’Lia.’

Before turning in for the night, Ian spoke to Lia while she was spending some time in the lounge.

Lia set down the book she was reading and looked up at Ian.

’What brings you here at this hour, Captain?’

Perhaps it was because she had finished adapting to the mercenary group well.

Since Ian had given her permission to act as she usually did, Lia spoke comfortably when other members weren’t around, just like now.

’Do you happen to have anything to do tomorrow?’

’Not particularly....’

Lia answered Ian’s question without much thought.

Maintenance of her equipment and out-of-pocket tasks were all finished. From then on, her schedule was simply to rest until a new request came in.

Hearing that she had time to spare, Ian spoke as if everything was perfect.

’Then let’s go out together early tomorrow morning.’

’...!’

Lia flinched, reacting visibly to the mention of going out.

Unlike her relaxed attitude just a moment ago, a stiffly tensed Lia asked Ian back.

’...At dawn?’

’People are sparse around here only if we leave early. Would another time be better?’

’No... I understand. I’ll get ready.’

Lia nodded with a solemn expression.

Once Ian, who had made the appointment, turned away, Lia let out a heavy sigh.

...Has it finally come to this?

Biting her lip, Lia nodded with a grim face.

* * *

Having stayed awake half the night with her eyes wide open, Lia realized the appointment time was approaching and rose from her bed.

An ’outing’ at dawn....

After having her hobby discovered by Ian, she had been prepared for this day to come eventually.

Approaching her wardrobe, Lia hesitated for a moment before shedding her clothes one by one. Then, she picked up a suitable robe.

Wearing nothing but her underwear, Lia donned the single robe and stepped out of her room with a resolute expression.

It was time for her first outing with Ian.

As Lia came down the stairs, Ian was already waiting on the first floor.

’You’re here? Let’s go then.’

Lia nodded silently and followed behind Ian.

The slightly chilly dawn air brushed against her face.

Meeting the early morning breeze for the first time in quite a while, Lia felt a chilling thrill of excitement.

Thinking about it, she hadn’t gone out at dawn since moving her affiliation to the Ian Mercenary Group.

She hadn’t really had the time, and the sudden change in environment meant she hadn’t really thought of it.

Above all, because she now had comrades living together, it was difficult to slip out naturally without being noticed.

A dawn walk for the first time in ages.

It wasn’t a road she usually traveled, nor was it her usual time.

That unfamiliar atmosphere stimulated Lia’s heart even further.

Where is he taking me....

With those thoughts, Lia continued to walk in silence behind Ian.

A short while later, the two entered a commercial district where various shops were clustered together.

’...?’

The commercial district, preparing for business early, had quite a few people moving about even at this hour.

Lia realized belatedly that they weren’t heading toward a deserted area.

On the contrary, the number of passersby was gradually increasing.

Panicked, Lia hurriedly asked Ian.

’Um, Captain? Where are we going right now?’

’Hmm? To the armor shop. I’m going to get you a new set of armor.’

’....’

Only then did Lia realize that the ’outing’ Ian spoke of was... not *that* kind of outing, but a genuine outing.

Lia’s complexion turned pale in an instant.

Ian arrived at the street where armor shops were gathered and slowly scanned the stores.

The shops were beginning to open one by one, and customers were already passing by.

Sticking close behind Ian, Lia asked.

’Why are you suddenly getting me armor?’

’You’re too lightly armored right now.’

Even for the same front-liner, the type of protective gear required differs according to the role.

Light armor was easy to move in and fast, but the damage was severe if hit.

In the current party, Lia’s role was to face monsters at the very front and consistently endure their attacks. Even if she had to sacrifice some speed, her defensive power needed to be increased.

’Since you’ll be taking a lot of attacks from now on, let’s switch to heavy armor.’

’Heavy armor is... e-expensive.’

’It’s fine. We have the reward we’re about to receive, and your role will become even more important in the future.’

Ian spoke while browsing through the armors one by one.

Given Lia’s nature of frequently using magic and elemental attacks, it would be ideal to have armor with related options. However, such items were rare and required time to find.

Behind Ian, who was leisurely looking at armor, Lia—wearing only a single robe over her underwear—glanced at the increasing number of pedestrians with an anxious expression.

Pondering how she could return naturally, Lia tried to persuade Ian with the logic that she didn’t need armor right now.

’...Ah.’

’Hello there.’

’What a coincidence to meet in a place like this.’

To make matters worse.

Of all people, Rebecca, who was passing by, spotted the two and approached them with a greeting.

Since it was the largest commercial district near the guild, the possibility of encountering someone from the guild was naturally high. But of all people.

Lia, whose eyes met Rebecca’s, flinched and averted her gaze.

Whatever that looked like to Rebecca, she let out a chuckle as if amused.

’You left saying you didn’t need an introduction. So you ended up joining after all?’

’....’

Lia couldn’t offer any response and just looked down at the ground with a slightly flushed face.

From the current situation to the circumstances of how she joined Ian’s mercenary group....

There wasn’t a single word she could properly explain to Rebecca.

At the very least, Rebecca seemed to think Lia was averting her eyes out of embarrassment.

Even seeing Lia’s awkward behavior, Rebecca didn’t seem to find it particularly strange.

’I hope she’s not being disobedient?’

’No. She gets along well with the other members too.’

While Lia hid quietly in a corner to avoid Rebecca’s gaze, Ian and Rebecca talked about Lia for quite a while.

It’s just a chance encounter, so Ms. Rebecca will move on soon.

Lia waited with that thought, but Ian and Rebecca instead began an in-depth discussion about Lia’s equipment.

’I’m planning to change her armor.’

’To heavy armor? I certainly thought that would suit her too.’

’I’m considering this kind of armor.’

’Wouldn’t that be too much of a hindrance to her movement?’

The atmosphere was flowing in an ominous direction.

Feeling that, cold sweat trickled down Lia’s spine.

’It’s probably best to have the person themselves try it on and move around in it.’

’Lia. Come here and try this on.’

’....’

A drop of sweat fell from Lia’s forehead.

It was the greatest crisis of her mercenary life.

Just then, a shout was heard from the opposite side, and the commercial district instantly became chaotic.

’Thief!’

Everyone on the street turned their heads.

Ian and Rebecca’s gazes also turned that way for a moment.

Taking advantage of that moment, Lia ran away.

’Huh?’

’Lia?’

Realizing Lia had vanished somewhere in the brief moment they turned their heads, Ian and Rebecca met each other’s eyes with puzzled faces.

* * *

’I-it should have been this way....’

Dashing into an alleyway, Lia headed deeper inside, following a faint memory.

Just in case.

Really just in case, in an emergency....

Because she didn’t know if she might really use it once in a ten thousand chance, there were a few places on this street where she had secretly hidden things.

’It’s here...!’

Since it was on the ground, it wouldn’t have been strange if someone had found it by chance and taken it, but fortunately, the item Lia was looking for was still hidden exactly as it was.

In a secluded alley, Lia pulled out a pouch she had hidden well in an inconspicuous spot.

It was emergency clothing.

Fortunately, the condition of the clothes inside the sealed storage pouch was decent.

Sighing with relief, Lia quickly dressed inside the alley. 𝚏𝕣𝐞𝗲𝐰𝕖𝐛𝐧𝕠𝕧𝚎𝚕.𝐜𝚘𝗺

I’m saved....

She had only just put on a single outfit, but Lia felt a sense of relief as if she had escaped death.

—Tap-tap-tap!

At that moment, Lia heard the sound of someone running into the alley.

Her spine chilled at the thought that Rebecca might have followed her, but fortunately, she was now dressed. She was no longer afraid of anything.

’...Tch, who are you!’

’...Who are you, rather.’

However, the person who ran into the alley was someone Lia didn’t know at all.

The thug, who stopped in his tracks and panicked upon seeing Lia, pulled a small dagger from his chest and aimed it at her threateningly.

’Don’t get in my way, move!’

The man, who looked desperate as if being pursued by someone, lunged at Lia, who was blocking the path, without warning.

Lia didn’t particularly have a weapon, but the opponent’s movements were far too clumsy.

The blade couldn’t even reach close to Lia, and the opponent immediately received Lia’s counterattack and was slammed into the alley wall.

’...What’s with this guy.’

While Lia was looking at the fallen thug with a somewhat bewildered face, she heard the sounds of people running into the alley late.

’This way, ah! It’s this guy!’

A person who appeared to be a merchant ran up and shouted while pointing at the fallen thug. The soldier following behind restrained the man.

’Thank you! I thought for sure I’d lost him!’

’No, he just suddenly lunged at me....’

The merchant thanked Lia several times before heading back.

When she finally managed to shake off the merchant by declining his offer of a reward with an annoyed face—

Ian and Rebecca, who had approached before she knew it, spoke to her from the side.

’You’re still the same as ever.’

’Ah, Re... Ms. Rebecca?’

Rebecca chuckled, recalling Lia’s spunky days when she was a novice.

She had said she would prove her skills while working as a mercenary and build her reputation to receive a knighthood, right?

Perhaps because of that, although she had a foul temper, she had a personality that could never stand by and watch such things happen.

It was also because Rebecca liked that side of her that she had taught her how to fight.

As Rebecca smiled warmly, Lia, sensing she was misunderstanding something, averted her eyes with an awkward expression.

’Let’s go. I’ll buy the armor for you.’

’...It’ll be quite expensive, though?’

’Let’s call it an initiation gift for my disciple.’

Rebecca laughed, patting Lia on the shoulder.

* * *

After finishing a shopping trip that lasted quite a bit longer than expected, a strange message window appeared before Ian’s eyes upon returning to the base.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

◆ Special Event #31

You took a walk with Mercenary [Lia].

- Desire decreased by 37.

- Shame experience has increased.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

’...?’

What is this,

A bug?

While Ian tilted his head with a frown, a red-faced Lia let out a sigh of relief and headed up to her room.