NOVEL WEB Ch. 204
Chapter 204
"W-Well then, please. This way!"
"You even rented a carriage? You really went all out, huh."
Outside the academy grounds, a street carriage that Erika had apparently arranged was waiting.
A street carriage is a rental carriage that comes with a driver, much like a taxi in Japan.
"Well then, my lady. May I have your hand?"
"Wh-...!?"
When he jokingly held out his hand to escort her... Erika flinched, her shoulders jerking as she recoiled.
"U-Um... Th-That's, uh..."
"What? Does it not suit me that much?"
"Ah..."
When Clael pulled his hand back, a disappointed voice escaped Erika's lips.
"Come on, aren't you getting in?"
"...I'm getting in."
After he boarded first and prompted her, Erika sat on the opposite seat with a frustrated expression.
"So... what kind of place are you taking me to? You're paying, right?"
"............"
He asked teasingly, but Erika just clenched her hands on her lap and stayed silent.
Did asking her to treat him really offend her that much? For an A-rank adventurer, she sure is stingy.
"I was joking. We can split the bill, so don't get so mad."
"...That outfit."
"Hm?"
"I-It suits you, okay? I mean... you look cool."
"............"
What the heck is with her?
Clael looked puzzled.
(She suddenly invited me to dinner, and now she's complimenting my outfit... Could it be she came hoping I'd treat her?)
He had more money than he deserved thanks to his rapid promotion, but just how expensive a place was she planning to take him?
"...Thanks. You look good too."
"Th-Thanks..."
"............"
What is this weird atmosphere?
A former classmate. Back in school, they used to hang out all the time, and not long ago, they even lived together at the shrine Clael managed.
She's not someone to be nervous around at this point... So why is the mood so awkward?
"U-Um, Clael..."
"Hm?"
"You and the Saint... you're close, right?"
"Well yeah, we're family. Of course we're close."
"...I see."
For some reason, Erika looked down and clenched her fists.
Her face was flushed... Was she angry, maybe?
(Wait... am I about to get punched?)
Her face was red, her fists trembling... She looked exactly like someone about to throw a punch.
If it weren't Erika, he might have interpreted it differently.
(This is bad... There's nowhere to run inside the carriage...)
Clael had some skill himself, but he wasn't confident he could beat Erika, an A-rank adventurer.
(At the very least, I should cast a defensive support spell to avoid getting hurt...!)
"C-Clael!"
"Y-Yes!?"
Erika raised her voice, seemingly having made up her mind.
Clael, still seated, leaned back as he tried to activate a support spell.
"Excuse me, we've arrived."
But... at that moment, the carriage stopped, and a voice called out from the driver's seat.
It seemed they had reached their destination.
"............"
"W-We're here... Erika. Shall we get out?"
"...Okay."
He asked cautiously, and Erika responded with a blank expression.
Just moments ago, she looked angry, but now it was as if her soul had left her body, like a coin flipping sides.
(Is she emotionally unstable or what... What's going on with her, really?)
He tried to read her face... but couldn't figure out what she was thinking.
She'd always been a bit hard to read, but today was especially bad.
(Let sleeping gods lie... Let's just eat and go home...)
Tilting his head at his suspiciously acting friend, Clael stepped down from the carriage as if fleeing from some mysterious pressure.