Chapter XXXIV - Girls Night (part 3)

The food came in the middle of Cony's story. Hod wasn't the one to bring the food, and instead, it's Hod's mother.

"Oh? Are you girls hanging out on this nice eve?"

And just like that, she started her story of how when she was young, she and other girls her age would stroll around the kingdom. She told us a couple places that we should visit during this kind of time. 

Valey is looking a little pale when she thanked her for the meal, signing her to 'shoo'. In the end, she walked away without any ill feeling.

"Ugh, she cuts my story!"

"It's okay, Cony. We could still use her advice and visit the places, though. Right, Rize?"

"Emm, Right."

What? Don't ask me, I know nothing!

Cony continued to ramble about her story but in detail... Very detailed. How she was scared to death when the illusion mist started to thicken, or how she screamed very loudly when someone got stabbed. Turns out that was the illusion.

"That's scary!"

"Y-Yeah, that's scary!"

It's... really not that scary, but of course I wouldn't say that.

"That was scary, right Rize?" 

"Y-Yes! I can only imagine how it feels..."

Valey turned to me with a really terrified look, and I just waved my hand around. It looks like they both don't mind my reaction, so I'm probably safe for now.

She went on and on until we finally finished eating. After paying the 'half' amount of price (Hod very loudly snorted when he received the money), we went outside and started our evening adventure.

We stroll down the beautiful night town and buy some stuff. When we arrived at the western main road, we went straight to the market. Cony and Valey bought a bunch of stuff, which I'm a little bit worried if they might drain too much of their cash. If it wasn't for their space ring, they would've had to carry a ton of shopping bags. Thank god for magic.

All I bought are just a few snacks that I can take back to the inn. I rarely bought snacks, so this whole experience is just unusual for me. I ended up buying a whole bag of snacks because I didn't realize how cheap they were, and the other two only giggled while watching from afar.

They look like they are really familiar with everything. The shops, the places, and all the things to visit and enjoy in Mazino. It's probably because the two of them are daughters of a certain family in the kingdom. They have their own houses and families, and they were probably born here.

And I'm... just an outsider. I cannot feel the gap between me and those two, or any of these people around me, much larger than currently.

I am not... a resident here. I wasn't born here, and I don't live here.

Why am I... even here?

"Hey, Rize!"

Valey very suddenly grabbed my hand because I was dozing off, and I turned my surprised gaze to her.

"Are you... feeling unwell? You don't look so good."

She asked out of concern, and Cony stopped eating her hotdog after noticing what's wrong with me. I quickly smiled at them and waved my hand.

"I'm fine, girls... I promise. This is just me normally. I dissociate from reality at random times, please don't take it too seriously."

That was meant as a lie, but it was also kind of true at times... fix me pls.

"Then, wanna go see a new clothing store that just opened? I think we ate enough tonight."

"Sure. I also need new set of clothes."

After that, we headed to the newly opened clothing store that they wanted to visit. I don't even know where they heard of this place, but it was indeed pretty modern. The clothing style isn't like what I am used to seeing, and the clothes designers are most likely experimenting with these.

As a result, we ended up buying a bunch of stuff at the clothing store, including me.

I remembered how I could use a spare adventurer outfit, so I bought it at that shop. Cony and Valey thought maybe one day I have to wear the expensive female noble outfit, so I bought that too per their suggestion.

And that noble female dress... costed me the same amount of money I obtained from today's mission. So far, this is the furthest I've gone for clothes. And very likely, if not most likely... I'll probably never gonna use the dress anyway because I'm not a noble.

I regret coming to this girls out night event thing. My money, man... f*ck.

However, I can confidently say that I am actually enjoying it. This whole evening out with your friends, even if it's just shopping and wasting money, just being able to enjoy a time with your friends is incredibly valuable. 

I don't spend much time like this in the other world considering I don't actually have that many friends, but this is definitely one of my new favorite things ever.

Joining a team... It looks like the best decision I have made in recent times.

After that, the night out continued. We visited other places that I never thought we could visit as a group of girls. For example, the adventurers shop, where Cony bought a ton of throwing knifes because she wanted to learn it. Or the liquor store, because Valey is... apparently a drinker.

But, she only drinks at home. So, I think it's nice that she knows her limits.

Cony and Valey suggested that I buy a communication crystal. I don't even know what that was, and they just quickly bought them for me and put them in my hand. 

At a glance, it looks like a simple well-designed crystal. It's yellow and cubic, which made me wonder how this crystal works.

Aside from all of those, I also bought new waterproof robes. My mask is doing fine, but my robe still smelled like blood even after cleaning it up many times, so I had to buy a new one.

"Okay, where to next?"

Cony asked after we left the store. Valey thought about it for a while, then she finally had an answer.

"Why don't we go to the place Hod's mom suggested?"

"Which... Exactly?"

I recalled how Hod's mom mentioned a couple places.

"Let's head to the northwest park."

The northwest park is located at, surprise-surprise, the northwest of the kingdom. It can be accessed through the northwest quad junction, and a simple straight road ahead will get us there. It's actually behind the market, and I'm surprised we don't just go through the market to get there.

We arrived after a five minute walk. The park was said to be the most beautiful place in the kingdom. And looking at it, I can tell why.

Right in the middle of the park is some sort of tree. The tree was very beautiful at night. There are glowing light blue petals falling down from the branches and leaves. Except those aren't petals. Those are forms of magic energy.

"Beautiful, isn't it?"

Valey snapped me out of my daze, and she turned her gaze back to the tree.

"Back when I was little, my dad used to bring me here to play during weekends. I have been here hundreds of times. But looking at that still amazes me."

"When something amazes you for the tenth time, it will amaze you forever."

I said in response to her, and she giggled hearing such a comment.

"The tree lets out some sort of energy. Because at day, it completely absorbs the sun's heat. So that at night, it can let it out in the form of energy."

Kind of like... a solar panel!

This could be a groundbreaking technological advancement if someone were to work on it seriously. It's not gonna be me, though. I'd rather just kill monsters for my daily things.

"Let's go closer!"

Cony grabbed my arm and pulled me towards the tree, and I had no choice but to follow. There seemed to be plenty of people under the tree. They looked like they were enjoying the bright scene right in front of them, while also enjoying the slight heat from the energy.

"Oh, and don't touch the energy. They are as hot as an Intermediate tier fire magic."

Cony warned, but I only turned interested instead.

Really?

Does that mean they also worked like fire would?

I should... try it.

Cony and Valey went forward to look at the petals better, so I used this chance.

I focused my eye on a single petal, thinking that I could grab it with my invisible hand.

As if it was being pulled, the single petal I focused on moved towards me slowly. It moved as if it was flying, and everyone didn't seem to realize that a single petal moved towards me, so it was fine.

The petal landed on my hand, but I didn't feel any heat at all. Maybe because I have completely tamed this piece of petal.

Hmm... What if...

I lifted my left hand, the other hand that is not holding the magical petal. I focused on trying to make fire magic in the form of a petal, similar to the one I'm holding on my right hand. 

And like a snap, a small fire burst out in my hand and reformed until it slowly became a petal.

Now, I'm holding two petals with different colours. One is light blue that came from the tree, and the other is a normal goldish red from my Beginner tier fire magic.

At a glance... this look beautiful. However, seeing it up close, I can already tell the difference between the two petals.

My creation is far... far too weak in terms of heat compared to the light blue petal. The petal is very hot, and it contains a certain level of pressure that is ten times larger than the red petal I created, and I can't help but notice why.

Light blue flame is the color of a higher tier fire magic. Above the Beginner tier, above the Intermediate tier, and above the Knight tier.

This tree... it sheds King tier fire magic petals...

How the hell is something like this allowed to be enjoyed by the public? This could kill people. If the tree doesn't drop only petals, but instead drops apples or its own fruits... those things will explode into a nuclear.

Even so... it is still very beautiful to look at--

"Rize?"

I immediately closed my palms and hid my hands. I can feel the petals burning my palms, so I used healing magic without anyone noticing. Cony was looking at me, and she might have noticed what I did. Valey just turned around and realized the tension between me and Cony, but I only smiled stupidly at them.

I put my finger on my lips towards Cony, and she just nods with a grin while giving me a thumbs up. Seeing what happened, Valey placed both her hands to her hips.

"Are you two pranking me?"

.

After strolling around the kingdom for three hours, we are exhausted. We split up at the center park, the one on top of the hill near the main castle, which is our final spot.

I was tired to the point where I'd rather fight monsters instead of doing this. I went straight back to my inn and went to sleep, without even changing my attire.

Luckily, that night I had no dream at all. So my sleep is like passing time, only to wait for the day tomorrow.

And tomorrow will be the first high ranking mission with my team. This surprisingly excites me more than when I was learning healing magic.