章 27: Mission Failed; Next Time
Celly smiled, "I can show you the path to reach that, but you have to be willing to walk it yourself."
"I am."
His answer seemed to satisfy the kind, young woman who held her reassuring smile to him before looking forward towards the wooden wall.
As their conversation went on, he sat himself down on the chair across from the bed, looking at the woman. Being a young boy again, he had every excuse to stare without being labeled a "creepy" since nobody could pin such desires on a boy of his age.
Due to the skirt Celly wore and how she was sitting, he had full-view of her pale, smooth thighs–and as she moved her legs just slightly, he prayed to whatever gods inhabited this world for a sneak peek at her panties. No such fortune came as he sighed.
"I take it you want to be an adventurer?" Celly asked.
He nodded, "Yeah. How did you know?"
"It's a fair assumption to make about anybody who pursues swordplay or magecraft," Celly laughed sweetly, "If you want to explore the world, then there's no better fitting path."
By the way the silver-haired woman spoke, he could gather that she knew a bit more than she was letting on.
"Ms. Celly…"
"Just Celly, please," Celly said.
He nodded, "Celly, are you an adventurer?"
The young woman nodded, reaching into her luggage as she retrieved a badge that was attached to a string; it was some sort of necklace. The badge held the symbol of a silver-and-gold, intertwined dragon with a red jewel embedded in the middle.
That's right…I think Father has something like that, he realized.
"This is my 'Adventurer Insignia'; it's proof that I'm affiliated with the Guild. This red jewel here means I'm allowed to take quests up to S-rank difficulty," Celly told him.
He was enamored by the beautiful badge as Celly handed it to him, letting him inspect it as he ran his fingers across the dense symbol. Though he couldn't quite recall what jewel was in Julius' insignia.
As he handed it back, he looked at Celly, "Did you become an adventurer to explore the world, too?"
Celly shook her head, "That's part of it, yes. But, I'm interested in honing my craft as a mage. I became an adventurer to earn money while in school."
"You're in school?"
"Willeria Academy," Celly nodded, "It's a prestigious school in Willeria, the "Capital of Magic" in Vasmoria, so I flunked the first couple times in the entrance exam, but I've made it. Right now I'm on break though."
I think I get it now. Celly took on this tutor job to fund her academy expenses, then, he thought.
After getting to know the young tutor of his, their conversation was cut short as Irene appeared in the doorway.
"What's up?" He looked at Irene.
"Treyna says dinner is ready," Irene informed them.
"Oh, thanks," he nodded with a smile.
Irene seemed to look at Celly for a prolonged bit, which the silver-haired half-elf definitely didn't seem comfortable being stared at so blanky.
"Err, hello, I'm Celly," she introduced herself to Irene.
A hand was extended down to Irene, who stared at it for a moment before looking over at him, who nodded his head as if saying "she's fine."
Irene accepted her hand, "...Irene."
"That's a very pretty name," Celly smiled.
"--" Irene's cheeks went slightly pink from the compliment.
–
At the dinner table, what was prepared for the five of them was a large boar that Julius had caught earlier that day, which was prepared by Treyna, who quite clearly was proud of herself for managing to make such a dish out of the giant, wild animal.
"There's a lot, so dig in," Treyna said with a smile.
Though it was easier said than done with such a gargantuan serving left in the center of the table.
He looked over at Celly, who was as pale as a ghost at the sight of the prepared boar, looking as if she was staring a ghost straight in the face.
"Erm, I…" Celly muttered, looking down at the plate that had one of the massive legs of the cooked boar.
"What do you eat in your homeland, Celly?" Treyna asked with a fork that carried a chunk of seasoned meat.
Celly gulped, "...Usually light dishes like…salads, fruit, maybe fish, but…certainly not things like this."
"Ha-ha! I guess the Yullim way is just different!" Julius laughed, holding a whole boar leg in his hand that he tore away at with his teeth.
"Is it not to your liking?" Treyna frowned.
"No, no–! It is–it's just a new experience for me," Celly laughed nervously.
He could only watch, empathizing with the silver-haired, young instructor as he knew the struggle she was going through.
…Believe me, I understand. The meals that Treyna and Julius like to cook are intimidating, to say the least. I ate my first bear when I was three, he thought.
Still, even if the meals are quite large and daunting in appearance, one must push through the imposing sight to reach the other side.
"--!" Celly's expression lit up as she tried a piece of the boar.
"How is it?" Treyna asked with a wide smile, anxiously waiting for an answer.
Celly swallowed, having to pat her own chest a few times to help the food go down as she breathed out, regaining her breath for a moment before looking on in surprise, "...Tasty!"
He had the exact same reaction himself when first experiencing the cooking of his eccentric mother.
It might look like nightmare fuel sometimes, but the dishes Treyna makes are blessed by the God of Culinary!...At least, that's my theory, he thought.
–
After dinner was finished, night had snuck up on the peaceful day, prompting everybody in the house to check in for the night.
As Treyna started to gather the dishes, he stopped her by taking the dirty plates from her.
"I'll handle this, mom," he looked up at her with a smile, "You should rest."
"Emilio…" She was confused for a moment before grinning, patting him on the head, "—I really raised a great one, didn't I?"
He watched as Treyna left upstairs to her room before he got to work on the dishes.
Rolling up the sleeves of his gray, lavish coat, he scrubbed the plates with a rag, washing them clean.
While he wouldn't deny being labeled a good, dutiful son, he didn't take this chore upon himself solely out of the goodness of his heart.
No, no…A young man like myself has to think ahead. That's the only way I'll get to see—"it"! He thought.
There were quite a few dishes to clean, but this was to his advantage.
What he was doing was biding time for his parents and Irene to settle into bed before making his move.
After finishing cleaning the dishes and putting them away, he tiptoed up the stairs, staying as quiet as possible as he approached the guest room.
At first glance, the wooden door looked close, but it was cracked open just a smidge.
Lucky! He thought.
As he peered through the gap in the door, he witnessed it: disappointment.
The young woman was already getting into bed, having already changed into her nightgown, and having already passed by his precious opportunity.
…Curses! He thought, as if he were some sort of comical villain.
On that night, the young boy had suffered an unknown defeat.
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