“Now it sounds like you’re my parent, and I’m some naughty kid you’ve gotta take care of!”
“Ah-ha-ha-ha…”
No matter what approach I took, it seemed like Leonie was never going to be moved by my attempted wooing. I did kinda like that steadfast, stubborn nature of hers, but she could at least throw me a bone every once in a while, eh?
“So, Ruchika…what do you want to do once you become a hero?” Leonie asked.
“Huh?”
It was an unexpected question. The only thing on my mind right now was becoming a hero; I hadn’t thought at all about what would happen after.
“I guess I’ve never thought about it. Have you, Leonie?”
“Yes. I want to abolish all war.”
“You mean like, between humans?”
“Yes.”
Although the human kingdoms had been united during the war against the demonkind, the moment it ended, they began to fight among themselves. Even now, many kingdoms were still suffering the ravages of war. Leonie was saying she wanted to put an end to that.
“That’s…a pretty lofty goal.”
“I know. But I believe this is what will be required of heroes in the next generation. It’s something that heroes can do for this world, and perhaps something that only a hero will be able to accomplish.”
“Leonie…”
Nor gave a worried look at Leonie, as she sounded like she had been brooding over this for a while now.
“Then I guess I’ll help you with that!”
“Ruchika?”
“There’s nothing that says heroes have to work alone, right? Especially since there are all types of ’em. I’m sure we can find a way if we work together.”
I leaned forward out of my bed and shot a smile down at her. At first, she looked surprised by what I’d said, but eventually, she returned my smile—
“It would be reassuring to have your help, Ruchika.”
—and gave her response.
“You two… There you go, leaving me out again…”
“Oh, whoops.”
Nor had started to weep silently.
“I’m sorry, Nor. Of course, you want to help us out, too, right?”
“Obviously. We’re best friends, after all.”
Leonie hurried to follow up her statement in a way that included Nor, who was still looking a little unhappy.
“A party of three heroes, huh? I’ve got a good feeling the three of us can do anything we set our minds to!”
“Very optimistic of you, Ruchika.”
“Maybe you should try taking a page out of her book sometime, Leonie.”
“Perhaps…”
The night grew later and later as we chatted, and before we knew it, the three of us had drifted off to sleep.
When we woke up the next morning, both Nor and I had somehow found our way into Leonie’s bed, and she totally lost it at us when she woke up and noticed us cuddled up with her. But we’ll just keep that part our little secret.
“Classes are canceled…?” I asked.
“Yes. It seems there was an outbreak of food poisoning among the professors, and as such, all classes have been canceled,” said Leonie.
Food poisoning, huh?
“Couldn’t they tell the food was bad by smelling it first?”
“Unless the food had gone extremely bad, most humans wouldn’t be able to tell, especially if it was only a little off.”
“Well, I can tell. I’ve never had food poisoning in my whole life.”
“Are you sure it isn’t just because you’ve got an extremely strong stomach…?”
Now that wasn’t very nice. But whatever. This seemed like a good chance.
“Leonie, are you free today?”
“Hmm? Well…now that classes are canceled, I must say that I am…”
“Great, then it’s settled!”
“What is?”
I looked over at Leonie, who still had an expression like she didn’t get where I was going with this, and gave her a big smile.
“Let’s go on a date!”
Come on, Leonie, don’t give me that glare!
A few hours later…
“So remind me again why are you here, too, Nor?”
“Don’t treat me like I’m some kind of third wheel, Ruchika.”
“I invited her. The more the merrier, right?”
Leonie answered with a 100 percent honest smile. Damn, I can’t say no to that grin of hers!
“That’s not the point! This was supposed to be a date between just the two of us, Leonie!”
“But it’s all the same, isn’t it? Hanging out in town, all three of us, sounds like a lovely date to me.”
“It’s not the same at all!”
“…I think I might be starting to feel a little bad for you, Ruchika.”
How dare you toy with my poor girlish heart like this, Leonie, you little cherub, you!
“That’s okay. I like that about you, too,” I said.
“Enough with that nonsense. More importantly, where shall we go?” asked Leonie.
“There aren’t actually that many fun places to hang out in the capital, huh?” remarked Nor.
Just like Nor said, the capital, Sped, didn’t have much in the way of entertainment. It was an oddly austere area, to the point where there weren’t even that many pubs. It was totally different from what I was used to in the demon realm.
“Do you mind letting me lead the way?” I said.
“Oh, do you have some place in mind?” asked Leonie.
“Yeah, sorta. I haven’t been skipping all those classes for nothing!”
“I don’t think that’s something to brag about, Ruchika.”
Nor smiled back at me uneasily, but I paid her no attention.
Oh, I almost forgot.
“Before we head out, I want to ask you two a favor…”
“Hmm? What is it?”
“What?”
I could tell that my hesitant phrasing, which was unlike me, made the two of them a little suspicious. But I decided to go for it anyway.
“I want you to take off your Gear, just for today.”
“Our Gear? Why?”
“Is there some reason?”
“Yeah. I think you’ll understand soon enough.”
I guess they could sense I was being serious. Leonie and Nor exchanged a glance before nodding to each other, taking off their Gear, and putting them away in their bags.
You too, Proto. Sorry.
—Lucky me—it’s Proto’s big day off!
Yup, I was really starting to think there was something wrong with this Gear.
“Thanks, you two. All right, follow me.”
I started walking, leading the way. We left the city center and headed to the market.
“Are we going to the market?” asked Nor.
“Not quite.”
“Th-then where are we going?”
“You’ll see. Just trust me!”
We cut through the market and arrived at the outer southern edge of the capital.
“If I remember correctly…this is…”
“Old Sped, the capital’s old town.”