Three days later, Shichen didn't get the break with Emilia he was hoping for—instead, he went out with Rem.
After lunch, Rem said she needed to go out to buy ingredients. That reminded Shichen of something, and he asked to go with her. It was easy enough for him to leave; even aside from having the same standing as Roswaal, "wanting to go take a look around" was reason enough. With Shichen accompanying, Ram didn't come along.
The marketplace was in Arlam, a small village near the mansion on Margrave Roswaal's lands. The village was tiny—about two hundred residents—you could walk around the whole thing in no time.
"So the village is that small," Shichen said after hearing a bit about it from Rem. It wasn't much bigger than the kindergarten he'd attended as a child.
"Yes… Shichen, why did you want to come with Rem?" Rem glanced his way, gaze sharp.
"Mm? Why say 'with you'?"
"Because Rem said she was going out to buy groceries, and you insisted on coming with me. Obviously, you came because of Rem, didn't you?"
"You really are clever," Shichen said, ruffling her hair.
Rem's expression didn't change. Over the past few days he'd patted her head at every opportunity—she was almost used to it.
"So why?"
"Simple. I just wanted to be with you."
"With Rem?" She frowned.
"Didn't I say I was going to steal you away? I won't give up until I succeed."
"…Still on about that?"
"Because I'm serious," he said with a smile.
"Why… not choose Sister?"
"Didn't you say your sister would never leave Roswaal? Then why would I pick her?" He shrugged.
"But aren't you even going to try? Sister is so capable, so excellent—Rem can't compare to Sister at all…"
"Dummy," Shichen said, chopping lightly at her head.
"Eh?" Rem looked at him, puzzled.
"As far as I'm concerned, you outshine Ram by a lot. I'm still waiting on the clothes you're making me."
"That's such a small thing…"
"Small or not, it's something I need—and you are the one making it. That's what makes you excellent."
"…," Rem opened her mouth, but didn't know what to say.
"Why do you put your sister on such a pedestal? Can't you have a bit of confidence?"
"Because Sister really is amazing. If not for…"
"No 'if.' As things stand now, you're better than your sister."
"…Please stop saying things like that." Rem suddenly cooled, brushing his hand away.
"Alright, alright—honestly, it's like you're possessed by a spirit; you're far too blinded by your sister," Shichen sighed.
"Possessed?"
"Like she's taken over you—your head's full of how great she is."
"But Sister is great… Do you like spirits?"
"Why that, out of nowhere?"
"You just mentioned possession…"
"I see. Let me think… I suppose I do like spirits."
"Why?"
"No why. I just do. If the spirit were a pretty girl, all the better—ideally as cute as Rem. Then I'd like her even more."
"Is that so…" The corner of Rem's mouth curled up slightly.
When they reached Arlam, Rem left Shichen be and went to pick up ingredients. Shichen wandered the village alone. There weren't many young people—mostly elders and children. The kids were noisy and bold; the moment they saw Shichen they swarmed him.
Bored while he waited for Rem, he let them crowd around and told them a story. Boys or girls, kids love stories. He picked "Little Red Riding Hood," hoping to give the brats a scare. Unfortunately, they weren't scared at all.
"Big brother, big brother, another story!"
"We want more!"
"Biiig brother~"
"Alright, alright—one more," Shichen said, unable to resist when a little girl begged.
"Yay!"
"Tell it, tell it!"
"Quiet, all of you. Next is the story of … A long, long time ago…"
"Ah! Big brother, wait!"
A child's voice interrupted him. The braided girl ran off and scooped up something that had run into the village—a creature with brown fur, looking like a puppy. It seemed newborn, with round eyes and a soft coat—very cute.
"Isn't it cute?" the girl asked, bringing the puppy over.
"It is…"
"Grr! Brrrr—!"
Unexpectedly, the pup didn't take to Shichen at all—it growled at him.
"This is a first," Shichen said, watching it with a smile. His "clean slate" constitution usually made creatures want to approach—unless they were tainted or malevolent. This pup didn't seem evil, but it had bristled at him.
The children were surprised.
"What's wrong?"
"It's usually so well-behaved."
"It's only angry at big brother."
"Big brother, did you do something?"
"Maybe it doesn't want me telling you stories," Shichen joked.
"No way!"
"Then I don't like it anymore."
"Yeah—stories are better."
"You can't say that—the puppy's so cute. Why don't you like it…"
"But it doesn't like big brother. What if he gets upset and stops telling stories?"
"That…"
"Haha, it's not that serious. I won't stop because of a puppy."
"Good!"
"Great!"
"Besides, I can make it like me… come a little closer."
"How will you do that?" the braided girl asked, edging up with the pup in her arms.
Shichen gave a friendly smile and reached out. Unexpectedly, the pup lowered its head, tension easing. He stroked its head—warm—and then its neck and body, delighting in the fluffy feel. But on top of its head was a round bald patch in the shape of a cross—not a wound.
"Grr—"
When he touched that spot, the pup lunged to bite his hand.
"That won't do," he said, easily dodging and patting its head again.
"Grr?" the pup blinked, confused; it hadn't even seen how he avoided it.
"Be good, alright? Or I won't be," Shichen said kindly, meeting its eyes.
"Grr!"
It recovered and growled again.
"Nope."
"Big brother, you're petting it too much."
"Yeah, that one's a she, y'know."
"A girl, huh? Now I can't bring myself to be harsh," Shichen said.
"Sorry to keep you waiting," Rem said, arriving with two heaping baskets—each nearly as tall as she was. She carried them as if they weighed nothing.
"You bought this much?" Shichen released the pup—still trying to bite—and stood to meet her.
"This is the usual amount," Rem said calmly.
"I see… give them here."
"What?" Rem didn't understand for a moment.
"I'll carry them."
Without waiting, Shichen took the baskets from her hands and stored them in his Treasury.
"Eh? Where did they go?" Rem's eyes widened.
"It's my 'meteor'—a magic tool. I can store things," he explained with a smile. In this world, magic tools were called "meteors."
"A magic tool like that…" Rem murmured.
"So cool!"
"How did you do that?"
"Show us a trick, big brother!"
The children squealed, including the braided girl with the pup.
"No can do~ The maid and I need to head back," Shichen told them.
"Eh—no fair."
"That was fast."
"You haven't told us the Calabash Brothers story…"
"Next time… and you, what do you think you're doing?" Shichen pressed a hand on the pup as it tried to bite Rem—his tone went a shade colder.
"Grr—!" It growled, as if unwilling to back down.
"Not happening~ Don't bite my Rem, understand?" Shichen warned, patting its head.
"'Yours'?" Rem looked at him evenly.
"Sure—sooner or later."
"…," Rem pursed her lips without replying.
"Alright, we're heading back. I'll tell you more stories next time, okay?"
"You promised~"
"Bye, big brother~"
Leaving Arlam, Shichen and Rem set off for the mansion. Midway, Shichen stopped—and caught Rem by the wrist.
"Shichen? What is it?"
"Come on. I'm going to make you a hero."
"?"
~~~
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