Having resolved the issue of the sudden Enmity attack, Lass and Ikarisa had finally reached the front gate of Reingard. The goddess had tightly wrapped herself around Lass's arm not letting go of the slightest things, completely overwhelmed by the sheer presence of people in the streets.
"Heh. You weren't kidding when you said new people and places ain't your thing... can't blame you though. I'm kind of the same, but I do find it a bit ironic that the ‘goddess responsible for all life in this world can't deal with being around anyone.", he said as he let out a small chuckle
"The stories...are not always real.", she said as she started dowsing off.
Without even realizing it Ikarisa had dozed off.
"I do suppose it's been a long day...a hotel will be our best bet. Hopefully, the hotels here aren't-you've gotta be kidding me..." he reached for his pockets.
"What happened?" Ikarisa mumbled as she was itching her eyes.
"My wallet. I forgot it back home. That or I was pickpocketed by my AI as revenge for what I did."
"Can't we stay at a hotel anyway?" Ikrisa said as she was yawning.
Lass facepalmed. "This ain't that simple. Merits are the one language everyone speaks and the one key that unlocks all doors. Without it staying at a hotel is but a dream. God dammit, do we have to go all the way back now? I knew leaving in such a hurry was a bad idea."
"Hey, over there." she said, pointing to an announcer.
"Come all to the Arena of Riza's Capital and compete against other warriors in the annual Knight Of Knights tournament! The Grand prize is one million Merits and a personal invitation from the King of Reingard to a super luxurious party! All warriors must sign themselves up and stay at the Blood Moon Hotel while participating in the event!", the announcer was yelling at the streets.
A small shutter shook Lass from the sheer amount of money that was offered for such an event.
"Can't we stay at that hotel? I'm tired..."
"Yea, if I have a death wish...I said I knew how to handle a sword not that I spent my entire life mastering it. The opponents I will face will probably kill me first thing."
"But the way you took down that Enmity and saved that merchant...could there be someone even stronger than that?"
Lass paused looking at his arm, having completely healed from the move he performed earlier. And the more he stared at it the more he started to doubt his abilities as a smith and recognize himself more as a swordsman.
"We don't have another choice do we?", he said letting out a long sigh. "Fine...Hey, you! Where's the hotel supposed to be?", he said to the announcer.
"On the left and straight ahead! You won't be able to miss it! And good luck on your future battles!"
"Yea-yea whatever, thanks.", he said, grabbing Ikarisa's hand and going toward the left.
Walking down the road and finally reaching the hotel they were both surprised to see the sheer prestige and luxury of it despite the event it was all set up for.
"Welcome. I suppose that you are here for the signup? Name and stage name please.", said the administrator.
"Lass Leviere. And do I need a stage name?"
"If you would like you can leave that field open. Stage names are mostly used as a way to intimidate opponents in the arena. Here are the keys to your room. The number is written on top. And... well the pretty petite lady be staying with you?"
"Uh, yea...that ain't an issue right?"
"Not at all. But please do be warned that the bedrooms are always preset with one double-sized king bed. If you want to sleep separately there's also the option of the room's couch."
"Yea, that'd be fine."
Going up at the room they were both again surprised to be greeted by the sheer luxury of the room brilliantly shining in front of them.
"Wow...this is most unexpected."
"So pretty..."
"Alright so...how about you go check out the place while I go take a shower? Then I can make something you and I can eat before we go to bed ok?"
"Ok.", she said as she calmly nodded.
As Lass had stepped into the shower after a tiring day of being out in the fields he could not but dwell on his thoughts. Why did he so suddenly and so eagerly threw himself into such a journey? How did he manage to strike such a move before having never trained with the blade fully? And just what was that overwhelming feeling of need for protecting that little goddess? So many questions but not a single answer. And then he was forced back into reality.
"Excuse me, sir. There was mail directed to you.", said the maid outside the room door.
"Sure, I'll pick it up right now. Thanks.", he said, dressing up.
"Pleasure to be serving you sir.", the maid said as she bowed.
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Having just stepped out of the bathroom and going to claim the mail he was surprised to see a small package with a little card coming out of it. And the card read.
"Word of your arrival in Reingard came to my ears and thanks to you I've reached my shop in the big city. News travels fast around these parts...and small-town boys with a pretty young girl next to their side do tent to stand out...well practically anywhere. I was surprised to hear that you're going to be taking part in the annual Knight Of Knights tournament though I'm sure that you're doing it for some odd reason of yours. Inside this care pack, I've sent you really good solid armour and some secondary gear for the tournament as well as some clothes for you and the pretty lady that I think will fit you and especially her like a glove! I've also sent a couple of Gulbits to help you out if you need anything during your stay...best of luck out on the field, I'll be cheering hard for you from the crowd, and thanks again for saving me out there! Yours truly, Anya the merchant."
A small smile tried to come across Lass's face as he received the gift.
Lass then spotted a large piece of beef in the package. "And I was just starving for some meat too. Hey Risa. Come check this out! We got some gifts."
"Oh wow!", she said with a pair of sparkling eyes.
"Alright so...how about you go find out which one of those outfits you like best and I go prepare us some dinner?"
"Yes!"
As Lass finished unpacking the rest of the package he was delighted to see some first-hand light armor tailored for his size. Light but durable it would appear to be able to protect its wearer without sacrificing much in the way of mobility. And then he hastily went to the kitchen focusing on one of the...better things in the package. And as he was making their dinner a shy little goddess had stepped out from the room looking for advice...in her manner.
"S-So...what should I wear?", she said, blushing from top to bottom.
“I dunno Risa, you tell me. Besides I'm not one to take fashion advice from considering the only thing I wear is...oh...shit.", he looked at her with a straight face as he turned his head around to face her and then looked back at his cooking pot.
"What happened...?", she awkwardly questioned back, lowering both outfits she had held on to.
The little goddess had presented herself with clothes at hand, without a single piece of other clothing on her body, asking for advice.
"What happened? You tell me. Judge off the air you can feel on your skin.", he continued cooking, "Why would you present yourself in front of me naked? You do realize that...you know. We just met and everything...right?"
"Isn't that how you repay a favor? I-I only did it because I thought you'd like it.", she scarily said, covering her naked body.
"Honestly, I both don't care and am not into this so...yeah. That's not the way to do this at all. Dress up. You have no idea where that sort of thinking will get you when you meet some perverts out there.", he said with a bored expression on his face.
"Is that it...were you...disgusted with what you saw?", she worryingly asked.
Lass first made sure that the food was cooking correctly, leaving her standing. He then walked towards Ikarisa while looking her dead in the eyes, grabbing her head and turning her around, pushing her into the bedroom, and closing the door behind her.
”I don’t know if your air-filled head can understand this, but this is exactly the reason why I came here. Thank god I didn’t leave you strolling around like a moron, because I’m seriously starting to understand why you got into the previous troubles you said.”
"S-So you liked it?" she said, blushing again in an instant behind the door.
“Out of everything I said, this is what you pinpointed to? Ho-ly shit…I’m in over myself here. Yeah, yeah, millennia-old goddess, my ass, what a dumbass trope. Looks my age and acts like an absolute air-head. Piss off...”, he muttered to himself.
The silence following his scolding, Ikarisa began changing in the other room while Lass kept mumbling on and on in the kitchen, making their dinner.
"That idiot...I don't know if I should be grateful she did that here instead of somewhere else or wonder why she is breathing and living with that mindset she's got. And here I was thinking I am the one who was oblivious to situations and people.", he said as he took a deep breath.
When he finished setting up the table and serving the freshly made dishes, he approached the shut bedroom door having his words set at the tip of his tongue.
"Risa? Hey, listen...I didn't mean to be so harsh on you. But you caught me off, guard! I wanted to make a point so that you could be a little more thoughtful and careful about your decisions...what I meant to say is that you need to watch out more.”
Before he could finish his words the tiny goddess, not wearing anything new that was given to her.
“My head is always fuzzy…I swear, I’m not stupid. Please don’t think that I’m an air-head…” she sadly said.
"I didn't mean it when I said that. But you can’t disagree with the fact that you’re acting like an airhead. Seriously, what the hell?"
”She…said so too. But no matter how hard I try to remember everything from my experiences…I get stuck. You won’t be leaving me…right?”
"Of course not.", he said, nodding calmly, “You’re weird, I’ll give you that. But from now on, please do me a favour. Clothes on.”
”Hmm. Ok.”
”Alright then. Food’s up. Let’s eat and sleep…I’m probably going to be a national sensation on TV tomorrow…can’t wait.”, he faked excitement.
Had they begun to eat and during the feasting, it was only but obvious that for her size the little goddess had packed quite the appetite?
"Mmm, this is so good! Your cooking is so good!" she spoke with her mouth full.
"Yeah, no kidding...that's plate number four you're going down on. And I barely started plate two.", he said in surprise, “Though if I were alone, it’d be over rather fast.”, he whispered
"Can't help it! Where did you learn how to cook like that?"
"I dunno. Probably just the time spent in that old forges myself. And I did read a lot of articles and recipes out of boredom online so…there’s that. Also, that being said, this will be your last plate."
"Hmm?! Why?", she said as she tried to guard the bowl of food in front of her.
"You're gonna have a stomach ache if you keep this up. The food also has a lot of spices on it. I am certainly a glutton when it comes down to it too but I can't quite say the same about you yet."
"You're so mean...", she said in a sad voice
"I’m just being cautious. And stop acting like a little kid! If anything, there’ll be more tomorrow anyway, unless I’m planning on starving us.
"Ok!", she said as she giggled.
"Certainly easy to please her..." he whispered.
Having finished their dinner and picked up the empty utensils it was only then that Lass would once again be faced with a late-night calamity.
"Uh-oh. So…Risa. How about you take the big luxurious bed fit for a goddess and I just, take the couch ok?"
"Hmm", she nodded.
"Good. Have a good night's rest then!"
As he moved to the couch he was, without knowing it, being followed by the little goddess.
"Oh ok, you want the couch? I'll go to the bed then."
Going inside the luxurious bedroom he was then once again followed by a little goddess.
"Risa...I can't play this game right now you know that right?", he said, this time in an angry manner.
"It's been so long...since anyone treated me this way. I grew afraid of...sleeping alone. In the dark."
In reminiscence of her faded but dark memories, he could only empathize with her as for the first time he dared not to push her away but keep her alongside him.
"Fine...if it makes you feel better. But don't go around getting used to it. This is just once, got it?
"Thank you...so much...so, so much.", she said smiling, before she dowsed off to his embrace.
"Whatever...just make sure to finally get some rest.", he said while letting out a long breath, and falling asleep beside her.
And as the moon reached its highest point they both released themselves into their dreams, waiting in excitement for the adventures of tomorrow that were yet to come...