Chapter 182: A Full Bouquet of Flowers for You
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This is something I’ll only ever say to you in my entire life.
It was just when I thought about replying that way to Erika.
“Senior Disciple.”
Elza’s small, yet clearly audible voice struck my ears.
For some reason, the gazes of the surrounding people, who had fallen silent, focused on Elza.
“Elza is at her limit.”
Most people probably couldn’t understand what she was saying.
One of the few people who likely understood, Master, let out an “Ohh,” sighing in a remarkably casual manner.
I hurriedly stood up.
I was trembling like a newborn fawn, but there was no time to worry about appearances.
“Run now! The ground’s gonna collapse!”
“The final push was Senior Disciple’s step forward.”
Elza said something unnecessary.
Instantly, the Margrave, his face bright red, yelled, “Longdagger!”
But unexpectedly, the Margrave’s loud voice spurred everyone into action.
Each person started running away, screaming.
With people suddenly starting to move, let’s have Elza, who was letting out a strange Guts-filled cry of “Funsū!”, hang on a little longer.
I have to escape too.
…Oof.
When I tried to move, thinking I also had to escape, I couldn’t move, almost laughably so.
I couldn’t tell anymore if it was my legs or the ground trembling; I panicked.
Worst case, am I heading back to the Sewers? No, if I get caught in the collapse in this situation, I’ll surely die, won’t I?
No, no, this is bad, bad.
Erika’s last memory of me will be of the guy who died getting caught in a collapse.
The Margrave retreated, shouting with a scary face, “Longdagger, we will talk later!”
Baldo Barrel was running around clumsily, carrying several evacuees on both shoulders.
Master was waiting, holding Elza by the scruff of her neck, planning to grab her and evacuate when the limit was reached.
Shara, Luu, and Prince Daryl were also carrying injured and immobile evacuees and fleeing.
In other words, there was no one to carry me and escape.
No, there was someone, Erika was there.
But I couldn’t ask for help.
It’s impossible, right? Asking the woman you’re in love with to help you because your legs are trembling.
What kind of face should I make when asking?
No matter how handsome a face you have, it won’t look cool.
Move! Move! My legs!
“Shin, is something wrong?”
Erika asked, looking restless.
The ground could collapse at any moment; of course she’d be restless.
“No, it’s just…”
I somehow managed to move my legs, but I was bow-legged and trembling.
Isn’t it already too late, exposing myself like this?
Although I tried to regulate my breathing and recover my Magicka, there was no way I could breathe calmly with Erika right beside me.
If I could do that, this wouldn’t have happened in the first place.
Like when she gave me that lap pillow, my heart actually hurt, physically.
“Um… aren’t you going to escape?”
I want to escape, I really want to, Erika-san.
“Speaking hypothetically, um, if perhaps your Magicka is running low, my hands are free, you know?”
I know, I know, Erika-san.
I can’t say it; I can’t show you my uncool side.
As I trembled, trying to take a step forward with my shaking legs, Erika moved in front of me, opening and closing her hands to emphasize that they were free.
Damn it, she’s so cute! Hey!
I could even start hearing cracking sounds from beneath my feet.
I thought about how to manage, wondering if something could be done, thinking things that wouldn’t solve anything.
At the edge of my thoughts, one idea kept flickering.
Isn’t it a bit late for that now?
Just a little while ago, Erika helped me out so much, and this body has already been princess-carried by her.
The part of me that resignedly thought, “What’s the point now?” and the part that didn’t want to show my uncool side were competing.
Alright, I’ll have her throw me.
Due to the lack of time, the conflict in my heart was quickly resolved.
It definitely wasn’t because Erika emphasizing her free hands was cute.
If I were thrown, I wasn’t sure if I could even break my fall properly, but it would be better than getting caught in the collapse.
“Erika, um, sorry, but I have a favor to ask. I need a little help.”
Could you maybe throw me a little?
Just as I was about to say that, she princess-carried me.
Since holding hands was judged indecent by Erika’s standards, I thought she’d just toss me without a word, but instead, she princess-carried me.
This was the second time. Looking up at Erika-san’s gallant face from below was becoming a familiar sight. Mmm, I like it.
Suddenly, I heard Erika’s overly loud Soliloquy.
“This is an emergency evacuation, this is an emergency evacuation, this is an emergency evacuation.”
Erika’s hands rustled around, touching my thigh area.
She was probably checking for injuries while princess-carrying me.
I appreciated that, but having my Flank rubbed was a bit ticklish.
Shara, who had evacuated the square, was shouting something in the distance for some reason. Did something happen?
Also, the glare from Elza, which seemed to say, “You guys hurry up and evacuate already,” was piercing.
“Ah, Erika? I appreciate you checking for injuries, but shouldn’t we probably get going soon?”
Erika checked my injuries while muttering “emergency evacuation” for about three breaths, then took a long, deep breath.
“Fringe benefit— no, it’s an emergency evacuation, yes, an emergency evacuation. That’s right, shall we evacuate? Since it’s an emergency evacuation. Besides, Shin, you have a nice Flank.”
Alright, from now on, I’ll wear clothes that show my Flank.
“Well then.”
Just as Erika said that and kicked off the ground, the collapse began.
As we leaped up, I realized this was Fountain Square.
Did the Fountain get blown away?
It’s not my fault, it’s absolutely not my fault, but maybe I should keep my neck clean for the Margrave’s sake.
Erika landed with light steps on the street that connected to Fountain Square.
The street was crowded with evacuees, adventurers, Knights, and church people, but everyone was standing dumbfounded before the collapsed square.
Suddenly, Shara popped up from within the crowd.
“What are you doing!?”
“Fringe benefit.”
“Evacuating.”
Erika and I answered the shouting Shara.
Instantly, Shara got dead eyes.
“Eri-cchi! Are you okay!?”
Luu popped up over the dead-eyed Shara.
“Yes, both Shin and I are unharmed.”
“No, I meant your head?”
“Oh my,” Erika smiled at Luu’s joke.
For some reason, Luu also got dead eyes.
Still, it’s noisy around here.
The Margrave is shouting orders at the Knights to watch the corners, and Lana is yelling, asking where Baldo Barrel went.
Behind Shara and Luu, Daryl, drowned in the crowd, was groaning and struggling, saying, “Me too, me too, over there.” Only his arm was visible, but he seemed fine.
I think it’s truly chaotic.
But well, this is the town I live in now.
As expected of a place also known as the Adventurers’ Town, the residents look tired, but they aren’t downcast.
They’re tough people; I found myself watching them with narrowed eyes.
Suddenly, a Flower petal caught my eye.
Was it because it was exposed to excessive Magicka? The Flower petal, which should originally be white, remained the bright red color it turned when it absorbed Magicka.
Hmm, I looked at Erika.
She was laughing cheerfully with Shara and Luu.
By the way, Shara and Luu were still in a state where only their heads were sticking out from the wall of people. You guys are being a nuisance.
“Erika.”
“Yes?”
She turned around at my call. I felt embarrassed at myself for feeling happy just from that.
I said while taking a step closer to Erika.
“Could you close your eyes for a moment?”
Instantly, for some reason, Shara and Luu started struggling violently to get out of the crowd. The people on either side of them looked extremely annoyed.
“Um… eh? Shin, right here, now? Um, eh? I don’t know the reason, but must we do that? Eh?”
And then Erika, for some reason, started blushing and flustering.
“Um, uh? Eh?”
Letting out uncharacteristically hesitant sounds, Erika closed her eyes with a look of resolve.
I was troubled by Erika’s unexpected reaction.
I had totally expected her to close her eyes with a feeling like, “Oh my, what are you plotting?”
I hadn’t expected her to somehow clench
“Do you remember when I said before that I’d give you Flowers?”
I ask Erica.
“Yes, I remember, but… um…”
Erica, utterly perplexed, tilted her head with her eyes still closed. “To be honest, I wanted to give you an armful of Flowers.”
“Open your eyes.”
When I said that, I could see Erica’s Golden Magicka waver as her gaze wandered, lost.
“I give you Flowers as far as the eye can see.”
Her wavering Golden Magicka focused on it.
The Fountain blew apart, scattering nameless Flowers along with a large amount of water.
Their petals were scattered about, sticking to people along with the water.
Some people were covered in Flowers and blood, but those who had escaped the crisis, though weary-faced, still wore smiles.
Is it too cheesy to call this ‘Flowers’?
But I feel that these are Flowers.
When I complete requests as an adventurer, the casual expressions and gestures they show—I have no hesitation in calling those ‘Flowers’.
“Well, they’re Flowers whose names I don’t know, though.”
“Oh? So there are things of the common folk that even you don’t know, Shin?”
A teasing voice. Erica gently squeezed my hand, her fingers closing around mine with a delicate tenderness.
“Those are called Flowers of Happiness, you know.”
I see, Erica is smart, isn’t she?
While I was admiring her, Shara yelled, “Delayed reaction!” and Luu shook her head with an expression unbecoming of the Maiden of Light, crying, “Too much! Getting all lovey-dovey holding fingers in this crowd is just too much!”
Oh well. I savored the Flowers before my eyes.
Afterword
Thank you always for the comments, likes, ratings, etc.
They are the source of the author’s motivation.
It pains me to say this at the climax of this chapter, but…
I’m sorry, but the serialization will become a bit irregular for a while.
I think I can manage once a week, but twice a week seems a bit difficult.
Putting that aside,
The combo of Shara and Luu-san, who get brushed off with a single “Oh well,” might actually be quite good.