My casual words made Claire falter.
She looked around restlessly before staring at my face and nodding resignedly.
"How could you, Engy! Going on a date with another girl right in front of your lover is strange!"
"What's strange is your head. Right, Phoenix?"
Phoenix had crawled out of the hole. I glanced at him for agreement, and he spat on the ground.
"It's not a date anyway. Romance-obsessed brains are such a pain."
I turned to Claire and she was blushing. You too, huh?
I shook my head.
"Let's go, Claire."
"I'm going too! I already belong to you!"
"Cooling off period! Cooling off!"
"Eh, cooling? Anyway, I'm going!"
Despite my best efforts to refuse her, the extremely clingy blindfolded girl ended up tagging along like an unwanted product pushed on me.
...
We arrived at the temple, in order to see the God Stone directly.
My original plan today was to ask Claire to open the closed off door so I could take a quick look at the stone. Just a casual glimpse for now.
But not anymore after realizing what I did.
If my theory is correct, I absolutely have to confirm it before making a move.
"Can you open the altar door?"
"It's locked. I know where the key is, but..."
While she agreed to my request, Claire seemed a bit sulky.
Could she really think this was a date?
Well, it'd be fine if it was one. Temple dates are common enough.
"I won't do anything bad. I just want to look closely."
"...Trade."
A trade, she says.
Didn't expect to hear that word from her. She'd changed quite a bit from our first meeting.
"Oh? What's your demand?"
"Next time, go out together, just us two. And teach me magic."
Two things, huh? Fine by me.
Seeing me nod, Claire smiled cheerfully.
"Shoo everyone away first. Only miracle day is allowed to open this."
Inside the temple, two or three worshippers faced the God Stone praying single-mindedly.
I glanced around wondering what to do, and noticed the blindfolded girl yawning by the entrance.
No choice... I didn't want to. Really didn't want to.
But it's the only way!
"Everyone! I heard that suspicious woman by the entrance plans to destroy the God Stone! Catch her!"
"Huh~? Eh, wait!"
Hearing my words, the praying worshippers' eyes shot wide open.
"What!? Disrespectful wretch!"
"Don't let her get away! Grab her!"
I won't let your sacrifice be in vain.
Felt like I'd seen this somewhere before, but when was it?
Seeing the worshippers chase after the blindfolded girl, I turned to Claire and gave a thumbs up.
"Alright, that's good. Open it."
"Engy..."
Claire looked at me in exasperation, but I ignored it for now.
Activating Mage Sight, I confirmed the massive God Stone embedded in the wall.
Huh? No need to activate it? The God Stone was of course...
Leaving the temple, Claire and I immediately headed to the Lake of Spirits.
Partly because Claire wanted to see the lake, and I also wanted to check the lake bottom again if possible.
But that pesky washboard would get in the way.
I carried the slow-witted Claire.
She now stared in awe at the expansive lake.
"Amazing. A lake in a place like this."
"Right? But don't get too close. Malicious spirits of those who despaired at their washboard chests and committed suicide lurk here. Get near and they'll suck away your breasts, shrinking them."
"...That's very frightening."
While imparting that tidbit of wisdom, the water's surface started bubbling violently.
Huh? Why? We aren't even close yet.
"Ugh! Who's there!? I heard everything!"
Uh oh, she came out. And heard everything apparently. Not good.
With Claire hidden behind me, I tried initiating a dialogue.
"Yo, it's me. Been a while. We only came to see the lake today. No plans to enter, so forgive us. And forget what I just said. It was a joke."
"There are good jokes and bad, human. Which do you think yours was?"
My cheeks twitched, but I managed to converse.
Easy now. I'll demonstrate the smooth talking of a scammer fleeing barefoot.
"A good one, right? Some use stuff like that for laughs. Why not try it yourself?"
"...For example?"
"I know. When humans try entering the lake, appear like usual and say this. 'I shall forgive you for leaving now. Be grateful for my broad, bountiful heart.' Then the human will go, 'You got no tits though!' How's that? Funny, right?"
See? Harmless smile.
"Die!"
The spirit unleashed tremendous killing intent and attacked.
Why? I glanced back and Claire silently shook her head.
Looks like even my prided supreme smooth talking failed this time.
"Damn it! I knew you were narrow and tiny!"
In heart and chest.
Carrying Claire, I nimbly evaded the water bullets.
Despite not entering the lake, the spirit seemed far more serious than last time. The intensity of its fighting spirit was on a whole different level.
What to do...
A trick works once, it'll work again. I shouted the first thing that came to mind.
"Hey! While you were distracted with me, someone entered the lake!"
"What!? Crap!"
The spirit glanced back. Of course, no one was there. Heh.
"Found a dummy! Lacking in head and chest, where's all your nutrition going! Hah! See ya!"
"Gaaaa! You mortal! I won't forgive you!"
And so, we successfully escaped from the Lake of Spirits and descended the mountain.
It was good Claire who showed interest got to come, but my other goal went unfulfilled.
Well, not like that thing could be dealt with immediately anyway.
I felt Claire's chilly gaze on me the entire way down.