Chapter 46
After finishing his business with Yustia, Franz returned to the Magic Tower.
He wanted to ask Yuna for the code right away, but showing up unannounced felt a bit inappropriate.
Especially at this hour, when dinner preparations are in full swing.
*Well, there's no particular rush, and it should be fine if I go tomorrow, right?*
Thinking that, Franz opened the firmly closed door to the Magic Tower Lord's Office.
And there he faced Arian.
“Eek—?!”
Arian, who had been squatting and wiping something spilled on the floor, startled and fell on her bottom.
Franz was just as startled. *Of course, I thought no one would be here, but someone was.* Moreover, her scream made him flinch.
Ah, that really surprised me.
Franz, having calmed his startled heart, spoke.
“Arian, what are you doing?”
“Oh, oh, w-well, you see? Ugh, I-I spilled water and was wiping it up.”
Arian rambled on. *She must have been quite surprised.*
She didn't even notice her skirt was hiked up, so what more can I say? You could say she was completely flustered.
Franz subtly averted his gaze from her. He didn't want to create an unnecessarily awkward situation.
Then, a beat later, her voice came.
“D-did you see?!”
Franz remained silent. He didn't know why she was asking such a thing, nor what to say in response.
But well, it was white, at least.
Arian, realizing belatedly that something was amiss,
“Y-you came back quickly?”
She changed the subject in a flustered voice.
For Franz, it was an offer he couldn't refuse. It's better to forget quickly than to remain awkward with each other.
“I just had a brief chat at the Cathedral and finished up.”
“Oh, I-I see.”
“Arian.”
Franz noticed something about Arian, who had now stood up.
“You have water on your leg too.”
Clear water was trickling down her leg. Her skirt was unusually short today, making it all too obvious.
“H-huh?!”
Arian's hand fumbled at her inner thigh, then moved down to where the water had touched. She immediately pulled a handkerchief from her pocket and wiped the water away.
But why is Arian wearing such a short skirt?
Thinking about it, I felt that something was off.
Commoners in this world were relatively free in their fashion choices. While not quite mini-skirts, they did wear short skirts that reached about the knee.
Nobles, however, were different. They strictly adhered to traditional attire. To put it a bit bluntly, you could say they were stuck in a mold.
That's why Arian's outfit raised questions. *For a noble like her to wear a short skirt was almost like heresy.*
If other nobles saw her, they'd surely gossip behind her back. 'How could she expose her legs so vulgarly?' they'd titter and whisper.
Well, personally, I prefer this. It just suits her better.
As Franz was organizing his thoughts,
“Then I’ll go take care of this.”
With those words, Arian brushed past Franz and exited the Magic Tower Lord's Office.
Franz, not thinking much of it, sat on the sofa and leaned back against the cushion.
*Now that I think about it….*
I haven't checked it at all lately.
I always checked it whenever I got involved with them, but I haven't since this last incident ended.
Franz immediately brought up a display in the air.
“Save the world from the villainesses who will lead it to ruin!
Hero Yuna (33.00%)
Saintess Yustia (45.00%)
Elf Archer Hera (40.00%)
If you fail, the world will be destroyed!”
It was quite different from when he last saw it. Yustia had gone up by 15 percent, and Hera by a whopping 20 percent. This time, saving the World Tree seemed to have had a positive effect.
But it started increasing so slowly at first, and now the rate of increase is getting faster every day. At this rate, it might not take too long to reach 100 percent.
But is that a good thing? I'm raising it because it feels like I should, but what exactly is the benefit of reaching 100 percent?
*Hmm—.*
Franz, deep in thought, waved his hand and dismissed the display. *There's no point in dwelling on meaningless worries; it'll only give me a headache.*
* * * * *
This was Ishtar Dukedom. More precisely, it was a very small house in a corner of the Ishtar Dukedom. A familiar sound emanated from that shabby house, which looked like it could collapse at any moment.
Clack-clack-clack-clack—.
It was the sound of a cutting board and a kitchen knife meeting.
Yuna, returning from her outing, hurried her steps at the sound coming from the kitchen.
Naturally, her mother was in the kitchen.
“Mom? I told you I’d do it.”
Yuna was worried about her mother. Not much time had passed since that incident Yuna didn't even want to think about. Even if she drank the elixir Franz gave her, she probably hadn't fully recovered.
“Oh, you? I told you I’m perfectly fine after drinking what the Magic Tower Master gave me.”
“Still, you never know.”
“Then come here and do it together. You can help your mom, can’t you?”
In the end, her mother didn't leave the kitchen. Yuna was displeased by that, yet glad she could cook together.
Time passed, and it was dinner time.
Delicious-looking food was laid out on the table. Yuna, Yuria, and their mother sat around the table and began their meal. It was a peaceful time, with only the clinking of cutlery.
As they continued their meal, Yuria suddenly spoke.
“Sister, when are you going to use that?”
Yuria’s gaze was fixed on the pile of gold coins stacked in a corner.
Yuna replied in an uncertain voice.
“Well, I was planning to buy a big house, but…”
It wasn't as easy as it sounded.
How much could a girl who had lived her whole life in such a rural corner know? She didn't know how to buy a house.
Moreover, when she actually tried, fear of being scammed came first.
*Perhaps she had become unable to trust people.*
As Yuna was fretting internally,
“Isn’t there anyone who can help? Sister, you were a Hero, after all.”
*Someone to help…?*
Three people came to Yuna’s mind: Franz, Yustia, Hera None other than the members of the Hero's Party.
Hera only lives in the Great Forest, so she probably wouldn't be much help with this… And Yustia is a Saintess, so she probably wouldn't know much either…?
After eliminating the two by process of elimination, Franz was the only one left.
But to ask him…
He helped me so much last time.
Yuna didn’t feel comfortable about it at all.
At that moment, his words came to Yuna’s mind.
━ *More importantly, if you have any difficulties, always tell me. Don't suffer alone.*
It felt a little bad, but it seemed she would have to rely on him again this time.
“Mom, Yuria, I’m going out after dinner. I thought of someone who can help.”
“Someone to help? Who is it?”
Her mother tilted her head and asked.
Yuna replied with a smile.
“Franz.”
“Oh my, I wonder if you’re being too much of a bother. And besides, the Magic Tower is incredibly far. What will you ride there?”
“It’ll probably be fine. Franz told me to tell him if I ever had any difficulties. And well, I can just run there. I have plenty of stamina anyway.”
Both her mother and Yuria wore blank expressions simultaneously.
If I leave after dinner, I should be able to reach the Magic Tower by morning, right? I should probably eat a bit more heartily. Wouldn't want to get hungry on the way.
As soon as dinner was over, Yuna packed her belongings and set off for the Magic Tower.
It's a secret that many people in the Ishtar Dukedom reported feeling an earthquake that night.
* * * * *
The next morning.
Franz left the Magic Tower Lord's Office a little earlier than usual. It was to buy a gift for Yuna's family. Still, it felt a bit awkward to visit their home empty-handed.
Would tea leaves be good? Tableware might be nice too.
Franz descended to the first floor, pondering, and soon witnessed a strange sight.
The Magic Tower's front yard was crowded with Mages. It seemed another argument had broken out. Last time, they argued over whether Fire Magic or Water Magic was stronger, so it's probably something similar this time. Honestly, there's no one more troublesome than those with inflated egos.
Franz sighed deeply and approached them.
“M-Magic Tower Master?!”
“Hey, hey, quickly, make way for him…!”
Upon seeing Franz, the Mages hastened their steps one by one and went their separate ways.
After most of the Mages had disappeared, what Franz faced was
“F-Franz…?”
Yuna. Yuna, completely drenched in sweat, was among the Mages.
I'd rather they just argued amongst themselves.
Franz swallowed that thought and spoke.
“Why are you here?”
“Oh, it’s just something I wanted to ask you for, nothing else.”
“Then why didn’t you just send a letter?”
“Oh…?”
Yuna’s eyes widened as if she had realized some profound truth.
Indeed, she was like this even when they adventured together. She was always the type to act first.
“Alright, just follow me for now.”
Franz led Yuna into the Magic Tower.
He couldn't let her walk around looking like this. He thought he should prevent any potential butterfly effect this might cause. Moreover, a hero is an object of respect and admiration for the common people, so he couldn't possibly let her wander around looking like a drowned rat.
He had no idea what she did to get so completely soaked, though.
Soon, Franz arrived at the Magic Tower Lord's Office with Yuna, then led her through another door into his own room. And handing her a towel and some clothes, he said,
“Open this door, and it’s the shower room. Go wash up and come out.”
Franz had no idea what kind of butterfly effect this action, taken to prevent a butterfly effect, would actually bring about.