Chapter 73: The Impoverished Viscount Household’s Second Son’s Opening Ceremony 5
*
Come to think of it, I had no memory of seeing Erika pour water from her Water Flask.
She certainly drank water, using the Lid of the Water Flask she carried.
The owner of the Magic Tool Shop, Boy, quite courteously regained his composure as a shopkeeper in an instant.
But I could imagine his inner thoughts.
Among those involved with Magic Tools, few would readily believe what Erika had said.
That’s just how special Material Creation Magic is.
Even I momentarily thought, Surely she can’t do that? That’s how extraordinary it was, so I couldn’t just dismiss Boy as some clueless fool who didn’t understand Erika’s true worth.
Though I wished he’d stop looking at me with eyes that screamed, She’s with you, right? Do something about this.
“Here.”
Erika’s voice was remarkably flat, a normal tone devoid of any strain or effort.
Which made it all the more striking when she casually took out the Lid of her own Water Flask and, as if it were the most natural thing in the world, created water in it.
Even I, who had thought, Well, if Erika says she can do it, she probably can, was rendered speechless by how utterly natural it seemed.
“Erika, you’re amazing.”
“Am I?”
Erika looked genuinely puzzled.
That’s odd, Erika-san, you did attend classes seriously at the academy, didn’t you?
“Well, I seem to recall learning even at the academy that water creation magic is extremely difficult, though?”
“But they never taught us it was impossible, did they?”
Hmm, I see.
It’s true, they never taught us it was impossible.
But still, is that really how it works?
Suddenly, my calmer self emerged.
Aren’t you being a little too unconditionally accepting just because it’s Erika? it asked.
Being able to use Material Creation Magic isn’t something that can be explained away just because Erika is a genius.
Think carefully, me. Is Erika some kind of legendary being?
My calm self wore a serious expression internally.
Beautiful, intelligent, kind-hearted, unparalleled in Sword and Magic, possessing radiant Golden Magicka, capable of crushing any difficulty underfoot, and striding forward calling her own way the Orthodox Path—that is Erika Solntsalri.
Erika is a figure straight out of such legends.
In that case, it’s only natural she can do it.
Erika, legend, no problem.
“You’re right, they certainly didn’t say it was impossible. Then it wouldn’t be strange for Erika to be able to do it.”
As I watched Erika’s face reply, That’s right, the memory of the academy instructor’s face—the one that seemed to say, I’ll teach this, but none of you will likely ever be able to use it—was overwritten by Erika’s expression.
As I found myself smiling at Erika’s ‘Isn’t it obvious?’ expression, she once again averted her gaze sharply.
What? Before I could even wonder, I realized I had “done it again.”
Looking towards the counter, I saw the shopkeeper, Boy, forcing a strained smile.
It was probably his non-negotiable Pride as a shopkeeper, maintaining a smile even while likely being completely taken aback.
From my perspective, if you knew Erika, there was nothing surprising or shocking about it, but well, since he didn’t know Erika, it couldn’t be helped.
Understanding why the shopkeeper was surprised, I nodded sympathetically at him, which only seemed to make him recoil further for some reason.
Why?
*
Since I can produce water with magic, why don’t you use my Water Flask? Erika had suggested, but I declined and bought my own.
When I hinted at the recent events in the Demon Realm by saying, “Even you aren’t always in peak condition, right?” Erika immediately understood.
Perhaps deeply embarrassed about running out of Magicka, Erika, blushing slightly, murmured in a small voice, “Yes, you’re right.” She was cute enough to conquer a nation.
Well, humans often find things embarrassing in hindsight, and for Erika, that must have been running out of Magicka.
After buying a few other Magic Tools besides the Water Flask, we walked down the main street towards the Adventurers Guild.
It wasn’t that we had any particular business at the Adventurers Guild.
We were simply heading to an eatery near the Guild, one catering to adventurers, for lunch.
There were eateries in the artisan district where Tepe’s shop and Boy’s Magic Tool Shop were located, but I didn’t care for them as the clientele tended to be too hurried.
Saying this might make me sound like I have aristocratic sensibilities, but anyone who saw the artisans eating would likely change their opinion.
At the very least, I wanted to teach them that potato salad is not a beverage.
And so, we ended up having lunch at an adventurer-oriented eatery near the Adventurers Guild, essentially on the outskirts of town.
It was a counter-only place, per Erika’s request, but even so, it was significantly more relaxed than the eateries in the artisan district.
The only problem was…
I was perplexed by the Golden Magicka flickering at the edge of my vision.
Golden Magicka was clearly flickering towards my face.
This meant Erika was looking my way, but wondering if she needed something, I glanced at Erika sitting beside me. She was sitting with perfect posture, watching the cook preparing food behind the counter with great interest.
The cook’s movements were indeed skillful, and while it might be less busy during the midday lull when fewer adventurers were around, he undoubtedly handled customers with impressive dexterity during the morning and evening rushes.
But still, was it something worth staring at so intently?
I couldn’t help but feel the middle-aged cook also seemed a bit uncomfortable under Erika’s gaze.
Am I imagining things? Wondering, I turned back to face forward, and sure enough, the Golden Magicka flickered into my sight again.
Hmm, did I do something?
I tilted my head inwardly, my gaze falling on the lunch placed before me, its plating clearly sloppier compared to the one placed before Erika.