5 The afternoon tastes sour (1)

"Mm-hmm, mm-hmm" Mikaela was humming sirenic melody while performing solo dancing happily, her skill was no less than a professional dancer.

This behavior of her was because negotiation to purchase four Perfect Grade Health Potions had been concluded satisfactorily. In total, she received twenty-five-percent discount. The rare items normally priced at four-million Rune, at the very least, and she acquired it for only three-million Rune. A fantastic bargaining result. All she needed to do now was to pick the potions on his store.

On the other hand, Alfraed was feeling a tad bit downhearted, because he originally wanted to give a mere ten-percent discount. But, was unable to defend himself from Mikaela's relentless negotiation skill and mature persuasiveness. If he was less adamant when deciding the final price, there was high chance that she would pursue more discount. No, she certainly would.

Having said that, Alfraed still profited a lot from this transaction since he procured the raw materials and processed the potions himself. So, it was not a bad deal, not bad at all, yes, definitely not bad. Not bad. That was what he was trying to reaffirm since the negotiation ended.

"Mikaela, we should.... Hmm?"

Alfraed had finished wrapping up the tent and his belongings, and nothing left to do aside going back. However, when calling out to Mikaela who was still dancing like the main heroine in a play, he noticed something different from her.

"Alfraed, what's wrong?"

"Just wondering, your eyes..."

"What about my eyes?"

Noticing his attention, Mikaela stopped the dance and faced him.

'Is he trying to say my eyes are pretty? If so, cliché, also, his timing and action were too crude' was what Mikaela thought. Countless men said similar line in the past to woo her, none succeeded of course and she was immune to similar cheap lines now.

"It's just... they, turned crimson?"

"...??!!" it took only instant for Mikaela to realize what he meant, and immediately covered both eyes with her hands.

Mikaela possessed magic eyes that activated when her concentration at its peak, or when she was overcome by strong emotion. Normally, the eyes's activation could be controlled, she was utterly careless just now. These eyes was her heritage from her parents, a proof of not being human, and had dire consequences for whoever looked into them. Also, the eyes were the main reason she rarely joined a party until now.

"...."

"...."

The two did not mutter a single word for a while, both of them did not know how to proceed.

"..... what's wrong?" Alfraed was the one who broke the silence first, since he was confused of what was happening, and worried he did something unforgivable, unintentionally, at the same time.

"..... You... don't feel anything...?" Mikaela, slowly and carefully, lowering her hands to look at Alfraed's condition, while asking him a vague question.

"... No...? I mean, should I...?"

"Really? Anything at all?"

What was the purpose of that question? A trick? A test? A quiz? An interrogation? Alfraed had no idea. So, he decided to be honest and gave an answer based on what he felt right now.

"...if anything, I think, your eyes are beautiful...?" he said, feeling uneasy since this was the first time he ever said such embarrassing comment to the opposite sex.

"....."

'As expected, so cliché and crude' thought Mikaela. Yet, this was the first time she felt delighted hearing such compliment from someone, and she instinctively smiled. Though, Alfraed could not see how beautiful Mikaela's smile due to being obstructed by her well-polished fingers.

"Well, please forget about that, it's nothing really, let's go back" as she said that, her eyes returned back to their normal color.

"...Are you going to leave the dragon here? Won't you get reward or something by bringing it back?"

Alfraed was left perplexed. But, if the person herself said it was alright, then, he had nothing more to say. However, he had concern with the dragon's body.

"Yes, the dragon can be sold as raw materials. Sadly, I don't have the means to bring this gigantic pile of flesh back with me, it weighs tons..."

"As raw materials... how much will it be prized, normally?"

"I can't be sure. It's damaged, but still valuable since it's from a dragon. My estimation, it can be wrong, I'm not an appraiser, hmm, at least six-million Rune"

"That much?? It's a waste to leave it here then. Someone might dishonestly claimed it. I'll help you carry it!"

"Carry it...? Oh, one of your bags can store limitless item?! Is that it? Impressive!!"

"No, there's no such thing" if there was, he could not imagine how astronomical the price would be.

"...Then, what're you going to do...?"

Mikaela was unable to figure out how Alfraed would help her.

"...This..."

Apparently, the answer was simple, as he already told her what he would do.

The next moment, Alfraed performed an act that made Mikaela speechless, and frightened, as well as made her truly believed he was really the one who saved her from the dragon. Her benefactor. At the same time, she could feel her cheeks turned hot, and wondering if she, of all people, had cold...

-------

Two pair of guards were guarding an impaired entrance gate to the devastated city. They never slack in doing their duty in the past, and all of them were even more vigilant since the stampede incident. None wanted that kind of tragedy to happen again, and they were now observing surrounding area with binoculars. If they saw something, anything a little bit bizarre, they would warn the people so necessary action could be taken.

...Not long afterward, one of the binoculars caught two figures emerging from the forest.

The first figure was a curvaceous woman whose wearing a shirt and her snow white legs were visible. They soon recognized her as the adventurer who went to investigate the stampede, it was not easy to forget such lovely existence.

On the contrary, the figure next to her was a plain man, he could not be said as ugly, but, maybe, easily forgotten. Yet, when they had a better look at him, what he was doing was not plain at all. They were dumbfounded, barely able to think rationally, and even forgot what they needed to do when encountering such scene.