I want to get away from this for various reasons, but the assistant chief of the ministry of magic can’t do that. As soon as she steps back in the main street, she catches employees of the ministry of magic and starts giving instructions.
She’s switched completely into work mode, and her face has gone from deep red back to its usual snowy white color. She was just holding on to me too… She switches so fast.
I watch from a little far away so people don’t think I’m involved, when employees of the ministry of magic quickly bow to me before running into the back alley. I see them looking a little relieved as they go.
I know the guy is passed out, but how scary is Sieglinde normally, if they look less tense about apprehending a violent criminal than dealing with her?
She looks a little scary, but she’s not that bad.
Sieglinde’s eyes wander and end up pointing here, and she weaves through the crowd to walk this way.
The entrance to the back alley has been closed by the ministry of magic, so all the onlookers are gone, but that doesn’t mean it’s easy to walk in a straight line here in the commercial street.
…To think something like this happened near such a prosperous main street. I feel like there’s more to this. But I don’t have time to think about that now, as Sieglinde raises her hand and stands next to me.
“Sorry for keeping you waiting.”
“Are you done? I mean, it’s not like you have to worry about me…”
“No, they can handle it. The perpetrator has been incapacitated anyway.”
Sieglinde then turns to the back alley, and I can’t see how she feels. Worry for the employees that ran in? Regret over her failure? She’s always been the kind of person that doesn’t really show emotion on her face.
“…So, how did it turn out?”
My question is vague, but Sieglinde instantly knows what I’m talking about.
“…I told them I found them and subdued them. I’ll handle the investigation, so don’t worry.”
“I see. Thanks.”
She looks a little sad… Or lonely…?
Anyway, she’s facing down with a gloomy expression.
“…Weiss, you used… Something, right?”
“…Yes.”
I was unharmed after jumping from the roof, and caught a knife with my bare hand. It’d be weird if I didn’t do something, so it’s only natural that she reached that conclusion.
“Something… You know, right?”
Sieglinde knows I have darkness magic aptitude. The higher ups of the ministry of magic should have a list of people with darkness magic aptitude, but I also remember telling her directly.
Normally that would be the sort of thing that makes someone not want to get involved with that person, but I remember very well that Sieglinde’s reaction was more subdued than I expected.
She sighs like she’s given up, and looks up at the sky. That clear blue sky is starting to be dyed red.
…I need to get home soon. Ririi should be waking up any moment now.
“…Who would have thought that darkness magic would one day save me.”
“It’s really not that bad. It’s just normal magic, if you don’t use it wrongly.”
Well, it does have spells that can only be used to attack other people… But I’m sure I’ll never use those.
“Let’s stop talking about violent stuff. I need to do something, so come with me.”
“Something? Where are you going?”
“I need to stop by a robe store.”
I don’t even try to hide the fact that I’m changing the subject, and Sieglinde doesn’t question it.
She really is nice.
◆
And so, we go to a robe store.
It’s not Miss Esmeralda’s store, it’s the one where we delivered the angel bear fur before. I actually ordered something while we were here, and they contacted me to say it’s ready.
“Welcome.”
The elf employee says after she sees us coming in. She walks over here, stands in front of Sieglinde, and bows.
“Thank you very much for the other day, Miss Sieglinde. Being the ones to make a robe for a young lady of the Florencia family is very good for business.”
“Thank you for making such a wonderful robe. The owner is also very pleased with it.”
They start chatting, and I’m left out of the conversation, and have to look for an opening to go back in.
“So, where’s the thing I asked for?”
“This way.”
The elf walks to the back of the store, and we follow her until we see a fur rug rolled up on a table. It looks like it would be just a little too small if Ririi were to lay on it. Well, it was made from the leftovers of the robe, so this is about as big as it can be.
“What is this?”
Asks Sieglinde, as she peeks from behind me.
“I was thinking about having it be Beary’s bed. I asked them to make it with the leftovers of the fur.”
I’m the one who asked, but I don’t know how it’s going to turn out. Even now that I’m looking at it, I still don’t know.
“…This fur is from Beary’s parent. What do you think, Sieglinde? What’s better, for Beary to never see its parent again, or to be reunited like this?”
I ask, while thinking about the first time we met Beary. It was desperately licking the already dead body of its parent. That’s why I thought of this. I don’t know if it’ll be good or bad, but I wanted to try it anyway.
“Beary has been looking happy lately. And if we consider the average intelligence of angel bears, there’s a good chance it doesn’t even remember its parent at this point. There’s a chance that I’ll end up making it sad. So what should I do, Sieglinde?”
Sieglinde stays silent, but eventually responds.
“…I don’t know. That’s not for you or me to decide, it’s up to the angel bear. All we can do is take responsibility for what we do. If what you do makes the angel bear sad, you have to do something that makes it happy.”
It’s just like her to not want to commit to a yes. But I feel like I heard what I wanted to hear.
“…Thanks. I’ve made up my mind.”
I take the rug and we exit the store, and we see the sky is completely red. It’s time to say goodbye.
“…Did you have fun today?”
I get the feeling that we didn’t really act like a married couple today. And I feel like Sieglinde had to be in her work mode half the time because of everything that happened.
“What about you, Weiss?”
She asks as she starts walking, and I run to catch up. Her emotions really are hard to read when she’s in her work mode.
“Me… Well…”
I don’t have to think back to give her my answer. Ever since we were in school, it always felt right to hang out with her.
“I had fun. It’s like I’m back to my school days.”
That’s how I really feel. Leaving everything about being a couple and Ririi needing a mother aside, I simply had fun.
“…”
Even though I just caught up with her, Sieglinde speeds up and leaves some distance between us again. Her red braid is swinging back and forth as she walks.
“…I feel the same way.”
I don’t know if I sped up without thinking or if she slowed down, but before I know it, I’m walking next to her again.
And that concludes our first date.
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