A dull longsword and a heartbroken villager

"..." Bray pondered for a moment.

"It was dug up, but the person who dug it up is no longer here." Half truth, half lie.

"Why...why did you gouge out your eyes?"

“Brother is just an ordinary person who doesn’t do anything bad.” Lux grabbed Bray’s clothes, trying her best to control her emotions.

"Well, there are many things in this world that are unreasonable."

"... "

“He hasn’t visited me in a year, and then he comes and makes me so sad,” Lux said.

"I felt absolutely no joy at the arrival of my brother."

"It hurts so much." Lux bit Bray's arm hard.

"Well, I should have known better than to come."

"No, you still have to come. If you don't come to visit me, I'll hate you."

"This is really a difficult situation."

“Tomorrow, I’m going to go with you to buy a new eye mask,” Lux said, puffing out her cheeks.

"Why?" Bray was stunned.

"Because this eye patch is too ugly!" Lux picked up Bray's eye patch with a look of disgust.

"I think it's fine. A pure black eye mask is quite pretty."

"It's terrible, there's not even a pattern on it, and it's so dirty. Don't you ever wash it?" Lux complained, holding the dirty eye mask.

“Yes, there are washes available, but bloodstains and such are very difficult to remove,” Bray said.

"Wash it properly! Were you this careless when you washed my underwear?!"

“No, I still washed your clothes very carefully; you are my sister.” Bray’s deadpan eyes were full of seriousness.

"Ugh!!!" Lux blushed involuntarily.

"Ahem! And you need to explain to me clearly what this lump is!" Lux grabbed Levy.

Levy, expressionless, looked at Bray with innocent eyes.

“Emmmmmmm” Bray suddenly realized that explaining Levy’s existence was a bit difficult.

“She’s a homeless child I picked up,” Bray said with a serious expression.

"Huh?" Lux looked completely bewildered.

“She was all alone in the forest, and I felt so sorry for her, so I decided to take her in.” Bray became more and more serious.

Lux was completely taken aback.

"I see..."

"Yes, because they are orcs, they are discriminated against by the Empire."

"It's pathetic, isn't it?" Bray sighed.

"Yes, a little..."

“With my current income, I can still support one more person,” Bray said.

"I see..." Lux gently put Levy down and touched Levy's face.

Then Levy instinctively jumped away and became alert.

“This child is used to living on the streets and is very unfriendly to strangers.”

"Oh, I see..."

“That’s how it is, so Lux, don’t look at this child with strange eyes,” Bray said earnestly.

"I certainly wouldn't look at this kid with prejudice. Who do you think I am?" Lux snorted.

“Of course, it’s our Clas family’s most outstanding Lacus Clas!” Bray echoed.

No one knows better than Bray how to appease his younger sister.

"Hehe." Lux laughed shyly.

"By the way, brother, do you know Virginia?" Lux asked.

Bray froze for a moment.

"Well, I know him." What else could I say? Could I say I didn't know him?

“Of course I know him. Mr. Bray has saved me many times.” Virginia, who had appeared out of nowhere, had her arm around Bray’s right arm and said with a smile.

Blanche stood to one side, taking a nap with her eyes closed.

Bray was slightly startled; he hadn't noticed when they arrived at all.

It really happened so quietly, maybe because Bray and Lux ​​were so engrossed in their conversation?

“Long time no see, Mr. Bray~” Virginia was a little happy.

"Yes, it's been a long time." Bray also said with a touch of emotion.

Since the ruins were discovered, Virginia has not been seen again.

"Speaking of which, if it weren't for some unexpected events, I would have had no idea that you were actually a princess."

"I already know."

“But please don’t use ‘you’ (formal), just address me as I normally would.” Virginia covered Bray’s mouth with her finger.

"Ahem, Your Highness." Blanche felt that Virginia was being a little too forward.

To be honest, this kind of action is a bit ambiguous.

Virginia hurriedly withdrew her fingers and cupped her face in her hands.

"In any case, Mr. Bray, there's no need to be so polite with me."

"Just call me Virginia as before."

"Well, that's settled then," Bray replied casually.

The streets of Midtown are bustling, with a wide variety of stalls and shops where you can buy almost anything.

Levy followed Bray and Lux ​​quietly without saying a word.

Lux was a little unaccustomed to Levy being so quiet, but Bray was already used to it.

Levy doesn't like to talk too much.

"This eye mask looks really nice, bro, you should try it on." Lux picked out an eye mask from a stall.

The main color of this eye mask is black, but it is trimmed with white lines.

There is also an abstract magic circle pattern in the center of the eye mask.

"emmmmmm"

“I’m more curious about why you’re setting up a stall here, Father, than trying on this blindfold,” Bray couldn’t help but complain.

Yes, the stall selling various trinkets is owned by Father Thun.

“Oh, it’s you, adventurer.” Father Thun looked at Bray in surprise.

"Yes, you can call me Bray."

"What a coincidence! Perhaps this is destiny?"

"Am I destined to buy things here?" Bray grumbled again.

"The church isn't always open."

“We close for one day in the middle of each month,” Father Thun explained.

"So you're here to earn some extra money?"

“Yes, you know the situation of the church; it needs to generate income.” Father Thun sighed heavily.

"However, the jewelry I sell is all handmade, and it's very cheap."

"For example, this eye mask. Although the magic circle is completely useless, don't you think it looks pretty? It only costs 3G."

“It’s perfect for you, Mr. Bray,” Father Thun said, skillfully promoting the idea.

"Brother, are you an acquaintance?" Lux glanced at Bray and asked, puzzled.

“Well, a priest who treated me.” Bray glanced at the smiling priest.

"Then let's buy it!" Lux generously pulled out her money and bought it.

Bray didn't even have time to react.

"Thank you for your patronage." Father Thun bowed.

"Wouldn't Mr. Bray buy a new scabbard next?" Father Thun tried to sell again.

"For example, the greatsword on your back and the longsword at your side both need a good scabbard."

“No need for that,” Bray clicked his tongue.

"The sword's scabbard still needs to be suitable."

Although it's possible that we can't find suitable scabbards for "The Last Echo" and "Beers".

“This is enough,” Bray sighed.

“Is that so? But thank you for your patronage nonetheless.” Father Thun smiled.

“Brother, let’s keep looking around! Virginia will be here soon,” Lux said.

Lux has a date with Virginia and Blanche today.

For Bray, nothing mattered anymore.

"Oh, right, Levy, come on, have something to eat." Bray took out some jerky from his pouch and fed it to Levy.

Levy munched on the jerky, giving a =V= expression.

Levy's expressions have become more varied lately, though something seems a little off.

"Delicious~" Levy wagged her tail.

Bray knew that Levy got hungry easily, so he always carried some food with him.

I feed Lebby when it's time to feed her.

It feels strangely like keeping a pet.

But speaking of which, is Levy a puppy or a kitten?

Bray pondered this strange matter with a serious expression.

"I'm sorry, am I late?" Virginia's voice came from behind.

Virginia was dressed casually today, but even in casual clothes, she still looked stunning.

The pure white dress, paired with a light blue shawl, made Virginia look like a blooming white lotus.

"I feel like Virginia's heels are a bit high today," Lux said, looking at Virginia with a puzzled expression.

Virginia blushed suddenly.

"No, I just think these shoes are nice today," Virginia stammered.

However, these high-heeled peep-toe shoes made Virginia's already long legs look even more alluring.

“You care too much, Lux,” Blanche said with a smile.

“Yes, you care too much, Lux.” Virginia cupped her face, her gaze drifting towards Bray.

Seeing Virginia in this state, Blanche could only feel helpless.

Having just ended her life as an adventurer, Virginia's feelings for Bray weren't particularly strong.

It only stays at the level of worship.

But perhaps distance makes the heart grow fonder, or perhaps time allowed Virginia's admiration for Bray to ferment into love.

Virginia is now completely like a young girl in love.