Chapter43: Sofia's Preparations?

[ Onii-chan, baka! ]

[ ...what did I do? ]

Alice, who's sitting on top of my shoulders is still pouting. We are now, like always, walking in the middle of the streets.

[ I don't like that girl! ]

She's obviously talking about Sofia. I don't know why but it seems like Alice really hates her to the core.

[ but you only met once, and she has done nothing bad to you yet... ]

[ it's instinct onii-chan! I know she will do something bad! ]

[ ...why are you keep insisting so...? ]

She already told me that earlier, and she just keeps telling me so.

[ well... ]

[ haah... ] I sigh.

[ well, I already accepted it so there's nothing we can do now. ]

[ onii-chan... ]

[ hey, it's okay, it's just for a day, and you will also come too, right? ]

[ ...Un ]

[ then, it's okay. How about we just eat ramen? ]

Alice really loves ramen, and she's always requesting me to eat it when we finish training.

[ fi-fine... ]

[ let's just spend this day for the two of us, okay? ]

[ ye-yes. That's right onii-chan! ] Alice replied enthusiastically.

Alice's attitude towards me really changed drastically from when I first met her. Well, it changes a lot since last week, she became more... aggressive... and overprotective towards me. Maybe because she thought I was going to abandon her last week that she became this close and she glued herself more to me. Even at the bed, she's now the one who hugs me first, it made me feel awkward at first as I was only used at me hugging her, not her hugging me.

[ onii-chan, isn't that Jack ojii-san? ]

[ oh...? it's really is Jacked Jack-san... ]

Jack-san, like us, is walking on the streets, but it seems like he's looking for something as he's turning his head, looking at the shops. He's still wearing his usual guard outfit that you wouldn't expect him to be a noble.

[ Jacked Jack-san! ] I walked towards him through the crowds of people and he immediately noticed me.

[ oh!? Haruto-kun! ] shouted Jack-san

[ what are you doing here Jack-san? ] I asked.

[ well, first of all, you really did hit on my granddaughter huh? ]

[ wha-what!? I did not! what do you mean!? ]

[ well, I saw my granddaughter's carriage earlier and she told me that you insisted on touring her to the City. ]

[ well, I guess I did... ]

[ yep, that's why I'm looking for normal dresses she could wear for tomorrow so that she wouldn't be targeted by hoodlums. It was actually hard to convince her but she also agreed when I told her I wouldn't allow her to go with you if she doesn't wear normal clothes. ]

[ really? is she really that serious? I didn't think she would accept wearing such normal clothes... and she could have had invited you or her guards instead of me, right? ]

[ well, she said she wanted to blend in with the people and experience what commoners do, which she wouldn't achieve by hiring guards, she also doesn't want me to tour her because... she said that I'm too ugly it will ruin her beauty if I get even close to her... ]

[ sh-she must be joking right? ]

[ you already know her right? she's not that kind... ]

[ we-well... I guess... ]

Sofia really doesn't hold back... even at her own grandfather...

[ by the way... I want you to know that if you want, I can hire you as a knight of the king. All I need to do is to send a letter to the Elite Knights and you can be accepted immediately. What do you say? ]

[ what are you saying!? ]

Isn't that going really far ahead!? I'm just an ordinary Rank-F adventurer, why would this guy ask me such a thing?

[ well, I'll tell you this, your strength is abnormal, even without magic. The truth is I want to know your secret but I don't do those kinds of things now. But if you want you can use that power of yours to serve this country. ]

Well, he said that he's one of the strongest magicians on this country and we ended with a draw when we fought, so maybe that's why he's confident about me.

But...

[ I don't have any plans like that. ]

[ really? your power will be surely useful for this country, especially now that there's an upcoming war with the demons. ]

[ is that so? well, I can help killing demons but I don't want to serve anyone yet. ]

[ hmm... maybe sometime I will hire you as a mercenary. Is that okay with you? ]

[ that's fine as long as I get paid. ]

[ haha! that's right, that's right. ]

I won't work if I won't get paid...

[ well, anyway, help me find something that will suit Sofia. ]

[ hmm... it's a bit weird picking clothes for Sofia, but I think it's fine. ]

I already choose clothes for Alice so I have experience.

[ By the way, do you think any of these will fit on Sofia? ]

[ well, we can try it out on Alice first, their body is almost the same... ]

[ you're right about that... ] Jacked Jack-san said while looking at Alice who's on top of my head.

[ I guess I will buy some for Alice too. Do you want to choose Alice? ]

[ but I already have enough clothes onii-chan. ]

[ well, I guess so. ]

I already bought Alice many different kinds and types of clothes so I guess I will stop buying her clothes for some time.

(XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX)

[ Thank you Haruto-kun. Make sure to take care of Sofia tomorrow okay? she may be rude but she's still my granddaughter. ]

[ of course. ]

We are now heading towards home after Jack-san and I finally finished buying clothes for Sofia, which was really weird by the way...

[ well then, I will see you tomorrow at my mansion. ]

[ yes, I will go as early as I can. ]

[ sure, I will tell Sofia that. ]

Jack-san finally left, leaving just Alice and me walking on the streets towards Marinda-san's Inn.

[ onii-chan... ]

[ hmm? what is it, Alice? ]

[ I thought you said we're going to spend this day for just the two of us? ]

I guess Alice was really hoping we could spend today for just the two of us... well, it's almost just the two of us every day but I promised her that we will spend today together so I guess it's different?

[ we-well... Jack-san asked us for help right? we can't just ignore him... ]

[ well, I guess so... ]

[ please don't worry about it okay? look, aren't we spending almost every day together? ]

[ ..Un. ]

[ right? and we're going to spend it together in the future too right? ]

[ u-un. ]

[ so please don't worry about it okay? it's just for tomorrow. ]

[ ...o-okay onii-chan. ]

[ un... let's go home now okay? ]

[ un. ]