Vol 2: Chapter 26

* Escort: Lelenore *

The halfling had a number of traits, but her sense of colour was the one which stood out most.

Mimino wore an orange robe with bright cuffs. The bag hanging from her shoulder was embroidered with silver and scarlet threads. The embroidery was a large flower a cluster amaryllis that has a legend of reviving the dead.

Her long amber-colored hair was intricately braided, and thick bangs hung over her right eye.

Looking at her big, blue eyes, even Lelenore who hasnt seen her in a long time, You havent changed one bit, Mimino, said.

Lelenore and Mimino, who moved to an open terrace cafe near the Adventurers Guild, sat across from each other, and ordered a fruit juice made from orange; a local specialty of the Kruvan Holy Kingdom.

You havent changed either, Lelenore. Youre even still wearing the same clothes when I last saw you a few years ago.

P-Please dont bring that up! I usually only wear stiff formal clothes due to my work.

Oh, your escort work?

Yes, yes.

Do you not have work today?

Today, the young master invited over guests for a tea party, so its okay. I have to escort him whenever he goes out. Recently, he has made some good friends, and goes out almost everyday.

That must be hard.

The timing was just good today. Because I cant go out for the next three days from tomorrow. There will be a ceremony to award a skill orb to the young master, but I need to go for rehearsals and escort reviews and stuff. Its gonna be so hectic.

Skill orb awarding ceremony? There are such things?

Yeah a lot of things happened.Lelenore said, as she looked into the distance.

Her stay in the Holy City was prolonged, but it was only 3 more days until the skill orb awarding ceremony.

The juice they ordered arrived. Lelenore took a sip. Not only orange, but some other fruits were also mixed in. A glass cup does not exist, so it came in a copper goblet. Perhaps it had been chilled in advance using a magic tool or something, and when the juice washed down her throat, a refreshing scent filled her nose. Lelenore thought of ordering this beverage from hereinafter as well.

On a side note, the store they were at was a high grade store. The prices were also high. When you go to a normal store, the cup becomes a wooden cup, and if you drink at a food stall, you need to bring your own flask.

I was surprised when you contacted me, Mimino. Im sorry for the late reply. I came to the Holy City for the sake of our young master, so it took some time for me to send the letter.

No, thats okay. It also took me a while to cross the national border to come to the Holy City.

The border of Saint Knight Kingdom? Did something happen?

Oh, I didnt come from there. I went to the Lev Magic Empire at the request of the Adventurers Guild.

Whaaat? Why did you go there?

Lelenore was surprised for good reason.

The country, called the Magic Empire, has made considerable progress in magic research, and they provide the worlds most advanced technology of magic airships to each country. All the citizens are of the same species called the Lev race; which is reptile-based beastmen. They have skins ranging from gold to brown, and golden eyes the eyes reflect when exposed to light.

In addition, there are special circumstances such as inhibition of skill orbs, which significantly restricts entry into the country. It is a nation of secrecy, whereby the places individuals of other races could enter are quite limited.

I went there for the first time, and it was such an interesting place. Magic tools were used for everything. Oh, and this is a souvenir for you.

Oh

Mimino placed a metal cube on the table. And Lelenore picked it up. It was big enough to fit in her palm, and it was heavy. Then, it suddenly started vibrating.

Wha!?

Lelenore hurriedly dropped the cube on the table. It spun around for a while, and stopped

W-What is this!? Is it alive!?

Ahaha, no. Take a closer look.

While vibrating, the square object rolled around on the table, and when it managed to stand on one of its vertices, it started spinning.

What is this?

Its just a toy that spins around.

After a while, it stopped spinning, and fell flat on the table.

What is it used for?

Its just a toy that spins around. Apparently, it was a by-product of a magic tool research or maybe it was just a failure? So, it was cheap.

I see

Lelenore slowly reached her hand for the cube.

Ouch, its hot!

Oh, sorry. It gets hot, so dont touch it for a while.

Lelenore was worried for a moment if this was a prank from Mimino.

Well you didnt come just to hand this over, right? Your letter said that you had something to talk about.

Ah, yeah

Mimino, who had been all smiles up until then, tensed up.

Actually, I want you to find someone.

Find someone?

Yes. I know youre busy, so its okay if you do it when you have time.

Well, since my cousin is the one asking

Lelenore is Miminos cousin.

Hailing from the same village, Mimino left the village as a traveling herbalist, and Lelenore was employed as an escort.

But Mimino, an escort like me

Mimino raised her hand, and stopped Lelenore.Actually

The person she is looking for is a boy of the human race, with black hair and black eyes. Furthermore, he may have received special education. In other words, it is possible that he might be digging into the noble society. Mimino has already been searching everywhere else that an adventurer could, but she was a complete outsider to the noble society, so she needs to rely on someone else. The boy shes looking for has the talent to use magic even without a skill orb, and he is quite skilled for his age.

(A boy who can use magic without a skill orb?)

What came to her mind was what happened at the Sprout and New Moon Banquet. Its been about a month since then.

The escort she saw at that time The escort of Eva Sillys whom she has met several times after that during tea parties, but since escorts do not talk to each other, she didnt even know his name. It seems that the head of House Ebene said, I want that boy, but, as the escort of Ethan, she rarely gets such information.

(Hmm, that boy does match the description. He has blue hair, but black hair and black eyes are the target of persecution in some lands, so he might have dyed his hair. And he spotted the poison which I didnt notice. I was wondering if he had a high level skill such as observation or insight, but )

Then, she noticed that Mimino was staring at her.

Lelenore, do you perhaps have any idea?Mimino asked, leaning forward.

Hou?

W-Why are you giving me that nasty look?

Dont call it nasty! No, I mean, you seem so worried about this boy? Is it one-sided love?

Wha!? Thats not the case! Dont make fun of me!

Even while saying that, your face is turning bright red.

I-I-Its not like that! Reiji-kun is smaller than me! He is someone I just want to protect but then, I was protected by him instead

Oh, is that so?

Lelenore gave it a little more thought. Evas escort was reasonably tall and definitely bigger than Mimino, who is about the same size as herself.

A-Anyway, if you find any information on that person, please let me know!

Okay, okay. Calm down.Lelenore sighed, looking at Mimino who was flushed.

She wondered if her late-blooming cousin had finally found love, but that doesnt seem to be the case. Minino is looking for a smaller boy it would be Miminos biggest mistake not to tell Lelenore that the information was four years old so its going to be difficult.

(Mimino, are you looking to be a mom before you even find love?)

Though, before Lelenore worries about others, she should worry about herself who hasnt found love either.

(Wait a minute, the lady of House Sillys called that escort Reiji, right? Could it be?)

There was no point in giving hope with uncertain information, so Lelenore decided to ask her other escort friends later.