| ARC III | Chapter 2: Honest & Not, But She’s Cute Either Way…!

Back in Ilifel, Chely lies in her bed and isn't able to sleep. A lot has been going on recently, and she can't help but feel down.

Her parents went missing, which was the first time. Usually, when they sneak out to explore dungeons or ruins, they go to known ones that have already been explored and have guides to show them around.

This time, however, they joined an expedition of a newly found ruin….

Although she was mad at them for being careless, her worries overwhelmed those feelings.

(Noel as well… he's been acting a little strange lately, or rather…)

Unable to finish her thoughts, she buries her face in the pillow.

She feels somewhat conflicted about the whole ordeal. However… it was nice to be comforted like that by him.

After all, no one has ever comforted her. She had to be strong since she needed to be the one to help others.

"....I'm happy he asked me out, but… I can't stop thinking of Mother and Father…."

Feeling anxious and unsure of herself, she heard a knock on the door.

She gathered her thoughts and went to open it, and there stood Rigeld.

It was in the middle of the night. However, since she is The Hero, it happens occasionally.

"How are you doing?" He asks.

"....What are you doing here, Sir?"

Although she wasn't replying to his question, he sensed how she felt.

"I received a message from ship TL-xe."

"…?"

"Your parents are doing great and are wasted on the lounge with some adventurers…."

"....."

"..."

"How come you didn't tell me they were safe before boarding the ship?"

"Well… someone snuck out of the city to vent at the ocean for a few hours."

"I… I see….."

(So it's my own stupid self!)

Seeing her like this, he couldn't help but chuckle and pat her on the shoulder.

"Same as usual," he teased.

"...I can't deny that, anyways, thank you…."

— :::: —

That very same day in the morning, Noel found himself in front of the mirror, checking if all is good. He knew that Chely won't probably pay that much attention to him since she was troubled about something.

Also… he had impulsively invited her on a date, forgetting that they couldn't go the day after, so they had to push it up until now…

(Talk about awkward….) he thought.

They had lectures as usual. However, it was more silent than ever…

Mainly due to her not being present, but… he still got beaten up pretty badly.

(Well, since we aren't close, I hope a coffee date is nice….)

This was the first time he actually asked a girl out, and he wasn't sure where to bring her. And unlike his Alum, he hasn't gone out much in the city, so it may be kind of awkward that he doesn't know a lot of places or… heck, he may even get lost.

(....Wait… won't I get too many stares being alone with her?)

They received many stares when they all went out in a group. However… he can imagine how it would be if it was just the two of them.

Besides… it wasn't like they were lovey-dovey that they created their own atmosphere….

(Now that I think about it… what does she like? Well… doesn't hurt to ask.)

He took a deep breath and checked in the mirror again.

Satisfied, he walks out of his room, only to be greeted by Miu and Luna, who are doing a final check on him.

"Are you attending a wedding?" Luna asks.

"....Noel, what are you doing?"

"..."

He went back into the room to change and changed into more casual clothes. He wore raven-colored pants, a brown shirt with rolled-up sleeves, and a jet-black unbuttoned vest.

Getting out of the room again, Miu stares at him and inspects closer.

"Hmm, looks good," Miu said and slapped him on the arm.

"Thanks… what do you think, Princess Luna?" he cautiously asks.

Luna quietly stares at him and nods.

"It looks fine. Well, not that I'm any good with fashion," she said gently.

Hearing her say this, he grins. After all, he and Luna have been getting along well recently. He even visits her at the study, sometimes with Miu, to have tea, well… mostly because he wants to meet Chely, who was there as well, who was going through materials.

"Thanks!"

— :::: —

After some small talk with Miu and Luna, he heads toward the gate to wait for Chely.

But… he didn't have to wait long since she was already standing there in a cornsilk-colored frilly blouse, a knee-length ruffle white skirt, and lavender-colored boots.

She wore light colors, making her relaxing green emerald eyes stand out even more.

Frozen and captivated, he stares a little too much.

"What are you doing just staring?" Chely asks while turning away her head and crossing her arms.

Noel snaps out of it but notices that her ears are red and her tone slightly shaken.

(...Is she okay now?)

It wasn't the meek and quiet, but the usual stubborn Chely. Which he thinks is easier to talk to.

Seeing her behave how she usually does, he laughs a little.

"Pff, ahaha. Jeez, you had me worried, you know~?"

Feeling relieved and less nervous, he walked up to her.

"Shall we go then?" he asks.

"Where will we be going?"

"I was thinking of a coffee shop downtown, although… do you want to wander around the city as well?"

"I'm fine with that," she replied and started walking.

Her mood seems somewhat gloomy for some reason, but… Noel wasn't so dense he didn't notice.

"It looks great on you," he comments.

Hearing his compliment, she comes to a halt.

"T…thank you… you too."

She was a bit insecure about her appearance since she usually never wore things like this, so she was unsure. She also received help from Princess Luna and Miu, who knew about this date.

So hearing it makes her very jittery and happy.

"Thanks," Noel said with a grin.

Thus they walk side by side, and many passerby watch in awe, since seeing The Hero in casual clothing is very rare.

Feeling slightly nervous about the stares she receives, she glances at Noel. He seems a bit nervous as well, then their eyes meet.

(....I thought he was more used to this… since he was flirtatious and all….)

As the thoughts cross her mind, she smiles a bit.

Grabbing his sleeve and shyly turning her head away.

"Noel… what was your world like?"

"....Well, to be frank, living wise… not too different from this one, except we didn't have magic," he answers.

He then ponders a little.

"For example, you have transportation by mana trains, right? Where I used to live, trains operated with electricity, though depending on what part of the world the method varies."

"....How does that work?" Chely asks as she glances his way.

"We use motors, in this case, an electric one, they convert that electricity to mechanical energy which creates motion. In turn, it allows all sorts of creative use…. But don't mana trains work on a similar principle? From the looks of it… well, I'm just assuming, of course."

"...While I'm not an expert, Magi-Hex trains use acceleration magic once things roll and use a turbine to generate mechanical movements… so I guess they are fairly similar, huh?"

"....Wait, how does mana make the turbine spin…?"

"Through mana-charged metal? I'm not entirely sure, but when that metal is charged with mana, it repels another type of metal used for the turbine."

"Oh, so that makes it spin and generate mechanical moments?"

"....Something along those lines… I mean… if you want to know more, ask Ame… never mind, just ask me."

"...? Okay?"

As Chely turns her head, looking somewhat happy, Noel can't help but smile.

"Now that I think about it, no train goes outside the city, does it? Why is that?"

"...It would be convenient for travel since the trains are cheaper than the airships, but… there are a lot of monsters outside the barriers, and creating tunnels can be very challenging. Monsters will likely destroy that type of infrastructure."

"I see, but why not use barriers to protect those tunnels then?"

"Well, it comes down to cost. Magic aircraft are cheaper in terms of protecting and maintaining."

"...I see."

"However… it does work for cities close to each other, but… since Ilifel is so massive, there are only small towns and villages, which aren't far away by cart or smaller carriers, thus making those tunnels too expensive to be profitable.

(....What the hell are we talking about on a date…?) Noel thought.

(...Then again, just speaking with her is fun.)

"Chely… are you fine now?"

"...What do you mean?"

"Well… you seem down in the past few days, and I wanted to invite you out to cheer you up, but it seems like you're doing a lot better."

"I…. I wasn't sad," she denies.

"The sulking you was cute, though,"

"....."

"But the tsundere is better!"

".....What is that supposed to mean?"

"Ah… well, something about not being honest?"

"...How rude! I'm genuine and honest!"

She huffs and crosses her arms.

"...You're quite the open book, you know?" he teasingly replies.

….And after a moment of silence, she glances at his hand but gets slightly flushed and tries to grab his sleeve instead.

Noticing that she would grab them again, he held her hands instead.

Chely jolted in surprise and stared at him. To which he grins.

"Isn't this better?"

She was embarrassed and avoided his gaze.

"...You're always doing what you want," she complains.

"But you're squeezing my hand back rather firmly, though?"

Her cheeks and ears turn crimson as she tries to maintain a poker face.

".....You're clumsy and stumbles, that's why," she replied.

"....If you're referring to practice… wait! You're the one flinging me around! I'm not clumsy at all!"

"Huff!"

— :::: —

"Those two… what are they doing…?" Miu mutters.

"Miu… I don't think we should be spying on them," Luna comments as she eats a snack.

"...You're right, anyways… can I have a taste?" Miu asks.

"Okay."

Giving her a bite and watching her cutely eat it, Luna wonders.

"Hey, Miu, is there anyone you like?" she asks with her head tilted.

"....Why all of a sudden?"

"Just wondering since you're beautiful and all."

"You're the one to talk, Luna," Miu replies.

To which Luna giggles a little.

"...Well, I had someone I liked before arriving in this world, but he's taken."

"Oh? You mean Al?"

".....Was I that obvious?"

"No, it was a wild guess," Luna gently said.

"....Anyways, I'm over it! Ahh, I crave some snacks right now!"

"Miu, you're a good girl. You will find someone."

"....."

Not being able to reply, Miu quietly blushed as she lowered her head.

"...You too, Luna."