"We should get going, Ais. Or we will miss dinner. And I don't want to starve till morning."
Ais started walking a little faster at that.
"Hey, wait up, Ais!" I also walked a little faster to catch up to her.
The guard at the gate gave us a surprised look before opening the gate.
"Then see you at dinner, Ais, and again, thank you for accompanying me today."
"Um, see you later, Arin, and you are welcome." Ais started walking to her room. I also made my way towards the library to get my magic lessons.
.
.
.
"So you requested a new weapon to be made?" Riveria and I were chatting as usual after the lesson was complete, and I told her about the sword that I wanted.
"Not yet. Tsubaki said she will research a little and tell me how long it will take and if she can make it."
"I see, still are you so confident that you can awaken your magic in just a month?" she said in a teasing tone with a slight smile on her face.
"If you keep smiling at me like that then surely I will."
"What?" Oh crap I said that out loud.
I quickly put my hand on my mouth. Like that would do anything.
"Nothing." She narrowed her eyes in suspicion, and I started sweating internally.
*Knock knock* It's the first time I felt relieved when my alone time with Riveria was interrupted.
"Come in!" I shouted before Rivera could answer.
And Lefiya entered while glaring at me. I stood up quickly to escape. "I came to tell you that dinner is served right now, and Finn-sama and Gareth-sama are waiting for you as they are going to make some announcement."
"Oh! Then we should go quickly!" I said and started walking. "Arin, Wait!" I ignore Riveria's shout.
It's not like I am afraid to show my feelings for them. I can see that Riveria also started to open up to me. But it's still far too early, after all, it's only been a few days since we met.
I approached the dining hall, and as Lefiya said, everyone was here already. I quickly sat down with Ais, Tione, and Tiona like usual, as they were having a conversation, Bete was keeping some distance from me. Ever since Riveria warned him.
"Hey, everyone." I greeted the girls.
"Hey Arin-kun, again sorry for leaving in the middle like that earlier. tions said with a guilty look.
"Yeah, I apologise as well, even though we promised to show you around the town." Tione also apologised.
"Hey, no worries. Besides, Ais already showed me around."
"Yeah, Arin also bought me jagamarkun as a thank you."
"So both of you turned it into a date?!" Tions said excitedly.
Ais merely tilted her head.
"If going to a guild and weapons shop counts as dates, then sure."
"Ehhh… so boring." Tiona said and stretched her arm on the table as she put her head on it as well. Before long, Riveria also arrived in the dining hall.
"Since everyone is here. Let me start straight with the announcement." Finn started speaking, standing in the middle of the hall.
"Tomorrow we will be going on our expenditure in the dungeon. So, everyone, let's make a toast in the hope of a successful expenditure!"
"Cheers!"
"Cheers!!!" Everyone raised their cups to make the toast. And started eating straight away.
I was also eating my food while enjoying Ais Company. When I heard a few members talking loudly.
"Hey, did you hear that rumor?"
"Rumor, are you talking about that singing Ghost on the upper floors?"
"Yeah, many people are saying it's the ghost of an adventurer who died there."
"An adventurer fighting in the dungeon while singing sounds kind of amazing." Tione also started talking about it.
"You were exploring the dungeon today, weren't you, Arin? Have you heard or seen that person?" Tione asked me. And I decided to be truthful since I was not hiding it in the first place.
"Ah. That was me." I told them straightforwardly.
"Ehhh!! No way!" Tione and Tiona were in perfect sync. Their shout attracted a lot of attention towards us.
"Arin is the singing Ghost?" And everyone heard Aisi words.
"Then, Arin, can you sing for our departure as well?" Finn said, forcing me into making a choice.
"Finn, you are putting pressure on him. Arin might not be comfortable with that." Riveria defended me. I am pretty sure Finn said that, thinking it might help raise the members' morale.
"Ehh… but I want to hear the song too." Loki, who had been quiet until now, also spoke up; it looks like she is drunk.
"It's fine, Riveria. I was also thinking of doing that."
"If you are sure. Then go ahead." *I am also curious about his singing.* ( Riviera thoughts)
I stood up from my chair and walked in the middle of the hall. And a member gave me an instrument like a guitar.
Everyone was looking curiously, and I started playing the guitar to create a melody.
(Song name: Aviators - Traveler's Song (Fantasy Rock)
Sing for the lost, for eternal affairs. Sing to raise our spirits in great despair
Through the ashes of oblivion
Quick and unseen like the dragon's offspring
For we owe no debts and bow to no king
Every war has its costs, and we've paid
Won by the bond of the party we've made
Warn with a call that the battle starts now
As the demons listen, we strike them down
Fighting back the rifts of blood
Sent from the sky lies a angel in need
Give him muse to strengthen and words to heed
Heaven's doused and set alight
We're knocking on the gates of hell tonight
Broken swords and dragon's bones, scattered on the way back home
Beating to the sound of clashing steel when they're on our heels
Now, chant the tales and legends told
Strengthened by the hymns of old
Weathered as this winding road is long
So we sing our traveler's song
Play out a spell in your sequence of chords To inspire and sharpen our rusted swords
Echoing the whisper of the trees, Creep 'long a path where a thousand bards failed
From the thick West Tyrian jungle trails Come from afar to set prisoners free into dark, tangled depths from the open sea
Second chances don't come cheap, So keep alert and on your feet
An ancient spirit's song will heal our wounds
Unabashed by our defeat, Spite the bloodstains on these cobble streets
A message to the gods to see us through. Ever heard, yet rarely sung
So raise your voice and praise the sun
I call a new rebirth to keep us strong
Countless souls along the path
Lost to fiends and lords of wrath
But we'll return to play our final song.
""Clap clap clap!!!"" A thunderous amount of claps resounded in the dining hall.
"That was amazing!"
"I am so pumped to go to the dungeon now."
"Yeah, I am going to kill all the monsters."
""Ohhhhh!!!!""
Looks like everyone is sufficiently energized for the expenditure. I walked back to my seat.
"You have a really good voice, Arin-kun." Tiona complimented as I took my seat.
"Yeah, I enjoyed it as well." TIone also said as I took a bite of my food.
Ais was just staring at me for a moment and said. "Is that a song from your old world?" Ais asked since I told her about my old world as well.
"Yup, it is, I don't have the talent in writing songs," I told her as such.
"I enjoyed your singing also, will you sing again for me?" She asked a little hesitantly.
"No fair! I also want to hear him sing." Tiona chimed up and complained. "Tiona, you can't trouble Arin like that." Her sister somehow dragged her to another table. Leaving me and Ais alone.
"Sure, I will sing for you. If you don't mind." I told her. I am ready to sing for these girls anytime. After that, Ais and I kept talking. At some point, Riveria joined in as well. Saying that this table was the only one with sober people. Since none of us drinks alcohol. And it looks like she won't bring up that library incident either. Which was a relief for me.
The banquet was still going on, but we decided to retire to our rooms for the day. I reached my room and drove straight to my bed. Today was a long day.