Plain Girl Hero of Darkness
Magic and and Natural Witches - (5)

"You are…!?"

Claudia surprise.

“Do you know each other?”

“... Yes, we met at the last party.”

Claudia continued to stare at the young man as long as she replied. The young man claims to be Joshua Richard, a nobleman from the farthest end of the Kingdom.

She has fine features and fine brown hair like silk. She is one head taller than Ashton, giving an elegant atmosphere, and is popular among women.

“This is the first time we met. May I know your name?"

Joshua smiled awkwardly before asking Ashton.

“Oh! I'm sorry, I'm Ashton Senefelder. "

Ashton quickly introduces himself, and Joshua looks surprised to hear him:

“Ho ~ you're that genius strategist, huh. I heard about your exploits in the Seventh Army, but the air about you seems different from the rumors ... No, that's a scary thing about you, yeah ..."

Joshua nodded. Ashton felt Joshua was too flattering by calling him a genius strategist, and Claudia suddenly stood in front of Ashton. Taking a closer look, he slightly bent his waist with his hands on the handle, ready to strike at any time.

"Lieutenant Claudia?"

“Stay behind me and don't move— What's the matter with us, Your Excellency from the border?”

Joshua shrugged his shoulders towards the alert Claudia:

“Hey now, no need to be too vigilant. Serious Lady Claudia Jung is great, but a smile is more suitable for women."

"... I don't remember ever giving you my name."

Claudia's voice deepened and there was the sound of sand falling under her feet.

“This may sound rude, but actually I sent my aide to investigate and learn about the heir of the famous Jung house, and learn about your beautiful name. I hope you can forgive my negligence."

Joshua knelt down and bowed respectfully. His graceful movements mesmerized all the women passing by. If Ashton was a girl, he would probably blush with this scene.

However, Claudia did not care at all. He furrowed his brows and said impatiently:

"Stop your actions and answer my questions."

“As I said, I just want to have lunch together with your group. Nothing to look out for..”

Joshua stood up and scratched his head with great difficulty. Ashton is also confused by Claudia's hostility, as she even puts her hand on the handle. He found out about their meeting at a party, but he had never heard of any conflict.

“Still pretending to be stupid, yes. I know that you are not a simple person. Besides, why should we— ”

"It's okay, it's okay. It is more fun to eat with a lot of people. ”

Olivia interrupts between them, and pats Claudia on the shoulder to relax her.

“But Major, this man..”.

“Lady Olivia Valedstorm, thank you for your understanding. To return your favor, let me cover the cost of your shopping trip through Kiosk.”

Joshua smiled and smoothly replied Olivia. From their meeting until now, Joshua showed no signs of the arrogance or arrogance of the nobles, and left a good impression on others. He has the ability to do this.

"Your practice?"

"Yes." Yeah."

“Then I can eat whatever I want?”

Olivia's eyes were filled with hope. Ashton is unable to understand how Olivia connects someone who treats her by eating whatever she wants. In response to that, Joshua patted his chest and affirmed:

"of course. Joshua Richard won't retract his words."

"Good!"

From the merchant's point of view, Joshua's clothes were of high quality and expensive. He was obviously a wealthy noble, and there was no need to worry about the expenses spent in the roadside stall. However, she had no idea how much Olivia could eat.

"Sir Joshua, this may sound strange, but Olivia loves to eat. A very surprising kind that would make people faint from shock."

Joshua looked at Ashton in surprise when he heard that, and then burst out laughing:

"That would make my treat more valuable, Ashton."

Joshua said as he patted Ashton on the back cheerfully. Due to his friendly attitude that is not at all like royalty, Ashton added:

“It will be too late to regret later. Olivia left the concept of 'being considerate' in her mother's womb."

(It means 'gapeka'.)

“Truly interesting expression. In that case, I also left the term 'monogamy' in my mother's womb."

Joshua stared into the distance for a reason. Ashton was puzzled by her words, as Olivia pulled up her sleeve.

“Yosh, let's quickly shop at the roadside stall.”

Olivia may be bored with their conversation, and forcefully ends the discussion and runs away. Ashton and Joshua looked at each other with awkward smiles and followed. Claudia followed behind them, staring at Joshua warily the entire time.

Ashton and the others were greeted by energetic voices in the market. Compared to the morning, pedestrian traffic increased several times. It was lunch time, and the food stalls were very crowded.

“Yay! Because it's free, I'll eat as much yan I want ~"

Olivia rolled up her sleeves and charged forward. The three of them chased him into an alley, and found a stall that was not open in the morning there. The most prominent of all is the store that sells bundles of fabric.

Compared to other countries, the quality of clothing in the Kingdom of Farnesse was excellent. For the Kingdom, the export of cloth is very important. Fine fabrics that cannot be found in other countries can be seen everywhere here.

Ashton becomes a tour guide for Joshua who is interested as they walk. Shortly after, they find Olivia eating at a stall in front of them. The nameplate reads 'sandwich Smoked Grey Boar, a delicacy of the famous capital'.

Ashton had been living in the capital for a long time now, and this was the first time he had heard of it.

"A-Are you a friend of that lady officer?"

Ashton smiled wryly as the skinny shop owner asked them. Claudia confirmed it, and the owner looked relieved.

"That's great. He said someone would come and pay later, and start eating greedily. He's a soldier, so I don't dare say anything…"

The owner glanced at Olivia who was eating wholeheartedly with a troubled face.

“... Hey.”

“Oh! The food there looks good."

Olivia evades Ashton's hand and flees like a rabbit. He disappeared amidst the crowd without giving them a chance to catch up.

"That girl!"

"Haha. Lady Olivia is really energetic— Boss, I'll pay for it. How much?"

Joshua smiled happily and reached into his pocket.

"Okay, thank you so much! That's the price.Ten silver coins!"

“—Hah? Ten silver coins?"

"Yes, ten silver coins!"

The owner said with a bright smile and extended his right hand. Joshua looked at his hand and turned to Ashton. Ashton understood what he meant and asked on his behalf:

“How much does he eat?”

"He ate everything I had, so I'll close the store for today."

The shop owner smiled. There was really nothing left in his stall, except for a few crumbs. Claudia smiled cunningly at Joshua's stiff face.

Half an hour later

After finally capturing Olivia, Ashton's group sits in a larger restaurant. Because Joshua paid the bill, the table was full of plates. Olivia kept ordering as she ate, so the food showed no signs of running out.

Joshua ate nothing, and just stared into the void.

“—Well, I'm still in my infancy, so I should eat more.”

Even Olivia felt she had gone too far, and started making excuses.

“Do not use your growth period as an excuse. Besides, what if you get bigger?"

“More what?”

Olivia asked with a spoon in hand.

“Aanya, you said..”

Ashton couldn't help but look at Olivia's breasts. He suddenly felt an oppressive air from the side. He turned his head, and saw Claudia forcing a smile.

"I'm about the same size as Major, so mine is big too, right?"

“K-You're right.”

Ashton did not care that he did not mention his subject, and continued to nod his head. Sweat ran down his neck, and he found it hard to breathe. At this moment, Joshua suddenly returned to his senses and asked:

“Lady Olivia, what are your plans after you finish eating?”

“Hmm? We don't have a plan."

"Good, can I ask for a sparring session?"

"Sparring? - It's okay. You buy me lunch, so I'll refrain from killing you."

“I'm very grateful for that— And Miss Claudia, I think it will spoil the mood if you unsheathed the sword here.”

Joshua said as he sipped tea. Claudia's sword was already halfway through, and Ashton was bewildered by how things progressed so quickly.

“Letnan Claudia, relax! And Sir Joshua, why did you suddenly challenge Olivia sparring? Please explain so I can understand."

“Close your mouth Ashton! —So you finally showed your true colors. You are the Empire's spy, right?”

Claudia gave a murderous look towards Joshua.

(Sir Joshua is an Imperial agent? I'm getting confused.)

As if mocking the bewildered Ashton, the situation was escalating.

“Sorry to betray your expectations, but I have nothing to do with the Empire. Or rather, the Empire is our common enemy. Besides, would a spy eat so openly?"

Joshua was right, and Claudia frowned in his face. Meanwhile, Olivia does not care and continues to eat.

“Nona Claudia, you know, right? Even if I try my hardest, I'm still no match for Lady Olivia."

Joshua seriously. Ashton heard from Guile that the strong could tell the strength of their opponents just from their moves.

Claudia had a murderous aura as she showed an unhappy face.

“Why don't we try it?”

Claudia drew her sword even further. Seeing the tense atmosphere between the two of them, the boss immediately prepared to close the shop. The other customers who noticed the killer air were all pretending to know nothing.

“—Fuh. This dish is very good. ”

Olivia's innocent voice eased the tension. He stretched his back then patted Claudia on the shoulder.

"I'll be right back."

"Major…"

Claudia wanted to follow, but was stopped.

“You don't have to come. You too, Ashton. Can we go?"

"… Good."

Joshua and Olivia went together. Ashton saw them leave with a blank expression, and said to Claudia who was sheathing her sword:

“Should we follow?”

"Forget over. Didn't the Major forbid us to do it?"

Claudia's face was bitter as she said that. He wanted to follow them. It was the same for Ashton, but with Olivia's beast-like instincts, she would soon realize it if they followed.

“So, who exactly is he? From the conversation, he doesn't seem to be the enemy ..."

Ashton's question remains unanswered.

Claudia only saw the two of them leave in silence.

...****************...

...To Be Continue's...