Ch.3030. Coldness

Living life, there are times when other people’s actions don’t make sense.

In most cases, these situations tend to have a negative impact on you, but sometimes the exact opposite unfolds.

For me, that moment was now.

“…Is this for real?”

I unconsciously muttered after reading the letter’s contents.

This was on a completely different level from the previous support.

‘I guess I don’t need to visit the Polaris Forge.’

If I went there personally, other guild members would notice me, so they must have prepared the equipment directly.

But looking at the overall quality of the gear, this wasn’t just about convenience.

This equipment would be usable not just in the middle levels, but even when entering the upper levels.

To prepare all this in just one day, and overnight at that.

It’s natural for me to believe in myself, but I wondered what they saw in me to trust me this much.

‘Well, whatever.’

They must have their own interests at stake.

I actually have the skills, and I just need to repay this trust someday.

As I decided to visit the Association today, I looked at another letter.

First, a letter from the Rostia Viscountess family.

I knew what this one was about.

It must be an invitation to Lady Ainer’s coming-of-age party.

‘I’ll just skim through it.’

With that mindset, I opened the letter, but it contained unexpected contents.

[Oh right. You met Ainer in the Labyrinth? She’s been wanting to meet you. Are you free the day after tomorrow? If so, I’ll invite you to my mansion and the three of us can meet. I’ll send a carriage to pick you up. Reply through the Association.]

“…”

Hmm. What’s this about?

I can understand how she knows that Lady Ainer and I met. They seemed close.

But why would the Lady want to meet me, and why arrange a separate meeting for the three of us?

“Hmm.”

Though confused, I just accepted it for now.

Well, when you think about it, I did save the Lady’s life. It might be easier to think of it as honoring a benefactor.

The real main event was the letter from the Manis family that I was holding.

My fate would be determined by its contents.

‘It’s probably nothing special, right?’

Thinking that, I opened the letter from the Manis family.

[As the scent of spring fades and summer’s…]

“Shit.”

I reflexively threw the letter while reading the first sentence.

It looked like some love letter exchanged between nobles, and I couldn’t bear it.

‘What the hell is this?’

Is this an attempt to establish dominance before our actual meeting? If so, it worked perfectly.

The pure class difference felt in those sentences was enough to instill fear in me.

“…Sigh.”

Still, I had to read it.

Lady Ainer is the eldest daughter of Count Manis. She must simply have a habit of writing letters in that style.

The main point would come up as I read on.

I steeled myself and decoded the “noble roundabout letter.”

[You looked so cool protecting me in the Crystal Cave, Adel. During those days in the Labyrinth, I wanted to see you. You looked so handsome lighting the campfire for me, and the flickering of the moonlight outside my window reminds me of Adel’s…]

Wow, insane.

Even though I was the one interpreting it, it was an utterly disgusting parade of words.

Whether trying to maintain noble etiquette or not, unlike her actual speech, the letter was written in formal language.

“My stomach…”

I felt like my internal organs were twisting.

The image of the Lady in my memory combined with the letter’s contents was overloading my brain.

After struggling alone on the bed for a while,

“…I give up.”

I decided to just accept it.

The Lady was the one who sent the strange letter, so why should I suffer?

I finished my day by visiting the Association to receive the equipment and sending a reply to Reneva through the Association.

***

The next evening.

Normally, I would have spent time exercising or reading books at the library, but surprisingly, I had plans today.

A dinner appointment with Shiro.

‘I came a bit early.’

When I arrived at the fountain where we were supposed to meet, it was only 8:40 PM.

Our appointment was at 9:30 PM.

About an hour had suddenly opened up.

It was awkward to go back to the inn, and I had nothing else to do, so I just looked around.

‘There are so many people.’

After the end of a Labyrinth season, there was always a festival the next day.

As it happened to be today, the streets were more bustling than usual.

Numerous street vendors filled both sides of the road. People spent time with their families, couples, or friends.

Children jumped excitedly over snacks bought by their parents, and one couple held hands, their faces flushed.

The scene reminded me of a neighborhood night market.

‘Life.’

I felt envious.

Families living peacefully, teenage couples unfamiliar with love, groups of men and women spending time laughing with friends.

Everyone was living their lives day by day, either joyfully or with struggle.

In contrast, I didn’t belong in this world.

“…Sigh.”

I looked up at the sky with a sigh.

I could see 12 constellations filling the sky.

The 12 zodiac signs appearing simultaneously—a strange phenomenon that wouldn’t occur on Earth.

It was one element that reminded me I was an outsider in this world.

‘I need to escape.’

I was bullied within the barbarian tribe for being half-elf.

Therefore, I had no childhood friends.

After leaving the barbarian sanctuary, I spent my years as a porter.

I couldn’t even dream of dating, and I didn’t really have anyone I could call a friend or colleague.

I had made a few acquaintances recently, but that wasn’t enough to fill my life.

This world was too empty for me.

No lover or connections to depend on.

“Ah, Mr. Adel?”

Just then, someone called my name.

Looking up, I saw a beautiful woman with short pink hair.

“…Ms. Sherry?”

“Yes. What a coincidence meeting you here.”

Sherry walked briskly toward me with a bright smile.

“I came here because I had an appointment with Rio, but what are you doing here, Mr. Adel?”

“I’m waiting for a party member. We agreed to have dinner together.”

“Hmm… Ah! Are you talking about the person who came with you for settlement yesterday?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

Sherry sat down naturally beside me with a curious look.

“Hmm. I heard a little bit from Rio, but are you and Shiro, you know… that kind of relationship?”

She leaned in without hesitation, resting her arms on the fountain.

Her face seemed redder than usual, but that must be my imagination.

“…We’re not like that. Besides, Shiro isn’t even an adult yet.”

“Heeh~ You say that, but you’re only 18 yourself, Mr. Adel. Do you perhaps prefer older women?”

“It’s not that… I just feel uncomfortable with romance before someone becomes an adult.”

“Hmm. Is that so~?”

She tilted her head and brought her face even closer.

Her demeanor was really different from how she usually was at the Association. Was she already drunk?

As I gradually increased the distance between us, a savior finally appeared to stop Sherry.

“Adel. Sorry. I was sitting nearby having some drinks, and she saw you and ran over here.”

“She came because she saw me?”

“Yeah… Ah, oops! Sherry!”

Sherry’s body went limp, and she almost fell to the ground.

“Sorry, Adel. She’s been complaining about having a hard time lately, and even though she usually refuses to drink no matter how much I encourage her, she’s been drinking non-stop.”

Rio supported the half-collapsed Sherry and left.

‘…What was that?’

After sitting there in confusion for a moment, I couldn’t help but chuckle as I watched Rio’s retreating figure.

Yes, my life wasn’t so bad after all.

Even if it was a bit different from others’, it didn’t seem like a life to be entirely pessimistic about.

I waited for Shiro with a slightly excited heart.

“Adel, you’re already here.”

After waiting for a while, Shiro finally arrived at the fountain.

Looking at the clock, it was 9:15 PM.

Whether by coincidence or fate, we had both arrived 15 minutes early.

“Shiro. You’re early? I had something to do nearby and just got here a few minutes ago.”

“Really?”

She took out a pocket watch from her bosom and checked the time. It showed 9:10 PM.

“That worked out well. I was confused about the time.”

She doesn’t seem confused at all.

“Indeed. Let’s get going now.”

“Okay.”

Without pointing out that detail, we entered the street.

Perhaps because the festival night had deepened, the streets seemed even more crowded.

Fortunately, unlike last time, we didn’t feel the stares of others too much, and we were enjoying a peaceful atmosphere.

“Hey! These bastards are kissing while drinking!”

“Two women together when they’re not even a couple?! Crazy!”

Are these people insane?

At that moment, a bizarre scene unfolded in the street, and Shiro looked at it with a mixture of wonder and interest.

Before she could be influenced, I quickly brought up a conversation topic.

“Shiro, isn’t that dress too hot for summer?”

The white one-piece dress she was wearing.

She had been wearing only that since before, and I wondered if she wore it all year round.

“…No. It’s not hot.”

I examined Shiro’s body as she said that.

It wasn’t very noticeable because she was fully covered, but the area around her neck was damp.

She must be hot.

“Hmm. Is that so? But I’m feeling a bit hot, so could we move over to that bench? It’s quite warm with all these people.”

“Yes. Of course.”

She nodded more actively than usual.

Maybe she’s the type who isn’t honest with herself.

Anyway, we moved to a bench in the middle of the road.

“There are trees planted here, and it’s a space separated from the street, so the air is nice.”

Unlike the heat-filled street, there was a breeze here that made it quite cool.

We sat quietly for a few minutes, enjoying the wind.

Then, I noticed Shiro’s body starting to tremble slightly.

‘Is she cold now?’

Perhaps coming to a cool place suddenly while sweating made her body temperature drop sharply.

“Shiro. You look cold, should we start moving again?”

“…No, I’m fine.”

She shook her head and looked at me.

She seems to dislike crowded places, so she probably prefers this cozy spot to the streets.

“Hmm. Then shall we spend the rest of the evening here? There are many street vendors in front, so we can buy food if needed.”

“Yes. That doesn’t sound bad.”

It seemed she hadn’t researched any restaurants this time.

Actually, my request for her to buy me a meal was just an excuse; I was just trying to help her get rid of the debt she felt toward me.

And it would be nice to have a date with Shiro at the same time.

…that sounds weird.

To rephrase it, yes, it was like a social gathering between colleagues. There’s nothing strange about meeting outside, just the two of us, right?

“I’ll go buy something from the vendors. Would you like to come along, Shiro?”

“Yes. But before that…”

Shiro approached me, and

-Whoosh.

“Now I’m finally a little warm.”

“…Shiro?”

She suddenly embraced me.