Rayish
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Chapter 102
🕑 Added 2025-02-12 16:27:41 +0000 UTCOutside the forge, Shirou crouched beside Lefiya's bicycle, meticulously reattaching the repaired front tire. His fingers worked quickly, tightening the bolts to ensure everything was perfectly secured. After pressing the tire a few times to check its stability, he finally stood up and brushed off the remaining metal dust from his hands.
"Okay, all done. Your bike is ready to ride again," he said with a satisfied smile.
Lefiya looked at her now-whole bicycle with a relieved expression. "Thank you, Shirou!" she said enthusiastically. However, before she could try riding it, her eyes were drawn to something else. She glanced at the tandem bike parked not far from them—a bike with two saddles and two sets of pedals, slightly larger than her own.
Her deep blue eyes shifted to Shirou and Aiz, filled with curiosity. "Wait… so you two came here riding this?" she asked.
Aiz, who was standing near the bike, turned and nodded. "Yes," she replied simply, then calmly pointed to the back saddle. "I sat here."
Lefiya blinked a few times before an excited expression spread across her face. "Eh? That sounds so fun! I want to try riding a tandem bike too!" she exclaimed, approaching Aiz with enthusiasm. "Aiz, how about you take the front this time? Let's ride around Orario together!" she suggested, her eyes sparkling.
Aiz seemed to consider it for a moment, then nodded without much hesitation. "Alright."
However, before they could plan their little trip further, Shirou suddenly raised a hand, as if to stop them. "Oh, I haven't told you yet..." he said awkwardly. "Loki forbade us from riding the bikes outside the Manor grounds."
"Ehh?! Why?!" Lefiya complained, feeling the decision was unfair. "We're the ones who worked so hard to make them!"
Shirou shrugged and explained calmly, "Loki wants us to patent the design with Altena first, so no one steals the copyright."
Lefiya placed a finger on her chin, deep in thought. "Hmm, I see…" she murmured. "Well, Altena is the center of knowledge in the world, after all. If there's a place that can handle copyrights, it's definitely there."
Aiz simply nodded, seemingly unfazed by the matter. While Lefiya was still a little annoyed, she understood Loki's reasoning. However, that didn't diminish her desire to try the tandem bike. With a small huff, she looked at Shirou. "So… we can only use it within the Manor grounds?" she asked, a hint of disappointment in her voice.
Shirou nodded. "At least until we patent the bike design with Altena."
Shirou crossed his arms and thought for a moment. "I thought Altena was just the center of magic in this world… but they also focus on knowledge and inventions, huh?" he asked curiously.
Lefiya nodded quickly, her face lighting up as she shared something she knew. "That's right! I went on a field trip to Altena while I was still studying in the school district. Back then, I saw a ship being developed by researchers there," she recounted enthusiastically.
Aiz raised her head and asked, "A ship? What kind of ship?"
Lefiya raised both hands and shaped them into something resembling a ship's hull in the air. "It's not an ordinary ship," she said, her eyes sparkling as she recalled the amazing sight she had seen. "They were developing a ship that could sail on desert sands. Its energy source comes from magic!"
Shirou frowned slightly, trying to imagine the concept of a ship moving on sand. "Desert sands?" he asked, finding the idea strange. "Is the area around Altena a desert?"
Lefiya shook her head. "No," she replied with a smile. "The ship was made to be sold to regions with vast deserts. Altena is always at the forefront of innovation, so they develop various technologies that can be used in different places. Maybe our bike will also be patented and sold like that someday."
Aiz looked at the tandem bike beside them with a thoughtful expression. "But your bike is better," she commented flatly. "Because anyone can use it."
Shirou and Lefiya exchanged glances before chuckling softly. "Yeah," Shirou finally said with a smile, "if it can help a lot of people, I think that would be a good thing."
Lefiya nodded in agreement. "Maybe one day, bicycles will become a common mode of transportation in Orario," she said hopefully.
Aiz simply looked at the two of them, then back at the tandem bike. She didn't know if this invention would truly go global one day, but one thing was certain—she enjoyed the time she spent with them while using it.
Shirou leaned slightly against the bike, his gaze drifting to the brightening morning sky. "By the way," he said softly, "before I came to Orario, a friend of mine invited me to study at Altena together."
Lefiya's eyes widened slightly, clearly interested in the story. "Ohhh, I've heard it's really hard to get accepted there," she said with admiration. "Maybe even harder than getting into the School District."
Aiz turned to Shirou. "Who's your friend?" she asked simply.
Shirou smiled faintly, recalling someone he hadn't seen in a long time. "She's a young Elf, probably around your age, Aiz. Her name is Saria Balsys. She's from the Elven Forest, just like Riveria," he explained.
Lefiya looked surprised. "Hmmm... before Lady Riveria left the Elven Forest, it was very closed off. No one ever left. But it seems like many are following in her footsteps now," she said, looking at Shirou with curiosity.
Shirou nodded. "That's right. Saria idolizes Riveria. She even mimics Riveria's chanting style," he said with a soft chuckle. "I still remember when we were riding a horse-drawn carriage, and she pretended to chant spells with serious gestures and expressions. She really wants to be like Riveria."
Aiz observed Shirou with a deep gaze before finally asking, "Then why didn't you go with her? Why did you choose to come to Orario instead?"
Shirou sighed softly before answering. "I wanted to become a hero," he said firmly. "Unlike Altena, which is a center of knowledge, Orario is the only city in the world with the Dungeon beneath it. If monsters ever break out from there and no one can stop them, the entire world will be in danger."
Lefiya fell silent for a moment before smiling brightly. "I think you've already become a hero, Shirou!" she said with conviction.
Shirou flinched slightly, then shook his head with a soft smile. "I'm still far from being a hero," he said humbly. "There's still a lot I need to do."
On the other hand, Aiz silently gazed at Shirou. She didn't speak, didn't interrupt, but her heart was filled with one thought she couldn't voice.
To you, maybe you're not a hero yet… But to me, you already are.
Aiz shifted her gaze to Lefiya's pink bike, now restored to its former glory after being repaired by Shirou. However, her mind wandered to something else—a promise Shirou had made to her. Without hesitation, she turned to the red-haired young man and said, "Shirou, since your project in the forge is done, how about we spar now?"
Shirou was startled by the request. He scratched his cheek, looking slightly awkward. "Uh… how about we postpone it until tomorrow?" he said apologetically. "I have a training with Ryuu, my coworker at the Hostess of Fertility, soon."
Lefiya, who had been listening to their conversation, immediately stepped closer with an accusatory expression. "Booo! Shirou, yesterday you postponed your promise with Ryuu, and now you're postponing your promise with Aiz too!" she said in a teasing tone, but there was clearly a hint of blame in her voice.
Shirou let out a long sigh before smiling wryly. "I guess I've been too busy lately with our bike project, Lefiya," he said, relaxing his shoulders.
Lefiya blinked a few times before pointing at herself. "Eh? So it's my fault too?" she murmured, wondering if she was also responsible for Shirou's delayed promises.
Aiz maintained her usual expressionless demeanor, but she added something that made Shirou realize just how many promises he had yet to fulfill. "Besides," Aiz said calmly, "you also promised to teach me how to swim again in Water City, floors 25 to 27 in the Dungeon."
Shirou paused for a moment, then raised an eyebrow as if just remembering. "Ah… that's right. I almost forgot," he said with a sigh. "The day after tomorrow, I should have some free time. We can go then."
Hearing the word "swimming," Lefiya immediately turned to Shirou and Aiz with excitement. "What? Swimming?" she asked, her eyes sparkling. "I want to join too!" she said enthusiastically.
Aiz, realizing she had accidentally spilled her secret, quickly covered her mouth with both hands, her face turning slightly red. She didn't want many people to know she was secretly learning how to swim—especially Lefiya. It was something she had kept tightly under wraps.
Meanwhile, Shirou could only smile faintly at Aiz's reaction. I guess I have no choice but to fulfill all these promises one by one… he thought to himself.
Lefiya stepped closer, her eyes shining with hope. "Can I? Can I join too?" she asked eagerly, her hands clasped in front of her chest like a child asking for permission to play.
However, something suddenly crossed Lefiya's mind. She remembered the time in Melen—when early in the morning, Aiz and Shirou returned to the inn after going somewhere. Now that she thought about it… could they have gone swimming at the beach at that time?
Lefiya's eyes narrowed slightly as she looked at the two of them with curiosity. "Ah, don't tell me… back then in Melen, you two secretly went swimming, didn't you?" she asked in a teasing tone.
Shirou, caught off guard by the question, could only scratch his head and glance at Aiz. "Uh… this isn't my secret, so… ask Aiz," he said, trying to avoid answering directly.
Aiz, who had remained calm until now, seemed slightly flustered. Her golden eyes blinked a few times before she finally looked away as if something far more interesting had caught her attention. However, the faint blush on her face couldn't hide her nervousness.
Seeing Aiz's awkward reaction, Lefiya immediately stepped closer and began whining in a sweet tone. "Aiz~! Didn't you promise to take me with you back then in Melen?" she said, tugging slightly on Aiz's arm, her voice full of hope and a little accusation.
Aiz, unaccustomed to such whining, finally gave in. She let out a small sigh before nodding slowly. "...Alright," she said simply.
"Yaayyyy!!" Lefiya cheered happily, jumping in place with excitement. In her mind, she was already imagining how fun it would be to swim with her two favorite people—Aiz and Shirou. This is going to be such a fun experience! she thought with enthusiasm.
Shirou looked up at the brightening sky. The morning sunlight began to filter through the gaps in the forge's roof, signaling that his training session with Ryuu was approaching. He took a deep breath, then turned to Aiz and Lefiya.
"I'll head out now. My training with Ryuu is about to start," he said casually, stretching his shoulders for a moment.
"Bye-bye, Shirou!" Lefiya replied cheerfully, waving her hand enthusiastically. Then, she turned to Aiz and eagerly grabbed her hand. "Come on, Aiz! Let's ride the tandem bike now!"
Aiz looked at Lefiya for a moment, then nodded and walked over to the tandem bike parked nearby. With light steps, she climbed onto the front saddle while Lefiya took the back seat.
"We'll go first, Shirou," Aiz said briefly before her feet began pedaling the bike.
Shirou watched as the two of them slowly started moving. At first, he could see Aiz struggling a bit to maintain balance—her hands were still a bit stiff on the handlebars, and the bike wobbled a few times.
However, as the pedals turned more steadily, Aiz began to control the direction better. Lefiya, sitting at the back, seemed to enjoy the ride, even letting out small laughs as the bike started moving more smoothly toward the Manor's backyard.
Shirou stood in place for a while longer, watching their backs as they moved further away. There was a hint of worry in his heart, but seeing how Aiz was starting to adjust, he finally felt somewhat relieved.
"Haaah… I guess I'll just walk," he murmured before turning around.
With leisurely steps, he left the forge, leaving Lefiya's pink bike parked in its spot, and walked toward the entrance of Twilight Manor to continue his day.
***
In the backyard of the Hostess of Fertility's staff dormitory, the sound of wood clashing against a tree trunk echoed. Whack! Whack! Each time the wooden sword was swung, the leaves around it trembled from the strong impact.
Under the shade of a large tree, Ryuu diligently practiced her sword swings. She moved with precision, following patterns ingrained in her memory. Sweat dripped from her temples, but instead of feeling tired, her eyes reflected unresolved tension.
For the past week, Shirou's presence had been haunting her thoughts. Not in a romantic sense—no, that wasn't what troubled her. It was curiosity and a bit of frustration that gnawed at her mind.
Whether she was busy serving customers at the restaurant or training alone like this, memories of their conversations kept resurfacing.
Shirou, with his casual demeanor, had told her how he achieved a double level-up—something unheard of among adventurers.
Ryuu frowned. "It doesn't make sense…" she muttered.
Last night, behind the restaurant, when Ryuu had cornered Shirou and pressed him against the wall, he finally revealed his story.
"I just… made it to the 18th floor of the Dungeon while still at level 1. And, well… I fought enemies that were at least level 6," Shirou said casually as if it were something anyone could do.
Ryuu, who had listened, could only freeze in place, torn between admiration and the urge to smack Shirou with a tray for how reckless and foolish that was.
"Wait, you're saying you managed to injure a level 6 enemy… while still at level 1?"
Shirou simply shrugged. "Well, I just got lucky."
That vague answer only frustrated Ryuu more.
What kind of power did he use to do something so reckless?
Ryuu gritted her teeth, then swung her sword hard at the tree trunk. WHACK!
"Shirou, you idiot!"
WHACK!
"Shirou, you're so annoying!"
WHACK!
"Why do you always talk in half-truths!"
Her usually calm voice now came out in complaints that sounded more like curses.
On the other side, Shirou, who had just arrived in the backyard, could only tilt his head, puzzled by the scene.
He crossed his arms and watched Ryuu, who seemed so serious about hacking at the tree as if it were her mortal enemy.
"Uh… did I do something wrong again?" Shirou murmured softly, feeling uneasy without knowing what was actually going on.
Shirou, still confused by Ryuu venting her anger on the tree, finally approached and casually tapped her shoulder.
"Oi, Ryuu—"
But before he could finish his sentence, Ryuu's body moved reflexively. With the speed of a trained fighter, she turned and swung her wooden sword at the source of the disturbance.
SWOOSH!
Shirou, who had faced sudden attacks often enough, swiftly tilted his body, dodging the swing in mere seconds. In the same motion, his hand reached out and caught the blade of Ryuu's wooden sword, stopping it before it could hit him.
"Careful, Ryuu. It's me," Shirou said, looking at her with a calm expression.
The elf merely snorted, then roughly pulled her sword back. "Hmph… it's your fault for being late."
Shirou raised an eyebrow, not feeling particularly guilty about it. But before he could defend himself, Ryuu's eyes noticed something—or rather, something Shirou wasn't carrying this time.
"Where's your little bag?" Ryuu asked, her eyes narrowing suspiciously. Previously, Shirou had brought a small bag containing a blunt sword when they trained together. But today, his hands were empty.
Shirou simply responded with a smirk. "Didn't I promise to show you my power? You'll find out soon."
Ryuu snorted, looking at him with a gaze full of disbelief. "So mysterious."
She turned around and quickly walked toward her dormitory. "Wait here, I'll grab something," she said before disappearing into the building.
Shirou simply chuckled softly, still grinning at Ryuu's reaction. Despite her usual calm and graceful demeanor in front of others, she could also show an exasperated expression.
