CHAPTER 83 – ÉCLAIR D’AMOUR

KATE ZEPHYRUS

After spending the evening engrossed in conversation with Mariko, I strolled back to our airship, the Windwalker, tethered at the port. The surroundings were unexpectedly deserted, with only our airship casting its imposing silhouette against the dimming sky. A handful of individuals, mostly elderly dragonoids and onis, lingered sporadically, engaged in activities like fishing or leisurely walks with their canine companions.

Stepping into the airship's dining room, I discovered Hiraya in the midst of unpacking provisions from paper bags. It was evident she had embarked on a shopping venture and returned a few minutes ahead of me. The golden-haired elf adorned a white flower in her hair, accentuating her radiant presence. She hummed contentedly while arranging the takeout meal.

"Oh, Kate! Just in time. I'm about to summon everyone for dinner," Hiraya greeted, her cheeks tinged with a subtle blush. "I thought we could indulge in some takeout since, let's face it, none of us are culinary wizards."

"Perfect!" I responded, a grin playing on my lips. "I'm famished, and I'm eager to savor some local dishes from the Land of Demons."

"Well, well, well..." Hiraya sported a mischievous, cat-like smile. "How did your date with Mariko unfold?"

"Date? How did you catch wind of that?" I inquired, genuinely intrigued.

“Gaeun spilled the beans. She mentioned that you're head over heels for the Fourth Dragon Lord and left the scouting and supplies to the others while you pursue your heart's desire," Hiraya remarked, a playful smile on her face.

"Ugh, Gaeun and her gossip obsession," I sighed. "But yeah, it's true. I'm courting the Fourth Dragon Lord. Is that a problem?"

Hiraya shook her head. "No problem at all, Kate. Actually, you're making things easier for us. If Mariko Septem becomes your girlfriend, that's one more Dragon Lord in the Daybreaker Squad."

"Just to be clear, I'm not courting her to recruit her for our battles! No!" I exclaimed, clutching my chest. "My feelings for her are genuine and unwavering! It was love at first sight!"

"Okay, okay. No one is questioning your motives, Kate," Hiraya reassured, patting my back. "I just want to wish you luck in your romantic pursuit, even though this seems like the fifteenth time you've fallen in love at first sight since Magic High."

"You say that as if you're not a tomboy." I pouted.

Hiraya continued unpacking the meals from the paper bag and responded, "Well, being a tomboy is different from being a lesbian. Lesbians, like you, have a thing for girls, while tomboys, like me, have a thing for boys." She winked with a sly grin.

"Then what’s with you turning down guys at the Magic High? And that time with Alris, the pretty boy who poured his heart out to you," I teased with a sly grin.

“W-What?” Hiraya gasped, her eyes widening. “W-Who told you about Alris getting turned down?”

“Gaeun,” I replied, resting a hand on my hip and maintaining my mischievous smirk.

“Gaeun really can't resist spreading gossip,” Hiraya sighed. “But yeah, I rejected him because it just wasn't the right time. No.” Hiraya shook her head. “Back then, I was tangled up in my own feelings, unsure how to respond.”

Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

“It’s because you've got feelings for Lysander, isn't it?” I blurted out, unable to keep my thoughts to myself.

Suddenly, Hiraya’s pale face flushed with a deep red, her elven ears perking up like an alerted canine. The tips of her ears turned the same shade of red, betraying the intensity of her emotions. Startled by my revelation, she glanced around to ensure no one was eavesdropping. After confirming our privacy, she let out a sigh.

“It’s not like I’m trying to hide it anyway, but I think you’re right,” Hiraya admitted. Her golden eyes twinkled, and she placed a hand on her chest, feeling the rapid thumping of her heart. “I wasn’t sure back then. But when we faced Johnny Wolvesbane and Maggie Antlers, and he swooped in to save me from the dragons, that's when I knew he was the one.”

“Well then, court him!” I urged, giggling with a wide smile.

Hiraya erased the blush from her face and pouted. “I may be a tomboy, but I'm the girliest girl in this group. I can’t court him. A girly girl will never confess first, you know.”

“That thirty-year-old virgin time traveler might take one hundred timelines before he could even confess, though,” I mused, staring at the ceiling, brainstorming a solution for Hiraya’s predicament.

“Lysander’s twenty-eight, but yeah, I get your point,” Hiraya chuckled. “Well, we'll just take it slow.” She giggled, tilting her head to show me the white flower hairpin.

“Oh,” I said, catching up. “I’ve been meaning to tell you, that set of flower hairpins suits you really well, Hiraya. Where did you find it?”

“Hehe,” Hiraya gave a delightful smirk and blushed. “I didn't find it. Lysander did.”

Hiraya's revelation caught me off guard. Lysander, the quiet and reserved guy, had given Hiraya a gift? While I knew he harbored an obvious crush on her, I never imagined he would step up and do something unexpectedly sweet.

“H-He gave you that as a gift?” I asked, unable to hide my surprise.

“Yep! This flower is Éclair D'amour, a rare flower that doesn't wither as long as it's near a mana source. It’s quite cute, isn’t it?” Hiraya boasted.

“That makes you a lot more beautiful and elegant. I feel like you’re some kind of goddess,” I praised our captain.

“Well, I’m something of a reincarnation of a goddess myself, but thank you.” Hiraya blushed, wearing an embarrassed smile.

Our moment was abruptly interrupted when Gaeun swung open the dining room door, followed by Charlotte and then Lysander, who promptly closed the door behind them.

“Is the food ready? A princess like me needs to refill her stomach after a day of walking around,” Charlotte declared, sounding exhausted.

“Fuck off, Charlotte,” Lysander groaned. “You came back here with Gaeun after only two hours. You didn't even buy us any supplies and dumped your duty on me and Hiraya.”

“Now, now, don’t be hostile,” Hiraya mediated, attempting to diffuse the tension. “Let’s just eat in harmony and peace.”

With that, Hiraya opened the packaged food, revealing an array of raw dishes—salmon and tuna sashimi, crab sushi, cooked rice, miso soup, teriyaki, and even sweets like taiyaki. A jar of pickled vegetables completed the spread, offering a balanced diet.

“Wow!” The sight of the feast made all of us drool as we gathered around the dinner table.

“While we eat, I want to hear your reports. Just relax and tell me everything you learned on this island,” Hiraya instructed as she poured miso soup into bowls for everyone. “Charlotte, you’re up first.”

“Okay, Captain.” Charlotte sassily flicked her hair after taking a sip of her soup. “Onishira is currently surrounded by dragonoid soldiers from the Republic. The onis despise these dragonoids who seem to control the entire island, but they're terrified of the Dragons. The dragons are casually roaming the place, searching for a sign of the next coming of the Dragon Lord. I've heard that the dragonoid army is under the command of the ambassador, an Erudite named Dennis the Decease. Rumor has it that he possesses an instant-kill magic.”

I nearly choked on my miso soup at the mention of the name. “That douchebag! He’s tormenting my Mariko!”

“Calm down, Kate. Calm down,” Hiraya advised, maintaining her composure. She then turned to our chubby black-haired friend. “How about you, Gaeun?”

“Um, all I’ve discovered was already said by Charlotte,” Gaeun shyly bowed. “But if you want me to disclose what I just heard a few minutes ago, I am happy to share it with the table.”

“What? What did you hear a few minutes ago?” Lysander asked, his blue eyes filled with confusion.

“Um, it’s all about what I heard from Kate and Hiraya talking a while ago—”

Suddenly, a bowl cracked. I noticed that Hiraya’s bowl, which she was holding, had shattered from being clenched too tightly.

“Shut up, Gaeun~ Shut the fuck up~” Hiraya gave a fake smile, attempting to hide her building demonic aura.

“O-Okay, shutting my mouth up!” Gaeun covered her mouth, signaling her intention to stop the gossip, at least for now.

We all exchanged wry smiles. If there's an unwritten rule in the Daybreaker Squad, it's not to piss off our captain.