Aries Kingdom Arc - Chapter 28: Arrangements

After Alric explained his background to me and how he got here. I then disclosed mine without leaving a single thing out. He reacted to it quite plainly. But my attention was more focused on one thing.

"...Flying swords? Can you tell me more about that, Alric?"

"If you ask me, it closely resembled the way you used many swords as your fighting style. The only difference is that, he was using real swords instead of ones made with magic."

Using the same fighting style as me, it was such a coincidence that I even had an absurd thought that it could have been me that travelled to the past using [Rewrite Destiny].

All I can do was be lost in thought as I stare at the concrete floor.

"This must be the reason why your dad almost killed me in that last orc subjugation expedition."

"P-Pardon? He did that?"

Alric looked baffled at my words and smiled wryly. It looks to me that noone knew about that besides me and the old man.

"Yeah. But he stopped midway after that, so I lived."

"I guess that's a relief. I'm sorry about what he did. Every year he dispatches his troops and several agents to look for the culprit but he never found the guy. He's desperate to avenge his wife."

Knowing his story, I can't help but feel bad for the guild master. I can understand now why he was so pessimistic when he thought I was involved in his wife's death.

"Do you want me to use [Rewrite Destiny] to find the culprit? Just say the word and I'll do it."

I had the intention to provide aid, however, Alric shook his head in rejection.

"I can do that too. But that's a bit tasteless, don't you think?"

"But we have to bring justice to your mom's death! You want that for your father too, right?"

"Well that is indeed true but... Do you think father would be satisfied with that? It wasn't him who found the killer, but us? In the first place I don't have any lingering feelings towards my deceased mother so I see it irrelevant to do that."

My face stiffened in disbelief, but I fixed it right away after looking clearly into his perspective. He knows his father more than I do, so I don't have the rightmost say in this.

"Hey, cheer up! Let's not bother ourselves with this topic. I heard there was a new food shop in the market district just near the merchant's guild so let's go there with the others tomorrow, yeah?"

"... Alright."

Brooding over this won't be of any help. All I can do now is hope that the guild master finds the killer, whoever it was.

With a deep inhale followed by a deep sigh, I glanced at the sky.

I just noticed now, but we've been talking in this bench in the city park for hours, Alric gave up the idea of going to the roof and we stayed in a bench at the park instead. It was already to the point that the sun was already descending from the horizon.

"By the way, Seven. You don't know how to fly, do you? I had to go down to meet up with you since you were taking to long."

"No. That's why I couldn't get to the rooftop."

Alric stared at me moodlessly then lightly grabbed my forehead making me fall back slightly. It didn't hurt but it was annoying!

"What was that for?!"

"A little gift. [Information Instillation]."

"A little gift? How was that a little gift—"

Suddenly, there was a sharp headache that shot across my brain. It felt hurtful but at the same time, it gave me the strange feeling of improvement.

"Uagh..."

I gasped for breath while feeling my knees give in, simultaneous to that were wisdom gathering into my head from the place Alric had touched me.

The algorithms, the written characters, their positions and the precise rotations of geometric shapes for a certain magic spell was coming to mind. Branching from one theory to another, then at the last and final result, a perfected magic spell entered my head with it's full formulae.

By the time I came to, I realized I was sweating quite a bit. A trickle of sweat brushed by my cheek.

"Seven, you already know about the heroes that's been summoned and the new Dark Lord that had reascended, right?"

I nodded my head to his inquiry, why bring this up all of a sudden? And just now, I'm guessing he used one of his skills on me to teach me a spell instantly. This person... Is insanely leagues above me!

"Prepare yourself for the worst and do your best to protect those you hold dear, there will be a battle soon that I can't stop by myself. There's no time for you to think about a single assassin."

I looked at him bitterly as I felt a cold breeze sweep across my face. His expression wasn't joking, those eyes were that of a serious warrior.

"That spell might help you quite a bit so I just gave it to you since it might be a good fit. Flight is an indispensable skill when it comes to a dangerous world like this afterall."

"Y-Yeah... Thanks, Alric..."

Alric smiled at me brightly, the more I know him, the higher my evaluation of him rises.

After that, we went on our way home back to the villa we're staying at.

He doesn't look at me in "that" way, I guess he's that desperate to protect my sexuality due to his obsession with yuri. But I suppose I should put my theory into test first to confirm if he's scum or not. I mean, just because he's a Hero doesn't mean he has to be pure, right?

"Hey Alric, what if I tell you I like you?"

"..."

An intense aura clouded my entire vision. A horrifying atmosphere far more dangerous than the guild master's filled the air. My body felt incredulously weakened, my heart rate hastened and my breathing became scarce. It was almost as if I'm facing a god.

Then in front of me, I saw Alric looking at me sidewards, not with those calm and peaceful onyx eyes of his, but eyes he would show to someone he hates to his last guts, there was a faint blue in it's pigmentation which could have signified he was activating his soul status.

"Owh, so you're lying."

"Wh-What?"

"Alvis said you're lying. So you're just trying to test me? You got what you wanted."

As quickly as it came, the terrifying aura disappeared and retracted back to it's owner's body. Alric smiled at me with the look that he was relieved.

Seriously, why did he go that far? Did he value yuri that much to the point he'd want to kill me if I stopped? That's like a blackmail!

Well... As if I'd like a boy anyway.

It's best if I don't do that from now on. I feel like I'd die from the aura alone.

"What are you spacing out for? Hurry up or we'll be late for dinner."

As he said, I realized he'd already conjured a gate. A skill he has that allows instantaneous transportation to another location. This guy is absurd, he doesn't hesitate to use his skills while I always hold back to make my life harder.

"Right..."

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A week has passed since we started learning at it's facilities. I had to wake up every morning and go to school at 6am and head back home at 3pm in the afternoon. Overall it was a steady life where we were taught various spells, to be honest they felt a bit low class but even so, they're helpful. Nothing out of the ordinary happened particularly.

Especially Minerva, she's really weird. I feel like we're very close, like very close friends considering we're always sticking to each other. But surprisingly nothing besides that has happened, is this going to be the first time I'll get a bestfriend?

"Seven~! You forgot to feed One! She's bothering Minerva!"

Shouted Arlet somewhere at my right side. Although I could barely see her figure because of the computers blocking my way.

In the span of a week, Alric made dramatic changes to her room. The interior had become a bit more modern, the walls were covered with game posters but more importantly there was an alignment of consoles or computer systems which we can use to play games whenever we're bored. Even now Arlet is just playing all by herself.

I stood up from my chair and slowly walked over to Minerva who's currently housing One on her head. But...

My eyes weren't exactly looking at One. It was looking lasciviously at Minerva's two pairs, have they grown? Why am I noticing them now?

"Is there something wrong, Seven?"

Before I've realized it, I was staring at her breasts for some time now but she doesn't seem to have taken a gist as to why.

No way, she's my friend, she's going to be my bestfriend, I shouldn't think about such things!

I said to myself, having my face clearly flustered. We must remain as friends, I already am in a relationship, yep.

I quickly snatched One off of her head swiftly, just enough to make her hair sway a little. It kinda made One dizzy though.

After that, I hurriedly went back to the couch while not looking back at Minerva who was obviously staring at me behind my back. What was I thinking having such weird delusions like that.

Forgetting about that just now, I went back to doing nothing except feeding One some sliced apples.

Alric is reading a book, Aria is studying and Minerva who often visits us is simply gazing at everyone's activities. Except for me though who was busy thinking of what to do with some trivial issues.

Every Sunday, I go out on dates with the two girls but ever since we arrived here in the Aries Kingdom's capital we haven't done that as we weren't that familiar with this place yet.

Since today is Saturday, I should prepare a date for the three of us tomorrow. But since we're all companions here, I think I'll bring Minerva or even Alric along. Just to tag along ofcourse.

"Sorry Seven, but I'm afraid I can't go with you guys tomorrow. I recently received a letter from father calling me back to the Libra Kingdom for a meeting, along with the letter was a ticket to access the teleportation seal. If it's this urgent, I don't think I should delay it. I'll be going later at 6pm."

Was Alric's reply when I proposed going to the chocolate shop for a hang out. I was thinking of just leaving him at a separate table though so he won't get in the way of us girls' date but I guess this works better.

"I'll be able to come along."

However Minerva is able to come. I guess having my bestfriend(?) with me in a date isn't so bad since she's a girl too anyway.

"It's a given that Arlet will come."

I said on the catgirl's behalf since she was still busy trashtalking with some random stranger in an FPS game. For some reason Alric's computer, no, the whole network is strangely still connected to my previous world which is fascinating but mysterious at the same time.

"How about you Aria? Do you have something to do just like Alric?"

"Nope, I'm coming along ofcourse!"

"We should eat dinner before I go back to Libra. You know, like a departing celebration?"

"Just do it yourself Alric, it's like 5pm. It's too early for dinner."

Alric faked a dejected expression and went downstairs to prepare for his departure. The more I know about him, he really doesn't resemble a hero of legends.

"Hey Aria, get ready for tomorrow, alright?"

I sneaked a wink at her and she immediately grasped the situation considering her cheeks reddened. She remained quiet to not alert the others though.

Unlike before when I always wanted to make love with her, I got so many points out of it that I don't even want more anymore as it's a surplus.

Current Points: 56,900

In Aria's case, she just didn't want to do it too often as she might get a heart attack, she says. And that's why we readjusted our schedule to do it every night after our date.

"R-Right... I'll enjoy it."

While Minerva heard my little exchange with Aria, she misunderstood it as us just preparing for the date tomorrow.

I think things are better this way and should keep on track.