Chapter 40 – Candy

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The paralysis wore off after I calmed down to some extent.

Of course, ‘calmed down’ meant I stopped having extreme thoughts, but the embarrassment remained. Lying down, I covered my face with the robe and let out a long sigh.

I wished I could close my eyes and open them to find myself back in my house. But when I slightly moved the robe covering my face, I still saw Hosanna’s face, so I covered my face again.

Why can I still see Hosanna… As I was blankly thinking that, I heard a voice.

“How long are you planning to lie there?”

“Bweek!”

It wasn’t just the voice. At the same time, I felt a sharp sensation in my side and screamed.

W-What did he poke me with?! Startled, I removed the robe and saw Hosanna smirking with a wand in his hand. He probably poked my side with that wand.

“’Bweek’, what a funny scream.”

“W-What are you doing…!”

“What do you think? Bullying a wizard aspirant.”

I shouted with my face flushed red with shame, and Hosanna brazenly replied. He’s openly saying he’s bullying me. I wished it would end there, but Hosanna wasn’t finished.

“Saying ‘Blaze!’, were you imitating me?”

“Kkeuek…!”

“The spirit was good, but the posture was a bit off. I don’t think I was standing so awkwardly like that-“

“Wahhhhhh…!”

I couldn’t bear the relentless barrage of reminders of my disgraceful behavior, so I covered my face and groaned in pain.

To be caught in such a scene by the very person I was imitating, what a shame…!

I wanted to pick up the dagger that fell on the ground and try to ‘reset’ again, but I was sure the previous situation would repeat itself.

But if I stayed still like this, Hosanna’s teasing would continue.

I had no choice. I didn’t want to use this method.

After making up my mind, I stopped struggling and immediately got up.

Hosanna flinched at the sudden change in my attitude, but I was faster to rush at him.

Hwaak-! Before he could retreat, I rushed and hugged one of Hosanna’s legs with both arms, looking up at him with the most pitiful expression I could muster.

“I-I was wrong, so please stop, please…”

It was a humiliating sight, begging for mercy from the other person, but I had no choice.

I didn’t think he would stop otherwise…!

As I looked at him with tearful eyes (not intentional), Hosanna also shook the leg I was holding with a bewildered expression.

“O-Okay, so can you let go of this? Anyone who sees this would misunderstand the situation, you know?! I’m already suffering from ridiculous rumors because of that nasty wolf guy…”

“Sob… Really…?”

“Yes! I won’t tease you anymore, so please let go…!”

If that’s the case. After hearing his confirmation, I released my arms, and Hosanna quickly backed away.

Then, he looked around, and after confirming that no one was watching, he let out a sigh of relief and muttered.

“If anyone had seen that, it would have been a real disaster. I’m already suffering from ridiculous rumors because of that nasty wolf guy…”

“Rumors…?”

“There’s something like that. You don’t need to know. No, you should never know.”

Hosanna scratched his head as if just thinking about it gave him a headache. Wolf, rumors. I couldn’t understand what Hosanna was talking about.

Anyway, it seemed like the teasing was over, so I carefully got up and belatedly bowed my head.

“U-Um, anyway, it’s late, but it’s been a while…”

“Huh? Ah, yeah. It’s been a while.”

“But… what brings you to the 1st floor…?”

“What brings me here? I’m on my way back, that’s why.”

“Returning? Ah.”

Come to think of it, this person was hunting on the 5th floor. He said he would return after about a week, but has it already been that long?

As I was feeling the passage of time, Hosanna put his hand on his hip and said.

“I was also wondering if you might be hunting on the 1st floor, so I was looking for you.”

“Y-Yes? Why would you be looking for me…”

“I told you? ‘Let’s meet up when I get back.’ I said that, but I felt like you wouldn’t meet me if I asked to meet in town.”

It’s not like I’m that shy… If it was Hosanna, I would still consider him as someone I knew, so if he asked to meet, I would have pondered and pondered before nodding.

Although I would try to meet him within U.P. rather than in town.

“I never expected to reunite like this-“

“Ah, you said you wouldn’t tease me…!”

“Okay, okay. I really won’t talk about that anymore, so don’t get angry.”

When I protested in surprise at the sight of him trying to bring up my dark past again, Hosanna waved his hand and said.

But his grinning face looked like he was full of intentions to tease me whenever the opportunity arose.

Ugh, if I had great strength… no, great height, I would have retorted by saying, ‘You little brat!’

As I was grumbling inwardly, Hosanna rummaged through his pockets and handed me something.

“I’ll give you this as an apology, how about it?”

“Is this… candy?”

I stopped grumbling and asked, looking at the wrapping that was twisted and tied on both sides of the round object. Hosanna nodded and said.

“That’s right. Honey candy. Have you ever been to the cafe in the northern district? I asked the master there to make it.”

“If it’s candy made by the master… it must be incredibly sweet.”

As I said, recalling the pancakes I had eaten at the cafe, Hosanna shook his head.

“It’s not that sweet. It’s just enough to replenish your sugar. Try it.”

“T-Then, I won’t refuse…”

Carefully unwrapping the package, a slightly yellowish bead was revealed. At the same time, the subtly sweet scent made me swallow hard.

It looked sweet at a glance, but he said it wasn’t that sweet. If I compared it to the pancakes, it was about one-tenth.

But the sticky sweetness that wrapped around my tongue every time I rolled it in my mouth created a strange addiction.

“How is it, not bad, right?”

“Nmm…”

“Want another one?”

“Nmm…”

It’s not like it’s incredibly delicious, but as I eat it, I strangely keep wanting to eat it.

As I politely received the candy he handed me again with both hands and put it in my mouth, Hosanna asked.

“So, is there something that’s not going well?”

“Uum, not going well…? Why are you suddenly asking that…”

“Just a feeling? Your behavior earlier, and you look like someone who has worries.”

It was another statement that brought up embarrassing memories, but this time, he seemed serious rather than trying to tease me, so instead of getting angry, I avoided his gaze and said.

“N-Not really.”

“Really? Then you were just suddenly bored and imitating me.”

“That’s not it?! B-Besides, we agreed to stop talking about that…”

“Ah, that’s right. I forgot. I’ll give you another candy as an apology.”

“Ah, thank… not really…!”

I was about to receive it without thinking, but I belatedly came to my senses and shook my head.

What am I doing, trying to be completely swayed by candy like a child, even though I’ve become like a child!

Besides, even real children don’t fall for things like candy?!

“I am an adult, I am an adult…!”

An adult who is not swayed by candy! As I muttered and hypnotized myself, Hosanna chuckled.

“What is it? You don’t need candy?”

“Don’t try to appease me with candy like that! As I said before, I’m not a child…!”

“Really? Then you don’t need candy…”

“Ah…”

I couldn’t help but sigh as the candy disappeared back into Hosanna’s pocket, but I soon shook my head.

There was no need to feel sad about not receiving it now. Since I found out where to get it anyway, I could just go to the cafe and buy the candy later.

Of course, it would be impossible to talk to that fierce-looking master alone, so I would have to go with Yuika, but the important thing was that I didn’t need to rely on Hosanna just for candy.

I deliberately puffed out my chest triumphantly and said.

“Hmph, I know where to get that candy, so I can buy it as much as I want even if you don’t give it to me, Hosanna-ssi!”

“Ah, this is not for sale. The master only makes it once a month because he says it’s a hassle to make.”

“Wh-What…”

It wasn’t… for sale…!

Looking at him with a shocked face, Hosanna smiled and said.

“Indeed, it was a bit insensitive of me to try to coax you with candy when you’re not a child. I’ll formally apologize, Mari.”

“U-Um, well…”

“Anyway, if you had any worries, I would have shared the candy and thought about them together, but since you say you don’t have any, I guess it can’t be helped.”

With that, Hosanna turned around.

“Then see you next time, Mari. It was nice to see you after a long time.”

Goodbye… I closed my eyes tightly at the sight of Hosanna walking towards the village with an attitude that showed no regrets.

“T-There…!”

When I squeezed out my voice, Hosanna stopped walking and turned around.

With a playful smile on his face.

“Yeah, why? What’s wrong?”

“I have… a worry…!”

“Oh, really? Should I listen to what your worry is?”

I couldn’t help but feel annoyed at Hosanna, who was answering so naturally as if he knew I would say that.

But what I hated more was myself for not being able to give up the candy and calling out to Hosanna…

I wiped away tears inwardly and slowly began to pour out my worries.

Author Note

A/N (Author’s note):
I had something to say in yesterday’s note but totally forgot.

Mari’s height is 139cm.

Which means her breadloaf pose is roughly under 18cm.

Why so small, you ask?

…Because smol is cute!!!!!!!!!!

Thank you.

Translator Note

T/N (Translator’s note):
Put her in an oven and crank it to the highest temp for over 5 hours.