–
Part 1During Lux's seventeen years of life, the place he woke up at had changed many times.
At his childhood it was at the imperial court in the capital.
At the period of his ch.o.r.es livelihood, it would be wherever he was working at the time.
Since around half a year ago, it was at the Academy of Cross Field.
And then right now──he woke up inside an unfamiliar mansion.
「N, nn……?」
Lux rubbed his sleepy eyes while slowly lifting up his upper body.
「Eh……? This place──?」
He was sleeping on an extravagant bed with canopy attached.
There wasn't a single stain on the white ceiling, the wooden furniture that was emitting smooth coffee colored l.u.s.ter was lined up inside the s.p.a.cious room systematically.
The lamp that was decorated with gla.s.swork and the soft and fluffy texture of the comforterfeather filled blanket felt very luxurious. Just a glance was enough to tell that it took a lot of money for everything in this room.
From the light s.h.i.+ning in through the curtain's gap, most likely the time was early morning.
But, even though it was a place that he was seeing for the first time, there was a vaguely nostalgic scent.
「──Wait, really, just where is here!?」
Lux was looking dazed, but right after that he instantly yelled a beat later.
The clothes he was wearing consisted of only thin sleep-wear.
He remembered as far as yesterday where he was made to accompany the headmaster, Relie to drink alcohol, but he had no memory of after that at all.
「Just, what happened to me……?」
A strong anxiety was welling up inside him from this baffling situation.
When he searched nearby, even his Sword Devices of Wyvern and Bahamut weren't there.
Could it be, when he was going back from the headmaster office to his room, he was kidnapped by bandit?
If this was the work of Dragon Marauder than this was bad.
Nervousness ran through Lux's expression.
If Lux was kidnapped, then perhaps danger was also approaching everyone in the Academy.
「I have to grasp the situation as soon as possible and escape from here──」
Lux took a deep breath and he was going to stand up, his hand went down to push on the bed, at that moment──,
「Nn……」
*Munyu*
「E, h……?」
A sensation that was different from before caused Lux to tilt his head.
The sensation was a little bit different from the soft comforter and bed sheet.
Inside the softness where his fingers were sinking into, l.u.s.trous elasticity and warmth could be felt.
Lux who was still a bit addled from sleepiness moved his fingers following his instinct, ma.s.saging that pleasant texture──,
「Nn. Kuu……. Lu……chan.」
「……Wait, uwaaaah!?」
The m.u.f.fled voice came out from under the comforter. Lux instantly leaped up.
His movement flipped up the comforter where the face of a girl who was letting out sleeper breathing happily showed up from under.
「Wh, why is Philuffy here!? Or rather, just now was as I thought──」
Lux's face was reddening from the sensation of breast that was still remaining on his hand while confirming that.
The girl who was his childhood friend with soft looking hair that was faintly pink colored.
Her innocent looks that still had a vestige of immaturity in it, combined with her heavy b.r.e.a.s.t.s that proclaimed their existence vividly let out a s.e.x appeal that vaguely felt immoral.
Furthermore the smooth curve of skin peeking out from the underwear coupled with her scent that was like sweet milk caused Lux's heart to jump immediately and it began to pound hard inside his chest.
「Be, besides, why is she in her underwear……-!?」
Lux couldn't look straight at that appearance that was too provocative and he immediately averted his gaze.
He was more or less also similarly wearing sleep-wear, but different from Lux, Philuffy's appearance was completely just in her underwear.
Thin strings was caught on her shoulders that connected to a pure white bustier.
Every part was so thin they looked transparent. Black ribbon was mixed as decoration that brought about elegance, making her seductive limbs that were already fascinating even under normal circ.u.mstance to be even more charming.
In addition there was no skirt part, so she was totally exposed until her panty at her lower body.
The black negligee that he once saw when they were sharing the same room previously gave a slightly adult allure, but this one was also amazing in a different sense.
With her wearing only underwear with adorable ornament, it instead brought about an unbalanced indecent feeling.
*Zzz, zzz*. Philuffy's voluptuous b.r.e.a.s.t.s were quietly moving up and down in conjunction with her quiet breathing. Seeing that Lux's throat suddenly felt dry and a ticklish impulse was welling up inside him.
Although, with the unknown situation they were placed at, there was also no way he could keep averting his eyes like this and let her sleep.
「Tha, that, Phi-chan. Come on, wake up──」
Lux gently reached out his hand to her shoulder and lightly shook his childhood friend's body.
He was averting his gaze so that he didn't directly see her underwear figure, but honestly it felt like he would lose control.
「……Nn. Eh? ……Lu, chan?」
While he was shaking her repeatedly through his reasoning that almost ruptured, Philuffy finally opened her eyes faintly.
Because she had just woken up, her eyes looked sleepier than usual. She rubbed her eyes and Lux was reflected onto those eyes.
「He, hey Phi-chan. Even I don't understand what kind of situation we are in right now──. That's why, this is, it's not like I did anything strange……」
The present situation where they were sleeping on the same bed, while on the other hand it was only Philuffy who was in underwear appearance caused Lux to be fl.u.s.tered, thinking hard about how to explain it, but──,
「Zzz……」
「Just wait a second!? Don't sleep again in this situation okay!?」
Lux spontaneously retorted seeing Philuffy closing her eyes once more.
She was defenseless, being in her own pace too much as always. It seemed that she wasn't concerned even if she was on the same bed with Lux.
He was happy that she was trusting him, but right now it wasn't time for that.
For now he had to wake her up somehow and asked her what was going on……!
「Phi-chan, wake up!? There is still something I want to ask──」
When Lux shook her body earnestly once more, she finally got up slowly while rubbing her eye.
「Fuaaa……. ……Lu-chan, why are you here?」
「It's me who want to ask that-!?」
Lux spontaneously retorted with a loud voice. Then *knock knock*, a knocking sound suddenly came from behind.
「I'm coming in, you two──」
「Eh, wait-……!?」
The room's door opened without even any time for Lux to reply.
The one who showed her appearance wearing a personal clothes with stylish coloring was the headmaster of the Academy, a woman of blooming age who was also Philuffy's big sister, Relie Aingram.
「Wait, Relie-san!? Why are you here……-!?」
Lux's words that he was going to say stopped in the middle.
It was because he suspected something after seeing Relie's expression that was showing smile that was like a little devil.
「Don't tell me this is, everything is Relie-san's──」
「My my? I wonder what you are talking about. Lux-kun has properly agreed with me last night to come here. I said it right? Itold you 『I'm going to go to the next block for a bit of work, so won't Lux-kun accompany me too for studying?』.」
「Aa……」
The special mission that the captain of Seven Dragon Paladins, Magialca gave him, 『the search for traitor』.
When he infiltrated Heiburg Republic to carry out his investigation, he would disguise himself as a merchant who specialized in importation. Because of that, this time he would learn how to act befitting his role by accompanying Relie in her work──, but.
(Why am I even sleeping together with Phi-chan?)
Even though yesterday Lux should be drinking juice while accompanying Relie in drinking alcohol last night.
Thinking back now, was alcohol slipped into his drink that time?
This kind of 『prank』 was an everyday thing for Relie, but it was really something unthinkable to be done by a headmaster.
「More importantly, will the Academy be alright?」
Today and tomorrow the cla.s.s would be suspended because of national holiday, but wouldn't everyone become worried if he was gone from the dormitory suddenly?
「This place is a villa of Aingram house located in the first block of Cross Field. I have left behind note about our outing so there won't be any problem but──there was a bit of trouble.」
Relie brushed her front hair as though to say 'good griefyare yare' while showing a wry smile.
「That girl whose admission procedure is being processed──. That girl called Yoruka was sharp sighted, she showed up in front of us who were carrying the sleeping Lux-kun you see. I was misunderstood that I was going to kidnap Lux-kun, it took some time to persuade her.」
「……Err, it's a fact that I was kidnapped isn't it?」
Lux first retort at that part with a conflicted face, then he thought of something.
「But──it's amazing that she allowed Relie-san to take me away.」
Based from Yoruka's personality, he thought that at the very least she would come along here even if she had to force it, and yet…
「Yes, she was worried about your well being and wouldn't fold at all. So I also thought of various ideas.」
Relie said that while looking at Philuffy who was still in a daze with a smile.
「When I told her that in order to create an heir, Lux and Phi will need time to be alone with just the two of them, she cheerfully consented.」
「Please don't persuade her with outrageous reason as you please like that-!?」
「My? Is there any problem with that?」
When Relie replied with a serious face, Lux hung his head down.
「What kind of excuse I should make to her when I return to the Academy……!?」
「That was why I properly prepared a situation like this where such thing can naturally happen easily don't you see? Aa, it's regrettable, even though if I knocked the door a bit later, there might be no need to make any excuse.」
Relie wriggled her body, seemingly immersing herself into some kind of delusion by herself.
Perhaps he should say just as expected, it appeared Relie was the mastermind who made him slept with Philuffy.
「Relie-sama. It will be time for breakfast soon.」
The door was knocked once more and this time a clear voice of a young woman came in.
Most likely she was one of the servants of Aingram house.
「Yes yes, we will go there right away. Then Lux-kun, the clothes are put inside the closet, so wake up Phi properly and come down together okay?」
「Wa, wait a second please!? That, at the very least even if just Philuffy's appearance──」
Although Lux yelled reflexively, Relie went out of the room as though she didn't hear anything.
After that there was only Lux and Philuffy who was still in a daze sleepily who were left behind.
「Nn, eh……?」
It seemed that Philuffy's consciousness was finally awakened, she looked at Lux's face in wonder and tilted her head.
「Ah, e, eerr, that's, Philuffy. This is, there is a bit of circ.u.mstance──」
「……That's, wrong.」
「Eh?」
Philuffy suddenly put her index finger on Lux's lips and brought her face close to him seriously. Her cheeks were puffed up slightly.
「When calling me, it's Phi-chan. Right?」
Rather than the situation of her sleeping together with Lux with her appearance was only wearing underwear on bed, she didn't pay that any mind and said that instead with a pure expression.
Being approached until near proximity like this also brought that childishly cute face and big b.r.e.a.s.t.s until right before Lux's eyes. His cheeks spontaneously reddened.
「Ah, so, sorry. That's, go, good morning. Phi-chan.」
Philuffy's usual expressionless look slightly loosened from hearing Lux's words and her lips slackened.
「Yep. Morning, Lu-chan.」
In the end, it appeared Philuffy was at her own pace as usual.
Lux averted his gaze in panic and turned his back on her while changing his clothes so he wouldn't look at Philuffy's underwear appearance as much as possible. Then they went down to the mansion's first floor.
–
Part 2「About that, today I'm thinking to go around visiting several trade partners that are close to our company in work.」
At breakfast table.
Relie suddenly said such thing inside the s.p.a.cious living room where the lined up furniture was emitting beautiful l.u.s.ter.
On the vertically long table, dishes that seemed to be cooked by exclusive cook were lined up until the table was cramped.
Freshly baked pan with herb kneaded into it, sunny-side-up fried eggs accompanied with fatty bacon, salad with oil and lemon juice as its dressing, potage of potato, orange and raspberry jam.
And then there was even dessert that was cooked with pear syrup.
Lux thought that the breakfast that could be eaten in the Academy's dining hall was also quiet substantial, but this breakfast was even more extravagant.
From the point of view of Lux who had gone through a period of life of ch.o.r.es, this menu really wasn't something to be eaten as breakfast.
Perhaps here he should say that, as expected from the daily life of Aingram conglomerate.
「Today we have to get out of the villa soon, so the menu this morning is a moderate one.」
Lux was dumbfounded at what Relie told him smoothly while eating the breakfast.
By the way here──this villa with size that might be five times the normal house seemed to be the house Relie used when she was staying in Cross Field.
Every single one of the dishes that were created by Aingram's exclusive cook was amazingly delicious.
「In the end, what are we going to do this time?」
「You will become attendant of my work. The Academy is procuring various things from a large shop at the third block, so we mainly will come there and have business discussion with the trade partner. At the end of our schedule, there will be a dining together with some big-wigs.」
Relie took out a notebook from her pocket and read it up smoothly.
A woman who seemed to be a secretary was standing some distance away from the table, but it seemed Relie was the type who didn't leave everything to other people and grasped the situation by herself.
「This is also just the right timing to make Phi learn the work as my secretary and bodyguard. I will teach Lux-kun about merchant while also evaluating Phi's work.」
Here the reason why even Philuffy was accompanying them was finally made clear.
「I, is that so……?」
Lux responded while sending his gaze toward Philuffy who was eating breakfast silently. Her expressionless face gave a brief nod.
(Work as Relie-san's secretary, and bodyguard……)
Relie had the position as the heiress of a large conglomerate that was controlling several companies, she had a lot of enemy everywhere.
Philuffy was first cla.s.s as a Drag-Ride, and she was also learning martial art, so she also excelled in self-defense technique.
Based from her ability, it could be said that no one was more suitable than her for the bodyguard role, but she had a bit of problem for secretary work.
Would she really be all right……?
Lux glanced to the side at Philuffy who was looking as though she got no motivation at all while finis.h.i.+ng a lot of breakfast.
–
Part 3It seemed there were seven places where business discussion with trade partner would be held even just for today.
After they finished eating, they immediately dressed up themselves for the outing.
Lux returned to the guest room at the second floor and prepared by stuffing things like water bottle and general goods the servants prepared for him into a small backpack.
Relie had prepared a dress suit exclusive for Lux with his measurement that was unknown when it was taken, so he borrowed a different room that differed from Philuffy and changed clothes there.
「Somehow, it has been a long time since I'm wearing this kind of clothes even when it's a holiday……」
Lux was looking at the mirror while feeling anxious whether he had dressed himself correctly or not, then──,
「Lu-chan, you there?」
The door k.n.o.b was turned *click* and Philuffy suddenly entered inside.
「Uwah!? Phi, Phi-chan!? What are you doing!?」
「I just want to ask a bit, though?」
She tilted her head slightly with her usual absentminded expressionless face.
「Wait, not that, I'm still in the middle of changing here!」
「……I, don't mind you know?」
「Be mindful there! I won't take long so wait a bit!」
He was relieved that at least even Philuffy herself also wasn't in the middle of changing, but like this it was meaningless for him to ask for a different room to change.
Overwhelmed by the presence of the girl who was making her displeasure known wordlessly, Lux quickly changed into his dress suit and finally he turned to face Philuffy again.
「And then, what do you want to──……-!?」
The face of Lux who was talking suddenly stiffened still.
The hands of Philuffy who had already changed into an outfit with similar coloring like Lux's were each holding underwear of different color.
At one hand was purple, while the other hand had black with slightly thin fabric.
Until now he had seen the underwear of female students through several incidents, but what Phillufy was holding were underwear with mature atmosphere that couldn't be categorized the same like them.
Instantly Lux imagined how Philuffy would look wearing them but,
「Which one do you think will be fine for Nee-chan's change of clothes?」
「That's not something to ask me isn't it!?」
Lux spontaneously retorted with rough voice.
It appeared that Philuffy was also scrutinizing Relie's baggage on top of accompanying her.
Of course, such things were usually prepared by servants, but in case of there was no staff of Aingram house nearby or they were in a long travel that took several days, as attendant Philuffy would need to procure them on-site or ordering them and making arrangement.
With such meaning also included, it seemed that Philuffy was thinking by herself about the preparation for the sake of her big sister Relie whom she would be a.s.sisting, but──.
「……Wait, this bag. It's only filled with nothing but snacks though?」
When Lux asked her to show him the content of the bag she prepared, the capacity was occupied by foods like cookie, donut glazed with honey, cheese tart, or whole orange.
「…………. Onee-chan too, perhaps she will get hungry in the middle of work.」
「What was that pause just now!?」
Lux retorted, but Philuffy was silent without a single change in her expression.
Philuffy was absolutely planning to eat them by herselves.
Lux was sighing with that prediction while recalling his own experiences in doing ch.o.r.es.
He had experienced being someone's attendant or carrying luggage in army march, so he used those experiences as reference.
「Err, what to bring will be different each time depending on where you are going, but I think fundamentally it's better to prepare necessities with excellent functionality and small articles.」
Overcoat to protect against cold, wallet, pocket watch, notebook and pen, household medicine, and so on, Lux chose the essentials and stuffed them into the bag together with Philuffy.
After five minutes, the packing for a day trip of someone who was working as Relie's attendant was completed.
「Lu-chan, amazing.」
Philuffy made a small applause *clap clap* and praised him with her usual serious expression.
But, it also looked like Philuffy's expression was vaguely dissatisfied.
To be more accurate, his childhood friend's gaze was fixed on the bag of sweets.
「Eerr, I think that it's quite full already but, want to try putting in the sweets too?」
「Un.」
When Lux asked her, Philuffy nodded as though she had been waiting for it.
But, naturally not everything could go in. Half was the most that could be brought.
「……Unfortunate.」
Philuffy muttered with the slightest hint of dejection hinted within her usual expressionless face.
Lux smiled wryly seeing that.
She hadn't changed since childhood in regard to her love for sweets.
Lux searched for another bag, stuffed the remaining sweets into it, and then put it in inside his own bag.
「I will carry the remaining half for you, so tell me if you run out.」
Hearing Lux's words, Philuffy's eyes sparkled with her serious face staying unchanged.
And then, the next moment──.
「Uwah!?」
*Gyuu*. With a motion that was slow but going through the shortest route, she embraced Lux's body.
「Thank you, Lu-chan. I love you.」
Philuffy whispered with a faint happy smile.
The warmth of the body that was clinging tightly, and the softness of the voluptuous b.r.e.a.s.t.s that were pressed on him caused blood to rush to Lux's head.
「Wai-, wait, let go Phi-chan! My packing is……that's, I still haven't finished it.」
Lux hurriedly try to make her let go of him, but it didn't really go smoothly.
While he was doing such thing, a knocking sound could be heard once more.
「Philuffy-ojousamayoung lady, Lux-sama. It will be soon time to depart, have you finished preparing?」
The voice of Relie's secretary who was also there at breakfast came from the other side of the door.
「Err that's──there is no problem!?」
The panicked Lux immediately yelled with the implication that he didn't want her to open the door, but he blundered.
'We will come down soon so please wait.' He should have said that.
「Is that so, then there is something that I wish to hand over first──!? Please excuse me!」
The female secretary who opened the door and entered inside spontaneously turned red in surprise.
And then, she closed the door hard and rushed down stair right away.
「No, wait!? You are misunderstanding!?」
Lux yelled in panic, but it was already too late.
After that, by the suggestion of Relie who was being considerate for some reason, the departure time was delayed for ten minutes.
–
Part 4After they left the villa that was actually a mansion, they finally departed to the third block of Cross Field.
They traveled mainly by using horse-drawn coach, but they were going through paved path, so the shaking wasn't that bad.
Inside the coach, other than Lux, Philuffy, and Relie, there were only the female secretary and the coachman who was driving the coach. Ten-odd minutes after their departure, Philuffy who was sitting beside Lux had quickly started dozing off sleepily.
「Phi-chan, you mustn't sleep. If you don't guard Relie-san properly──」
「……Un. I, know.」
Philuffy let out a sleepy voice even now and looked up with an absentminded face.
It seemed that Relie would be accompanied by at least two guards when she went out, but today Lux and Philuffy had to serve as their replacement.
Naturally, although they were outside Academy, they had their Sword Devices on their sword belt.
Lux was resolved to also fight when push came to shove.
「Even so, isn't Relie-san anxious?」
「My, I wonder what do you mean? Even though I look like this, in the business world I am known as a capable young lady you know?」
Relie made a teasing smile at Lux's question.
But, what Lux was concerned about wasn't that.
「No, that's not it. About the security, I wonder if it will be enough with just us──」
No matter who strong Philuffy was and how excellent her skill as Drag-Knight, they didn't know what would happen if they were actually attacked.
Lux too almost had no experience doing ch.o.r.es of guarding important person, so he said that for caution's sake.
「Geez Lux-kun, you worrywart. You are Phi's escort, so it will be fine if you relax more and accompany her you know?」
「But──」
「Besides, if it's about Philuffy then you don't need to worry. Even though she look like this, she is sensitive to other people's killing intent and hostility.」
「Err, she is already sleeping though……?」
「Zzz……」
When he noticed, Philuffy who was doing her best to resist the sleepiness until just now finally lowered her eyelids and began to quietly let out sleeper's breathing.
Or rather, her posture had crumbled somewhat and she was leaning until Lux beside her. How should he say it, there was something soft pressing on him.
「……As expected from Phi. She isn't flinching back even at her first duty. As I thought she really has talent as guard.」
「How pampering you are to your little sister!? Or rather, wake up Phi-chan! I told you it's no good to sleep in this kind of time──」
Lux felt his strength drained seeing Relie who was like always while lightly shaking Philuffy beside him.
「Nn, it's fine. ……I'm properly, awake.」
「At least say that with your eyes opened!? Even the miss secretary is watching anxiously since some time ago you know!?」
「You are really exaggerating, Lux-kun. Rash people who would do something stupid like aiming at the coach of Aingram conglomerate won't appear that often. That's why it will be fine.」
「You are already denying the necessity of the guard duty itself though!?」
In the end, wasn't Relie just a.s.signing Philuffy as her aide only for the sake of her mental healing?
The time inside the coach was pa.s.sing while such doubt pa.s.sed Lux's mind.
–
Part 5But, in the end Lux's anxiety only ended up as absurd fear, after that they safely arrived to their destination, in front of a branch store at third block.
「……Amazing.」
Lux who entered inside the building spontaneously raised his voice seeing that sight.
It was a branch shop of Welled Company that was under the umbrella of Aingram conglomerate.
The building made from wood and brick looked conspicuous. It was bigger than he imagined.
A straight paved route was stretching from the closed gate that was a defense point against Abyss. The shop's huge delivery entrance was connected on the route's extension.
It was as though the building was the symbol of greed to quickly buy up the many articles that were brought from Ruin or the outside.
Inside the shop that had high cla.s.s feeling in some respect, there was no wild hustle and bustle like in the market, but the eyes of the men and women of all ages who were exchanging business discussion at their respective table shared the same fierce light in their eyes.
Lux too had got involved several times with this world through his life of ch.o.r.es, and it seemed the characteristic aura that merchants possessed was the same anywhere.
Relie too, right after she lightly greeted the branch manager of the company who should be her a.s.sociate, her expression immediately turned serious and they exchanged stories like the scrutiny of commodity, transactions talk, present market price, and so on.
Beside Relie who was having discussion with a smile that showed no opening, the female secretary who accompanied her was also taking memo with a serious face──,
「……Wait, eh?」
Lux couldn't see Philuffy's figure and thought of it as strange. Then he noticed the poking on his shoulder from the side.
Philuffy was standing beside him with her usual expressionless face.
「Lu-chan. Let's look around together at various merchandise.」
「Eh……!?」
Philuffy was nibbling on a honey glazed donut while saying that.
This shop had three floors, and each floor was amazingly wide.
Certainly it was a place where they could look around without trouble but──,
「No, that's bad right!? We are coming here……more or less as guard or for studying, that's our position here!」
「Onee-chan told me it's fine to study by observing around here.」
「We aren't counted even as helper!?」
「Also, tell me if there is anything you want to buy? I received money from Onee-chan.」
「We were even given pocket money-!?」
What happened with being apprentice for being secretary and guard……?
And then, was it fine for him to not study for later?
He had known about Relie's lackadaisical att.i.tude since the past, but as expected this still made him felt exhausted.
Even so the public safety of Cross Field was good, furthermore a heavy security was laid out at the surrounding of this shop.
The possibility of problem occurring here was remarkably low.
Besides Lux's mission in the end would be only to pretend in appearance, he wouldn't be able to go as far as learning how to do business discussion for real anyway.
Then──perhaps familiarizing himself with the company atmosphere of this place was also a valid method.
「I get it, Phi-chan. Then, how about we look around for a bit?」
「Un. Let's go, together.」
Lux observed around inside the shop together with Philuffy who made a faint smile.
A floor of the three storey shop was fairly wide, it was divided into several section.
It seemed the shop only dealt with few kind of perishable food, but things like bottled seafood or jerky were preserved foods that were liked anywhere.
Because those kinds of foods were also handy for Lux at the period of his life of ch.o.r.es, he was looking at them with nostalgic feeling. The shop a.s.sistant immediately prepared a chair for him, asking if he wanted to taste a sample.
「Ah, don't mind me. We are only looking around so──」
「This is, tasty you know?」
「──Wait, you already eat one!?」
Lux who tried to act reserved made his retort, but Philuffy was chewing the jerky silently.
「Now now, feel free. Please sample the food freely. The result of this year is great as you can see.」
「Ye, yes……」
Urged by the shop a.s.sistant's smile, Lux also sampled the jerky.
Compared to in the past, with the jerky that was only hard and salty that he chewed at his life of ch.o.r.es, this one had a special taste with nice aroma too.
「This, gives the aroma of oak.」
Philuffy who gulped her jerky and nodded muttered that with a small voice.
Then, the shop a.s.sistant reacted in delight.
「Oo, as expected from the little sister of Relie-sama. You have an expert eye there to be able to notice that. Now now, how about the dried grape here too?」
「I like, sweet things.」
「Ah, I'm sorry……. We also want to look around at other thing, so let's stop with this for now──」
Philuffy's eyes s.h.i.+ned in excitement, but for Lux it would be awkward to stay here longer.
Because there was a saying among the merchants, there was nothing more dangerous than something free.
After that, they looked around even more at various things like coffee and tea, sword for self-protection, fur and clothes, and so on, but it appeared that being a daughter from Aingram conglomerate would cause one's name to be widely known, because Philuffy was welcomed no matter where they went.
At first Lux felt awkward at that treatment, but after a while he was getting used to it.
And then, even for Lux too who had been doing various odd jobs for five years, he was having fun after so long looking at various utensils and merchandises that he recognized.
(Somehow, it's nostalgic doing something like this……)
He wondered how long ago it was.
He suddenly recalled something. At time when Lux's mother was still in good health, there was an offer if he was interested going to see the main office of Aingram company together with Philuffy.
Right after that, Lux's grandfather Wade remonstrated the emperor that was carrying out a despotic administration, then Lux's family was banished from the imperial court. Because of that, in the end he was unable to accept the offer──.
「Ah, this one, perhaps it looks quite good──」
While Lux was thinking such thing, he muttered his impression about the knife in front of his eyes.
Perhaps it was made from a good steel that was heated and hammered well, the sharp edge part and the balance of the blade's thickness were nice. And then, the shortness was suited for his ch.o.r.es too.
But, at that moment, a young man merchant beside him suddenly approached beside Lux and Philuffy.
「Oo. Do you like that one? That is a knife I procured from neighboring country, a skilled blacksmith made it. But──, I have something better this way.」
The gentle looking man with wide physique seemed to be a merchant who came from foreign country and not someone from the Welled Company.
The moment the merchant looked at Philuffy's face, he took out a scabbard attached with leather belt that was applied with splendorous ornament from the bag he was carrying and showed it.
「This is……it's a bit of antique, but this is a short blade that was forged by a famous smith at Wam province ten years ago. Its sharpness and solidness are guaranteed.」
「Is──that so?」
Lux took that short sword and gazed at it.
He remembered hearing such rumor several times when he was doing ch.o.r.es at blacksmith workshop, but this kind of showy ornament wasn't really Lux's preference, and it looked expensive.
「How about it? This leather belt is without a doubt the real thing. If it's now I'll give you discount──」
What to do?
Most likely the price would be outside of Lux's reach, but perhaps it would be better to at least show it to Relie?
「Perhaps that's……a fake.」
「Eh──?」
The moment Lux and the merchant tilted their head open mouthed, Philuffy held the short sword over her eyes and stared at it. She then muttered that.
「I saw something like this before, this one's smell isn't really old, also, it looks like the iron's quality is bad, so it's also smelly there, that's how I know.」
Philuffy turned her gaze toward the merchant with her usual expressionless face and bland tone.
「N, no, such thing, you will understand from looking at that sword belt──」
「The leather is genuine. But the inside is different──is, what I think.」
「Ueh……!?」
It appeared to be bull's eye. The merchant who came from the side suddenly showed uneasiness and acted fl.u.s.tered.
His gaze constantly darted around to the surrounding, confirming whether attention was gathered on him.
From that action it was clear whether what Philuffy said was the truth or not.
(……Shocking──)
This traveling merchant surely saw Philuffy who was looking absentminded by herself and tried to sell her a fake, but he met an unexpected counterattack like this.
If it got exposed that he was trying to sell a fake intentionally and got caught here, it would be the same as having his future as a merchant severed.
「Thi, this is truly an inexcusable thing that I have done! Du, due to some mistake it got mixed up with a different merchandise it seems──, I, I beg you to please keep this a secret!」
Philuffy was staring fixedly at the face of the earnestly apologizing merchant with an expression without emotion.
For someone who didn't know her, this silence from Philuffy might felt scary instead.
「The knife before, I want it. The first one.」
「……Eh? Eeeh!? Of course. If it's right now I will give it for cheap!」
The merchant made an awkward business smile and brought out the knife without any decoration before this.
「Make it free.」
「Eh……!?」
It appeared that the knife was of a good quality, because the merchant said 「No, as expected that's……」 with twitching face.
「Is free okay?」
In the end, the merchant was overwhelmed by her pressure and folded.
While Lux was staring at that event from beginning to end in mute amazement, Philuffy accepted the knife wrapped in cloth before she presented it toward Lux.
「Here.」
「Eh……?」
Lux tilted his head at this sudden act.
「For Lu-chan. It's thanks, for helping me, at the morning.」
Philuffy pressed the bundle on him with a serious face.
「No need to hold back, it's free after all.」
「Ahaha, thank you……」
When Philuffy who was obstinate despite her appearance was like this, he could do nothing except shutting up and accepting it.
Lux said his thanks with a wry smile and suddenly a footstep came from nearby.
「How's that, Phi too is unexpectedly pretty good right?」
It appeared that the business discussion was over. Relie approached along with the female secretary.
「If it's food ingredients than Phi can sort out which one is good or bad by smell, even though she look like this but she is reliable you know?」
Reiri puffed up her chest proudly before she then added 「But, she is still not there in grasping the market price and regarding knowledge though」.
The sharpness of her sense of smell might be the influence of the Abyss seed Ratatoskr that was dwelling inside her body, but in the first place Philuffy seemed to look absentminded, so she excelled in in seeing through something's true essence.
All things considered, Philuffy who obtained the knife for free might unexpectedly be a big shot.
「Lu-chan, you see me in better light now?」
「Yes. That was amazing, Phi-chan.」
When Lux showed a smile, Philuffy too made a faint smile.
The atmosphere of ordinary days where he played together with Philuffy.
Lux and Philuffy shared the nostalgic and gentle atmosphere together.
–
Part 6In the end even after that there was no trouble that happened. They went around at various places and at night──they safely returned to the villa at the first block.
After receiving an aromatic tea in the living room and took a breather, Lux went outside to enjoy the cool air.
When he went out to the balcony from the window at second floor, the cool air caressed his hair.
「Even so, it was unexpected.」
Lux was thinking of Philuffy who looked as though she hadn't changed since the past, and yet she showed a little bit of growth even as Relie's secretary and guard.
He got the feeling of relieve that today went well and an emotion that felt like a bit of loneliness.
「But, everyone is changing huh. I too──」
When he was talking to himself like that, a footstep suddenly came from behind and Philuffy arrived at his side.
「Thank you for your hard work today, Phi-chan.」
「Un.」
Her words were few as usual, but a vague hint of happiness was included within her tone.
「Thank you, for accompanying us today.」
Philuffy sat beside him at the balcony while quietly said that to him.
「No. It was a really enjoyable work. At first I didn't know just what would happen but──」
When Lux was smiling wryly while recalling the case of the packing and the food sampling like that,
*Puih*
Philuffy puffed up her cheeks slightly and averted her face from Lux.
「Wai, wait a second……? Did I, said anything strange!?」
「……It wasn't, work.」
「──Eh?」
Lux looked puzzled for a moment, but immediately after, he noticed what Philuffy tried to say.
Come to think of it, certainly regarding the matter this time, he had never heard anyone calling it work for even a single time.
He was only forcefully invited by her big sister Relie to accompany them for reference.
And then Philuffy was spending time with Lux without paying any mind about work or duty at all.
「I, didn't make any work request to Lu-chan, you know?」
Philuffy told him while inside her expressionless face, a vague hint of dissatisfaction oozed through.
「Because, I only wanted Lu-chan, to accompany me together.」
「Ah……」
Philuffy's pure eyes were staring fixedly at Lux's face.
「You're, right. Sorry, Phi-chan.」
Lux too let out a breath and smiled in respond to Philuffy's words.
For Lux who had the shackle of criminal status and life of ch.o.r.es ingrained deeply into himself, it was something natural.
The feeling of himself growing and changing little by little.
But Philuffy was treating Lux not as a criminal of the old empire or even as the ch.o.r.e prince, but merely as her important childhood friend.
(Could it be──)
Perhaps, Philuffy remembered about the promise at their childhood, of the offer to Lux to look around together at Aingram's shop.
For the current Lux, her feeling that was unchanged like that felt really pleasant for him.
「Thank you for inviting me this time. It was fun.」
「I'm glad.」
Philuffy let out a faint sigh of relieve, then she quietly brought her pure expression close to Lux.
「I, won't make request or anything at Lu-chan. If there is anything I want, I'll always say it, and invite Lu-chan──」
Her tone sounded absentminded following her own pace like usual.
However, that tone felt somehow talkative for Philuffy. She continued like that.
「That's why Lu-chan too, you must not act reserved with me, okay?」
And then, she showed her usual faint smile that no one other than Lux would notice.
'Aah.
So it's something like that.' Lux realized her feeling.
Since the past she was calling those who were close to her with nickname was also because she didn't want to act reserved with each other.
Her being a daughter of Aingram conglomerate, or Lux's position as prince or criminal, those were irrelevant. Her act was filled with such feeling.
「Yes. Best regards from here on too, Phi-chan.」
That was why, Lux responded to her feeling with a smile──but,
「Then, today too, let's sleep together?」
「…………Eh!?」
「I said, I won't make request or anything, right?」
「Wai-, wait a second!? Thi, this isn't that kind of problem──!?」
The sudden suggestion that was said with a serious face caused Lux to turn bright red and panicked.
「My? Phi is lonely you know? Since Lux-kun moved to another room in the dormitory──」
「Why is even Relie-san coming here!?」
In the end, it would become like this when he spent time with these two.
「Before, I presented Lu-chan, with a knife you know?」
Philuffy threatened with just a bit dissatisfied tone while her face remained serious.
「Even though normally it doesn't seem like you are interested with trade, don't get calculating just in this kind of time-!?」
–
In the end Lux lost against the pressure and that day he slept with Philuffy on the same bed with canopy attached, but naturally Lux couldn't sleep from the excitement and he spent a difficult night.
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