"I was wondering why you suddenly ran off to 'see me off.' So it was to come here and eliminate the bandit group's base… But why didn't you tell me? Why did you send me back first and then return by yourself? I knew something was wrong after you left. I thought carefully about yesterday, and it had to be this spot, where you left in the middle of the night…"
After Roxy and Alan had met, Alan had tried to explain, but before he could say a word, Roxy had given him a glare and had already started using fire magic to destroy the bodies and erase the evidence.
He watched her go through a practiced body disposal routine, and then she quickly pulled him by the sleeve away from the crime scene. It was only now that the two of them were having a proper conversation.
In the forest, Blue Mama had heated some water with magic and was now standing on a large rock behind Alan, washing his hair.
A water ball floated in the air with a flame heating it from below. A hole in the bottom allowed a continuous stream of warm water to flow down onto Alan, drenching him from head to toe and creating a reddish puddle of bloody water on the ground.
Of course, Alan was fully clothed. The reason for the full-body wash was that he was covered in so much blood and grime that they had decided it was better to just rinse everything off while washing his hair.
"Uh… honestly, it was too dangerous."
"And it's not dangerous for you to go alone?"
Roxy squinted, her fingers deftly running through Alan's scalp, untangling the matted knots of his blood-caked hair.
Alan sat on the ground with his back to Roxy, looking helpless. He had thought his deception had been successful, but Roxy had figured it out as soon as they parted.
Then why couldn't she figure it out when she was with me?
Strange.
"Uh… I was confident in myself."
Roxy started playfully flicking Alan on the head, thump, thump, thump, like tapping a watermelon.
Alan, feeling guilty for using Roxy as a tool, obediently took the punishment. But he hadn't expected her to keep flicking without stopping. After a few times, he felt like a turtle in a seafood market tank, getting bonked on the head every time he poked it out.
He quickly raised a hand to block, but Roxy stopped just in time, her hand flipping over to continue scrubbing his hair.
The next moment, their fingers intertwined.
Alan froze and subconsciously gave a little squeeze.
'So soft, so smooth, so warm… There's not much flesh on her fingers… it feels like they could break with just a little force…'
'No! Wait a minute!? What am I doing?'
Alan suddenly snapped back to reality and realized from the sensation in his hand that Roxy's had gone rigid.
He dazedly looked up at Roxy.
In the night, the floating flames cast flickering light on Roxy's face. She just stared blankly at her fingers, which were caught in Alan's. The moment she sensed him looking up, she quickly glanced at him before averting her gaze.
Her voice, battered by the night wind, trembled slightly.
"…N-Next time something like this happens, remember to write me a letter. I might be able to help… A-After all, we promised to be adventurers together in the future."
"…Okay."
"…If it's something really urgent, you should also ask Sir Paul for help. He's Advanced-rank in all three styles, you know. It's dangerous to act alone like this. Everyone will worry about you… You have to apologize to them properly when you get back, okay?"
"…Okay."
"…Your hands aren't injured, but is your body hurt? Do you need a healing spell?"
"…Okay, uh? No, I don't need it."
"…But I remember you once said that Nijūzan puts a great strain on your body. Did you use the secret technique to combine them before? I've seen you practicing it a lot recently…"
"Uh, there is a strain, but it's fine."
"…So you were lying to me before?"
"No! But it's really fin—"
"…O benevolent goddess, like a mother's love, please heal this person's wounds and restore his healthy body. Heal!"
"…Thank you."
"…You're welcome. Do you still feel any discomfort?"
"None at all…"
Roxy had long since brought her gaze back to Alan's face. In the darkness, Roxy looked down, and Alan looked up. They stared at each other, saying nothing more.
The stream of water above Alan's head had stopped at some point. Perhaps Roxy was too distracted to maintain the magic, or perhaps it was so she could better see if Alan had any injuries…
Or perhaps…
It was so she could better see Alan's face.
But who knew what Roxy was thinking? She just looked at Alan with a slightly troubled expression, her deep blue eyes shimmering in the night.
Then she pulled her hand out of Alan's.
Only then did Alan realize he had been subconsciously holding Roxy's hand throughout the entire conversation. He stared at his own hand in shock, his mind a complete blank.
At the age of six, he had hidden in a brothel to escape the Second North God, becoming the pampered pet of the 'sisters' who pinched and squeezed him. But now, he was as innocent as a three-year-old child.
Roxy then took a deep breath, turned her back to Alan, and chanted, summoning a larger water ball beside her. A fierce fire surrounded it, making a gurgling sound as the water boiled.
"By the way… the air in the forest at night is really nice…"
"Ah… yes…"
With her back to him, Roxy pointed a finger at the water ball.
"…G-Go take a bath. You reek of blood."
"…Okay."
By the time Alan had finished washing himself and his clothes, and Roxy had, with her face covered the entire time, managed to dry them with extremely low efficiency, it was already the next morning.
The two of them walked through the forest to the side of the road.
"Remember to write, okay?"
"Okay."
Alan, dressed in wrinkled clothes, waved goodbye to Roxy.
Amidst the chirping of birds, she gave Alan a brilliant smile.
"See you in the future, then."
Hearing Roxy's words, Alan realized he had been in such a hurry to leave yesterday that he had run off before she could even reply.
He scratched his face awkwardly, watching as Roxy walked backward, still waving.
Roxy's lips parted as if she wanted to say something more. At that moment, Alan's dazed, waving figure was reflected in her pupils. She blinked, pursed her lips, and swallowed the words she was about to say, just watching him quietly.
In the end, she didn't say anything more, just gave a faint smile and turned to head towards Rigate City.
Alan watched her go until her shadow was no longer visible. Only then did he look down at his own hand.
The dawn light from the east draped his hand in a fiery gauze. Even so, he still felt his hand was a bit cold.
Was it because the summer morning was still a bit chilly? But then why was his whole body sweating?
Was it because it was too stuffy in the forest last night? But then why was only his palm sweating?
Alan thought about it for a long time but couldn't figure it out. Since he was in a hurry to get back to the Greyrat house, he could only make a very simple judgment before turning and starting on his way.
It must be because.
The brilliant morning sun of a summer day.
Could not compare to the warmth of Roxy's palm.
That was easy to judge.
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