Chapter 17: Shopping Date?


TL: Scaramochi


***


"Shaaaaa! Let's go to the labyrinth!"


"The labyrinth is closed today."


"Aaaaah! Why?"


Frey was full of energy since this morning, wasn't she?


"It seems you apologized to Athena and Mirialia yesterday, so you've come to your senses, haven't you?"


"I'm sorry to say that I'm full of energy, but I just can't do it today."


"You've been in the labyrinth for a while now, so you need to rest today. Besides, I'm running out of food and recovery medicine, so I have to go shopping to replenish my supplies. Someone's been eating and using a lot."


Frey's hands shook in frustration and she gritted her teeth.


She was young and had plenty of energy, but fatigue was definitely setting in. So, if they didn't take a break here and there, they would break down.


Besides, they would recover quickly after a day's rest.


Also, I checked yesterday and we were seriously out of food. We had no stock of other supplies needed in the labyrinth.


When Est was there, we didn't worry about it because he had taken care of it himself, but now that Est was gone, someone had to take care of those chores.


And that role was me. It's a pain in the ass.


Frey would never do that kind of thing, and I was sure Mirialia would refuse to do it.


"Well ...... I'll help you. I'm sure Dale won't be able to handle it by himself."


"Oh, great leader. Thanks for your help."


"I'm going to go back to sleep."


"Hey, Mirialia, come with me! I'll show you what I can do!"


"Oh, my God ...... my neck!"


Frey grabbed Mirialia by the neck with a rough voice.


I guess they were planning to go to the labyrinth together.


Well, Mirialia had been slacking off lately, so she probably had the stamina, and if Frey was willing to do it, I would let her do it a little bit.


I gave a word of caution to Frey, who was about to drag the suffering elf along with her.


"Hey, Frey, it's only half a day. You need to take a half day off. Otherwise, you're going to skip dinner today."


"I know! Don't act like a guardian all the time!"


"Hase~~~"


Frey took Mirialia to the labyrinth.


Let's give a hearty "kudos" to the lesbian elf.


Don't worry.


"Thanks, Dale."


"What the heck. I don't remember doing anything to warrant a thank you."


"I'm talking about Frey. Yesterday, Frey came to my room out of the blue and apologized to me. She told me that from now on she would do her best to keep the party in mind. I'm sure Dale said something to her, right? I'm sorry...... I'm really the leader of the party, and I had to say something to Frey, but I put it on you."


Athena was blatantly depressed, and I laughed and said, "Haha."


"I just didn't like the way that little brat kept getting carried away, that's all. And Athena, don't try to take on everything just because you're the leader. There's only so much you can do on your own. You should just throw all the troublesome things to the others and lead the party with your ability. You still want to be the best adventurer in the world, don't you?"


"Yes, of course. I'm stumbling now, but I haven't lost my dream of becoming the world's best adventurer."


"Then  just keep running toward it. You're not going to grow if you dawdle. You'd better learn from Frey's fool."


I didn't want to see another Frey born.


But Athena thought too much about a lot of things. She should empty her head a little and think for herself.


"Yeah ...... I've been worrying a lot lately. Okay, I'll let off some steam today! Hang on Dale, I'm going to go get changed now!!!!"


Pow! and Athena stood up briskly and headed upstairs to her room.


It's nice...... to be young.


I envied them.


(I was really starting to act like an old man these days.)


"I'm only 20, I'm only 20," I recited in my mind.


***


"What are you buying today?"


"As I said before, food and supplies for the labyrinth. I volunteered to be a baggage handler, so I'm going to work you hard."


"Yeah, I'm on it."


Athena and I were out on the town.


We bought meat, vegetables, spices, and other foodstuffs from the stalls, props for the labyrinth from the general store, and healing potions and items from the grimoire shop.


Soon her bags were full, and Athena's hands were full as well. She wasn't used to this kind of thing and was out of breath, so she decided to take a break on a bench in the plaza.


"Hah.......haha...... I didn't know shopping for a party was this hard......."


"I bet you did. You didn't realize that because Est did these things on his own."


When I told Athena this as she soaked in the difficulty of the chores, she turned her head down again with a dark look on her face.


"I see......... Est did all this hard work for me. I've thanked him every time, but I don't think I've been very thoughtful. I feel bad......."


"I don't think you need to be thankful or sorry. He just wanted to do it himself."


Est did it on his own without ever consulting us.


I tried to help him, but he said with a wistful look on his face, "It's okay, I can only do so much......." I had no choice but to back off.


I felt guilty about only being able to use the magic I had been enchanted, so I tried to do something else.


At that time, as a man, I thought I shouldn't take his job.


"Est, if you don't hurry up, I'll leave you behind!"


"Don't keep staring at me, come on, let's go."


"Sorry, sorry, I'm coming."


"Oh no~...... what's a rumor, what's a rumor?"


I thought I heard a familiar voice, and then I saw Est on a small bridge in the distance.


On his side were two beastmen girls, looking like they were having a good time.


Hey, hey, hey, Est, aren't you a quick hand?


You had a crush on Athena for so long, and now you were already surrounding yourself with girls. I envied you.


And they were pretty hot girls, too. I heard a rumor that they both came from the beastman country.


I was glad you were having a good time, but now wasn't the right time.


Athena was going to get depressed again.


Fearfully, I looked sideways at Athena's face and to my surprise, she was smiling.


"Hey, I thought you'd be more shocked, but you seem surprisingly unconcerned."


"There's no such thing as shock when you've banished someone. It's the opposite....... I was saved by the fact that he seemed to be having fun. The last time I saw him, he was insane. I was worried. I just want to thank the two beastmen. They saved Est's heart."


"You're so kind."


I thought I'd be worried when I saw Est doing so well, unlike my down-and-out self, but guess my fears were unfounded.


This guy wasn't that kind of a nut.


"Okay, let's stop by on the way home."


"Where are we going?"


"That's something we'll have to wait for when we get there."


***


"Is that the clothing store......?"


"Oh, yeah, I'm coming in."


"Hey, wait!"


I brought Athena to a clothing store.


When I entered the store, the shopkeeper, who was very business oriented, immediately ran up to me.


"Welcome~~ how can I help you today?"


"Can you help me find some clothes to fit her?"


"Yes~! Yes, sir! Oh my, you look so beautiful. You have a very beautiful face, and you have a great style. It's a shame that you're wearing such tacky clothes. Come on, come quickly."


"What? Oh, hey, Dale, what's this all about?"


"Have fun!"


I smiled and waved to Athena as she left, being tugged by the arm by the shopkeeper, who was a strong character.


The reason for visiting the clothing store was to buy Athena some decent clothes.


She had some pretty good equipment for the labyrinth, but all she had for her personal clothes was some men's-looking, tacky clothing.


Since she's so good looking, it would be a shame if she didn't have a cute outfit or two.


As I waited for her to finish, a female waitress came in with Athena, who was dressed in cute clothes.


"How do you like it? Do I look great?"


"Oh, it looks great on you."


"Ugh, I'm so embarrassed......."


Wrapped in light blue-based clothing, Athena was sighingly pretty.


I was sure it's a waste not to wear this kind of clothing.


"I'll take this one, shopkeeper."


"Thank you for your purchase!"


"Hey Dale! What are you trying to buy?　These clothes cost a fortune!"


"No, lady, it's a woman's duty to let her man show off his good side. Be nice and let him buy it for you."


The shopkeeper knew exactly what he was talking about.


"So, here's the money, okay?"


"Yes, I got it for sure."


"Thanks, I'll come back. Here you go, Athena."


"Uu......"


"We look forward to seeing you again."


We left the store with our clothes on.


I teased Athena, whose face was turning bright red with embarrassment, with a smirk on my face.


"Don't be shy. Are you that embarrassed?"


"I can't help it. It's the first time I've ever worn such feminine clothes."


"I thought so. You're so good looking, it would be a shame if you didn't own at least one of these outfits. In case you haven't noticed, it really looks good on you."


"Don't make fun of me......"


Athena turned her head away in a childish manner.


Finally, she showed her childish side.


I had always acted like an adult, so it must have been a nice change of pace.


"Thank you...... I'll take good care of it."


"Oh, by all means, please do that."


We both walked back to the party house in silence for the rest of the way.



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