Chapter 48 – Close Your Eyes

Close Your Eyes

“Shh”
“Okay…”
I finally sat down quietly.

Soon after, the waiter opened the door to our private room to take our order.
Riste started ordering food to the waiter as if familiar with it.

“One Red Tide and one Moonlight Traveler each, and please bring Gold Dragon’s Cordon Bleu and Forest Pie.”
“Um, the Moonlight Traveler cocktail has a rather high alcohol content…”
“It’s fine.”

What’s this? Is she reciting an incantation?
She’s naming unfamiliar foods I’ve never heard of in my life.
Even after the waiter who took the order bowed and left, I stared blankly at Riste’s face.

“Is there something on my face?”
“N-No. I just thought you were cool.”
“Fufu, you’re joking.”
I’m serious.

“Sorry for the wait. Your ordered dishes are here.”
Creak. Not long after the door to our private room opened, a delicious smell filled the space where Riste and I were.
“First, regarding this dish, it’s made with Gold Dragon, a sea creature that inhabits the southern part of the Empire, as the main ingredient…”

The waiter gives a brief explanation of each dish, but it doesn’t really register in my head, as if I’m listening to the solution of a difficult math problem.
“…This Moonlight Traveler is a cocktail made with rare berries harvested under moonlight and dew imbued with the breath of spirits as main ingredients, characterized by its sweet aroma and deep, rich flavor.”

…Cocktail?
After the waiter finished explaining the food and left, I quietly said to Riste,
“Um, Riste. Alcohol in broad daylight is a bit…”

“Fufu. It’s okay. There’s no alcohol in this cocktail.”
“…I see.”
I thought I heard the waiter say it had a high alcohol content just now… I must have misheard. If Riste says so.

“This is a cocktail I recommend. It’s called Moonlight Traveler… You’ll surely like it, Ariel.”
“Thank you.”
The wine glass she handed me was filled with a subtle liquid that seemed to capture moonlight, fitting its name.

“Shall we make a toast?”
“Sure. Thanks for the meal, Riste.”
We each raised our glasses and lightly clinked them, and the subtle sound spreading between the glasses gently filled the space.

‘…It really seems like there’s no alcohol.’
As I took a light sip of the drink in the glass, the flavor of fresh berries spread throughout my mouth along with a smooth and cool feeling like moonlight.
And the deep aroma that remains at the end.
True to its name Moonlight Traveler, it feels like sailing up a blue sea under moonlight.

“How is it, Ariel? Do you like it?”
“…I like it.”
“Fufu. I’m glad.”
Riste smiled gently, seemingly relieved at my answer.

The dark red lighting illuminating the room reflected on her face, creating a slightly seductive atmosphere.
She was beautiful as usual, but now she was… how should I put it, yes. Enchanting.

‘Oh, I feel a bit dizzy.’
Have I been intoxicated by the atmosphere? Somehow my vision seems to be wavering.
“…Ariel. Your eyes look a bit unfocused.”

Oh dear, falling asleep with someone right in front of me. There’s no greater discourtesy than this.
It must be fatigue catching up with me after using teleportation magic repeatedly to come here to the capital.
Moreover, the inside of the store was dark, so it was a bit cozy too.

“Fufu. Shall we make another toast?”
‘Already?’
The tempo seems a bit fast… well, it’s not alcohol, so it should be fine.

.
.
.

I feel something soft at the back of my neck.
Is this home? The softness reminds me of the griffin feather pillow I usually sleep on.
‘What was I doing…’

I came to the capital, met Riste, came to an expensive-looking restaurant and ate… ate?
‘Right. I was eating.’

“Fufu. You’re awake, Ariel.”
“Where is…”
“Seems like you don’t remember. I should give a bigger tip.”
When I gently opened my eyes, what I saw was Riste’s face looking down at me.
…Her cheeks looked slightly red, perhaps due to the red lighting.

‘Did I fall asleep…?’
Now that I look, what I was resting my head on was Riste’s lap.
─Which means I ended up falling asleep in the middle of the meal, unable to overcome drowsiness.

There’s no greater embarrassment than this.
“I-I’m sorry, Riste.”
“It’s okay. You seemed very tired, so I deliberately didn’t wake you. You were sleeping well?”
Embarrassment rises to my face, making it feel hot. Not only did I freeload a meal, but I even used her lap as a pillow.

‘I want to die…’
“Shall we go now? We were going to buy a gift, remember?”
“…Let’s do that.”
Riste gently extends her hand to me as I writhe in self-loathing after getting up. Is there such a kind person in the world?

In a situation where a normal person would be understandably angry, she instead smiles and offers her hand.
Afterwards, Riste and I headed out to the streets to buy Saya’s gift.

“S-Shameless! Disqualified as a saint!!!”
Goddess Cael, who had been peeking at Riste and Ariel from start to finish.
She muttered to herself while stroking her still-burning cheeks.

Cael, who considered Riste as both her representative and child.
…That’s why Cael had not responded to Riste’s calls all this time.
She wanted Riste to develop the strength to forge her own path. Even if that choice would make her hate Cael.

Instead, Cael was always watching over Riste. To extend a helping hand when she faced insurmountable walls.
But she met good companions and grew admirably. To the point where she no longer needed Cael’s help.
Cael had been feeling proud watching such Riste, but… she realized something had gone wrong two years ago from now,

The day Riste reunited with Ariel.
“What should I do… I don’t even have the power left to give revelations…”
Goddess Cael, who had used the maximum divine power she could interfere with in the physical world during the battle with the Demon King, fell into contemplation watching the seemingly satisfied Riste.

Although she had been watching over her from behind all along, to Riste who didn’t know this fact, Cael was just a useless existence.
Knowing this herself, Cael began to think – isn’t it enough if Riste is happy?
And then…

“S-Should I watch one more time?”
…Cael pressed the replay button on the crystal ball again.

Time passed, and it was afternoon with the sky turning orange.
“The sun is already setting…”
“It’s a bit regrettable.”

We got gifts for Saya at the general store Riste recommended, as well as gifts for Puel and Cherny who would be waiting at home.
Afterwards, we had some time left and were sightseeing around the capital, and now we were exchanging farewell words in front of the temple where Riste resides.

“Well then, I’ll be going now. I had fun today, Ariel.”
“…Me too. Thank you for spending time with me today.”
It’s clear that if it weren’t for Riste today, I would have had a little… no, a lot of trouble.
When I was flustered because the store where I had bought Saya’s shoes before had disappeared, it was Riste who recommended another store.

“Fufu. See you again, Ariel.”
Then Riste turned her back to me and started walking towards the temple.
“Wait, Riste.”
I stopped her. She looked at me with a puzzled expression.

“…It’s not much, but it’s a thank you for taking care of me today… You can throw it away if you don’t like it!”
Then I fumbled in my pocket and took out a small gift I had prepared for her.
…I don’t have much experience giving gifts to women, so it’s a bit embarrassing.

“This is…”
Riste trailed off, as if surprised.
The gift I handed to her was a bracelet with a small crescent moon-shaped ornament.
An item I had noticed and purchased in advance while choosing gifts for the children at home.

“Is this for me? Ariel?”
“That’s right. I felt like I’ve been receiving too much. O-Of course, I’m not saying this makes us even. Just…”
Riste looked at me amusingly as I blurted out whatever came to mind out of nervousness.

“Pfft. Ariel. Aren’t you too nervous?”
She took the bracelet I offered and carefully put it on her wrist.
“…I like it. Thank you.”

Relief spread through my chest at her words. I’m glad. She seems to like it.
“Ariel. Can you close your eyes for a moment?”
Riste, who had been looking at the bracelet I gave her for a while, said to me.

‘Close my eyes?’
Although I was a bit puzzled by her words, I closed my eyes as she told me to.
Soon, I felt a soft touch on my forehead.

“This is my thanks. Ariel.”
Surprised, I opened my eyes to see Riste with a slightly flushed expression.
…Then she lightly touched her own lips.
From her reaction, I could vaguely guess what the sensation on my forehead had been.

“See you next time! Ariel!”
Pitter-patter. Leaving only those words, Riste hurriedly ran to the temple.
‘So women even kiss their friends…’
I thought, recalling the sensation still lingering on my forehead. Becoming a woman wasn’t all bad.