Episode 67: Cherishing the Atmosphere

After the skirmish in the back alley ended, I returned to the shop carrying the recovered jewelry.

The shoplifter and their companions had picked a fight so enthusiastically, but they quickly became docile once I showed them a bit of pain.

By handing them over to the city guard, this shouldn’t lead to any more trouble.

Well then, with that said, the matter is settled… or so it should be.

“Thank you so very much!!”

Shown a bow as perpendicular as a chicken wing, I was bewildered.

For some reason, I was receiving profuse thanks from the shop manager.

“It’s nothing significant. More importantly, these are the stolen items, correct?”

I held out the jewelry to the shop manager.

The pendant trimmed with gold and jade had craftsmanship befitting a high-end shop.

I couldn’t handle such an item carelessly, so I handed it over carefully.

“Ah, yes, without a doubt! You’ve truly saved us… I wonder if our shop has any means to repay such goodwill…”

The shop manager bowed deeply.

Being shown such deference actually made me feel uncomfortable instead.

“No, I simply did what was natural. Please don’t concern yourself so much…”

“No, no! I must somehow express my gratitude for your brave actions! If you’d permit it, I’ll arrange for you to purchase items in the store at a special price!”

What, a special price!?

Is that really allowed!?

I involuntarily widened my eyes.

Normally I would decline, but… perhaps now it’s not a bad offer.

Besides, it would also be rude to thoughtlessly reject their goodwill.

“…I see. Then I’ll take you up on that offer.”

I shrugged as if resigned.

After glancing at Eleanore-sama, who had her hands clasped behind her back, I walked toward something I had my eye on earlier.

There was a necklace with a simple yet clearly elaborate design.

“‘Mrs. Dawn,’ is it? You have a good eye for noticing this!”

The shop manager said so grandly, but the reason I focused on this was none other than my knowledge from the game.

This necklace called ‘Mrs. Dawn’ was both a gift item and battle equipment in ‘Celestia Kingdom’.

It reduced magic consumption when casting spells while also slightly cutting damage received by the wearer… but that’s not the true essence of this necklace.

Just in this shop alone, I could find quite a few things that appeared in the original work when looking around.

The reason I focused on this ‘Mrs. Dawn’ among them was solely because this item had a hidden additional effect attached to it.

“Then, may I have this?”

“Yes, of course!! The price is—”

Well, being jewelry, even at a special price it was fairly expensive.

However, I couldn’t ask for a lower price or say I’d changed my mind, so I decided to make my wallet lonely.

***

“Fufu, well done, Arcs.”

“I simply did what was natural. It’s nothing worth praising.”

After leaving the shop with the deeply bowing shop manager and others behind us, Eleanore looked up at me with a beaming smile.

There was an expectant feeling… or should I say, an emotion like excitement seeping through.

She might have already figured it out…

I had hoped to present it as a surprise, but this too can’t be helped.

“…Actually, for Eleanore-sama—”

Just as I was about to say that, her face suddenly drew close before my eyes.

As I involuntarily pressed my lips shut, Eleanore said without breaking her smile:

“Earlier I heard from the shop clerk about a place with an amazing view that’s incredibly romantic! Shall we go there?”

The young lady’s eyes sparkled brilliantly.

I unconsciously let a smile slip.

It seems she wants to cherish the situation as well.

“…Then, let’s do that.”

Bathed in the setting sun’s orange light, we headed toward the romantic place.