TEASER CHAPTER 6 PART 25
Voices could be heard in the already darkened streets.
Two young girls were walking side by side out of the library.
Somiliana Francilt, a girl with black hair as lustrous
as the darkness of the night, was doing research in the library with her friend
Lansa until late at night.
"Sorry, it's getting this late."
"It's alright. Instead, I'll get you to treat me
to Willoppe's sweets next time."
Somia smiled bitterly at her friend, who had a
pleasant expression on her face. Seeing the drool dripping from her smiling
mouth, she must be thinking of the sweets lined up all over the table.
By the way, Willoppe is a famous pastry shop in the
commercial district.
It was originally a bakery, but while baking bread as
its main business, it also made various kinds of new bread prototypes with its
leftover ingredients and various sweets with pastes made from boiled down
fruits and sugar.
The store is especially popular with women of the
city, and the most popular ones were sold out every day.
"You've been working really hard. But lately,
you've been doing it even harder, haven't you?"
"I-Is that so?"
The two of them were talking as they were walking
home, then Lansa suddenly asked Somia as if she remembered something.
Somia was shyly scratching her cheek due to Lansa's
words.
"Yes, it is. Is it because of that man that Somia
is working so hard?
"Who do you mean by that man?
"You know, the senior who had a combat training
with Jihad-sensei at the Martial Arts Garden the other day!"
There was only one person who came to mind when she
was told so much. Nozomu Bountis, the man who had saved her life.
Somia was a little tired by Lansa's excited tone.
Lansa was a good friend to Somia, but she was a bit of a gossip person and
sometimes caused a ruckus by spreading unnecessary rumors here and there.
For this reason, Lansa was often warned by her
homeroom teacher, but each time she responded with various reasons and tried to
cover it up.
"It was so amazing! He was able to fight against
that Jihad-sensei so well!"
"Yeah, that's true."
The way Nozomu looked when he was fighting against
Jihad reminded Somia of the way he looked when he was confronting the vampire
who tried to take her soul away.
The way he looked straight ahead without hesitation
and confronted such a strong enemy in front of him was the same way he looked
when he saved her from being taken away.
"Hey, can you introduce me? Everyone in the class
seems to be curious about him."
"Let's see......"
Somia slurred her words in response to Lansa's demand
as if she was troubled.
To tell the truth, Somia had been asked about Nozomu
many times by her classmates since the end of the combat training at the
Martial Arts Garden. If he had fought well against one of the heroes of the
continent, it was only natural that he would attract the attention of pure
children.
Moreover, Somia had cheered loudly for Nozomu during
the combat training. It was already a well-known fact that she had a close
relationship with Nozomu.
"Why not? There's no harm in it."
That might be true, but Somia felt a tinge of anxiety
and shame if Lansa and Nozomu were to meet. To be honest, she couldn't predict
what the gossipy Lansa would say.
Somia's pondering seemed to indicate that Lansa was
unlikely to get a good answer, so she leaned forward.
"It'll be alright! I won't take him away from
you!"
"What do you mean by not taking him away..."
