Hey miss, my face is here!! #4
Ryu's pov
"So I stood in front of Miss Snow spreading my arms, and other adventurers thought I was going to confess or something, and started cheering for me and some were saying they are jealous," Miss Anzu said the way she tells the story is interesting but a bit lacking in front of Grandpa chief,
She frowned as she continued after taking a breath.
"And she instantly said no!! even though my way could be the thing that caused misunderstanding, I still am a member of the mage army!! I have self-respect so I… I" she fumbled with a red face at the end so I knew something embarrassing must've happened,
And trying my best to make a dumb face, I asked,
"So what did you do, Miss Anzu?"
"I did my transformation to show what I actually am… I even spin twice to look intimidating, but…." She again stopped with a humiliated expression, so I gave her a push and ask,
"But?" as I tilted my head, she said this while looking straight in my eyes,
"Don't laugh!! As my spinning end and I made the sign in front of my eyes… everyone, including Snow and her party, started clapping!! And as if that was still not enough, Snow said," she imitated Snow's speaking and spoke,
"Magic trick nice… still no and moved towards counter from the side" I tried my best but couldn't hide the grin appearing on my face, and she said with a complaining look,
"And this is not all!! When they were coming back from the reception, I explained to Snow that I was actually an army recruiter and I want to recruit her and would recruit her even if as an adventuring mage soldier but she denied it straight and said that she was denying to that all along as Reno told her about what happened to her already!! Reno also showed her tongue to me!!" as she said this I thought,
'What are you even complaining about? You are literally the stranger danger every parent warns their child about!!'
"Then what happened, Miss Anzu?" I asked, interested in knowing what else Snow did.
"They went out of the door," she replied plainly.
"Ehh what?" I asked as I expected Felicia's big sister to throw her away or something also wanted to a bit more about Snow's new student,
"Like I said already they went out of the door and weren't seen in town again… some say they went to one of the great dungeons…" saying this she adjusted her glasses pushing them a bit up and they shined for a bit as she continued,
"But they seemed to have underestimated me… I did some investigation through confidential sources and found out Snow was from this town… also found a stupid A rank party… so I came here in search of talent akin to her and what could be better than asking if she got a relative!!"
'So in short…' I thought, but even before I could finish a thought she spoke,
"Don't you feel it is bad that Snow left you behind while taking some stranger with her… like even though she had such a talented sibling, she chose Reno over you as her student,"
"Wait…" I said, but she wouldn't stop.
"See, this must be a fate. You are an exceptional talent that I have never seen before… join the magic army and use it to reach your full potential and show. Snow she was wrong to choose her over you,"
'This isn't that kind of anime' I wanted to shout and also got a bit angry as I know there must be a reason for taking someone that small into her party and Snow even though she left town kept care of my growth by that amazing glyph,
"Btw in this town, I and Snow teacher are famous for a similar thing you know," I said with a grin and she tilted her head asking
"What?"
"Rejecting solicitations… I am sorry, but I have no plans on being in a mage army," she bit her thumb and seemed to be in deep thoughts,
"My clothes transformation is nice, right?" she asked as she stood up, spinning a bit in front of me. It sure does look nice, I believe even pro-cosplayer couldn't copy magic girls to this extent,
"It is amazing!!" I answered honestly, and she nodded with a prideful face as she says,
"If you join, I will arrange a similar…" before she could speak any further, I clearly laid it straight,
"I do not have any intention of joining the army, not in my entire life!!" her face had an expression of disappointment,
"I… I" she moved her face downwards, her eyes not visible hidden behind hair, and suddenly she moved her face upwards.
"I am a mage army recruiter!! Why does no one take me seriously!?" even though her voice seemed angry, she was crying heavily. I for once felt pity for her,
"Miss Anzu calm down," I said as I saw the shopkeeper uncle take a peek inside with eyes filled with suspicion.
"How can I calm down!! I wasted all this time reaching here and now you are rejecting me too," she said while wiping her tears,
"It is just…" I tried reasoning with her, but she cried louder as she said,
"You are heartless!! You trampled upon my self-respect…" and saying this, she cried harder while the shopkeeper uncle from outside was looking at me with a disappointed gaze and I shouted,
"Complete your sentences,!!" I shouted as I thought,
'This woman is dangerous in ways more than one!!'
"You know if I did not recruit 2 recruits by the end of the month my promotion would be pushed ahead 2 more years!!" saying this she pulled on the lower side of my shirt,
"I want to work in the capital too!! I don't want to keep traveling convincing prideful mages to join an army" she said complaining and in a muffling low voice she added,
"So please… join!! If you won't, I would keep hanging around you till you do!!" she looked up with a pleading gaze, her specs filled with hope, and an idea came to my head,
'This might just work!!' I thought as I said to her, patting her head,
"There there… I cannot join myself…" as I said this far her face twitched, but before she could start another crying show I added,
"I can help you with 2 candidates full of potential!!" she tilted her head in confusion and I told her,
"There are 2 children in this town's orphanage that have [Mana channeling] skill of decent rank and…"
"And what?" she asked with a curious gaze with shining eyes.
"All of them are below 13," I said with a grin, and she stood up fast, her face filled with sadness replaced with joy as she said proudly,
"Crocodile's tears technique is successful!!"
"What?" I asked her as I release a bit of mana pressure,
"Nothing… nothing!!" she said as her dress started changing back to the previous mode.
And we went out together, children who had already ridden were waiting,
"Big brother where were you!?" a little girl asked while jumping a bit,
"We were waiting!!" a boy said,
"Knucklehead took more turns than others" pouted the second triplet,
"We bought snacks!!" the first triplet joyfully exclaimed.
"Big brother, who is she?" Jue asked with a suspicious gaze, and before I could answer him Anzu exclaimed happily,
"You were right!! What a potential they would be of high value!!" she said as she looked towards the 3 children. I meant for her to meet, and three of them backed away clearly scared,
"Miss Anzu, stop saying stuff that will make you seem like a child trafficker!!" as I said this, I wondered what was up with her and misunderstandings,
"I was just excited! Here kids I am not someone suspicious!!" she said as she stepped forward pouring magic into her clothes, spinning thrice her skirt changing in color and length a hat appeared on her head as her top changed into a uniform, and children looked at her with shining eyes and she finished with a peace sign in front of her eyes,
"I am no one suspicious, I am just a mage army recruiter!!" she said and everyone who was seeing including me started clapping. This time I wasn't even aware when I started clapping it seems like a compelling force making me clap,
She blushed and embarrassingly said in a low voice,
"Can I go to the orphanage with you?" she asked the kids, and they nodded.
"You three go along with her," I said to three triplets, and they did a salute pose.
"Yes, boss!!"
"Mission accepted!!"
"Boss!!" the three in order said, I have already told them more than enough times at the orphanage to not do this boss thing!! I nodded slowly and moved towards Anzu,
"Miss Anzu thanks because of you I was able to hear how Snow is doing!! Wish you luck, if you hurry up you can even join a caravan going to the capital," I told her with genuine feelings as I was really happy to know that Snow had become stronger and is also as kind as ever,
'I want to see her' I think, and Anzu answered,
"Yes, thanks for bringing me to them. I will try adopting all three of them! and request seniors to let me remain their parent as I stay in the capital as their mother… in this way, even without promotion I will get my goal," she moved her fist up and down cheerfully,
'Why did you even choose this job!?' I wondered as I said bye to her. As she left with three kids, I moved my face towards Jue,
"Jue let's go," I said and started rushing towards the home.
"Big brother, who was that!?" he asked as he followed behind,
"I can't tell right now hurry home first," I said, and he nodded, my main purpose for helping Anzu was so that she would leave town as soon as possible, I did not want her to come across mom or Aiena or investigate on Snow further someone who can come to this town from far just by investigating Snow… I did not want to take the chance of her going further with her investigation of Snow or our family,
I wanted to reach home as soon as possible so I can make sure they remain inside till night, although I doubt, they would've roamed out on the day of the brightest star festival,