"But in that case, a wand for beginners would be best. We have a few in stock.”
"Where is it? We can go take a look as we stroll around.”
“Just a moment. I’ll draw you a map.”
Saying that, Jill took out a pen and paper and wrote down the directions. The inside of the shop was so vast that even Allen, who had been there several times, couldn't figure out the whole place. Apparently, customers get lost periodically.
“Here you go. If you get lost, just call for me. I’ll come running, wherever you are.”
"Thank you. By the way, there's something I'd like to ask you..."
"Yes?"
Allen leaned in and whispered quietly into Jill’s ear.
"How many people are in the store right now?"
"... Excluding the regular customers, there are about ten people here."
“Thought so. They’re probably all my customers. You don't have to interfere."
“Ah, I see. But will you be okay on your own?”
“No problem. I’ve got backup.”
"In that case, I'll take you up on your offer. I was just wondering how to handle this number without the manager."
Jill nodded easily.
The store was completely silent. In the midst of the tranquil atmosphere, a thin murderous aura was piercing from all sides. It was the same quality as what he felt in the city.
Jill didn't ask any more questions and sent them off with a smile.
“Well then, take care.”
“Yeah. See you later.”
"Thank you very much."
Charlotte gave him a polite bow, and the two began walking again side by side.
Unlike the busy streets outside, there wasn’t a soul in sight within the shop. Charlotte glanced around curiously, her eyes darting between the strange items around them, occasionally tilting her head in uncertainty.
"But magic... can I use it? I have no idea what anything here is."
"You can just learn it little by little. Even a child can handle basic things."
Allen smiled as if to encourage her.
“Truth is, back when I first met you, I did think about teaching you magic.”
Back when he first took her in, he hadn’t expected their time together to last this long.
That's why he’d thought to start by teaching her how to survive.
But before he knew it, that plan had been postponed indefinitely.
“There were other things more important to teach you than magic. I ended up being completely absorbed in that."
“You mean…those naught things?”
“Exactly. Back then, what you really needed wasn’t a way to fight, but… a way to relax.”
Allen gave an exaggerated shrug.
“Though to be honest, it was a rough start. When I told you to just do whatever you want, you literally sat there counting the wood grains in the floor.”
“Ugh… I just didn’t know what else to do with my time…”
Charlotte lowered her eyebrows, blushing with embarrassment.
But she immediately clenched her fists.
“But I’m different now! If you gave me free time, I could even do something naughty by myself!”
“Oh? Like what?”
“Well, brushing Lu-chan’s fur, reading books, practicing cooking, and, um…”
Charlotte hesitated and looked timidly at Allen's face.
“...watching Allen-san sleep, maybe…?”
“You’ve been doing that?”
“N-not that many times! J-just once or twice, really!”
Charlotte stammered and tried to explain.
But at this point, that was basically a confession that she had done it many times.
(W-well... if Charlotte has changed, then that's fine...)
Allen felt a little bashful, but also genuinely happy. She probably wouldn't be counting the grain of the floor to pass the time anymore.
However suddenly, a thought struck him.
“Hey, we only started dating about a week ago, right?”
"Huh? Ah, yes. That's right...?"
“In that time, I never once took a nap.”
Allen tilted his head and asked directly.
“So when exactly did you start watching me sleep?”
“...”
"Hey, since when? Maybe it was long before I realized my feelings for you--"
“Ah! Allen-san! Look over there! There are so many wand!”
Charlotte interrupted Allen and pointed in a completely different direction.
There was a display shelf lined with all kinds of magic staves.
Face bright red, she began speaking rapidly.
"That's the place Jill told us about, right? Let's go! Hurry! Run!"
"No, no, answer my question first. Hey, Charlotte. Since when? You can look at me even when I'm awake you know."
"But, but you're too cool when awake, it’s too embarrassing to stare at you…! I didn’t say anything! Let’s go!”
At last, Charlotte broke into a full-on sprint.
"I see..."
Allen followed at a relaxed pace, a dopey grin tugging at his lips. He knew he looked even more dopey than usual, but there was nothing he could do about it.