Chapter 16: Aesc.
[June 12th, morning]
[You and Aesc sit together in a business van provided by Chaldea, with Nemo taking on the role of driver.]
[Captain Nemo was specially invited by you, and moreover is operating the vehicle in the form of a young girl. Although the other party is a captain responsible for maritime navigation, with Riding Rank reaching the high level of A+, operating any kind of vehicle is extremely easy.]
[Nemo Sailor is in charge of driving, while Nemo Baker brings delicious desserts to the two of you, ensuring that the entire journey is taken care of meticulously in every detail. Only Captain Nemo occasionally complains a bit, saying that a maritime captain like him is actually being made to work as a driver on land.]
"Mm…"
Witch Aesc took small bites of the freshly baked pastry, looking at the adorable Nemo team bustling about before her. Her green eyes, full of curiosity, couldn't help but light up.
"Eikou, these drivers really look very cute."
Aesc showed an expression of happiness, as if being healed, her smile so sweet it seemed about to melt.
"I knew you'd be very happy seeing them."
Eikou chuckled and gently patted her head.
"That's exactly why I deliberately invited them."
Based on his observations of Morgan, it was not hard to notice that this Fairy Kingdom Queen particularly liked petite, cute girls, as well as adorable things filled with a strong maidenly vibe.
Whether it was Morgan or Aesc, this preference had never changed from beginning to end.
It was just that the former had become much more reserved, yet she would still tie her hair into a ponytail and wear a ribbon with a girlish feel on her braid.
[There was still some time before reaching the destination of the date…]
[You told her about the interesting experiences you had recently: the nerve-racking cheating during the midterm exams, the interesting new classmate who appeared in your class, the lively party after the exams ended, as well as the special experience of turning into a pig.]
[Aesc listened obediently and with great curiosity to your stories.]
"Oh? So your class has a fairy named Artoria Caster?"
Witch Aesc revealed a radiant smile.
"That child belongs to the same lineage as me, but the thing about turning into a wild boar really is quite interesting. It seems I'm the type who uses my brain, while that crazy girl is the type who relies on brute force, which is why she turned into such a ferocious wild boar~"
Eikou secretly thought to himself: so you're also a member of the boar clan, and even the brain-using type of boar at that?
Come to think of it, Aesc was clearly a soft, cute, and gentle girl, yet whenever Artoria was mentioned, she would start making snide remarks with a smile—smiling while criticizing others—which really did look a bit scary! As expected, deep down she was still Morgan!
"But I actually really like the Greek witch you mentioned. If you're a witch, you should use rustic and bizarre things like that to entertain guests—that's the proper way. It's just that the part about turning people into pigs still needs improvement. If you're going to transform someone, wouldn't turning them into a little bird be cuter?"
Indeed, that would be cuter, but why make food that turns people into animals in the first place? Is this the way witches think?
Eikou smiled bitterly in his heart.
[Just like that, the two of you enjoyed a warm period of time inside the vehicle, eating desserts while admiring the small and adorable Nemo crew.]
[Her slender fingers gently intertwined with yours, her face flushing red as she acted spoiled, nestling close against you like that.]
[The scenery outside the window swept past quickly, while the precious time together passed in the blink of an eye.]
[You spent an extremely intimate period of close companionship with Aesc.]
[The two of you came to understand each other more deeply, and you also gained a deeper understanding of Morgan.]
[...]
[As time passed, by noon, the two of you arrived at the pre-booked resort hotel.]
[June 12th, 11 a.m.]
[The blazing midday sun, the deep and crystal-clear blue sky, the sound of waves on the beach echoing clearly and rising and falling, layers of foamy surf continuously washing ashore—the atmosphere here made both of you like it immensely.]
"Wow—"
Eikou stood by the railing of the resort hotel with a bright expression, before his eyes stretching an endless expanse of blue sea.
The cries of seagulls echoed across the blue sky, blending with the rhythmic, gentle sound of the waves, making one feel relaxed without even realizing it.
The fresh and powerful sea breeze blew straight against his face, carrying the distinctive heat of a summer noon; the sensation as it brushed across his skin was instantly addictive.
Speaking of summer, the sea truly is indispensable!
"Aesc, do you want to come over here and take a look—"
Eikou waved to her excitedly.
Aesc waved back as well, her bright blond braided hair lightly fluttering in the sea breeze, her gaze fixed on the surging ocean.
"Ha ha, although I also really like the seaside scenery, I'm not very good at outdoor activities…"
She smiled shyly.
"It's time to invite another 'me' out. A stronger me, and one who's more accustomed to traveling. I want you to be able to understand more sides of me."
Before Eikou could even grasp what she meant, he already felt a gentle flow of mana spreading out.
It was the Spirit Origin Ascension of Rain Witch Aesc.
He saw her Spirit Origin form change instantly. The pointed witch hat and round-framed glasses disappeared, replaced by a deep-blue bow full of girlish charm, a cloak draped over her shoulders, and the green eyes that had been hidden behind lenses now looked markedly more serious.
The witch who had stepped out of a fairy tale shed her skin in an instant, becoming a traveling girl with sharp eyes and a neat, capable air.
"Aesc?"
"Umu, it's me."
The blonde girl nodded.
"This appearance of mine is Aesc the Savior, the one who set out after leaving the Rain Clan."
She said this in the same gentle voice as before, only now with an added maturity and steadiness that was easy to perceive.
"Mm..."
Eikou showed a thoughtful expression.
Seeing his slight confusion, Savior Aesc revealed a gentle, friendly smile and explained patiently:
"Ha ha, having too many versions of myself isn't exactly a good thing. So you won't get confused, you just need to know that this is me at an older age, who has experienced more."
"I see. Then should I still call you Aesc? Or should I call you Savior Aesc?"
"Savior Aesc is just a name others arbitrarily gave me. You don't need to imitate them. Just like before, feel free to call me Aesc."
Pure white seagulls circled in the sky, and hair golden like wheat gently fluttered in the warm breeze.
The girl lightly brushed back the hair by her ear, standing upright and gracefully before Eikou.
"Alright, let's continue our date. Witch of Rain Aesc has already stayed by your side for a while—next, it'll be my turn, Aesc the Savior, to accompany you through the time ahead. You have to rely on and trust this senior properly, okay?"