No Goblins

It is early in a morning... Since, I want to move my body, around and want to know how many goblins here in the capital...

"I am heading out to hunt goblins!" As I said those words, lucy and sa-san glance at me at the same time.

"Lucy, Sa-san, what will you do?" (Makoto)

As I asked them of what they will do, honestly I want to invite them and join me of hunting the goblins in the capital but... If they busy there's nothing I can do about that.

"I think I will pass. I am going to walk around the city." (Aya)

"I see..." (Makoto)

"I will also do some shopping in the city." (Lucy)

Both of my party members reject me so... It can't be helped, although it is a bit disappointing.

"Alright... I will go alone for now, have fun both of you..." (Makoto)

As I said those words, I go in my way...

The main job of adventurers is to exterminate monsters.

I have been training all the time lately, but I have to regain my sharpness as an adventurer…is what I tried to play it cool as, but…

"…There's no monsters." (Makoto)

Not only goblins…there's not even a single big mouse or horned rabbit.

I am in a small forest that's at one of the lakes.

It resembles the forest close to Makkaren a little bit.

That's why I thought there would be some kind of prey here…

Seriously?

"So Lucy and Sa-san were right…?" (Makoto)

As I only remember their warning now... I stuck of realization.

It is great that I didn't bring them with me.

I was about to waste their time coming with me.

Had no choice but to train my water magic with the water of the Shimei Lake.

The capital of Horun and Makkaren have the lake in between each other.

I continued training for a while and…

"…Takatsuki Makoto, huh."

I heard a voice from my back.

When I turned around, the former guardian knight that I defeat came up.

Wait no, the ones beaten up were his subordinates, I only pity them because their opponent is Sa-san.

"You have a strange way of training."

I was standing on top of the water and was playing with a pack of birds created from the water of the lake.

It requires quite a lot of concentration, so it increases my proficiency a whole lot, and it is my most used method lately.

"I actually wanted to hunt goblins though." (Makoto)

I muttered this, and he laughed at me after making a surprised expression.

"Hahahaha, our country's capital has a barrier that repels monsters. There's no way goblins would be able to come near here."

"Yeah, I know... That's why I'm training here to pass time." (Makoto)

As I said those words the former guardian stop laughing and look at me.

"Then, what's the point of knights patrolling the area?" (Makoto)

I asked in pure curiosity. I mean why though? If there's really a barrier to protect them... Then, isn't patrolling the area is a bit waste of time?

"You fool! Lowering your guard because of that can cost you your life. There's also bandits and evil doers. Our daily patrols keep those in check."

"I see…" (Makoto)

As I nodded my head and understood what he coming, I didn't spoke a words and continue my training...

"I came here after receiving a report that there was a weird mage here, but…it was you, huh. Don't scare the people too much."

Oops, so I was reported, huh.

I used magic with the same perception I had in Makkaren.

Let's be careful with magic that stands out.

The former guardian knight turned around and was about to leave…

"Our Water Country of Rozes relies heavily on adventurers when it comes to monster subjugations. You have my gratitude for heading out to hunt goblins when you came to the capital."

"Okay…" (Makoto)

What's this all of a sudden?

"Sorry for all I did."

He apologized in a low voice.

I looked at his back in surprise... Dumbfoundedly

Eh? Tsundere?

After seeing the rare tsundere moment of an old man -which I am not really that happy about- I returned to the inn.

Lucy and Sa-san apparently went shopping for the whole day.

"The two always get along so well", Nina-san says with a smile.

I should have gone with them.

We decide to postpone our departure in the sun country for tomorrow.

Because.

Prince Leonard invite us to a dinner in their castle.

As we go the castle of Rozes again.

"Waah, so tasty~."

"This is a delicacy!"

I underestimated the cooking of the Rozes royalty.

It is crazy delicious.

That's a touristic country's capital for ya.

A steak that I can cut with chopsticks, a platter of sashimi that was prepared from a whole fish that's as big as a skipjack tuna (and there's something similar to soy sauce!).

Crab, prawn, vegetable tempura, and the many fresh types of salads.

The fact that there's quite a lot of japanese-like food here bothers me though.

…No, this was probably done to match our taste.

"Hey, Takatsuki-kun! The sweets corner over there is amazing!" (Aya)

"Alright! Let's go!" (Makoto)

It is a buffet, so we can take as much as we want, and Sa-san is all merry.

Me too.

Man, I am glad we came.

"Makoto-san, how is it? Did the food of the Rozes Castle meet your taste?"

Prince Leonard.

I prop myself up so to not be rude.

It worries me that Sa-san is chugging down wine at the back.

Must not make a blunder.

"This is the first time I've had such delicious food." (Makoto)

This isn't flattery, I really think so.

"This dinner was something that I asked Nee-sama to open. I wanted to talk with Makoto-san one more time." (Leonard)

Looking at me with those glittering eyes is a bit embarrassing for me.

"Can you show me your magic one more time?" (Leonard)

"Uhm…right. Then, over here." (Makoto)

I can't be stingy when showing magic for the Prince.

We come close to the fountain that is at the castle's garden.

(Uhm, Water Magic: [Dance of Animals]!) (Makoto)

Using the water of the fountain, I create mermaids, birds, horses, and other animal forms at random, and have them dance.

It is like a water show.

The people that were doing a musical performance at the party venue began to play their instruments to match this.

There's few Spirits, but as expected of the fountain of the royal castle, it is good water that has mana in it.

It reminds me of the Water Temple.

Now that I think about it, this is technically the head temple of the Water Temples.

"W-Wow! Just how much do you have to train to master water magic to this extent!" (Leonard)

Looks like Prince Leonard is enjoying this.

That's a relief.

"Hey hey, Makoto, what's your water magic proficiency now?" (Lucy)

Lucy pokes my cheek with champagne in one hand.

The red dress that reveals her shoulders suits her.

The fact that she can mix well even in places like this is just like her.

"More than 150." (Makoto)

I whisper it to her.

The Soul Book modification is against the law, so I can't say it out loud.

The official number of my Water Magic Proficiency is 99.

Lucy moans with a low 'hau!'.

"I-I am still at 30…" (Lucy)

"No, the first time you weren't even at 10, you know." (Makoto)

You have grown.

It seems like Proficiency tends to increase more quickly with weak Magic Skill.

To increase Proficiency, it is needed to increase the amount of times you use magic.

But when it is someone like Lucy who is a Monarch Mage, just using 1 spell is already hard.

Because she has to control an astounding amount of mana every time.

In that point, someone like me who is an Apprentice Mage with my pathetic amount of mana, I can easily…saying it myself is already making me sad.

"Makoto-san! Can you teach me magic?!" (Leonard)

Prince Leonard asks me with clear eyes.

Oh, that's unexpected.

[Will you accept the request of Prince Leonard?]

Yes

No ←

It has been a while since I have gotten the choices.

What to do…

If I choose [Yes], I would have to stay in Horun for a while.

If I choose [No]…in the first place, is it okay to refuse the request of the Prince?

I don't hate Prince Leonard.

He is amiable and I can tell that he admires me.

Just that, his sister Sofia is scary.

While I was thinking about this…

"Leo, what are you doing?"

A refreshing voice resonated from the back.