There was no smith inside the building. Tomorrow, I shall go rent a smithy in town.

Or so I promised Grave.

I entered the room I had rented and laid down on the bed.

“It’s fluffy.”

Now that I thought about it, I had been constantly on the move and hadn’t slept properly.

My hunger had been resolved, thus, I suddenly felt sleepy.

“’See you tomorrow’, huh…?”

I remembered the words Grave said when we parted.

In the end, my consciousness faded, and I was asleep before I knew it.

***

The next day.

I slept soundly and woke up before noon.

After having a late breakfast, I parted with Anna.

“Let me lend you some outerwear!” She said.

I was happy to hear that, but I was about to head to a smith. I was worried about soiling her clothes.

Like yesterday’s outfit, Anna’s clothes were girlish. I wondered if I could wear them.

“This kind of thing… it doesn’t suit me.”

“I disagree! It looks great on you”

Anna said so, but it still didn’t feel right for me. I also felt guilty.

In the end, I refused. I told her of my destination.

I changed into the clothes I had worn from the royal capital and waited for Grave at the front door.

“I’m sorry for the wait.”

After waiting for about five minutes, he descended down the stairs.

The moment his gaze found me, he rushed towards the front door.

“Shall we head out?”

“Yes.”

Grave and I were about to leave when I heard someone beckoning to us.

“Oi, are you guys going somewhere?”

It was Rigard.

Turning around, Grave answered.

“We’re just going out. I think we’ll be back by evening.”

“Only the two of you?”

“That’s right.”

“I see, it’s a date.”

W-wha?!

D-date!?

“Don’t tease me, please. It’s nothing like that…” Answered Grave.

“It’s alright, but be careful. Don’t be a nuisance to Liliana.”

“I know. I’m going.”

“Okay!”

Grave opened the front door.

I heavily bowed towards Rigard, whom was waving his hand, before chasing after Rigard.

…Don’t be a nuisance to Liliana?

What did that mean?

While pondering that, we went to the city.

Unlike yesterday, when the sun was setting, the main streets of the city were crowded with people.

In the shopping district we passed along the way, there were many restaurants and general stores. I noticed some shops that had cute clothes.

While walking around, Grave talked to me.

“Are you unaccustomed to the sight?”

“Eh? Yes, that’s right… I’ve been cooped up inside the royal castle all the time. I rarely went out…”

“Well, then let me show you around the city.”

“Eh?”

“I don’t have much to do today. You don’t find it annoying, do you?”

“No, not at all. Thank you.”

It seemed that the smithy I was looking for was a bit beyond the shopping district.

After passing through the shopping district, many people dressed like adventurers appeared on the road.

“Hey, Grave is with a woman.”

“It’s true. But… I’ve never seen her face before… is she a new member in his guild, or something? She looks young…”

“Are they lovers?”

“Eh, really!?”

Our surroundings became noisy.

I felt pricked by their gazes and felt uncomfortable.

“Forgive me, Liliana. It seems that you’re receiving a lot of attention because of me.”

“I, it’s alright.”

The reactions were similar to yesterday’s, but it also felt somewhat different.

Were all the people watching us acquainted with Grave?

However, no one approached me. As I walked alongside Grave, I pretended to not hear anything.

I didn’t know what was going on.

Grave, who was he exactly?

While I was lost in thought, he suddenly halted.

“We’ve arrived.”

“Is this the smithy?”

“Yes, it belongs to the manufacturing guild affiliated with us. The front is a weapon shop, so let’s head to the back.

I followed Grave.

It was smaller than I imagined.

When I went around the back, I heard the sound of metal being struck.

“Hello.”

“Why, if it isn’t Grave…”

The uncle who was working stopped and turned around.

After he saw Grave, his gaze turned towards me.

“A woman?”

“…Enough about that, already.”

“Hee? So, what’s the purpose of your visit? If it’s a request for repair, I’m no longer available during this time. You should’ve known that already, right?”

“Ah, I didn’t come to request anything.”

The uncle tilted his head.

“I want you to lend us your smithy for a little bit.”

“My smithy?”

“Yes. I’d like to borrow it until evening. Therefore, could you please lend it to us?”

“It’s okay, but what are you going to use it for? I don’t recall you being skillful in blacksmithing…”

“She’ll be the one to use it, not me.”

Grave stepped aside.

When I met the blacksmith uncle, I bowed in a hurry.

“Who could this lady be?”

“You see, she’s also a blacksmith.”

“I, I’m pleased to meet you.”

“For such a pretty girl to be a blacksmith, now, that’s rare! I’m Doga, the craftsman of this place. Nice to meet you, too.”

Doga extended his hand.

When I shook his hand, Doga widened his eyes.

“Young lady, you’ve worked a lot with these hands, haven’t you?”

“Eh? Mr. Doga, you can tell?” Said Grave.

“Of course, after all, I’m also a blacksmith. The moment I held her hand, I could understand.”

“Hee~”

Is that so?

I don’t quite…

“Young lady, can I also call on you?”

“Oh, yes, of course.”

“Thank you.”

I was kind of nervous.

---

***T/N: Kind of excited how OP the sword gunna b.

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