Chapter 89 - He's trying to save me, after all
"Hey! Wake up! Ryu! This is the first time I've ever been this close to a woman."
To his utter surprise, Ryu actually began to stir and slowly opened her eyes. Seeing Noah pinning her down, Ryu's mind went completely blank. Only two words kept echoing inside her head: "first time."
"...Is this really your first time?"
Huh? That's what you're focusing on right now?
Whether it was in the past or now, Ryu always zeroed in on the strangest thing. Still, Noah wasn't the type to nitpick, and since he was about to help the elf beneath him anyway, a little white lie wouldn't hurt.
"Well, if I had to pick something that came close, there was this one fight where I was completely overwhelmed by a female adventurer. In desperation, I bit her neck."
That was the moment Noah had first drawn mana from an opponent's blood and turned the battle around. Looking at Noah's face now, Ryu was surprised to realize he still looked somewhat boyish.
Yet there wasn't a trace of lust in his eyes. No love, no shyness, no excitement, no longing, no thrill.
None of the emotions a boy or girl should feel when they are this close to the opposite sex.
He had shown helplessness, confusion, and curiosity before, but those were merely ripples on the surface. Even the cool and composed Kaguya had a sore spot that would make her snap if poked. Her sharp tongue was just armor for a sensitive heart. She lashed out because she felt pain.
But Noah was different. This boy's heart had long since turned to steel.
It was precisely because every last bit of youthful hesitation, confusion, and longing had been stripped away that he could display such a cold and thoughtful side.
At that thought, a pang of pity welled up in Ryu for this boy. Most of her embarrassment faded.
He's trying to save me, after all.
...
Meanwhile, on the surface of Orario, in the central square.
As night fell, lanterns and magic stone lights chased away the darkness. Countless stalls lined the streets, and people of every race bustled about. Couples walked hand in hand, parents carried children on their shoulders, and everyone wore smiles full of joy.
Though the main festivities were concentrated in the central square, the crowds had spilled into every corner of the city, wrapping Orario in a warmth that pushed back the winter chill.
Near the base of Babel, Ais stood staring blankly at the first-floor hall until Riveria's voice snapped her out of it.
"Ais?"
Blinking, Ais turned to see a girl around her age holding out an apple, cheeks flushed with excitement. By the time she looked at Riveria, Ais had already accepted it.
"Thank you."
"No, thank you! Thank you, adventurers, for protecting us! Bye bye!"
Clutching the apple, Ais watched the girl disappear into the crowd of the Holy Night Träumerei, her eyes sparkling.
Then, suddenly, a chill ran down her spine.
A strange, uneasy feeling, like someone had stolen her favorite pillow, spread through her chest and made it hard to breathe. A faint heat also prickled between her shoulder blades.
Noah.
She didn't need to think twice. The source of this weird sensation had to be Noah, who still hadn't returned from the dungeon. Her unusual behavior immediately caught Riveria's attention.
"Ais? What's wrong? Did you sense something?"
Gripping her staff tighter, the high elf instinctively scanned the crowd, sharp eyes searching for any sign of Evilus thugs hiding among the festival goers.
Everyone knew Evilus would never sit quietly while the city celebrated.
That was why, while ordinary citizens and smaller familias could relax and enjoy the festival, the major familias had no such luxury. The Guild had forced them all into guard duty, stationed at key points across the city. Finn was perched atop a nearby tower, directing and coordinating every familia.
Freya Familia, led by Ottar, patrolled the darker alleys and backstreets, hunting anything suspicious.
Given the open terrain of the plaza and the low chance of a large scale ambush, Riveria had been assigned here. Her main job was to protect civilians and maintain order if an attack came.
The real defensive line was concentrated at the major intersections and surrounding buildings. As long as Evilus didn't drop from the sky or crawl up from the sewers, the central square was actually the safest place in Orario tonight.
Riveria had reluctantly agreed to let Ais help with security, on the condition that she never left her side.
"Riveria! Something happened to Noah!"
"...Huh?"
The answer was so unexpected that Riveria was momentarily speechless.
Noah hasn't come back yet. How could you possibly know something happened to him?
But then she remembered the strange skills and magic Ais had developed lately and chose to trust her. To be honest, Riveria herself was starting to worry. Noah should have been back before dark.
Still, as a commander on the front line, she couldn't show the slightest hesitation. But she also couldn't just abandon her worries.
What now?
Then, almost unconsciously, her gaze drifted back to Ais's face.
The girl looked panicked, yes, but more than that, she looked angry. Not scared. Angry.
The anger of a girl whose favorite toy had just been stolen.
This did not feel like life threatening situation.
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