Episode 135

“…But that would probably make us stand out even more, wouldn’t it?”

“Well, in that regard… yeah. But it’s easier for the soldiers to guard us.”

“I see… so that’s another reason.”

On a beach used by ordinary people, it’s true that there would be too many people and more things to watch out for.

Thinking that way, it’s probably better that it’s so quiet.

After walking along the beach path for a while, Alicia glanced toward me.

“I’m going to the restroom for a bit.”

“Got it. I’ll wait here then.”

I nodded in response to Alicia, who said that with a slight blush.

Refy accompanied Alicia as her guard, and I spent a while looking out at the beach alone.

I could hear people laughing and having fun, which didn’t feel bad.

As I relaxed there for a bit,

“Oh, are you alone?”

When I turned, there were two women in swimsuits.

They were holding bags, as if they’d just come from shopping.

Wh-what’s with this sudden approach?

As I was startled by the women stepping forward, Capri, who was guarding from the shadows, came over.

He then positioned himself in front of the women.

“What do you want?”

“Oh, are you a noble?”

The women exchanged surprised looks.

…It was hard to say exactly what my status was, and I hesitated to answer when Capri gave a small nod.

“That’s right. Do you need something?”

“Aah, please don’t be so angry. We just thought there was a cute guy and wanted to say hi.”

“Exactly, exactly. What do you think? If you’re free, do you want to hang out? There’s a place nearby that sells swimsuits, and just watching from here might be boring, right?”

The women smiled brightly and cheerfully.

…Bold enough to approach so eagerly upon finding out I’m a noble.

Or perhaps it’s because they recognized me as a noble?

Capri, still somewhat wary, shook his head.

“He has someone waiting for him. Sorry, but step back.”

Capri spoke in a relatively calm voice, but with an unyielding presence.

“Ehh… really?”

They muttered that, but they still didn’t leave immediately.

I didn’t want to speak too harshly. They’re probably subjects after all, and if things went wrong it might give Lord Rigard a bad reputation.

As I thought that, something grabbed my right hand tightly.

When I looked, Alicia was standing there.

“Did they do anything to you?”

Alicia asked calmly, and the women stared at us.

“…Tch, so you really were meeting someone, huh.”

“I thought we’d found a good-looking man… what a shame.”

They left, saying that as they went.

Capri also stepped back, and it was just the two of us again.

Alicia continued watching the departing women.

“Thanks, Alicia. I never expected to be accosted like that…”

“No, I’m glad. …But leaving Faik alone might be risky. Faik is good-looking…”

“This almost never happens. It’s the first time in my life, you know?”

It was probably just a once-in-a-lifetime event that happened by chance now.

Still, Alicia hugged my right arm tightly.

“But since it happened once, I’ll watch Faik more closely from now on.”

Alicia still wore a somewhat guarded expression.

Maybe I had made her a little jealous.

“Shall we head to the place you wanted to go, Alicia?”

“Yeah.”

Alicia nodded and took my hand.

The shop Alicia led me to was an accessory store.

When we opened the door, a bell chimed to announce our entry.

We walked inside as the shopkeeper’s welcoming voice came from the back.

It was an accessory shop, but not one for nobles—more for the general public—and the customers inside looked that way too.

This shop seemed to craft necklaces and rings from Magic Stones rather than gems, which kept prices low and broadened their customer base.

One thing that stood out was that there were many pairs of people inside, like us.

They were each looking at the items in their own way.

They were probably couples.

The pairs would look at accessories together and share their feelings.

Alicia stared at the items, and I stood beside her.

I couldn’t really imagine Alicia wearing much jewelry.

I had an image of nobles wearing flashy, gaudy things, and when I worked at court there were many like that, but Alicia was the opposite.

Lord Goral also didn’t seem to own much in the way of precious metals, so I could tell the Barnast family didn’t care much about appearances.

All the more, I was curious about what Alicia was looking for.

It might be useful as a reference for something I could give her later.

“Is there something you want?”

“When we enter the dungeon, we’ll take Magic Stones… so I want to pick those out.”

“Magic Stones?”

“Yeah. …In case we die inside, it’ll serve as proof of identity, right?”

“…Is that so?”

Hearing Alicia’s words, I remembered that such a custom existed.

When someone dies facing monsters, the body often doesn’t remain—monsters eat human bodies.

So people carry something that monsters won’t eat.

That way, even if the body is eaten by monsters, it can be used to prove identity.

Magic Stones are the typical example.

Basically, Magic Stones can’t be eaten by monsters. There are exceptions among some monsters, but Magic Stones are a relatively inexpensive, representative means of proving identity.

“For me and Faik. I thought it would be good for the two of us to have something.”

“So that’s why.”

I finally understood why Alicia had brought me to this shop before tackling the dungeon.

Looking around the shop again after that conversation, there were indeed many couples, but they all looked like adventurers.

Choosing accessories for the possibility of death, huh.

I’m not thrilled, but since you can never be sure, it’s unavoidable.

We have to choose seriously for the sake of if something happens.

“Alicia, have you decided which magic stone to choose?”

“Not yet… Faik, what kind do you prefer?”

“…I wonder. I haven’t really cared much, so honestly, anything’s fine.”

“…For example, do you have a favorite color?”

I thought about that as I met Alicia’s probing gaze.

It’s hard when asked directly about a favorite color.

I don’t care much about colors, so to be frank, any would do.

As I thought that, I felt a presence behind me.

It was Refy.

“Lord Faik. Earlier, Lady Alicia was speaking about something complicated, but to tell the truth, she just wants a matching pair for the two of you. You don’t need to worry too much.”

Her low voice reached my ear.