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"I knew it! You suddenly came out and said you wanted to escort me, but it was actually to take out the bandit hideout... But why didn't you tell me? Why did you send me back first and then come back alone? After you left, I realized something was off. I thought about what happened yesterday... and sure enough, it was here, the place you left in the middle of the night..."
After Roxy and Allen met, Allen tried to explain, but before he could say anything, Roxy glared at him and immediately started using fire magic to destroy the evidence.
Allen watched as Roxy expertly disposed of the bodies and then quickly pulled him away from the scene by his sleeve. Only now did they finally start talking properly.
In the forest, Roxy, the "Blue Mother," heated water with magic and stood on a large rock behind Allen, washing his hair.
A floating water ball, heated by flames at the bottom, dripped warm water onto Allen's body, washing away the blood and grime. The water pooled on the ground, tinged red with blood.
Of course, Allen was still clothed. The reason they decided to wash him like this was that he was too covered in blood and dirt. They figured it would be easier to just rinse him off while washing his hair.
"Well... honestly, it was too dangerous."
"And going alone wasn't dangerous?"
Roxy half-closed her eyes, her fingers gently combing through Allen's hair, untangling the blood-matted strands.
Allen sat on the ground, leaning against Roxy, looking somewhat helpless. He thought he had successfully fooled her, but she had figured it out as soon as they parted.
Why couldn't she figure it out when they were together?
Strange.
"Well... I was confident in my abilities."
Roxy tapped Allen's head lightly, like knocking on a watermelon.
Allen, feeling guilty for using Roxy as a tool, took it without complaint. But Roxy didn't stop, and after a few taps, he felt like a turtle poking its head out of a tank in a seafood market, only to be pushed back in.
He quickly raised his hand to block, but Roxy stopped just in time, her hand moving to continue washing his hair.
In the next moment, their fingers intertwined.
Allen froze, instinctively squeezing her hand.
'It's soft, smooth, and warm... Her fingers are so slender, like they could break with a little pressure...'
'Wait! What am I doing?!'
Allen suddenly snapped out of it and realized Roxy's hand had stiffened in his grip.
He looked up at her, stunned.
Under the night sky, the flickering flames cast shifting shadows on Roxy's face. She stared at their intertwined fingers, and when she noticed Allen looking up, she quickly glanced at him before averting her gaze.
Her voice trembled slightly in the night breeze.
"...Next time... if something like this happens, remember to write to me. I might be able to help... After all, we promised to become adventurers together in the future."
"...Okay."
"...If it's urgent, ask Paul for help too. He's an advanced practitioner in three styles. It's dangerous to act alone... Everyone would worry about you... You should apologize to them when you get back..."
"...Okay."
"...Are your hands hurt? Is your body injured? Do you need healing magic?"
"...Okay, uh... No, I'm fine."
"...But I remember you said the Twenty Slashes put a lot of strain on your body. Did you combine them with an ultimate technique? I've seen you practicing recently..."
"Uh... There's some strain, but it's fine."
"...Were you lying to me before?"
"No! But really, it's..."
"...Goddess of Motherly Love, please heal this person's wounds and restore his health. Healing Magic!"
"...Thank you."
"...You're welcome. Do you... still feel unwell?"
"Not at all..."
Roxy had already shifted her gaze back to Allen's face. Under the night sky, Roxy looked down while Allen looked up, their eyes meeting in silence.
The water above Allen's head had stopped flowing at some point. Perhaps Roxy had lost focus and couldn't maintain the magic, or maybe she wanted to get a better look at Allen's wounds...
Or perhaps...
She just wanted to see his face more clearly.
But who knew what Roxy was thinking? She simply looked at Allen with a troubled expression, her blue eyes flickering in the darkness.
Then, she pulled her hand away from Allen's grasp.
Only then did Allen realize he had been holding Roxy's hand throughout the entire conversation. He stared at his hand, his mind blank.
At six years old, he had hidden in a brothel to escape the Northern Second and became the "sisters'" favorite plaything. But now, he was as innocent as a three-year-old child.
Roxy took a deep breath, turned her back to Allen, and summoned a larger water ball. Flames surrounded it, creating a bubbling sound as the water heated.
"By the way... the air in the forest at night is really nice..."
"Ah... yeah..."
Roxy pointed at the water ball without turning around.
"...Go... go take a bath. You smell like blood..."
"...Alright."
By the time Allen finished bathing, washing his clothes, and drying them—with Roxy covering her face and turning away the entire time—it was already morning.
The two walked through the forest to the roadside.
"Remember to write to me."
"Okay."
Allen, wearing wrinkled clothes, waved goodbye to Roxy.
Amid the birdsong, Roxy gave him a bright smile.
"See you in the future."
Allen, realizing he had left in a hurry yesterday without waiting for Roxy's response, awkwardly scratched his cheek as he watched her walk backward, waving.
Roxy's lips moved as if she wanted to say something more, but seeing Allen's dazed expression, she simply smiled softly, turned around, and headed toward Rikarisu City.
Allen watched her until she disappeared from sight, then looked down at his hand.
The morning sunlight cast a fiery glow on his hand, yet it still felt cold.
Was it because the summer morning was still chilly? But why was he sweating all over?
Was it because the forest was too humid last night? But why were only his palms sweaty?
Allen couldn't figure it out. Needing to hurry back to the Greyrat household, he came to a simple conclusion and started on his way.
It must have been because...
The blazing morning sun.
Couldn't compare to the warmth of Roxy's hand.
That was an easy judgment to make.
Note: So far this story is published up to chapter 110 on my patreon, go check it out and remember that if we reach the goal of 40 power stones I will publish the next chapter.