"Princess, I should be going now. I have escorted you to your friends." Shido turned and said to Princess Renner.
"...I see." Princess Renner looked a bit disappointed when Shido said that he needed to go now, but she couldn't do anything about it since his job was done. "Climb, can you give Acheval-san his reward." She continued and shifted her eyes at Climb who was beside Shido.
"Yes, Princess Renner." Climb gave a respectful nod, reaching for a pouch fastened to his waist. He turned to Shido and extended the bag toward him. "Acheval-san, here's the payment for escorting Princess Renner to E-Rantel. Please accept it."
Shido accepted the pouch without hesitation. He needed money if he wanted to establish himself properly in E-Rantel, so there was no reason to turn it down.
"Thank you Climb, I had fun during our travel." Shido let out a small smile and said his thanks to Climb since he could gather many information from Climb.
Climb shook his head lightly. "No, I should be the one thanking you. You saved the Princess. I also enjoyed traveling together with you." His expression turned thoughtful for a moment before he added, "Why don't you become the Princess's personal guard? You're strong, and honestly… I'd feel more at ease knowing she had someone like you by her side."
Though a part of Climb felt a sting at the thought of not being the sole protector of Princess Renner, his respect for Shido's strength and his devotion to Renner's safety outweighed his pride.
Princess Renner, standing nearby, had heard Climb's suggestion, and her eyes immediately lit up with excitement and hope. But Shido's reply dimmed that light.
"I'm really sorry," Shido said with a bitter smile, "but there are still things I need to do." He noticed the subtle shift in Renner's expression. His rejection had clearly disappointed her.
"I-I see..." Renner replied softly. But after a brief pause, she managed to lift her gaze and offer him a gentle smile. "Still, if you ever change your mind... you're always welcome to become my guard."
She said it with grace, doing her best to hide her disappointment, not wanting to burden him or make things awkward. But the lingering hope in her voice was unmistakable.
"Yes," Shido nodded towards the both of them. "Well, I'll be going now."
"Yeah, be careful out there," Climb replied, returning the nod. A quiet relief settled in his chest. It might have been selfish, but he still wanted to be the only one standing beside Princess Renner as her personal guard.
Shido turned toward the inn's door, ready to take his leave, only to find his path suddenly blocked. A woman that is glaring at him with red face. It was Lakyus. She was being ignored by them and only talk to each other as if she didn't exist at all making her speechless and angry at Shido since she was talking to him when he suddenly turned his back on her and wanted to go away.
How could she let this happen?
As Shido made his way toward the door, Lakyus stepped forward and firmly blocked his path, her arms outstretched slightly as if daring him to try and go around. She glared at this detestable guy that ignored her.
"What is it, Aindra-san?" Shido let out a wry smile when he saw Lakyus blocking his way. He don't really want to deal with this girl since she was too troublesome for him since he know how much of a chuunibyo she was.
"H-How dare you ignore me like that…!" Lakyus huffed, her voice rising. "You have to accept my challenge or I'll force you into it!"
Despite the threat in her words, it sounded more like a child throwing tantrum than a declaration of battle. Her clenched fists, puffed cheeks, and flushed face only made it harder to take her seriously.
Helpless, Shido let out a long sigh. He was about to reject her challenge again, but deep down, he knew it would be pointless. Lakyus was stubborn, once she latched onto something, she wouldn't let go. So instead, he came up with a different idea.
"Alright," Shido said at last. "I accept your challenge."
"Really?!" For some reason, Lakyus's eyes lit up and cheered.
"But…" Shido held up a hand, stopping her from jumping around.
Lakyus blinked, confused. "But?"
"I don't like ordinary challenges like this," he said with a calm smile. "So let's add a bet."
"Bet?" Lakyus was startled but Shido continued answering her confusion.
"Yes. If I lose, you can request me one thing, anything. And if you lose, I can ask the same. Are you okay with that?" Shido revealed a sly smile watching Lakyus ponder but in the end she agreed.
"Alright. I agree," she said with a firm nod.
"So," Shido asked, still smiling, "how are we doing this?"
"The one who falls to the ground first loses." Lakyus didn't wait for a response. The words had barely left her mouth when she lunged forward like a bolt of lightning.
Climb couldn't even track her with his eyes, her speed was beyond what he'd seen in training or battle.
"Fast!" Climb only saw Lakyus blurred before she appear behind Shido.
"It's over!" Lakyus revealed a smug smile when she was about to punch Shido seeing that he couldn't keep up with her speed. She had the 'Cloak of Rat Speed' and 'Virgin Snow' that enhances her physical abilities greatly even if she didn't use any martial arts.
However, just as she was celebrating, the figure in front of her was hit of her punch but she didn't feel that she hit anything. Lakyus was an experienced adventurer so she immediately realized what happened. What she hit was only a afterimage of Shido. It dumbfounded Lakyus since Shido's speed was much faster than her.
Shido had used Flash step making him so fast that Lakyus only manage to hit his afterimage.
"Slip." While Lakyus was still confused of Shido's afterimage, Shido had already activated his null magic. A white magic circle appeared below Lakyus.
She noticed the magic circle that suddenly appeared on her feet, although she felt no danger from this magic circle. Lakyus felt that she would lose if she stayed on her position. However, it was already too late as Slip had already activated. Lakyus felt the floor became so slipper, no matter what she do, her feet always slip. Lakyus lost her balance and was about to crash down on the floor causing everyone who was dining and also Princess Renner and Climb to gasp.
Lakyus closed her eyes waiting for herself to crash on the floor since she couldn't do anything about Shido's magic. But she waited for a few seconds but she still didn't feel that she had fallen.
Slowly, she opened her eyes and saw Shido in front of her face, so close with each other. Shido was holding her waist with one one and supporting her back with his other hand.
The time around them seemed to stop. Lakyus was stunned that her brain short-circuited. It was the first time she was ever so close with a person of opposite gender. She was a noble and she usually attend gatherings and party to socialize and met various people especially men who wanted to marry her but Lakyus rejected them on the spot. Her armor the 'Virgin Snow' also prevents her from having a boyfriend since according to her, her armor can only be worn by virgin maiden.
Yet, right now, she was in an intimate position with a guy that she had just met. Lakyus was just a young woman and although her armor prevents her from having a boyfriend, her fantasies still made her dream about her destined person.
"N-No, I'm still not mentally prepared." Lakyus look away from Shido since she was so embarrassed making her face blushing madly.
Princess Renner and Climb was also dumbfounded. Climb saw the atmosphere between the two became good making him think that Shido was a natural lady killer. But then, suddenly, he heard a cracking sound on his side bringing him back to reality. He turned his head and only saw Princess Renner smiling while watching Shido and Lakyus, but somehow, Climb felt that her smile was different from usual.
"Princess?" Climb said in concern.
"Hmm? What's wrong Climb?" Princess Renner faced Climb but her smile had reverted back to usual without Climb noticing.
"N-No. It might be just my imagination." Climb shook his head.
"I see, I don't know what you thought, but it might just be your imagination." Princess Renner said without a change in her expression. "Anyway, they look good together, right?" she continued, but an eerie tone leaked from her.
"Yes. Aindra-sama and Acheval san would be a great couple."
"Fufu, right~?"
...
"Aindra-san, you lose." Shido said, smiling yet also helpless since Lakyus expression wasn't that of a fighter but a girl in love.
"H-Huh? Eh?" When Shido said those words, Lakyus finally began to notice that they were in a fight and Shido had placed his hand near her neck making it a knife hand.
"What's wrong?" Shido asked Lakyus looking at her weirdly. Although he could see that she was a naive girl that can be tricked by anyone easily. He didn't raise any of her flag since he still had many things to do in this world.
"N-Nothing!" Finally waking up from her dream, Lakyus slightly pushed Shido away, getting some distance between them. However, her face was still blushing from embarrassment. Initially, she thought that Shido would kiss her but she had forgotten that they were fighting because of her fantasies.
"You lost. Don't forget our bet, alright?" Shido said with a slight smile.
"I-I know! What do you want me to do? Do you want me to became your lover?! Hmmp! I'm not that easy woman!" Lakyus began saying barrage of words making Shido slightly dizzy.
"Oh, that might be a great idea." Shido thought for a bit before he nodded then he observed her body, especially those twin-peaks on her chest.
"What?!" Lakyus was shocked when Shido said that, her face became redder again as she felt a hot surge gathering on her face. She was embarrassed at how direct Shido was but Lakyus was also quite expectant of it. However, before she could reply, Shido continued his words.
"I'm just joking. You don't need to take it so seriously." Shido laughed when he saw how interesting Lakyus current expression was.