42 Chapter42: Unexpected Rivalry?

$--{] East Side of Citrine City [}--$

[ where should we go now onii-chan? ] Alice, who I'm carrying behind my back asked.

[ how about we go to the shopping district? ] I replied.

[ what are you going to buy onii-chan? ]

[ how about we buy new weapons? especially swords since we also have enough money to buy something much better than we have now. ]

[ is that so onii-chan? ]

The swords we bought last time was made of poor metal that was easy to break, bend, and rust, that's why I'm planning to buy better new ones. I'm also planning on buying more equipment for both me and Alice, like a gauntlet for Alice to improve her combat ability and to also prevent her fingers from hurting when pulling the string of her bow.

[ By the way, Alice, do you want to go to the Holy Knights School? ] I asked Alice.

I remember Marinda-san suggesting to me that this morning.

[ what's that onii-chan? ]

[ hmm... it's a school where they teach people how to become Holy Knights. They also teach basic knowledge. ]

I don't want Alice to become someone who doesn't know how to read and write so it's better sending her on something like a school.

[ will you also come if I go onii-chan? ] asked Alice.

I was actually expecting her to ask that.

[ no, I will only support you and pay for your enrollment. ]

[ ...I don't want that onii-chan... I don't want to go if you don't come too. ] said Alice. I can't see Alice's face but I'm sure she's pouting right now.

[ haah... well I guess that's how it is... ]

[ also, I prefer being an adventurer than a Holy Knight, because that way, I can work with you onii-chan. ]

[ hmm... is that so? then I will train you more, okay? ]

[ Un! ]

Alice is always enthusiastic when it comes to training as she's dedicated to helping me for the future. It seems like Alice wants to pay me by working hard today so she can help me for the future, she's now also asking me to get her an easy mission for her to complete herself so she can prove to me that she's improving and learning from everything I taught her.

I'm really proud of Alice.

*Skkrrrttt!!! ssshhh...!!!

Suddenly, on the road stopped in front of us is a beautiful carriage filled with different beautiful decorations.

[ oho~ if it isn't Haruto? ]

...

I know that voice...

It was the voice of the little girl who traumatized me just by meeting her once... it's the little girl who even Jacked Jack-san is afraid of... and it's the voice of the little girl who almost made us kill each other last week.

I then turned my head on the window of the carriage where that voice came from.

[ ...So-Sofia-san!? what are you doing here!? ] Sofia-san's head suddenly came out of the carriage window. Sofia, still with her blond ponytail and her annoying smile nodded as she heard her own name from me.

[ who's that onii-chan? ] asked Alice who's still on top of my shoulders.

[ hmm...? kidnapping little girls now? I guess I wouldn't be targeted by your kidnapping this time? ] Sofia-san mockingly said.

[ little girls...? you're a little girl yourself... ] I replied to her that like it was the most obvious thing in the world.

[ wha-what!? ] Sofia was surprised and she turned red in embarrassment.

It was not my intention to insult her like that but it looks like it was very effective.

That what she gets from mocking an expert like me.

[ hey! how can you talk with... hey, aren't you the guy I saw before...? ] suddenly, a guard came out behind the carriage pointing his spear at us, but suddenly stopped midway as he seems to remember our faces. I think I also have seen his face somewhere...

[ you know that guy? ] asked another guard with a sword who also appeared the same time the guard with a spear did.

[ hmm...? oh... you're that guy who woke me up before! I haven't able to say thanks, you really helped me back there. ] I exclaimed.

He really helped me back there, that's why I was able to go inside the village before night. That's why I wanted to thank him even if it was not intentional.

[ is that so? then, I'm glad to help. ] replied the familiar guard to me.

[ hey! aren't you forgetting someone here! ] Sofia shouted straight into the guards ears.

[ o-oh! right! I won't forgive you for insulting Sofia-sama like that! ]

[ I didn't insult her! it was just the truth... ] I replied to the guards while waving my both my hands side by side to them.

[ hmm... well, I guess you're right... ] the guard with the spear nodded and agreed while looking at Sofia-san.

[ yea-yea... ] the guard with the sword lowered his sword and also looked Sofia-san before nodding and agreeing.

[ ... do you want me to fire you both? ]

The moment Sofia muttered those words, both guards went back to their stances and they pointed their weapons again at us.

[ n-no! Sofia-sama is already an Adult! we won't forgive anyone who calls her little girl! ]

[ tha-that's right! ]

just how stupid these guards are...?

[ haah... so... what do you want from me? ] I asked Sofia-san while looking at her directly in her eyes.

It's obvious she wants something from me, so I decided to just ask her what it is she wants so we can finish whatever we're doing fast...

[ wha..!? we-well... I want you to tour me in this City... Alone... ] Sofia-san said while turning her head downward and started to play with her fingers.

[ wha-what!? we can do that for you Sofia-sama! we can't trust you with this guy, he's clearly someone who preys on little girls! just look at the little girl behind his back! ] Shouted the two guards.

[ ...what did you say...? who was the little girl...? ] Alice slowly turned her head up once again... but this time... her eyes started to glow red and she's emitting deadly red aura behind her.

[ hihiiii!!! ] the two guards suddenly kneeled to the ground.

[ we're sorry! ]

[ s-scary... ]

[ what's with her...? ]

[ well, anyway, what do you say Haruto? ] Sofia immediately went back to normal and asked me.

[ umm... can I say n- ]

[ "no" is not an option. ]

[ we-well, what do you think Alice? ] I asked Alice instead, hoping she could find a lie that could get us out of this situation.

[ I... I think she wants to steal onii-chan from me! ] Alice suddenly shouted while hugging the top of my head harder.

[ wha-what did you say!? ] I unconsciously shouted at Alice.

[ wha-what stupidity are you saying!? ] Sofia-san went red and began shaking inside her carriage.

[ o-onii-chan is mine! ] Shouted Alice again, hugging the top of my head even harder this time.

[ he-hey! stop this Alice! ]

[ It's instinct onii-chan! ]

[ we-well! I think I had enough for today... I will just ask you another time... ] Said Sofia-san as she closed the window of her carriage.

[ hey, wait! you're just going to leave after all that? we can tour you inside the City, but only with Alice, she knows everything about this city so it's good if she can come too. Well, I also won't go if you don't want me taking Alice too... it would be dangerous... ]

[ is, is that so? ] Sofia said, as she again peeked from the inside of the carriage's window.

[ I don't want onii-chan with that girl! ] Alice is still hugging my head tight and I bet she's also pouting right now...

[ we-well... ]

[ fine, I accept. ] said Sofia.

[ re-really? ]

[ yes, but only tomorrow, I need to prepare... ]

[ is that so? well, okay, I will think of good places I can take you to! ]

[ i-is that so? then we should go now. See you tomorrow... I will expect good things from you... guards, let's go. ]

[[ Yes, Mam!!! ]]

[ see, see you tomorrow... ] I can only mutter those words as she and her guards finally leave.

[ why did you accept onii-chan!? that girl is surely plotting something! ] said Alice while rocking my head.

[ hey, Alice... please be careful doing that... okay? ]

[ doing what onii-chan? ]

[ what you just did... she's an aristocrat you know...? ]

last week, Jack-san surprised me as he revealed to me that he's a famous aristocrat of this country, I was surprised nobody told me about it. That also means that Sofia is a noble girl too, that's why I want to be careful around her.

[ but, but I was only protecting onii-chan. ]

[ haah... I only accepted because she looks like she's sincerely looking for help you know? ]

[ that's not what it looks to me onii-chan! ]

what should I do with this stupid Alice...?

*** Meanwhile inside Sofia's carriage.

[ what's with that little girl...!? ]

Sofia was confused by what Alice had said earlier as it affected Sofia without her noticing. Sofia's real intention was to find someone from inside the City to tour her as she doesn't want to ask her ugly Grandfather, but when she heard what Alice had said to her, it went inside her head and she thought that it might be true; that she wants to steal her onii-chan from her.

It's a psychological effect where people will take liking to people they are tease into, and now, it affected Sofia without her knowing anything about it.

[ as if I would like someone like that low-life... ]