Episode 134

…T-tired.

In the end, I had Refy train me the entire morning.

Thanks to that, my movements have gotten considerably better, but the fatigue has built up accordingly.

Well, I don’t dislike fighting either.

Moving my body like this every now and then felt like a pleasant kind of tiredness, not bad at all.

After rinsing off the sweat in the shower once, I moved to the dining hall to eat lunch.

I was extremely tired and felt like lying down immediately, but I was just as hungry.

More than anything, if I don’t eat I won’t have any strength.

So, when I somehow reached the dining hall, Alicia was there.

I glanced around the dining hall, but Sir Rigard wasn’t there.

We usually ate together, but maybe he’s busy.

“Faik, are you alright?”

“Yeah. No problem.”

Alicia, who had been watching over my training, cocked her head and looked me over.

I nodded with a smile so she wouldn’t worry, and Alicia let out a relieved breath.

“Good. Refy sometimes overdoes it.”

“…Indeed, it was a pretty harsh training.”

“I think it’s just that she felt Faik has talent.”

“Is that so…?”

If that’s true, I’m more than happy.

When I sat next to Alicia, the food was immediately brought out.

As I looked at the dishes, Alicia poked me lightly.

“S-so, about this afternoon… are you okay? If you’re tired it’s fine, you know?”

Maybe Alicia thought I was more tired than she imagined.

As she was concerned about, I was definitely tired.

But going out with Alicia is a different matter.

If she wants to go out together, I can’t be worrying about fatigue.

“No, I’m totally fine. Is it okay if we go after we finish eating?”

“…Are you sure?”

“Completely. I can still move around. Besides, I wanted to walk around the town with Alicia.”

“…Good.”

Alicia smiled happily.

Just seeing that smile made accepting Alicia’s invitation worthwhile.

Watching her expression, I felt my fatigue gradually healing.

This might be Alicia’s recovery magic.

As I thought such a stupid thing, Alicia spoke.

“Then, is it okay if we go after we finish eating and change our clothes?”

“Got it.”

Alicia would need to change into clothes for going out.

I had just changed, so I wondered if staying as I was would be fine.

Thinking that, I ate my lunch.

After finishing lunch, we gathered at the manor gate.

After checking my appearance just in case, I waited in front of the gate.

I had come a little earlier than the planned time.

…Would she think I’m anxiously waiting?

While thinking that, I saw Alicia walking from the direction of the manor.

She noticed me and came closer with a slight run.

“Sorry, did I keep you waiting?”

“No, I just came early, so don’t worry. I’m the one who might have rushed you, sorry.”

“No, it’s okay. Well then, shall we go?”

Alicia was wearing a hooded garment, perhaps to hide her face.

Refy, who had come along, was also dressed in simple clothes instead of her maid uniform.

Probably to blend in a little more.

“I’ll stay a little distance away, so you two please enjoy yourselves.”

Refy declared that, and true to her word she immediately moved away from us.

I’ve gotten used to this situation recently.

I reached out my hand toward Alicia, and she squeezed it tightly.

Her soft touch conveyed through my hand, and then we started walking.

“You said we’re going to the town—do you have anywhere you want to go?”

Had Alicia invited me with some purpose in mind?

Thinking that, I asked, and Alicia slowly nodded.

“I have one place I want to go… but it’s okay if it’s last. Is there anywhere you’re curious about, Faik?”

“A place I’m curious about… there’s a port, right? I’d like to see that.”

“Then let’s go there first.”

Alicia pulled my hand and we began to walk.

I’m completely used to holding hands now.

I squeezed Alicia’s hand back as we walked.

The place Alicia led me to was the port. Ships were coming and going, and there were many people.

Seeing fish being carried in, it was probably after the fishing had finished.

“They do fishing here.”

Alicia said that as if confirming my question.

“…I see. That’s why there are so many fresh fish dishes.”

“Yes. Also, a market is set up over there. It’s quite lively in the morning, but it calms down at this hour.”

Indeed, as Alicia said, there aren’t that many people at this time.

As we walked watching the port, I saw a sandy beach in the distance.

“Is that where people swim in the sea?”

“Yeah. There are quite a few people today too. Want to go take a closer look?”

“Yeah.”

I nodded to Alicia, and we headed toward the sandy beach.

The closer we got, the more people there were

still enjoying themselves, and many were in swimsuits.

“Wow, so you can swim here after everything’s done?”

“If we swim here, people would stare, so we go somewhere else.”

“Somewhere else?”

“Yeah. The other side a bit farther away. That side is a beach that nobles can use.”

The direction Alicia pointed to was a sandy beach, yet there wasn’t a single person there.