Chapter 368
Chapter 368. Like the Surface of the Lake
The breakfast at the inn was fantastic.
Freshly baked bread, cheese, oil-marinated fish, salt-cured olives, and orange jam with yogurt. The saltiness of the cheese, fish, and olives was just perfect, making the bread disappear quickly. I felt like I could eat endlessly!
And the bread was refillable…!
Refills are unavoidable…!!
“Even though we ate a lot for dinner yesterday, we ended up having a feast for breakfast too.”
“Can’t help it if it’s delicious!”
Leila rubbed her round belly with a wry smile. Normally, on days with rigorous exercise planned, one should keep breakfast light to avoid any internal injuries, but today is a holiday after all.
I was completely satisfied to enjoy delicious food from the morning.
Part of it could be attributed to the decent quality of the inn, but the area around Aulitos Lake is generally known for its delicious food. Various local specialties are exchanged through trade, and the types of crops are refined as well; the water and land are abundant. There’s no reason for bad food to exist.
Moreover, thanks to the bounty of the lake, there’s enough basic food guaranteed, allowing people to cultivate luxuries. Most city-states (except for the terribly run ones) are in similar states, raising the overall quality—such is the impression.
…From the perspective of the front lines, this region feels like a dream.
After replenishing our nutrients, we stuffed our backpacks with valuables and necessities and stepped outside the city in casual attire.
The city-state’s walls here feel like just enough to fend off lake pirates and lake monsters, prioritizing convenience over robust fortifications. It seems that solid walls aren’t seen as necessary. While it’s nice to have peace, if this place becomes a front, it would be tough…
Well, the Demon Lord’s army likely has little experience with large-scale naval battles, so they might unexpectedly struggle, right? If it gets bothersome, they might just send in dragons from the sky.
…Hmm, I should avoid that thought for now. I don’t want to overwrite this beautiful peaceful scene in my mind with battlefields.
“Wow, the sun is strong today~”
Strolling along, I glanced up at the sky. The blazing summer sun seemed to accentuate the refreshing blue of the lake.
“Isn’t it?”
Leila, holding her straw hat down against the wind blowing from the lake, nodded in agreement. Her light, pure white dress fluttered about. This was something I acquired from the Night Elf puppet merchant. They were on the brink of being dismantled and starting a massive clearance sale, so I snagged it while I was at it.
‘Looks good on her…’
Antendeixis murmured. It felt like he was nodding with arms crossed.
For Leila, who needed to quickly transform back into her dragon form in emergencies, wearing easily removable clothing like a dress made sense. Though it had extremely low defense, so it wasn’t suited for charging into battle against Night Elves. If she got hit by poison needles, that would be troublesome.
‘No, that’s not what I mean…’
I get it…she really does look good. With her pale skin, silver hair, and golden eyes, wrapped in a pristine white dress, she looks even more ethereal.
But in contrast, her humble straw hat added a certain charm, and as she protected it from being swept away by the wind, it was as if she was asserting her existence not as a mirage in the summer heat.
“…What’s wrong?”
Noticing my gaze, Leila tilted her head.
“I just thought you looked good.”
When I honestly expressed my feelings, she smiled shyly.
“You look good too, Alex.”
…Huh!? My outfit is almost the same as yesterday, though!? I was taken aback by her unexpected compliment.
“It’s not just about the outfit; it’s that relaxed demeanor of yours.”
She added playfully.
“Your expression has softened.”
I touched my cheek…Is that really true? Did I really have a tense expression until now?
—Avoiding the sunlight, we walked along a forest path.
The lakeside facing the city was fully utilized as a dock, so it wasn’t suitable for playing in the water. After walking a bit, once we exited the windbreak forest—there it was.
A dazzling white sandy beach, bright in the sun.
This was a hidden beach, surrounded by windbreak forests, located a bit away from the city. I spotted it from the sky while flying over.
“Here it comes—catch this!”
“Whoa! You did it!”
“Run away!!”
The cheerful voices of children echoed. Local kids were splashing around, playing in the water. Perhaps families seeking relief from the heat or maybe even the children of fishermen. The vibe of their clothing was a mix, so it could be both.
The adults were leisurely lounging in the shade, sipping drinks and chatting as they enjoyed themselves. It was charming to see spears or swords propped up against tree trunks, prepared for anything.
Some of them glanced at us with curiosity, possibly due to us being outsiders, so I gave a light bow and cheerfully greeted them, “Hello.”
If a young man with a bulky sword approached, they would rightly feel a bit cautious. However, thanks to Leila, the atmosphere shifted to one of “Oh, just a couple,” and the stares directed at us began to dissipate.
By the way, I was dressed in travel-worn clothes with boots, carrying my backpack, and Adamas hung from my waist. I would have opted for sandals like Leila, given the heat, but sandals make me vulnerable when things get dicey, so I end up just wearing boots, which makes transportation a pain…
“You say that, but you’ve bought plenty of clothes and shoes for Leila.”
Leila has it good; she has way fewer personal items compared to me. Besides, no offense, but it’s Leila who flies around carrying the luggage…
“That’s quite blunt…”
At least for me, sandals aren’t worth the trouble to buy.
I laid out the mantle I brought to a shady spot where no one was around and placed our items down. Since there weren’t many people, the chances of things getting stolen were slim…
“I’ll keep an eye on things.”
Came Barbara’s telepathic voice from Leila’s stabbing sword.
“If someone approaches, I’ll scare them off. Besides, it’s more comfortable in the shade, for me at least.”
Even if it was firmly protected with a magically charged blade, the striking sword carried Barbara’s essence. Even indirectly, being exposed to sunlight would unsettle her undead self—that’s the gist of it.
Taking her words to heart, I decided to trust Barbara to watch over our belongings. Along with that, I pulled out a leather water pouch from my backpack and handed it to Leila.
“Here you go.”
“Thank you!”
Leila gulped down water, her throat making noises. Hydrating often is important. Then suddenly, I realized that the salty breakfast was likely designed with plenty of sweat in mind.
“Here you go.”
“Thanks.”
Receiving the water pouch from Leila, I took a sip or two. No denying it, I wish I could drink some ice-cold water!
“Living like a prince has made you accustomed to luxuries!”
I can’t deny that! Not asking for ice, but are there no Forest Elves around to cool the water for me…!
While pondering that, I kicked off my boots and rolled up my pants. …I was wearing Evrogia beneath my clothes, so I couldn’t just carelessly strip down. But thanks to this high-performance Bondage outfit, I felt secure even if I charged into battle against the Night Elves, and it also significantly lessens the summer heat, so I can’t thank Kusemon enough.
Water doesn’t damage it easily; I’m ready to play in the water! When nobles swim, they wear something called “swimwear” to avoid showing too much skin, I hear…
This is…my swimwear…!!
“The finest Hyerelf skin and dragon scales—top-tier stuff!”
No royal possesses something like this…!
“Wooow, it’s so cold! I can feel how cold it is…!”
Leila squealed with joy, lifting the hem of her dress as she splashed her feet in the lake. I sensed this context of “It feels so cold!(on a human body)” but I probably was just imagining things.
I also stomped into the lake—whoa, this feels amazing—and out of caution, I lightly cast Holy Silver Curse around my feet to the surroundings.
No signs of poisonous creatures! All clear!!
Now I can play in the water worry-free.
“It feels so good…”
Feeling the gentle waves of the lake against my ankles, I squinted my eyes.
…It’s peaceful. How wonderful it is.
Like the clear surface of the lake, my heart was slowly being filled with serenity.
Splashing water, I thought—what’s there to hesitate about!
“Hahaha!”
In my clothes, like a child, I dove headfirst into the water with a massive splash.
