“Yes, this will take about one day, right, right.” His grumpy words were the stereotypical thing a dwarf would say.

The small man stared intently to the sword, shield, and the full body armor laying on the floor.

Sound of striking hammer rung throughout the place periodically, the heat of the fire and iron being smelt radiating from the back.

Darwyn, who was wearing, surprisingly, normal clothes! His face was open for everyone to see, chestnut eyes—sharp as a dagger, defined jawlines, brown long hair. No one would deny that he was a fine-looking man.

He just finished another quest earlier and had enough money to repair his equipment. Just from one quick glance at his armor, anyone could tell that it was battered and in need of repairs.

“Just what are you fighting lad?” The dwarf blacksmith crossed his arms.

Him, being a dwarf, was of course happy to work with gear having this kind of caliber. But hard things are hard to do even if one were enjoying it.

“How about it?” The dwarf, stretching his neck to its limit, looked at Darwyn.

“Yes. That is fine.” It was only his mouth that was moving, his face didn't show any kind of expression.

Calm and relax even without the helmet.

This was a city, full of adventurers and guards, at least he did not have to worry about being attacked by a monster inside.

“Then I will leave.” His body felt lighter than they should be. Perhaps the armor wore him down more than he expected? Darwyn pushed the door violently, ringing the bell above, then shut it with almost slamming motion.

It was midday, the sun was out and yet it was still freezing cold. It looks like a snowstorm is coming.

He thought, gazing up.

But even so, the merchants around him bustled around, giving scant attention to the weather.

Darwyn took a casual gait, his structure was of that stone golem created by some evil wizard. He continued his way down to the plaza, then another set of traveling merchants appeared, laying their goods at the ground, using carpet as their platform.

Everywhere he looked, there was some kind of product he has never seen before. Different food from different cultures, clothes, and accessories.

Then from the corner of his ears, he picked up some melodic sound accompanied by words.

The dragon has come! To the castle, he began!

Royals and nobles scattered for their lives, the princess was left, all wailing and cries.

But a man has appeared, with the heart made of steel.

He faced the dragon toe to toe and killed the draconic foe.

After which he married, the princess and inherit!

All the coins that made of gold, and the title of the king, that everyone beholds!

A song. A story that he knew since childhood. The story of the first S-class adventurer.

The bard who was singing the tale bowed to his audience elegantly. “Thank you!” He said, happy that his melody was liked by the mass.

“Hmm...” A low gurgle was produced by his throat and then turning around to look for something. He had nothing to do, he might as well pray for his goddess.

The clatter and chatter filled the air, the joyous tone of laughing children passed him as he walked.

“Leader!” Darwyn knew who it was without even looking. Just from the way, her voice sounded like a soft bell, or how she was the only one that called him with that name.

Shen and Liliana were supposed to be together?

“Shen, what are you doing here?” The monk of his party. Shen ran, gracefully evading the passerby as if dancing. Her ears twitched gleefully, then her lips opened “Just wandering, Liliana was inside the library, she said that she feels like she can learn another magic.”

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So she leveled up then? Well, it was no surprise. Liliana also fought the monster, she also participated in killing the aberration back in the abandoned village.

“She said that it was fine to leave her... But is that really the case?” Shen wondered with her lips placed at her chin.

“Yes, no need to worry. The library is the den of the wizards.” He doesn't have to say what will happen to a person who tries to interrupt a group of spellcaster at their study of magic.

Shen understood what he was trying to say and ended up with a seductive smile. “You really look different without your armor Leader.”

“Do I?”

“Yes yes.” Shen closed her eyes at his words, humming her answer with a tune so lovely that it bested the bard earlier.

Along with her body, Shen was the dream and hope of every man. And they wanted to approach her, they really do, but...

“My armor would be back tomorrow, the same time I'll call for my goddess.” The man who got both the looks and body prevented the men from doing so.

“Want to go somewhere with fewer people?” The monk elf realized all the attention they were getting. Darwyn on the other hand nodded at her suggestion.

“Fine.” He said, turning his back. The shield that she was used to seeing was not there.

Shen stepped lightly, then took another one, siding with Darwyn, her eyes darted at his face. “You and Liliana left me in the morning.”

“Because you're asleep.” Darwyn's steady speed made it easy for Shen's slender leg to follow. “I guess so...”

The city has a park and a small lake within it. Trees were planted and benches were built, all of it to renovate the old boring ruins of the place.

Underneath their shoes were grass, folded by the pressure of their weight. It bounced back as soon as they lift their feet, then retracted once it came back.

“No merchants here huh?” Shen muttered.

Trees were everywhere, bushes too. People were few, some sat on the grass while some laid cloth as a cushion.

“I heard that they are forbidden inside this park,” Darwyn confirmed that the place was safe before answering Shen.

It would be reasonable to ban merchants here, it would destroy the park. He thought.

Carefully, Shen rested her bottom at the wooden bench while her hands supporting her. “Aren't you going to sit Darwyn?”

She said, tapping off the dust of the bench.

“No. I'll only destroy the bench,” Darwyn said, his arms were tucked in beneath his body. He didn't want to destroy something, his weight could crush a normal human.

“But you're not wearing armor though?”

“Ah.” That was true. As if it was some kind of revelation, Darwyn let out a “Hmm...” before sitting near Shen.

The bench complained with a squeak at Darwyn, provoking laughter from Shen who watched his movement, amused.

“This is the first time I have seated this close to a man.” She sounded sweet and innocent as if a young girl confessing her love.

But Darwyn being himself, did not get any of this and simply responded with “I see,” then facing the wide forest-like park.

From his back, chattering merchants could be heard, contrasting the warble of birds, and tree leaves rushing

at his front.

He could see the twirling leaf riding the air current. His head soon followed the leaf.

“Thank you for protecting Liliana.” His statement was brief, they always are, but Shen felt comfort from this.

“She's really special to you, right Darwyn?” Shen shrugged her body ever so slightly.

“Yes. She's still growing. She has yet to experience her life fully.”

“True. He-he-he, I guess I'm kinda jealous of Liliana when you put it that way.” It was just playful banter, no deeper meaning behind it. Shen kept her almost permanent smile, her ears started, and when she checked what Darwyn was up to, she found him staring at her.

“Wha! Mouh! Darwyn...! You surprised me...!” She jumped back and her hands were pushing Darwyn away, though he did not move much.

“Sorry.” He said with a solemn look. He apologized even though he did not know what he did wrong. “But why are you jealous of Liliana? You are special to me too.”

If he were to choose between Liliana and Shen, he would choose both. For one was given to him by her goddess, and the other one joined him at will.

The trust that they placed on him was not something he could betray. With all those going inside his mind, Shen was panicking with a red face—her flapping ears, too.

Her white finger placed at her collar, her palm at her chest. She was breathing slowly, regaining her rhythm.

Unbeknownst to Darwyn, Shen was actually avoiding looking at him in the eyes. For various reasons, of course.

So that was why she was shocked at him peering into her.

“Do-don't spout those kinds of things randomly okay? It's not good.” She said, then follow faintly with “to my heart.” but that failed to reach Darwyn.

“But I said the truth.” He grunted.

He only told the truth, what was there to be angry about? It was a weird day for Darwyn.

Shen looked down while fanning her face with her hand, while the other touched her cheek. “Gosh, I am not expecting this.”

The most devastating attack was the one that no one expected. It was a common proverb in her country but this was the first time she fully understands what that meant.

“Do you want me to cast Heal on you?”

“I-I don't think Heal can help me right now.” Even with all the happening to her, she still managed a chuckle, nervously.

“It's kinda hot in here isn't it?” As her moist eyes wandered around, she started saying some excuse to divert Darwyn's attention.

“I guess.”

He replied solemnly.

In Darwyn's sight, there was a mother and a child holding hands, walking before them. The boy raised his finger and pointed at them. “Mom. Are those lovers?”

These remarks were not something an elf ear could not hear, even if she doesn't want to.

“L-lovers!” Shen stood up from her seat and then began to make awkward gestures. “W-w-we're n-not l-lovers...!”

Her voice was awfully high.

This made the mother cackled. “Sorry about my son.” Then left as if nothing happened.

If Liliana was here, she would say something like “A cliche! That's a cliche right!?” or whatever that means.

But since she was not, Shen has to deal with all of this on her own. Her skills when it came to relation was practically zero.

It could be said the same for Darwyn, but the difference in personality made them react distinctly.

“Are you alright Shen?”

It was only a little, but Darwyn's eyebrows were disturbed.

“...I'm fine...” The strength of her body left. Her shoulder was slumped, and she returned to the bench while clutching her head.

“But I think my head hurts.” Shen made a circling motion with her thumb, massaging her temple.

“Do you want me to cast Heal on you.”

“Oh, Darwyn. How I wish it could be treated with just that.”

Her mind was in mess and she was thinking of all of the things. Maybe that was why she didn't notice that she was already resting her head against Darwyn's body.

His rough body, the smell that she was familiar with, all of this calmed her...down?

Shen jolted straight up. “I'm sorry! I-I didn't mean it!” She wailed at the man who remained unfazed.

Darwyn shook his head with eyes shut, then opened them again. “I do not mind.”

It was only at this moment, that she realized that a person could turn this red. She audibly gulped her saliva with a nod, then slowly, she touched Darwyn's arm with her head.

“T-then I guess... I shall stay like this for a moment.”

Everything seems vibrant through the elf's eyes. Everything seems beautiful than they usually are. Why is that? She had no answer.

She couldn't, this feeling was, after all, new to her. She grasped her abundant chest as if trying to suppress the sound of her beating heart.

Sweat fell from her neck, her cheeks were flustered. She wondered, what would Darwyn thought if he saw her smiling happily even at this moment?