59. Bounty Head and Awakening [2]

The next morning after the First-Year War was over.

「Then, Ria, I’m going out for awhile.」

Allen said after changing from his usual uniform to the casual clothes gifted by Paula.

「…Eh? Ah, u-un… Have a good day.」

Surprised by the suddenness, she waved goodbye with an awkward smile.

「Un, I’m off.」

He said so and slowly closed the door.

Then, Ria who was left alone in the dormitory,

「……Strange」

She was attacked by a strong sense of discomfort and an unpleasant feeling.

Looking closer, Allen’s sword still stands next to the desk.

「…Definitely strange.」

He carried his sword on his person at all times, but he left it behind today.

「Whenever he went somewhere, he always told me where he was going…」

A number of『abnormalities』evolved into great anxiety, and it weighed on her shoulders.

And then,

「…Perhaps it’s a girl?」

She came to that single conclusion.

「…N-No No No! That’s not possible with that late bloomer Allen!」

She shook her hand greatly, and strongly denied her thoughts.

Ria herself knew better than anyone else that Allen was a late bloomer.

It’s been four months since they started living together after all – and he didn’t show any signs of making a move on her.

However,

「…That should be impossible… for Allen, right?」

She could not judge the answer to that question as an absolute『No』.

「Even if Allen is a late bloomer… If other dominant girls approached him…」

And the result of simulating a number of patterns in her mind,

「…This might be bad.」

Her face turned pale.

At an information exchange meeting held in secret with Rose, she has already heard that Allen is popular with the opposite sex.

「Allen is kind… Rather he is too sweet to people…」

The possibility of his kindness and sweetness being taken advantage of is not zero.

(…This is dangerous.)

She decided that, and

「I can’t stay here…!」

She changed from uniform to casual clothes so that she wouldn’t stand out, and immediately rushed out of the dormitory.

After that,

「I’m sorry, Allen … I don’t mean to doubt you… No, it is to protect you …」

Ria tailed Allen, as though whispering her excuses to someone.

After fifteen minutes of tailing while keeping to the shadows.

「N-No way…」

Before her gaze, a hopeless scene was unfolding.

「Allen-kun! Here here!」

「-Sorry, did I make you wait long?」

「No, I just arrived as well, so it’s alright.」

Allen, whom she placed her faith in, met up with the student council president, Sie Arcstria.

Moreover, there were no other student council members – Lilim nor Ferris.

Perfect one-on-one.

No matter how you look at it, it was a perfect『date』.

「A-lle…n…?」

She fell into a daze, unsteadily walking towards them.

At that time,

「…What are you doing, Ria?」

Rose, who happened to pass by, tapped Ria on the shoulder.

「Uhhyaa!?」

Due to the abruptness, she jumped with a shrill scream.

When Ria panicked and turned around, there was the figure of Rose in casual clothes.

「D-Don’t surprise me like that, Rose!」

「No, I just called out to you normally though…」

Because of the unexpected reaction from Ria, Rose was a little confused.

「M-More importantly…! What are you doing here!?」Ria asked.

Perhaps even Rose had a date with Allen in secret – Ria misunderstood, and questioned her fiercely.

「Even if you ask me『what』… I’m just here to eat the ice cream that’s popular now.」

Saying that, Rose pointed to the ice cream shop with a small castle-like appearance.

「I-I see… Then it’s fine.」

At least she is not an enemy.

With that confirmation, Ria heaved a sigh of relief.

「And I could ask the same, why are you hiding from sight, Ria?」

This time, Rose asked a straight question.

「…Look at that.」

In the direction that Ria pointed.

「Allen and… president!?」

There was the scene of Allen and Sie who were talking in a friendly manner.

「I-Is that… a date!?」

「Well, I’m monitoring it now to make sure of it.」

「I-I see… I’ll follow along too…!」

Thus, they joined together to monitor Allen and Sie’s conduct.

■

Allen and Sie entered the ice cream store in front.

While being careful that they wouldn’t be found, they lined up in the long queue.

「Excuse me. Strawberry, Vanilla, Chocolate Banana, Lemonade, Matcha, Milk Coffee and Caramel Syrup and Cream Nuts… and summer-exclusive mandarin orange please… All the sizes are large.」

「…Typical Ria. Ah, I’d like one regular size summer-exclusive mandarin orange」

「Of course!」

The cheerful employee moved quickly and handed out spherical ice cream in a cutely designed cup.

After that, they moved slowly to a two-person table in the store and resumed monitoring.

「Mou, why do you seem to have so much fun…! …Oh, this, it’s delicious!」

「Kuh, my heart is kinda disturbed…! …Oh, true to its reputation, it tastes pretty good!」

After that, as Allen and Sie enjoyed various shops, Ria and Rose tailed them with gloomy thoughts in their mind.

By the time they realised, the sun was already setting.

As the sunset illuminated Oriana Street, Allen and Sie walked quietly side by side.

「Uh … It’s kind of a nice atmosphere…」

「…This is bad.」

As Ria and Rose, hidden behind the trash can, were gritting their teeth, Allen and Sie stopped right in front of a beautiful fountain.

When Sie expressed something with a serious expression, Allen seemed greatly shaken.

「「…Is it… a confession!?」」

Colour drained from both their faces.

「The princess of Vesteria Kingdom, Ria-Vesteria, right?」

A man in a black cloak suddenly fell from the sky.

「「!?」」

Ria and Rose were taken by surprise, but immediately took distance from the man.

「… When asking people for their name, don’t you know to name yourself first?」

Ria observed the man in front of her eyes, while being ready to deploy〈Fafnir〉at any moment.

Short crimson hair.

Trained muscular body of about 2 meters.

Age probably in the mid thirties.

Deep masculine features.

Low and deep voice emitted a strong confident vibe.

(This guy… is terribly strong…!)

Instinctively, she saw through her opponent’s strength, and raised her guard.

「Zahahahahaha! You’re a strong-willed girl Not bad! I’m Zack Bomber! Now, you name yourself-」

And when Zack tried to ask Ria’s name,

「-Bring out your soul dress, Ria!」

Rose cried out in a cornered voice.

「Invade -〈Fafnir〉!」

In response, Ria manifested her soul dress right away.

「Do you know this man, Rose!?」

Rose has already deployed〈Winter Sakura〉and is directing tremendous hostility towards Zack.

「Zack-Bomber… Another name is『Conflagration Zack』…! He is a dangerous man who has attacked the Holy Knights branch of each country without any purpose and has burned everything to the ground. He is still wanted internationally, and there is a large bounty on his head.」

「Zahaha! So my face and name is already revealed? I guess I’ve become famous too!」

Zack’s shoulders shook as he laughed happily.

「In the last few years, no one has heard anything at all about this man. But to think he became a member of the Black Organization…」

From his jet-black attire, Rose immediately identified the connection to the Black Organization.

「Well… you got that right. I had a lot going on too…」

Zack scratched his head lightly.

「Well anyway… I’m not gonna rob your lives, so be assured!」

「…!?」

「…Here he comes, don’t let your guard down!」

And then,

「Bellow -〈Blaze Cross〉!」

「Wha!?」

「Impossible…!?」

The next moment when Zack manifested his soul dress, a huge bomb swallowed Ria and Rose.

■

Suddenly the president asked me「Would you be interested in joining the『government』?」. I was greatly confused.

「W-What do you mean by government?」

「Frankly speaking, recruiting – headhunting. If Allen-kun is ok with it, come talk to my father right awa-」

When the president, with a serious expression, was about to proceed with the details,

A huge pillar of fire suddenly rose.

「「Wha!?」」

The sudden situation caused people around us to panic.

「W-What!? Fire!?」

「A ruffian is on a rampage! Contact the Holy Knights!」

「Oi Oi, at least give me a break on holiday…!」

The place where the pillar of fire went up was near. Just about ten meters from where we were.

「Allen-kun!」

「Let’s go!」

When we rushed to the scene, there was a man with a huge scorching sword resting on his shoulder.

「Zahahahahaha! The〈Fafnir〉from rumours, only amounts to this much!? I’m so disappointed!」

At his feet, there was the figure of Ria and Rose crawling on the ground.

「R-Ria-san!? And Rose-san too!?」

「You… What did you do to them …!」

I clenched my scarred right arm and glared at the man in front of me.

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