「Thanks?」
「...Yes.」
Alicia casted her eyes down bashfully, then she continued her words with a small voice.
「...Erio is always together with me...you always prioritize me above all else...you even presented a holy sword this amazing to me today. ...Perhaps Erio think doing that is only natural but...it's something special that makes me happy. That's why...I want you to let me thank you properly occasionally.」
「Alicia...」
My chest was feeling really warm hearing Alicia's words.
Even though her staying together with the like of me who got banished from the capital because of this disgraceful Gift was already enough...that was what I thought, but surely that wasn't what Alicia meant.
That was why I put on a smile from the bottom of my heart,
「Thank you. I'm looking forward to your thanks, Alicia.」
「...Yes.」
Like that Alicia led me to a high class inn that could contend for number one or two spot even throughout the dungeon city Sankrid. There was a restaurant in its first floor.
「Uwaa...delicious. Even in the capital you would have a hard time to eat something this great.」
「...Yes. Looks like it suits your taste Erio...that's great.」
I unconsciously voiced my astonishment from eating the extravagant dinner that Alicia had reserved for me.
Other than the money we were saving for making the holy sword, we were splitting a part of the money we got from exploring the dungeon evenly and managing that money as our respective asset. The meal today was paid by Alicia from her own fund, so I obediently enjoyed this repayment from her.
I also loved food of the masses that restaurant targeting adventurer provided, but this full course that meshed the cook's ingenuity and the ingredients' quality was also delightful in its own way.
「Even so this high class inn , it's affiliated with the Empress Brigade you say? Thanks to that even children like us can come here without getting suspected, and we're given private room so Alicia won't stand out. I can enjoy the foods without reserve. ...Could it be Alicia, you have been searching restaurant like this since long ago for the sake of this day?」
「...Yes. I've been wanting to thank Erio all this time after all.」
「I see. Thank you.」
Alicia's consideration gave me happiness that surpassed even this delicious food.
If she had been preparing this far in advance, then why did she say that she had preparation to do and left for a bit before this? ...Well, no matter. Surely it was something like her forgetting something and running here to reserve a place here for today. There was also no guarantee before this that the holy sword would definitely be finished today.
Like that I enjoyed a leisurely time with Alicia after so long. As I was immersing myself in the happy feeling,
「...Erio. Then, let's go to the next place.」
「Eh? Next?」
「...Yes. The thanks doesn't end here. ...Rather, the main event will be after this.」
Alicia said that and pulled my hand. She led me to the upper floor of the restaurant.
That was to say, to a room of this city's number one hotel.
.
(Just what kind of thanks it will be in a hotel this expensive? ...Ah! Perhaps she's going to take me to watch Sankrid's night view together?)
The dungeon city was overflowing with liveliness around the clock. There were still many lightings on even when it became night.
It was said that the night scenery seen from high place would make it look like there were starry skies both above and below. That was also the catchphrase of this hotel. Yep, surely that was her plan.
We arrived to the highest floor while my heart was pounding from this somewhat mature thanks of Alicia.
There was a large door there.
「...Here Erio. This is the room's key.」
Alicia handed me a key and I put my hand on the door knob with a bit of excitement.
(I think this is my first time doing something stylish like nightscape viewing. There were a lot of commotions since I got banished from the capital, so it's good to relax together with Alicia sometimes like this.)
.
I was thinking something like that while stepping into the room with light footsteps.
Then what I found inside was...
.
「Oi what the hell is this! Don't screw around you shitty brats!」
「These brutish duo...kuh, toy with me however you like! But only my heart will never yield...tsu」
.
The de facto number 2 of Empress Brigade, the leopard beastman Liza Saspain-san.
The leader of Empress Brigade, Stacy Poisondoll-san.
The two beautiful women were glaring our way with tearful eyes. They were lying down on a huge bed wearing lewd underwear.