Chapter 59 – Fixed Party’s Whereabouts #2

“Which tower shield do you want specifically?”
“It would be nice if it was wide and light in weight. The party members are women.”
“You mean a female party member is in charge of the tank? That’s a very odd thing. Okay. I’ll get you something suitable.”

The blacksmith nodded and began to scan the store shelves. While the blacksmith was looking for a shield, I couldn’t help but feel strange as I touched the money bag.

‘I never thought the first thing I bought at the blacksmith’s shop would be a gift for a party member.’

So far, I’ve been stingy with equipment, so I’ve never had to visit a blacksmith’s shop. However, to think that the equipment purchased for the first time at the smithy would be given as a gift to a party member. If it were me in the past, it would have been unimaginable.

But never think it’s a waste of money.
Rebecca’s shield technique was definitely excellent.
Thanks to her shield, I saved my life several times during the giant subjugation quest. It was a party member who risked her death to protect her life, and she couldn’t belittle the gift of her shield.

“There’s just one good item. A tower shield made of large crustacean monsters. It’s light weight and incredibly strong. Its surface is also smooth, so it can be used as a mirror if necessary.”
“How light is it?”
“Listen for yourself.”

I personally lifted the tower shield handed over by the blacksmith. Certainly, something that I could easily carry with my own strength seemed like something that Rebecca, trained in martial arts, would be able to carry comfortably.
I especially liked the design because it was much better than the broken tower shield made of shells. It really looked like a ninja turtle the moment you wore it.

“It’s okay. How much is this?”
“It’s quite expensive because it uses high-quality materials. It’s 5 silver.”

5 silver.
It was the same price as a tower shield made of shells. There is no reason to hesitate to buy the bounty and reward money to catch the giant tomorrow anyway. I readily handed over the 5 silver to the blacksmith.

“Thank you. I hope your party members like it.”
“I probably will.”

I took my tower shield and came out of the smithy. I hurriedly went back to the inn, washed my body, and came out, and it was evening time before I knew it. With the tower shield attached to my back, I left for the Moon’s Blessing Tavern where I was supposed to meet with Rebecca.

*

The Moon’s Blessing Tavern is bustling with customers.
Once inside, I easily spotted Rebecca sitting at a table. Because she had gorgeous red hair and a great body, she had no choice but to stand out. The moment I approached, Rebecca had a surprised look on her face.

“Luke! You can’t believe it?”
“Yes?”
“Are you thinking of becoming a warrior? Get rid of the wizard? What are you complaining about!”
“It can’t be.”
“Then what’s the shield on your back? It looks much nicer than my broken shield.”

Rebecca was staring at the shield on my back with a look of envy. She was so envious that her saliva was dripping from her open mouth.
No shit Are you really salivating?
How envious are you?

“Wipe your mouth.”
“Huh? Uh…”

I said with a grin to Rebecca who hurriedly wiped her mouth.

“You don’t have to be so envious. I bought this tower shield as a gift for you.”
“What, what?!”

Rebecca is so surprised that she jumps out of her seat.
I proudly handed her her tower shield. Rebecca stared in disbelief at the tower shield she held in her hands, then took it into her arms as if it were a valuable item. She then looked at me with slightly uneasy eyes.

“Sir, you’re not taking it from me, right? Then you’ll curse me for being a mean person for the rest of my life.”
“Do I look that small?”
“It’s not like that, but I don’t have any special gifts prepared! If I had known this would happen, I would have bought at least one magic book.”

Rebecca looked genuinely sorry. The fact that she noticed and got up from her seat was the momentum to run to Yoensu’s magic shop at any moment. Of course you don’t even know where it is.
I grabbed her Rebecca by her shoulders and put her in her seat.

“Why are you giving me a present?”
“Then can I get a tower shield for free? This looks like a very expensive item.”
“Strictly speaking, it’s not free. It’s a bribe.”
“Bribe?”

First of all, I ordered food and drinks from the waitress at the bar.
It would be much better to talk while filling your stomach.

“I’d like grilled lamb and stir-fried chicken, please. And a cold beer.”
“Yes, sir.”

After a while, the food and drinks we ordered came out.
Grilled lamb, grilled to a golden brown, and stir-fried chicken with hot broth. And cold dewy beer. As befits a tavern with generous hospitality, the portion was plentiful. As soon as I saw the food served, I couldn’t help but salivate.

“Let’s talk while eating.”
“Yeah! It sounds delicious…”

For the past five days, I thought my tongue was going numb from trying to satisfy my hunger with beef jerky without a taste bud. When the tender meat arrived on the table, I couldn’t hold back my appetite any longer. I picked up my fork and diligently dipped the meat into it. Rebecca was also preoccupied with filling her stomach.
While eating, Rebecca lifted her head slightly and asked.

“But why are you giving me bribes? What’s there to take from a poor adventurer like me-.”
“You promised something a month ago. After a month, we’ll decide whether to disband this fixed party or continue it.”
“Ah… I did make that promise-. But has the time already passed? Has a month already passed?”
“Strictly speaking, there are still three more days left. Can’t we just wait until then? There won’t be anything to do with us for three days, so let’s decide quickly. What to do with this fixed party?”
“Oh, that’s a good idea. Actually, I was a bit frustrated too.”

Rebecca looked at me nervously.
The fork was also carefully placed on the table.
There’s no need for a particularly long rhetoric.
I spoke directly to Rebecca.

“I like you as a party member. Even though your knowledge as an adventurer is lacking, I think you’re a great tank. As a wizard, I can trust you with my back. That’s why, I want to continue forming a fixed party with you.”

I made eye contact with Rebecca and asked.
With an extremely serious expression.

“How are you, Rebecca?”
“Me? It’s me, of course…”

Rebecca grinned and opened her mouth.
The moment I heard her answer, I was relieved.

“Welcome! It’s a fixed party with an aristocratic wizard in an adventurer’s party. It’s an opportunity I never want to miss. Rather, I want to bow my head and ask for it.”

Rebecca chatted with excitement for a while, then she cooled down and opened her mouth.
For some reason, there were tears in her eyes.

“To be honest… I’ve been very anxious up until now. If I broke up with you, I was at a loss as to what to do with my adventurer job. I don’t know anything about this. I don’t know how to deal with monsters or what kind of quests I should take. If it wasn’t for you, I must have died after working as an adventurer for a month…”
“Thank you for giving me such a high rating, but you would have done well by yourself? I think you would have eaten well and lived well without me.”
“…That’s not true! Luke, because you were by my side, I’ve always been reassuring. I’ve always thought that way since we first met. This tower shield… Is too much for me to give as a bribe. So I’ll definitely pay you back!”

Rebecca said with a laugh.

“Of course, because I worked as a fixed party with you!”
“Five-.”

That one word was enough.
Because that’s what I wanted to hear so much.
At this moment, in the tavern, my fixed party was newly born.
It was the birth of a bronze duo that would shake up the adventurer industry.

“Cheers to commemorate the new fixed party!”
“Cheers.”

Crack-!
Clinking cold beer mugs, Rebecca and I gulped down our drinks.
The beer that flowed down my throat was so sweet.

The atmosphere seems to be slowly ripening.
Now, maybe I can answer your question.
About my thoughts Rebecca wanted to know.

“Rebecca. Wasn’t there something I needed to tell you?”
“Feel free to say anything-! I’m very generous today. Hehe.”
“Last time I took out your hairbrush from the well. You must have asked me something. I, like you.”
“Heh, heeheeeee—!”

The moment I brought up the story lightly, Rebecca stood up from her seat with a frightened expression. She was the one who caused an earthquake in her pupils out of embarrassment.
I didn’t know that there would be such a strong reaction, so I was more taken aback.

“What’s the matter?”
“I-I said that.”

Rebecca cupped her head in her hand. As if recalling her embarrassing memories, her face was red.
When I asked at the well, he asked very calmly, so why are you embarrassed now?
Is it the style to commit first and kick the blanket later?

“Would you like to sit down?”
“Uh… Luke! Me, hey. Can I get some fresh air? Go, I suddenly want to run…! I’ll just run around the bar and come back…!”

It’s embarrassing, but why are you running?

‘Are you kidding me?’

I thought now was the right time to laugh. But Rebecca’s actions were sincere. Rebecca walked out of her table and warmed up with her blushing face. I mean, she’s doing something similar to gymnastics. I hurriedly took her hand and put her back on the table.

“Please, please don’t do that because it’s embarrassing.”
“M-I’m sorry…!”

I bowed her head to Rebecca who waved her hand.

“No. Rather, I’m sorry.”
“Why are you sorry for me…?”
“Because I made you wait for a long time. It’s not a very difficult question. I didn’t know it at first, but after living together, I got it. Please understand if I’m very insensitive. I can’t easily answer such a question. I have to think and think again. “
“…Worry?”

I looked at Rebecca and shed her bitter smile.
She casually reached out and touched the horns on her head.

“Because I’m an incubus.”

“Because I was born as a dreamer that people hate. I can’t carelessly express that feeling of liking someone.”

The moment I spoke, I recalled a memory from the past.
It was a memory of 20 years that had been going on since the orphanage.

The first horn on my head I saw in the mirror when I was just a toddler.
In my childhood, I played together without distinction, but for some reason, my classmates at the orphanage gradually distanced themselves from me.
The word incubus echoed among the classmates.
One winter night when I realized what the word meant.

As she let go of all the memories that came to her mind, she opened her mouth in a calm voice.

“Because there has never been a woman who likes me as a member of the opposite sex. Even if I convey my feelings, there’s no way I can get through. I thought that liking someone was too much for me.”

“I thought that even if I lived my whole life, I wouldn’t have a relationship.”

“So I have no choice but to live insensitively.

I looked at Rebecca.
Somehow, the moment I saw her, I was able to be honest in my heart. Memories of the month I spent with Rebecca flashed through my mind. She was always in a good mood when she was with her. Every time we had a conversation, there was a fluttering heart in a corner of my heart. Even if I don’t feel like I’m going to squeeze my heart out, I realized that this is also the same feeling for me.

I liked Rebecca.
She wanted to be her lover, holding her hand with her, sharing her love.
It doesn’t matter if the confession is rejected.
I just wanted to convey this feeling honestly.

“I like you.”

“I’m sure I like you, Rebecca.”

A sincere confession reached Rebecca.
Even in her noisy tavern, Rebecca was clearly listening to me.
Because the moment her confession resonated, Rebecca was in tears.
Thick, clear tears ran down her cheeks.

“You stupid…”

Rebecca replied.

“…It doesn’t matter if people hate you or not. I like your horns. I like your broad back, your tanned skin, your golden hair, and your black eyes.”

“Your relationship is me. I am the one who will be with you for the rest of my life.”

With sincerity
Rebecca answered my confession.

“I like you too, Luke.”