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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Lord Fourth
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“I’m done.”
“Can I check it?”
“Of course.”
For the past few days, Ophelia had been diligently working on her… education. It was mostly just writing assignments, but for Ophelia, this was unprecedented.
“Who wrote this phrase?”
“Who was it…? M-M-M… ton.”
“Miriton.”
“I got one letter right.”
Well, at least she was trying. A remarkable achievement.
Was Emily’s teaching effective? Ever since the… mana grass incident, Ophelia had been unusually docile. Whatever the reason, it wasn’t a bad change.
“Well, this is… barely passing. It’s almost time for a break.”
“Yes!”
I folded Ophelia’s assignment and put away the inkwell. I took the quill from her hand. Our fingers touched, and Ophelia flinched.
“…What’s wrong?”
“N-nothing.”
“Are you not feeling well?”
Was she just sick? Ophelia’s stamina wasn’t great. I remembered her being bedridden with a cold in Auriga.
She should have told me if she was feeling unwell. I reached for her forehead, and she flinched again, pulling away.
“N-no! I’m fine!”
“Hmm.”
“I’m fine! Really!”
Well, if she said so. I shrugged and put away the supplies. The sun was high in the sky.
“Hey, Elliot.”
“What is it?”
“Can I have that?”
“Have what?”
“The mana grass.”
“No.”
“Tsk.”
Ophelia clicked her tongue.
The streets were bustling. The capital was always crowded, but today was especially chaotic.
“There’s some kind of festival.”
“A festival?”
“Fireworks. Like that small festival they have in the Holy City every year. But the one in the Empire is much bigger.”
Ophelia said casually. Come to think of it, there was a similar event in the game. The fireworks display was quite spectacular. I was intrigued.
“When is the festival?”
“From tomorrow until four days later.”
“Do you want to go?”
Ophelia blinked.
“Go? You can go by yourself. Why are you asking me?”
“I want to go with you.”
“….”
Ophelia gulped.
“N-no, I’m not… particularly interested.”
“But you know the schedule.”
“Emily told me. I just… happened to remember.”
Despite her words, she glanced at me.
“And we’re both famous. If we go to a crowded place like that, it’ll be a mess. Don’t you know that, you idiot?”
“Hmm…”
I nodded. She was right. The titles of “Hero” and “Saintess” were a bit of a hindrance. Then…
“It’s fine. I have a way.”
“I said I don’t want to go…”
“…I want to go.”
I had to be a little considerate of this… tsundere. Even Ured had said so.
“With you.”
Ophelia was speechless.
—
“Fireworks? You want to see the fireworks?”
“I’d like a private viewing area, if possible.”
Evangeline, the administrator, was more surprised by Elliot’s request than his sudden appearance.
The hero had come to the Imperial administration to ask for tickets to a fireworks festival. And he had bypassed all the proper channels. The lower-ranking officials were scurrying around him, too intimidated to speak.
“Didn’t you see the signs? Even the hero has to follow protocol. We have a chain of command here.”
“Do you see this? It means, ‘I go first.’”
Elliot said, showing her the Hero’s Mark on his hand.
“Don’t use the Hero’s Mark as a free pass.”
“Says who?”
“Haha… you haven’t changed.”
Evangeline chuckled, looking at Elliot. Well, she wasn’t going to turn him away. The administration needed to be on good terms with the hero.
The Sword Saint had already gained a considerable advantage from the recent… incident. He had even made the hero an honorary knight of the Imperial Knights. The administration couldn’t just stand by.
“A private viewing area? I have just the thing.”
Evangeline pulled a ticket from her drawer.
“This was originally for the Imperial guests of honor. But there’s an empty seat now, thanks to… someone.”
“Why are you looking at me?”
“You did turn the Holy City upside down.”
Elliot chuckled, finally understanding. This ticket was for the leaders of the Holy City, including the Pope. So…
“You can watch the fireworks from the top of the Imperial Cathedral. Not bad, right?”
“It’s perfect.”
The next day, I took Ophelia to the top of the cathedral. She had complained about not wanting to go, but she had followed me eagerly when I asked her to.
“This is… nice.”
“Indeed.”
I had expected a small viewing platform, but this was… extravagant.
Servants had already prepared wine and food. As we watched the sun set, Ophelia tapped a wine bottle.
“Ophelia, no alcohol.”
“What can I have, then? I’m an adult! I can drink.”
“Hmm…”
Cigarettes, and now alcohol. How far was this Saintess going to fall? She’d be doing drugs next. But… well, even children drank alcohol in this world.
“Alright. But don’t drink too much.”
“Aren’t you drinking?”
“I’ll have some later.”
Ophelia, with my permission, eagerly poured herself a glass of the most expensive-looking bottle. She took a gulp and choked.
It was probably whiskey. Of course, she would choke, drinking it straight.
“…You can’t hold your liquor, can you?”
“N-no, I can! I’m a great drinker!”
“I’m sure you are.”
I chuckled and added some ice to her glass. I poured a glass for myself as well.
“There. That should be better.”
“O-okay.”
She took a sip, then frowned and stuck out her tongue. I took a sip of my own. Honestly, I couldn’t tell the difference between this and the cheap whiskey I used to drink on Earth.
“It’s starting.”
Pop! A small firework shot up into the sky as soon as the sun set. Then, a cascade of colorful sparks, like flower petals, filled the night sky.
It was similar to what I had seen in the game, but seeing it in person was a different experience. It was… breathtaking.
“….”
Ophelia stared at the fireworks, mesmerized, having dropped her glass without even noticing. She had wanted to see them, after all. I was glad I brought her. I looked at the fireworks again.
After a while, the last firework exploded, and the sky went dark. I turned to Ophelia.
“What are you doing?”
She was staring at me. Our eyes met, and she quickly looked away, her cheeks flushed.
“Um…”
Ophelia said, as if forcing the words out, “Thank you.”
“….”
I was surprised. This was probably the first time Ophelia had ever thanked me. I tried to act nonchalant.
“For what? This place wasn’t that expensive.”
“It’s not that…”
Ophelia took a large gulp of her drink. She downed the whole glass in one go. She stumbled, then leaned against the railing and looked at me. Her eyes were half-closed.
“It’s not just about this. It’s… for everything.”
“Everything?”
“Taking me from the Holy City, saving me from that bastard Pope, and… showing me the fireworks.”
“….”
“I owe you a lot. I’ll repay you, so… watch your back.”
“That’s not the right expression for this situation.”
“W-whatever!”
Ophelia hit me on the head with her glass.
“You said I was… more precious than anything.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Hehe.”
Ophelia giggled.
A few strands of sweat-drenched hair fell across her face, touching her pink lips. Drunk, her disheveled smile was strangely… alluring.
“….”
Was I going crazy? Yes, I must be.
Slap!
I slapped myself hard across the face.
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Go, Ophelia Go!!
Go Ophelia Go