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Translator Note: No, Chloe 😢
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While Roxy and the townsfolk were bustling around me, showing their gratitude rather overwhelmingly, Julius stood a little apart, keeping an eye on me.
I could see children and elderly women heading towards Julius, likely to express their gratitude. Even some soldiers, who might've still held some resentment towards Julius, were offering their words of appreciation.
Although Julius maintained his usual stoic demeanor with crossed arms and closing himself off, the grumpy response seemed to be quite endearing to the seasoned shopkeepers of the bustling market district. They commented, "That surly attitude compliments you well, Chloe!"
Despite the recent fright from the swarm of monsters flooding the streets, everyone appeared to be in good spirits.
Politely declining Roxy's invitation to join in the celebratory toast, Julius and I decided to head back to my alchemy shop as usual.
Roxy, despite receiving a few minor injuries, cheerfully bid farewell to the mercenary group and the shopkeepers, exclaiming, "Let's have a drink to celebrate today!"
Everyone checked in with each other's safety and parted ways to their respective homes. Some might have faced injuries, and others could have lost their homes. The cleanup and emotional recovery ahead might be daunting, but the townsfolk remained resilient and optimistic.
For a moment, I found myself gazing at their departing backs with an admiring gaze, as if beholding something radiant.
Though there were scorch marks on some exterior walls and flower beds toppled over, the shops themselves seemed relatively unscathed.
Julius, perhaps worn out from being approached by unfamiliar faces and expressions of gratitude, appeared slightly more irritable and fatigued than during the battle.
And Helios, who had been joyfully soaring through the sky, returned to go inside his ring once the square emptied out.
Silently descending into the now deserted square, Helios nuzzled against my neck for a while, seeking affection. As I stroked his smooth, glossy scales, I savored the adorable warmth he exuded.
I wished I could continue caressing him indefinitely, but circumstances didn't permit such indulgence.
I longed for a spacious estate where I could spend every day frolicking with Helios. It would undoubtedly be a blissful life.
Yet, Julius no longer objected to me touching Helios, seemingly resigned to our bond.
The weary-looking Julius seemed to regain some energy when he saw Helios, and he smiled as he indulged Helios, who sought affection from me.
His passion for dragons never seemed to wane.
It felt like we were back to our usual routine, even though so much hadn't returned to normal.
But for now, I wanted to forget and pretend that everything was over.
Back at the alchemy shop, we decided to take turns bathing and changing.
When the discussion of who would bathe first arose, I felt a mix of guilt for Julius's battered body due to the magical restraints and gratitude for his help, so I let him go first. Julius then jokingly asked if I wanted to join him, and feeling embarrassed, I quickly made my escape to the kitchen.
I knew it was just a joke, but it still made me self-conscious.
Being alone with him again made me unsure of what to do.
Inside the house, everything seemed normal, with no noticeable damage.
The soup simmering on the stove, a tomato-based one with beans and various leftover vegetables, along with some diced processed meat, seemed unharmed.
As I watched the soup bubble away, I couldn't help but let out a sigh.
The sight of bubbling red soup, with its mixture of beans and diced vegetables floating in it, reminded me of the swirling thoughts in my mind.
Aliza was gone, Cyril had lost his hand, and yet my thoughts kept drifting back to Julius.
It felt like I was getting everything wrong, especially considering the seriousness of the situation.
"Chloe, I don't have any clothes."
Julius peeked into the kitchen.
Despite wearing black trousers, his upper body was inexplicably bare, with a large towel draped over his shoulders.
Water droplets dripped from his golden hair, and scars littered his well-built torso.
"...But you have clothes! We bought plenty."
I said, temporarily turning off the stove and gently pushing Julius back towards the bedroom.
Inside Julius's closet, several outfits hung neatly.
We did laundry every day, so there should have been no shortage of clothes.
Despite running out of magical energy, I used the last remnants to dry Julius's hair with a gentle gust of warm air.
I quite liked watching his golden hair dry in an instant with a satisfying whoosh.
Although his damp hair had its own charm, seeing Julius completely dry gave me a sense of accomplishment, akin to bathing a large dog and seeing it fully clean afterward.
I had bathed a few large dogs before. In the early days when the alchemy shop wasn't profitable, I did odd jobs like dog walking and bathing. Surprisingly, there were quite a few requests for such tasks.
"The torn robe. I want that one."
Julius requested, seemingly referring to the black robe that had been torn during our encounter with the northern demonic mountain.
I had hidden it away with the intention of sewing up the tears and repurposing it as my own sleepwear, but somehow he knew about it.
"I'll buy you a new one, so please make do with something else for now."
"...Can't be helped."
Julius grumbled, reluctantly pulling out a random set of clothes to wear.
It was more of a loose-fitting, unadorned black outfit, slightly oversized for his frame. Watching him, I realized that Julius preferred comfortable clothes over anything else.
Returning to the room, I decided to take a bath.
The red apron dress was stained with blood in various places and torn. It was a shame, but it would be better to dispose of it. Perhaps Cyril would compensate me as an apology. If so, I could buy myself some nicer clothes.
First, I needed to buy Julius his black robe.
I wondered if Robert's shop had survived unscathed. Knowing Robert, he probably managed just fine.
"I'll get some rest."
Julius called out to me as I headed towards the bath.
Waving my hand lightly, I replied, "Take it easy and get some sleep."
Though it had been a routine exchange before, now that I was conscious of it, it felt oddly embarrassing.
Could I keep going like this?
I hadn't even been able to express my feelings properly yet.
And... this was all my fault.
I didn't understand it well, but the Mephisto that emerged from Aliza's body spoke as if it knew me. I couldn't defeat it.
Meaning there might still be dangers ahead.
Maybe Julius and Helios shouldn't be around me anymore. As I sank into the warm water, the thought struck me.
My heart ached. Feeling on the verge of tears, I submerged my head in the water, closing my eyes tightly, trying to forget my intrusive thoughts.