for him. Would you please use both of your hands to hold
his really really tight?]
Sybilla looks towards Emmy as she says that with this… refreshingly bright
smile.
Even I know where will this be going…
Emmy mumbles things to herself softly as she stepped forward and reached
out her armored cover hands.
[Heheyyy~ your kinda cute too ain't cha~ Come, come to me closer…]
And then, the man grasped her two hands. Rather, he tried to grasp them.
Just as the man's two hands were close enough to hold her hand, Emmy
used one of hers to tightly hold both of the man's hands and her other hand
to lock it in place.
[…N. hey, what no—-aaaaghhghghghhg!!!]
What more can I expect from the Holy Knight Emmy whose physical
strength is something that I can't even reach?
Even the people around jumped in surprise as they heard the man scream.
Sybilla then grinned and approached the man.
[I know it's really hard to avoid trying to hit on a world class beauty, I
really get you, but I'm so sorry~ I already have prior arrangements with
someone else. But well, if you'd promise you won't try to be a creep and hit
on me again then maybe she'll let you go~?]
[gagaga-I -ggot it! Tis my fault I'll never get close to you aga-gaga-ga-in!]
I heard Emmy saying 'Yo-you don't have to be that scared… How rude…'
as she let go of his hand.
I can't blame this guy if he even develops some trauma against Emmy.
[Pick someone next time who's on your level, okay? Bye~]
Sybilla immediately left the guild after one-sidedly ending the conversation.
Me and Emmy look at each other before following her in a hurry.
[Hm~ as expected of the city of Seiris known for their love of women to
give a common creep and so daringly try to hit on us immediately. We've
turned the tables on him though, don't we!?]
[Oh, so you mean that usually happens here…]
[Yep yep. There're lots of them here. But, with that many of adventurers
and receptionist seeing what happened earlier in the guild, I don't think
we'll be bothered anymore. It's just right that we do something like that at
the very beginning.]
So she planned it all the way up to there… Well, yeah, this is Sybilla we're
talking about…
Emmy on the other hand seems a bit down from how the man reacted to her
though.
She isn't responding one bit so maybe I should call out to her.
[Emmy, are you alright?]
[Russell, I'm not scary, right?…]
[There's no way I'll be scared of one of my own, right? At the very least,
I'm sure you are more reliable than that person.]
Emmy then holds her chest as she sighs in relief.
Even so, there's no problem even if you are because you're already one of
the Dusk's Oath party after all.
A very important member who fills the holes existing between Sybilla and
me.
We're counting on you, Emmy.
With that in mind, we've finally reached the entrance of Seiris' third
dungeon.
Well then, let's now start the first adventure of our new three-man party.