"Fufu! This really feels like we're back in the old days. I'm here, you're here, and we have our cute wolf boy here!" Soap said, pointing at herself, then me, and finally Log.
Soap wanted to give us another tour of Rusceah. Log and I had already blindly toured the city prior to her arrival, but except for the layout of the roads, we didn't learn anything about its culture and places. So I didn't deny her.
"So, can I ask about your relationship with this city?"
"Of course. Well, more than a decade ago, I joined Rusceah's hero party. I served the role of the sage."
"And you disbanded only after a few years? What happened?"
"The hero got a bit ahead of himself and challenged one of the Dark army generals. He was gravely injured after the fight, so he wasn't able to continue being the hero anymore. I went back to the demon realm to have his sword fixed and possibly find him a cure, but I failed the latter. He died a year ago."
"I see... Are the Dark army generals really that strong?"
"They're crazy strong! Hm. But they probably won't be able to hold a candle against you. If the hero didn't act stupidly, even I could've beatenreply general by myself."
I'm really grateful that I haven't encountered any of them. Even though Soap assures that they won't beat me, there's no doubt that they'll still prove to be troublesome. I'll continue to do my best to stay away from them.
"I went back here to return the hero's sword. It's been fixed, just in time to grant it to the next hero."
"Are you not going to return as the sage?"
"No, I was planning on going back to the demon realm after training the new hero a little. And then you came."
"Then they're must be looking for your replacement..."
From the context of how I was pursuaded to come to the capital, I must be one of the candidates for it.
"Why don't you try it? Being the sage, that is?"
"There's no reason for me to, and I prefer the quiet life I have now."
"You really haven't changed, Eria-nee..."
We continue to aimlessly walk around the city. Soap would occasionally promote some establishment she visited before, most of which were magic shops and tailor shops. Soap particularly had fun buying magic tools and clothing for Log.
Being in the same shoes as her in the past, she seems to have gotten attached to him. Weak to the charms of an older pretty woman, Log obviously got attached to her too. The blush on his face just won't disappear.
"Hey, look at those two beauties..."
"Eh? They must be some kind of foreign royalties, right?"
"I prefer the one on the left."
"It's hard to decide, but I definitely prefer the one on the right."
"Urk... I wish I was on that rascal's place instead..."
The gossip around us were even more intense than usual.
"Hey, ladies, wanna come with us?"
"Kuku! We'll take you to our mansion. It's just nearby."
We soon came to the Noble's district. We sent Log on a little errand, so we're just waiting for him in front of a crêpe shop. Just then, two young men, probably around Fin and Chester's age, approached us.
"Sorry, but we're kind of busy. Maybe some other time," Soap, quickly replied.
"Oh, come on! It won't take long!"
"I'm sure you'll have fun!"
They insisted.
"Fufu! You guys are cute, so it's hard for us to refuse, but we really just don't have the time," Soap smiled at them as she continues to refuse.
Her charm taking effect, the two guys quivered and turned red.
"I-Is that so? Well, if you really don't have the time..."
"We can't force you to come..."
"Thank you! I really like considerate guys like you!"
"R-Really? By the way, my name is..."
"I'm..."
The two young men promptly leave after they introduced themselves. One of them was blushing red to his ears, while the other was tightly clasping his chest. They've fallen in love.
The womanizing atmostphere around them was entirely gone, they became like little boys who just talked to their first crush.
Love truly is powerful. They completely abandoned their goal, and they suddenly became kind and considerate. Of course, they wouldn't want to bother their crush. Of course, they wouldn't want to ignore her words.
"I'm surprised you didn't brutally turn them down like you used to. You've really changed," I mused.
"Huh...? Ah... That's right, I was like that before," Soap acted genuinely surprised. "Actually, I would've probably come with them and ask you to join if we're not already occupied with our tour."
"Eh...?"
"Fufu! So maybe we can do that in the future instead? Let's make some handsome guys pick us up. You know, so we can have a little bit of fun."
"Are you serious...?"
Those are words I never expected to come out of Soap. I'm left stunned. Noticing my obvious reaction, Soap licked her lips and gotten closer.
"You're not aware of how much I've changed, Eria-nee..." she said with a wicked smile. "Fufu... But don't worry, while I might not be the same as before, the fact remains that you're still the only one I love."
I remained quiet.
I simply don't have the words to reply.