"I'll Catch Up Later, So Go On Ahead!" I Said, and Stayed Behind in the Dungeon for Five Years. When I Returned to the Royal Capital, for Some Reason, I Had Become a Great Criminal, So I Decided to Retire. But Outstanding People Keep Gathering Around Me Though... - Episode 29: Date

Episode 29: Date

“Fuwaa. Morning already…”

Early morning. As usual, I wake up.

I do some light training and wipe off the sweat afterward.

There’s no change to this routine—even on holidays, it’s the same.

Since it’s mostly standing work, working at a bakery surprisingly uses a lot of physical strength.

I do at least the minimum amount of training to maintain my stamina.

“It’s about time.”

Today, I’m going out into town with Lisel. So after getting ready to go out, I head to the shop.

When I step outside, the sky stretches out endlessly clear. A blue drop without a single cloud enveloped the world.

“Lisel, are you here—?”

I enter the shop and call for Lisel. But there’s no response.

Is she still asleep?

Although with Lisel, I doubt that would be the case.

“S-sorry! It took me a while to get ready…!”

Lisel appears in a fluster—but she looks different than usual.

Gone is her usual cheerful vibe; instead, she’s dressed in a calm white one-piece dress.

The fabric gently catches the light. And the delicate lace on the cuffs and hem subtly adds a touch of elegance.

Her hair is more carefully tied up than usual. It was held together with a pale blue ribbon.

The small pearl earrings swaying at her ears also sparkle.

“O-ohh…”

“Um. How do I look? Since we’re going out, I tried a little harder today…”

Lisel seems a bit nervous—but the words I should say were already clear.

“I think you look really nice. You’re cute, Lisel.”

“Ka…! Th-thank you very much.”

That was my honest feeling.

Lisel at work is great too. But seeing her dressed up like today, she’s definitely cute.

—

“Haru. Lisel. Don’t stay out too late.”

“Yes, Boss.”

“Okay!”

As Lisel and I were about to leave the shop, the boss called out to us.

It seemed he had heard from Lisel that the two of us were going out.

“──Haru.”

“Yes. What is it?”

“If it’s you, I think it’s fine.”

“? I-I see…”

“Yeah.”

I wasn’t quite sure what he meant, but… was he praising me…?

The boss had an unusually serious expression. So maybe it was something important…

But I couldn’t even begin to guess what he was implying.

After that, Lisel and I got into a carriage and headed to a town called Aldia.

It was a mid-sized city along the kingdom’s main highway.

It used to be a post town. but now it had developed into a trading city.

I had visited it a few times during my adventurer days. But this would be the first time in five years.

Surely many things had changed.

Also, apparently when people from Rothen go into town, it’s often to Aldia.

After swaying in the carriage for a while, Lisel and I arrived safely in Aldia.

Since it was a holiday, there were a fair number of people and it was quite crowded.

“There sure are a lot of people.”

“Yes. A bit more than usual.”

“Lisel. Don’t get lost.”

“Y-yes!”

Lisel quickly moved to stay close beside me as we walked.

Of course, my stride was naturally longer.

So I had to slow my pace by a few steps.

She walked slightly hesitantly. But she still looked ahead with a smile. She was clearly enjoying herself.

Seeing that profile, I matched my pace without saying anything. It was so as not to break that expression.

“So, what do you want to buy?”

“Um. Daily necessities and… if possible, I’d like to look at some clothes and accessories too, if that’s okay…?”

“Of course.”

“Thank you so much!”

Lisel and I first bought daily necessities, then headed to a clothing shop.

The shop was tucked away in an alley a bit off the main boulevard, almost as if it were hidden.

The moment we opened the wooden door, a soft scent of high-quality fabric and fragrance tickled our noses.

Inside the shop were silks from the East, woven fabrics from the West, and even formalwear cloth from the royal capital, all tightly arranged.

“Ohh. This is amazing.”

“Yes. I’ve been here a few times, and the selection is always impressive.”

Colorful dresses and stylish travel outfits hung on the walls. And on the tailoring table, half-sewn outfits were laid out.

The magical lights used in place of lamps gave off a gentle glow. It quietly highlighted the fabrics’ sheen.

This lighting was probably adjusted to suit the shop.

This is educational.

—

“Haru-san… do you have a preference when it comes to clothes?”

Lisel looked at me as if trying to read my expression.

“Hmm. I think people should wear what they like.”

“I’m not very good with flashy things, but… what do you think?”

“Yeah, I think simple clothing suits you more than flashy stuff.”

“Then, I’ll try some on… I’d be happy if you could give me your thoughts.”

“Of course.”

Lisel picked out a few outfits and entered the fitting room.

As I waited for her to come out, the curtain opened quickly.

“H-how do I look…?”

Lisel held the hem of her skirt with her fingertips. She was looking nervous and asking in a quiet voice.

She was wearing a collared blouse in a soft cream color, and a knee-length deep green skirt.

Neither had flashy decorations. But the quality of the material and the fine stitching stood out.

The sleeves were slightly puffed and gathered at the wrists, so that each small movement made the fabric sway lightly.

“Ohh! That looks amazing!”

“Really…?”

“Yeah. You should buy that. I’ll pay for it.”

“Eh!? B-but…”

“It’s thanks for always helping me out.”

“…Understood. Thank you very much, Haru-san.”

Lisel smiled.

At that moment, she looked just like a refined noble lady from a wealthy home.

After buying the clothes, we decided to rest at a nearby café.

At that moment… maybe it was just my imagination.

But I felt like someone was watching us…

No, wait. The magical presence just vanished. Based on this feeling, it’s probably──

“Haru-san? Is something wrong?”

“No, it’s nothing. It’s just really crowded. Lisel, give me your hand.”

“Eh… y-yes.”

I took Lisel’s small hand in mine.

With this many people around, we might get separated.

And so, the two of us headed to the café.