Closing Distance and an Unsettling Morning - 1
A filled beer stein was placed in front of Roge.
Despite usually sporting a smile, Roxy seemed rather curt this time, her "Here you go" coming off somewhat flat and perfunctory.
Roge, however, didn't seem to mind, and graciously thanked her before swiftly downing about half of the beer in one gulp. Given his imposing and muscular appearance, Roge seemed to have quite the tolerance for alcohol.
"Ah, this hits the spot! Thought I was dead for a moment there. Booze tastes even better after a long fight." Roge exclaimed cheerfully.
While I had chatted with Roge a few times when he visited my shop, this was the first time we had shared a meal together. We weren't particularly close. Those who frequented Roxy's shop and I were on nodding terms, but dining together didn't exactly equate to friendship. Roge was one of those acquaintances.
"It seems even Roge couldn't beat the gatekeeper of the Gate to the Underworld. Those monsters are quite formidable."
I was getting concerned about Julius's sour mood, but since he hasn't made any attempt to greet Roge, I spoke in as cheerful a tone as possible to avoid souring the atmosphere. Julius showed some consideration to Eliza as my client, but he was clearly directing quiet animosity towards Roge. He was like a disgruntled wolf marking his territory.
"Yeah, they're tough, really tough. I'm strong too, you know. ...I wanted to show you, Chloe-chan, my strength. But it's kind of pathetic to be seen almost dying, isn't it?"
"It's not like that at all. Your life is precious. I'm just glad you're safe."
"Chloe-chan... are you an angel...? Maybe you really are, Chloe-chan..."
"Roge-san, are you drunk already?"
He was only a couple of years older than me, but now Roge seemed like an emotionally expressive child now. I chuckled wryly as Roge stared at me with teary eyes.
"I wanted to show Chloe-chan how I could easily take down those gate monsters just like Julius does, quickly and decisively."
"That's right. Julius-san is strong, Roge-san. Just the other day, he defeated the Mithra with a single blow. He's incredibly strong and impressive."
Julius was praised by Roge. It made me happy to see Roge, the leader of the mercenary group, acknowledge Julius, so I glanced at him.
But when our eyes met, he let out a loud sigh.
I wonder why he was so angry now. Was there something in our conversation that annoyed him? Perhaps it was too noisy or something.
"Chloe-chan, I could take down a perceptive Mithra with a single blow too."
"I-is that so? That's impressive..."
As Roge gently squeezed my hand, he looked at me with a pleading gaze. I felt puzzled by the warmth transmitted through our skin. There was an unsettling sensation where our skin touched. It wasn't a pleasant feeling.
I tried my best not to think about it. It was just a hand. Just a man's hand.
His body was large, and so was his hand. His skin was warm and tough, with prominent bones visible under his tanned skin. It seemed to be twice the size of my hand.
As I observed his hands, something silver flashed past me, and a sharp object landed on the table in front of Roge with a swish. Sticking straight into the table was a silver knife.
"Wow..."
"Oh..."
Our voices overlapped. It was hard to see clearly, but it was probably Julius who threw the knife. It was not okay to throw knives recklessly, and we shouldn't damage Roxy's shop table.
Before I could say anything, Julius's large hand covered my mouth.
"Mmmph..."
The words I intended to use to scold Julius turned into muffled sounds.
"...Don't touch her. She's not used to men."
I couldn't believe what I was hearing, and my eyes widened.
Julius said something that I couldn't quite believe. He seemed to be standing up for me.
Perhaps he noticed that I was uncomfortable with Roge touching me. What should I do? I felt incredibly happy, more than feeling sorry for damaging Roxy's shop. But I also got overwhelmed because it felt like... Julius might actually like me.
While covering my mouth, Julius pulled me away from Roge.
"Don't get so worked up. I didn't come here to fight with you, Julius. I just wanted to talk... And then Chloe-chan looked so cute, I couldn't help but hold her hands. I'm just being honest with myself." Roge shrugged his shoulders.
Despite being targeted with a knife, he didn't seem angry.
"There's nothing for me to talk to you about."
Julius spoke in a tone I had never heard before. It was different from his usual self. It sounded cold.
Roge pulled the knife out of the table and twirled it in his hand.
The wine that was in Julius's beer stein was gone. His cheeks were as pale as ever. It didn't seem like he was drunk. In Julius's arms, while still covering my mouth like a hostage, I felt a strange sensation that I hadn't felt before.
My chest felt tight. My heart was pounding so loudly, it felt like it was echoing in my ears.
I shouldn't be feeling this way. I knew it'd only make things harder if I started paying attention. Money might not betray you, but people and things couldn't be trusted either, so I had always tried to keep my distance from others.
Because if I were to lose something important again, it would be painful and unbearable, and I might not be able to recover from it.
"I'm sorry. Ah, things never seem to go right. I came to recruit for the extermination squad for the gates of the other world, but it seems futile..."
Roge sighed deeply.
I heard words that I couldn't ignore, so I pulled Julius's hand away from my mouth.
Still being held from behind by Julius as I stood up, I asked Roge.
"Recruitment? For Julius-san?"
"Yeah, that's right. He's so strong, I thought I could use his help. Lately, gates to the other world have been appearing all over the kingdom. The knights can't handle them all, so even the mercenaries are getting requests. And adventurous types civilians too." Roge spoke in a more serious tone than before. "The guild has been notified of requests from the country to close the gates in exchange for a bounty. ...But, going to close the gates is dangerous, and there's no shortage of soldiers getting killed by gate monsters even if they manage to reach the gates."
"Is that so... But, it's not possible. Julius-san is my important, um, work partner, and... It's not safe for him to do dangerous things." I firmly rejected it.
Today, we went to defeat the monsters at the Gate to the Underworld to help Roge and the others, but I didn't want Julius to do such dangerous things regularly.
After all, I bought Julius to expand the alchemy shop. To earn money. Not to help people.
"Yeah, I guess so. Too bad... If I recruit Julius, that means you would have to come along too... I don't want you to do such dangerous things, but I've never seen anyone who can use such powerful exorcism magic as you did before. Chloe-chan, you have potential."
"Roge did mention using exorcism magic on the monsters at the gate, now that I think about it."
I chose the exorcism magic for Julius-san's spear because Roge suggested it.
At that time, I was completely absorbed, but even though it was my first time casting it, the flow of magic felt like it had been ingrained in my body for a long time.
"Yeah. Those monsters are said to be masses of resentment from the other world, and according to the research of the scholars from the Sacred Nation of Rashid, exorcism magic is said to be effective. Sacred magic and exorcism magic are slightly different. Sacred magic borrows power circulating in the world, but exorcism magic is said to borrow the power of angels residing in the heavenly realm of the other world... Angel Seraphim. You know how to use those, Chloe-chan, because you called out that name when chanting."
"Just the chanting... And a bit about the heavenly realm. We learned about it in class."
Not to brag, but when I was the Duke of Seigrit's daughter, my grades in school were quite good. I smiled politely, rarely initiating conversations myself, and focused only on studying. That was the only thing I was good at.
Roge nodded as if acknowledging he knew.
"...Chloe-chan. I'm two years older than you, and I used to be in the Kingdom's Knights. That means, during my time as a knight apprentice, I attended the same school as you. I've known you since then. The reason I quit the knights was because of you... It's nothing, really... Anyway, I don't know anyone else who can use exorcism magic as well as you, Chloe-chan. So if you ever change your mind, I want you to come to the mercenary group anytime. We'll pay you properly and welcome you with open arms."
"Is the conversation over? It's disappointing that mercenaries would resort to relying on the power of women to kill such low-level monsters. It's quite pathetic."
"Say what you will. If the Gates to the Underworld aren't closed and are left unchecked, countless monsters will emerge from there. Monsters attack civilian. We have to do something before they become too numerous to handle. From our perspective... No matter how much you may despise it, we want to borrow your power. From what I've seen, he only listens to you, Chloe-chan. If that's the case, then I want to borrow his power too. That's all there is to it."
"...Is there really a human in this world worth protecting from monsters?" Julius muttered.
Roge wore an expression that seemed deeply wounded. I felt a thorn pierce my heart as well.
"Roxy-san, thank you for the meal. Um, I'm sorry about the table, I'll compensate for it!" Before being dragged out by Julius, I hurriedly spoke to Roxy.
"It's okay, Chloe-chan. This place only attracts hot-headed men, so tables and chairs often get damaged. Besides, you did quite well. Keep protecting Chloe-chan like that,
Prince Charming."
Roxy smiled softly and gracefully waved her hand, bidding us goodbye.