"Wow, what does a 'passionate' aura feel like? How come I didn't know I had one?" Alise wondered.
"Captain, maybe Roland is just saying you're too hot. Hahaha," Neze teased, poking Alise.
"That's mean! I'm warm and cozy, see?" Alise pressed her palm against the back of Roland's neck.
"Yes, yes, I get it. Very warm," Roland replied dismissively.
Kaguya's voice cut through the chatter. "Breakfast is ready. Stop talking; we have to patrol Orario soon."
"Oh, and Alise, Roland is coming with us today."
Alise cheered and picked Roland up, swinging him around. "Yay! Where should we go play afterward?"
Roland went limp in her arms as she carried him to the kitchen. Just you wait until I'm grown up, he thought. I won't let you get away with this every day.
After breakfast, Alise led everyone in their usual, somewhat embarrassing Justice Oath. At the gate, she split the members into three teams; Roland was assigned to Alise, Kaguya, and Ryuu.
As they walked, Roland stopped at a fried potato ball stall. "Do you guys want some? I've never tried these before; I want to see what they're like."
"We want two savory sauce flavors and one red bean cream," Alise ordered.
"Boss, give me two sauce and two red bean cream," Roland said to the vendor.
The four of them chatted as they ate. Suddenly, Alise leaned in and took a bite out of the potato ball in Roland's hand. "This flavor is great! I'm ordering this next time."
Roland stared at his bitten food, then at Alise. She just gave the other two girls a brilliant, mischievous smile.
Kaguya, hiding a smirk, quickly nudged Alise aside and looked at Roland. "Roland, I want to try your flavor too. Can I have a bite? I'll trade you a piece of my savory one."
Facing Kaguya's "un-refusable" expression, Roland helplessly held out his snack. Kaguya took a large bite from the side Alise hadn't touched, then held her own snack to Roland's lips.
"Thanks," Roland said, taking a small bite. "The sauce flavor is good too, Sister Kaguya."
Kaguya turned and gave Alise a provocative look, even going so far as to take another bite of the spot Roland had just bitten. Alise let out a snicker behind her hand. Kaguya realized she'd been baited into an "indirect kiss" contest and looked momentarily flustered.
Roland, watching the two of them flirt/compete, didn't know what to say. He turned to the stunned Ryuu instead—teasing her was always more fun. "Does Lion want to try my potato ball too? This one has 'special ingredients'—even Alise and Sister Kaguya fought over it," he joked.
"I won't be fooled, Roland. We all ordered the same flavors."
"You don't want it? I'm so disappointed!"
Ryuu's face turned red. She nervously toyed with her hair before holding out her own snack. "Just a tiny bit... you can't take a big bite."
Roland took a bite and handed her his. Watching Ryuu eat with a blushing face was quite a sight.
Alise and Kaguya leaned in. "Lion, did you know? In public, when a man and woman swap food, people think they're a couple."
"Good for you, useless elf. You're a couple with Roland now."
"What are you saying?! Alise and Kaguya both swapped food with him too! How can you even say that to me?" Ryuu retorted quickly.
"Alright, we're at the store," Roland interrupted, pointing to the nearby Rafat Clothing Store.
Inside, they were met with a vast array of styles. Kaguya and Alise picked out several outfits for Roland to try. They settled on a dark red suit with black trousers for his formal wear, while his everyday clothes were styled after his memory of a Mage's attire—including a pair of tall Martin boots. If he added a fur-lined coat, he would look exactly like the "Neo: Elemental Bomber" from his past life.
"Can we leave these here for now? We'll pick them up on our way back." "Of course, please feel free, dear customers."
The four stepped back outside. Alise stretched. "Alright! Let the path of justice begin! Let's go!"
The "path of justice" mostly involved patrolling the streets and handing out minor punishments to pickpockets. Alise spotted a game stall. "Oh! That plushie is exactly my style! I'm going to win it!"
"Idiot Captain! We're here to maintain order! What do you think you're doing?" Kaguya barked, grabbing Alise by the ear.
"Ow, ow! I'm sorry! Stop pulling, I was wrong!" Alise apologized profusely, though she bounced back to her energetic self the moment Kaguya let go.
Roland and Ryuu shared a smile at the scene.
"Ah! Is that Ryuu? You're out on patrol too. And oh, if it isn't Roland-kun, the one who treated me so coldly last time," a cheerful voice called out. It was Ardee Varma.
"Ardee! What are you doing here?" Ryuu asked happily.
"Hehe, just patrolling nearby. I was hoping I'd run into you. Things have been getting rowdy lately; I haven't had time to chat with you properly," Ardee replied.
"It's true. Our Familia hasn't even been able to go on expeditions lately. If things don't settle down, it'll be trouble," Ryuu agreed, then re-introduced Roland. "Roland, this is my best friend Ardee. Ardee, this is our new member, Roland."
Roland took the initiative this time, reaching out his hand. "Hello, Ms. Ardee. Sorry about last time. I ran off without saying a word after causing so much trouble."
Ardee shook his hand briefly, then looked him up and down. "Roland is still Level 1, right? You must have some amazing magic or skills."
"Eh? How did you know he has—Ah!" Ryuu realized she'd let it slip and covered her mouth, looking at Roland apologetically.
"Lion, Ardee is a smart girl. Anyone could see that the incident the other day was caused by powerful magic," Kaguya explained. "Besides, only Roland and I were a mess back then; it wasn't hard to guess."
"Ehehe, I'm not that smart. So, will you satisfy my curiosity? Is it magic or a skill? I won't tell a soul," Ardee pleaded, pressing her hands together.
Alise answered for him. "It's magic."
"I knew it! I'm so jealous. Powerful magic at Level 1..."
Ardee didn't leave after getting her answer. She tagged along, pestering Roland with questions while chatting with Ryuu. Suddenly, a Ganesha Familia guard wearing an elephant mask ran toward her.
"Ms. Ardee! Evilus criminals are attacking civilians up ahead! We need backup!"
"Looks like trouble. Ardee, we're coming with you," Alise said firmly.
They rushed to the scene. "Hahaha! You can't escape! Come to hell and repent with me!" about a dozen cloaked Evilus members were wildly swinging weapons at defenseless civilians.
The five of them immediately split up to rescue the people. Alise saw a criminal about to harm a mother and daughter. She quickly chanted: "Burn, burn, burn... Flame power, full release!"
Her hands and feet erupted in flames. She charged in, her rapier knocking the man's sword away before piercing his limbs. She finished him with a heel drop to the head, knocking him unconscious. "Alright, one down! Follow me, I'll get you to safety!"
Roland used wind at his feet to ambush two Evilus members. Using a worn-out sword, he smashed the joint of one man's arm, disarming him, while blasting the other away with a mana bolt. Despite being disarmed, the first man swung a fist at him fearlessly. Roland dodged and used ice to form a hammer on his sword, smashing it into the man's head. He then froze their legs together.
The incident ended as more Ganesha members arrived to secure the area and treat the wounded. The five gathered again. Alise looked solemn for a moment before forcing a smile. "Perfectly solved! Though a few people got hurt, we were lucky today."
"Yes, it's a relief the casualties were low," Ardee added.
Ryuu pulled down her mask, looking pained. "But we couldn't save everyone... some still got hurt."
Alise and Ardee smiled at her. Alise slapped Ryuu on the back. "Don't dwell on it, Lion. You can't solve everything by pushing yourself."
"She's right, Ryuu. We aren't gods. Helping those right in front of us is enough," Ardee comforted her.
Roland walked over to a pensive Kaguya. "What is it, Sister Kaguya?"
"These Evilus members... they were way too weak. They were all Level 1, not even a Level 2 among them. Why would they dare cause trouble like this?"
"Maybe they were brainwashed?" Roland suggested. "Or maybe they're just pawns thrown out to distract us from what they're really doing elsewhere?"
"Possible. I'll report this to Lady Astraea when we get back."
The five of them stayed for a bit longer before continuing their reconnaissance. As evening approached, the patrol ended, and the Ganesha Familia took over the night shift.
"Well, this is where we part ways. I'm off. Bye-bye, everyone!" Ardee called out as she hurried away.
"Bye-bye!"
"Then let's head home, oh-ho!" Alise cheered, raising both hands before adding in a self-intoxicated tone, "Ah, the hardworking and beautiful me has successfully solved another case today."
Kaguya and Ryuu, having seen this display a thousand times, ignored her and kept walking toward the Stardust Garden.
Roland grabbed Alise's hand to help her keep pace and said to the boasting Captain, "Yes, yes, our beautiful Captain, it's time to go back."
On the way, they retrieved their clothes from the tailor and returned to their base.