" ... Well, that's basically it. "
Arthur, who finished speaking, really wished for a drink right now, but with his two hands taken by the two of them, there was no way he could even escape, so besides swallowing what little amount of saliva he had left, he could only wait for now.
" I see.. So I have to be unsummoned... "
Stella, her, really seemed to have received a hit to her morale as even the hand she used to hold in front of her chest was lowered, though she still kept her grip on him.
" That will be just for a short moment, at least until we reach somewhere where I can summon you freely. "
" ... If it's just a short moment then.. Alright, I'm ready to be part of master's plan ! Please unsummon me when you're ready ! "
Apparently weighting the pros and cons, she quickly made her mind and closed her eyes forcefully, afraid of the returning to a card process, to the point where she couldn't look at him.
" Alright, then I'll do it now.. Stella, return. "
With a flash, quickly, the card flew to it's hand and when he opened his eyes, the girl disappeared from in front of him, having him exhaling a sigh.
The whole situation, and having to take care properly of the two women's feelings, was way harder than what he had initially thought, to the point where he could already feel drained of his mental energy before the day even really started.
" ... Arthur, will it be okay ? "
" I can only hope it will. Though I don't know how it will turn out, I expect her to follow the rules I set for her. "
That's right, the whole discussion about their situation, also included rules for her to follow when outside and with them.
Surely, she was a priest, and he asked her to act like so, meaning to call him by his name and not master outside, to not initiate any physical contact outside besides for the necessary ones, as well as more basic things like to not expose his power to others and some unwritten rules of this world.
" Besides that.. You really took the opportunity, didn't you ? "
Lifting his right hand to his torso, he looked at the left hand of the woman that was still attached to him, because he didn't want to let go of her, but also because she felt the same way.
" I.. I mean, seeing her acting like that, I couldn't stop myself and-... "
" Do you think it's something bad ? "
Cutting her before she would give him an apology or something, he raised his hand higher and leaning in, dropping a subtle kiss against the back of the hand of Mariane.
" .. ! "
" Well, she'll live with us from now on, so I hope you can support her, and if you wish to, you can even teach her a thing or two. "
Looking at her surprised reaction and how she was already deeply blushing from such a display of love and mutual respect, he also saw her, nodding to his words as she looked down.
" Y-yes.. I understand, master. "
' Did I went too far ? '
Since she wasn't able to call him by his name when she was too embarassed, using her position as a maid to protect her woman's heart from being exposed, he knew that such a scene had a deep effect on her.
' Well, she'll probably get less bashful as time go by... Right ? '
And with such a thought, it was finally time to leave the inn.
_________________________________________
" Welcome to the adventurer's guild sir, how can we help you ? "
' Did she got sick ? '
Looking at the woman behind the counter that definitely changed from the one he saw yesterday, Arthur couldn't help but think about it.
But it was, in the end, just a simple matter as he didn't mind who would welcome him here, as long as he could do what he wanted to without being pestered for it.
And while she probably misunderstood his identity by seeing him with a maid and a priest by his side, he didn't decide to correct her thoughts or anything else, and instead, introduced Stella who was a step behind him.
" I want this lady here to get registered, would that be possible ? "
" ... Sir, I'm sorry if this infuriates you in any way, but I'm affraid this won't be possible, as instructors are already busy teaching the new recruits that applied for it in advance.. "
Of course, he knew that he dropped a heavy problem on her mind, hearing her voice that was lowered and her complexed expression, to which he had no answer to, he could only be serious about it until the end.
" Is it really needed to have an instructor approve it even if it's just a stone badge ? "
Asking her such a question, he was satisfied that the people behind him wouldn't even try to approach them or give a complaint, as they probably mistook him for a noble, but the expression of the brunette receptionist couldn't be called good at the moment.
" ... Yes.. That is the case, since most adventurers would end up dying if they won't take the training lecture or prove their strengths.. "
' Prove her strength huh, even if she's a beastkin, the best she can do is jump or flee due to her being from the rabbit race and a priest.. Maybe she could probably throw a kick or two ? '
His thinking didn't last long as he thought about the strength of a priest.
Surely, the priest was belonging to the rearguard, a force that wouldn't fight by themselves, but would heal the ones in the front, and speaking of healing, since there was no potions in such a world, and he started to think that maybe the priests we're also missing, he quickly got an idea.
" Does she have to prove her strength even if she's a priest ? "
" I mean.. Sir, excuse my ignorant self, but I don't see how bringing the religion in this discussion would be of help... "
Surely, she saw the priest robe of Stella, that covered her body, and she couldn't get where Arthur was going on with it, to which he just answered her with utmost calm, ignoring the stares that he received from people, as he knew he was about to prove his point.
" Religion ? That's not it, here, take a closer look at that.. Inventory. "
By calling the system window, he ignored the bewildered expression of the receptionists and others as he took out the earth dragon's fang, an item that would be worth more than most people life here, before cutting the skin of his palm.
A warmth he didn't feel before, along with the feeling of a liquid soaking his hand and a pain that traversed his whole arm and gave him cold sweats, his rash action bought the attention of everyone to him as drops of bloods started trickling down.
" Stella, heal it. "
" ! "
The poor girl behind the counter, who stood in a daze at his sudden action, and even Mariane who showed worry towards him with her eyes, reacted late to it, but quickly, a sight surprised everyone once again as someone showed a proper reaction to his words.
Don't talk about the simple trick of using his inventory, the sight of a small priest gathering light elemental particles to her body and form artefacts out of thin air, raised the incredulity and suspicion of more than one.
Looking at her, Arthur, just found out that her armor, completely changed her one-piece dress.
Exposing her arms, shoulders and her shoulder blades, her longue sleeves were replaced by white long gloves barely reaching a bit higher than her elbows, and the bottom of her dress was replaced for a somewhat long skirt reaching her stockings.
In her hands, she also held her weapon, a wooden and slender staff, with a long orange jewel that somewhat ressembled a carrot on the top of it.
Unlike Mariane's impressive battle maid armor, reinforced with metal plates that would be able to even block the claw of a real dragon, her clothes seemed to be barely covering her.
But he knew, that since it was considered as an armor by the system, it would be more durable than the normal leather armor while having the property to never break, and even if it teared up, it could restore itself once unsummoned just like he could heal his card by having them return to him.
" I'm done, Arthur.. Please, don't scare me like that again. "
While he was thinking and looking at her prestation, she was quickly done with the healing, and clenching his fist a few times, he couldn't even feel a tinge of uncomfort, having him satisfied with the healing.
Nodding to her words, he then faced the pale receptionist before asking.
" That's what I meant by a priest, now, does your opinion remain the same ? "
Even if he seemed arrogant, he couldn't help it, he also wanted to be nonchalant about it all, but couldn't.
" I- I'll get the guild master right away ! "