Vol 5: Chapter 53
Dark green smooth dress accentuated Asha’s slender body. Although she had experienced a rather rough journey, her upper arms were white and her skin texture was also delicate.
Her hair was done in an upswept style, showing off her nape. With a slight make-up applied on her face, she looked like a devilish beauty.
It was nothing like the saying “anyone can look good with the right clothes”. Since Asha was already a terrific beauty, wearing make-up made her shine even more.
「-E-Eh, errr… Everyone, thank you for attending the party today.」
It wasn’t just me who was fascinated by Asha, but everyone at the venue as well. Some men had dropped the forks they were holding, and were glared at by their women.
The mayor somehow managed to recover and proceeded with the greetings for the Umibozu subjugation party. When Asha’s gaze met mine, she smiled – my heart started beating even faster. I was able to regain my composure thanks to Polina-san, who had a shit-eating grin on her face behind Asha.
When the mayor announced that he himself was at the scene of subduing Umibozu, cheers erupted among the gathered people.
Then he touched on the contributions of Silver Balance, then on the bravery of the knights, and finally on Asha’s magic, and then the announcement ended.
It was a bit embarrassing because there were too many eyes on us.
「Well then, everyone, please have a good time this evening.」
After the mayor’s greeting, a band of about 8 musicians played some lively music.
There was almost no enjoyment of music in this world. It was just to the extent of bards singing at bars, so it felt like a fresh experience.
「Come on, Reiji-kun. Go.」
Well, I couldn’t afford to listen to the music. As Mimino-san pushed my back, I started walking towards Asha. She too walked towards me quietly.
「Reiji-san, I feel very weird. I have worn these dresses many times before, but today I feel so embarrassed.」
「I think it looks great.」
Even I was surprised to hear a straight compliment slipping out of my mouth, but Asha’s cheeks turned bright red – or maybe it was just the sunset – and her naturally red lips curved into a smile.
「Fufu. Reiji-san’s compliment makes me very happy. I don’t think a compliment from anyone else can make me feel this way.」
「I-Is that so…?」
Being told that, the naive boy with little love experience as I am, almost had my heart leap out of my body.
「How is your sister?」
「Kook-san and the others are watching over her currently. Thank you, Asha, for caring about Lark’s wellbeing.」
「Fufufu. Reiji-san, you address your sister like an outsider.」
「Well, we’re actually unrelated.」
「…Huh?」
「There were no other children in the place where we met, so Lark insisted that I was her younger brother.」
「W-Wait a minute. So your older sister, no, Lark is actually a stranger?」
「Yes, we’re completely unrelated. We don’t even bear the slightest resemblance.」
「If so, that means… that Lark-sama’s feelings towards Reiji-san is–」
When Asha was about to say something,
「——Reiji-dono, Your Highness Anastasia, you two are the leads of the party today. Please come join us.」
The mayor and his brother approached us. Lark destroyed the dock and even stole a magic ship, so I couldn’t refuse their request.
「Yes, of course. Asha, are you good?」I asked.
「Y-Yes, I am fine.」
Asha looked a little lonely, but her ability to act befitting the occasion was truly royal. We would be able to talk as much as we want later.
「Reiji-dono, you were flying in the sky, right!? How did you do that?」
「By applying【Fire Magic】and【Wind Magic】—」
I shared with them the method to fly since it was not really a secret, but it seems that they couldn’t understand the concept right away. They seem to think that exploding【Fire Magic】near your body would simply burn you.
「Man, I’m wondering what kind of skill you possess. You can control two types of magic up to the master level, and even have a surplus of mana.」
A merchant-like man with a sharp eye said. I thought he might be a merchant because he was fat and had a gait that seemed to have no experience in martial arts.【World Ruler】gave me the same information.
The mayor didn’t say anything about it. He should have seen me use【Dark Magic】, which means I will have to use up at least 6 skill holders just for magic, and the composition of skills is a big secret for some people, so he hid it on purpose for me.
But well… “How interesting” was written all over his face.
「It’s nothing all that special.」I answered, with a bitter smile.
「Haha, all the masters say that. I am Yago, a trader who is active mainly in the Keith Gran Federation. I was stuck here with my ships due to the appearance of Umibozu. I am greatly indebted to you, Reiji-dono. Pleased to make your acquaintance.」
「Ah, yes.」
I shook his outstretched hand – it was a soft hand that had never held a weapon before. Though there were calluses on his fingertips due to writing.
(…Hmm?)
A very faint power — a change that I wouldn’t have noticed if I didn’t have【World Ruler】, was in the hand which I grasped.
Although he immediately pulled away his hand, I saw the shock in Yago-san’s eyes.
(Haa… I see.)
This person saw my skill.
In the past, I was asked to shake hands in the same way and my skills were seen at that time. I met with Secretary Specular at Earl Sillys’ residence.
The Earl said:
——The skill【Orb-See ★★】allows you to confirm the skill of the person you see. Though, at his level we can’t see the number of stars of the skill.
At that time, I had removed【World Ruler】.
But right now it was in my body.
「Did you see something, Yago-san?」
I asked with a smile.
