NOVEL WEB Chapter 97
97. You’re Loved, Aren’t You?
I was at the magical carriage station on the outskirts of the capital.
Luca was by my side.
We were about to board a direct flight to the Kingdom of Sara, where the temple is located.
[The power of the gods, the power of demons, the power of dragons—you must encounter them there. For the growth of your power.]
During the battle with Electra, the goddess Ilfaria spoke in my mind.
To understand the root of the absolute defense skill and gain more power,
I decided to head to the ancient dragon’s temple in the Kingdom of Sara.
And today is the day of departure.
According to Electra’s prophecy, I was supposed to visit the temple on the night of the new moon.
Since that’s tomorrow, I decided to leave the day before, considering the distance.
Luca, too, was foretold by Electra to visit the temple separately,
so she’s coming along.
“It’s almost time to leave, isn’t it?”
“Take care…”
Lilith and Alice, who had come to see us off, said.
“You look down, Lilith,”
said Alice.
“You’re sad you won’t see Haruto, aren’t you?”
“W-What? I mean…um…”
At that remark, Lilith blushed and fidgeted.
“…Come back soon, okay? I’ll be waiting.”
Lilith stared at me intently.
Her unusually passionate words made my heart skip a beat.
“Y-Yeah, I don’t think I’ll be gone long, so we’ll see each other soon.”
As I said that, I felt strangely embarrassed.
Then,
“You’re loved, aren’t you, Haruto?”
A girl in a revealing dancer’s outfit walked up to us, smiling.
It seems Sarome also came to see us off.
“L-L-Loved? Wh-Wh-What are you talking about, Sarome!? It’s not like that, I mean, it’s not in that way, um…”
Lilith’s face turned even redder.
“I like teasing you, Lilith, because you always respond so well,”
Sarome laughed happily and stood beside us.
“Sarome…?”
“Hehe, I’ve decided to come along too. To the ancient dragon’s temple,”
said Sarome.
“Sarome is…?”
I was perplexed by her sudden offer.
“Well, we’re going to a temple, right? That means exploring. There might be traps or monsters lurking around.”
“Well, yeah.”
“I’ve mastered stealth techniques, so I can see in the dark and detect traps. I’ll definitely be useful. Right? Right? Can I come along?”
“I appreciate the help, and I don’t mind, but…what about you, Luca?”
“I don’t mind either. You must have your own reasons,”
Luca said.
Reasons…does Sarome also have a purpose for visiting the ancient dragon’s temple?
“Hehe, well…yeah.”
Sarome said with a somewhat meaningful smile.
In any case—thus, the three of us set off for the temple.
After a nearly day-long journey by magical carriage, we arrived in Elios City, in the Kingdom of Sara.
The ruins we’re aiming for are in a forest on the outskirts of the town, and the three of us were heading straight there.
“Whew, it’s cold here,”
Sarome exhaled white breath.
Elios City is located at the northern tip of the kingdom, and it was much colder than Adonis.
Snowflakes were softly falling around us.
Even Sarome, who usually wore a revealing dancer’s outfit, had donned a warm cloak.
Luca and I were dressed similarly.
But still, why did Sarome come along?
I can’t help but wonder…
“Hmm? Oh, you’re curious why I tagged along?”
Sarome noticed my gaze and smiled.
“N-No, sorry, I didn’t mean to pry—”
“Well…maybe it’s because I didn’t want to be apart from you, Haruto?”
Sarome clung to my right arm.
Her ample chest pressed softly against my upper arm.
“D-Didn’t want to be apart…?”
For a moment, my heart skipped a beat.
Well, knowing Sarome, she’s probably just joking.
But still…Sarome’s chest is really big and soft.
“Sarome…do you love Haruto too?”
Luca murmured.
“Oh, don’t go turning everything into a love story like Alice,”
Sarome laughed it off.
“But, what do you mean by ‘too’? Are you saying you’re in love with Haruto, Luca?”
Sarome looked at Luca with interest.
“Uh…!?”
Luca looked flustered.
“So you finally realized what I pointed out before, huh?”
“I…don’t understand. When I’m with Haruto, my chest feels warm. Sometimes it aches, and other times I feel strangely excited…”
Luca looked at Sarome, then at me.
“It’s different from the thrill of battle. But all I know is how to fight, so I don’t understand what this feeling is…”
“All you know is how to fight…?”
“I was born in a small village,”
Luca answered my question.
“I lived as an ordinary village girl. I thought I had nothing. I didn’t even know what I wanted to do. But suddenly, I awakened to the power within me—”
Her sharp eyes shone with a strong light.
“I discovered that I had power. I learned the joy of wielding a sword and fighting. I met strong enemies. Sometimes I won, sometimes I lost—and I began to crave even more power.”
It was the first time Luca had spoken so freely about her past and inner self.
Maybe she was getting excited as we got closer to the temple.
Or perhaps something was changing within her.
I couldn’t tell.
But if Luca wanted to talk, I’d listen sincerely.
“I thought fighting was everything to me. But since meeting Haruto, I—”
Just as she was about to continue,
Grrrrrrrrrrrrraaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!
A roar echoed.
At the same time, the ground shook violently.
What the hell is that—!?