Chapter 626 A Relaxing Date with Rena
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
”So, where should we go today?”
”I don’t mind at all, really?”
After saying goodbye to everyone at Kazumi’s place, it was time for my date with Rena, just like we’d planned.
Kazumi was going to chill at home for a bit, and Asuka was getting some training from her master.
Liz and Simona were off to a new tavern that just opened, ready to start drinking early.
Sounds like fun!
Dorothy was planning on relaxing in the greenhouse, and Martina was going to supervise the training of the younger Thieves.
The two of them headed back to the Clan house.
”Hmm… how about we walk down ‘South Street’ from the Central Plaza? It’s not quite lunchtime yet, but there are cafes and sweet shops there.”
”Yay, sounds great!”
Rena smiled, linking her arm through mine on my left side.
Two years ago, when it was still just ‘Raetia Village,’ only the area around the Central Plaza could really be called a town.
Now, the old guild building in the Central Plaza had become the town hall, and the area was bustling.
It was still definitely the busiest part of Raetia.
But, along the road leading south from there, towards Raetia’s residential district, you could find the new guild hall and the Zett Merchant Guild headquarters.
With that came inns, bars, restaurants, shops selling tools, and grocery stores, all catering to the people who gathered there.
It was a lively area too.
”Rena, I’m in the mood for the sweet shop from the Zett Merchant Guild.”
”Oh, the sweet shop that was also in the Royal Capital, right? …What was its name again?”
”Shu-Balts-Katz!”
”That’s the one!”
The Zett Merchant Guild had opened a sweet shop here in Raetia, just like the one they ran in the Royal Capital.
But, the shop used wheat harvested from the northern settlements.
It was good quality and reasonably priced, so people even came from far away just to get their hands on it.
”Remember those Elf merchants we met on the way to the Royal Capital 2 years ago?”
”Hey, those are the Elves we traveled with from Borg to Abil!”
”Yeah! We met them during the business at the Grand Market. They were saying, ‘Sure, trading is important, but we’re most excited about those sweets over there!’”
As we chatted, we arrived at the central square.
A barbecue stall was set up in front of the butcher’s shop, while a stand overflowing with vegetables offered bacon sandwiches.
The air was filled with enticing aromas from various stalls as lunchtime approached.
From the fountain in the center, lively, upbeat music floated through the air.
Since the theater wasn’t finished yet, a temporary stage had been set up.
The dwarf orchestra, staying at the Famière Clan house, played merrily, while Shaura, the Elf, and Yurie, the Dwarf, danced a cheerful routine with ‘quick steps’ instead of their usual sultry moves.
”I can’t help but feel giddy!”
”Just the happy music in the square really lifts your spirits!”
Rena tightened her grip on my arm, her soft body pressing against me, making my heart race.
”Oh, Hiroya! They noticed us over here!”
Rena stood on her tiptoes and waved to the orchestra.
Shaura, glimpsing through the crowd, blew a kiss our way, while Yurie winked at us.
I waved back, and together with Rena, we walked away from the bustling square and headed down the south street.
* * *
As we entered the south street and approached the guild hall, the door swung open with a bang, and several men burst out.
”But to explore the Great Labyrinth, we have to clear the usual requests first, huh?”
”It’s tough, Leader… It’s true that everyone’s rushing off to explore the Great Labyrinth, which is why the guild requests aren’t getting done.”
”But you know…”
I see, they’ve decided to implement that idea where you need to complete one guild request to earn the right to challenge the Great Labyrinth.
”Oh! Isn’t that Hiroya over there!”
”Thanks for the feast the other day!”
The party leader, a guy who looked the part, bowed his head upon noticing my presence, and the other 5 followed suit.
”Ah… it’s fine, it’s fine. ────It was a bit pricey, though.”
”Oh, are you on a date with ‘Genius Saint’ today?”
”Sure enough, that’s the famous and esteemed Miss Rena!”
Teased like that, Rena next to me turned bright red and blushed.
”Yeah, that’s right. ────We’re off then…”
”Let’s drink again sometime!”
”Next time, it’s on us!”
”I appreciate the sentiment, but… how about in about 3 years?”
They casually invite me to “go for a drink,” but I’m still underage, right?
”Promise, okay? It’s in 3 years.”
”Got it… then, do well with your request.”
With the ‘promise’ to drink hanging in the air, the guys started walking down the south path towards the central square.
”‘Big brother,’ huh? Even though Hiroya is way younger than me…”
”…because I let you drink that much…”
”You okay? You know… how you’re feeling?”
Rena looks up at me worriedly, but I’ve got enough for a date, right?
Fretting over money concerns from her, I felt complicated inside, but after flashing a smile at Rena, I walked alongside her again.
* * *
I stopped by an item shop next to the Zett Merchant Guild headquarters.
As I gazed at the treasures excavated from the labyrinth displayed in the show window, my eyes met with Mr. Waleerry, who was attending to several adventuring men and women in the back of the store.
He gave a nod across the customers, and the adventurers turned around as well.
Through the window, when our eyes met, the guys waved with smiles, and the ladies were hugging each other, jumping up and down.
Hearing the ladies’ yellowed voices even from here, I lightly nodded back and hurried on my way.
”Hiroya, you’re like an idol in popularity among female adventurers, you know…”
”What’s that supposed to mean? An idol…”
”Moreover, since you stopped hiding your adult form────the number of girls head-over-heels for Hiroya has increased too?”
”…From now on, I’ll try to hide it more…”
”Being your childhood friend and lover… Rena has got no lack of a sense of superiority♡”
I couldn’t help but feel overwhelmed by the dazzling beauty of Rena, who clung to me with a radiant smile.
Talk about a serious sense of superiority!
* * *
”Mmm♡ This is it♡ Nothing beats a tart overflowing with fresh fruit♡”
Rena, holding her cheeks with delight, was practically melting with joy.
”I mean, it’s amazing that we can enjoy such fresh fruit here in Raetia.”
As I popped a strawberry topped on a chocolate cake into my mouth, the burst of sweetness and tanginess hit me, making me realize just how good it was.
”Most of the fruits come from the Elf villages, you know. Thanks to increased trading with them, especially through the Zett Merchant Guild──kudos to Ms. Sasha! Plus, the Elf’s preservation magic is top-notch, so we can enjoy fresh produce like this.”
”Oh, so they use magic for transportation, huh?”
”I’m curious about it… but it’s strictly for their eyes only.”
”Even the goddesses don’t know some of their magic?”
”The magic we have now… a lot has been developed through people’s various applications and research. The basics came from us, though.”
Rena paused her tea-drinking to explain, her light voice complementing the atmosphere.
”That’s why… I’m studying every day too♡”
Rena chuckled softly, sipping her tea with a bright smile.
Just like that, the two of us spent a wonderfully relaxing morning together, lost in our little world.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
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