Nozomu's POV

Invited by Irisdina-san, she and I were walking together in a section of the commercial district. Many stores were built on the street, and probably because each store was preparing for dinner soon, a good smell was beginning to drift from here and there. I can see some people on their way home, perhaps after finishing their day's work.

I had no knowledge about the land around here because I had been devoted to training in my school life so far, but Irisdina-san, who should be a young lady of a famous family, walks swiftly instead.

"E, erm, you're moving ahead without hesitation, does Irisdina-san often come to this area?"

I asked Irisdina-san, but my voice had become stiff, probably because I was strangely nervous.

It can't be helped. I can't imagine being invited to a date by the black-haired princess...

"Yea, sometimes I go out to commercial areas and civic areas with Somia. Actually, I've never been to this area, so I'm really looking forward to it."

"Hee........."

I was a little surprised. Since Arcazam is a city that each country attaches great importance to, the number of military police patrolling is large and the security is quite good. However, that is not absolute, and there are some unsafe places in commercial areas where many people from outside the city gather, and I think that people who are related to government officials and aristocrats do not come here very often.

"It's true that commercial areas are not safe, but there are many things coming there from all over the continent. Sometimes I and Somia can see things we have never seen, and I like to go around those places."

At school, she has always been a model honor student, like a sharpened knight's sword. At least no one has the image of her innocently parading through a commercial district.

"......... It's a little surprising. You didn't have the image of coming to such a messy place when you were at school."

"Isn't it exciting to walk in a place you didn't know? Well, some of the people in my household are noisy, and I'm just too stiff myself, I'll just get suffocated if I stay there."

Irisdina smiles with a happy, innocent face. Looking at that smile, my cheeks also loosened.

"And also, I know how to protect myself." 

When Irisdina-san says so, she taps the handle of the rapier on her waist with a triumphant face. Well, she is one of the highest-ranked students in the school, and her ability to reach A rank is not just for show. Nozomu also got a glimpse of her ability in the battle with Rugato. At that time, her opponent had a big difference in strength, so she was defeated, but if it was the average opponent, she wouldn't be defeated. It's not often meeting thugs in this safe city with good public order.

"Alright, let's go"

I hurriedly chased after her who started walking again after saying that.

The commercial district is a place that accepts many people from outside the city, such as travelers, and various merchants that buy goods from other cities and sell their products here. There are many stalls, here and there. Little children and lovers are walking around on the paved cobblestones.

"As I thought, there are various stores here... Is that a candy seller?"

Irisdina-san found a stall selling a variety of candy crafts. On the shelves and desks, not only animals such as birds, rabbits, and cows, but also figures such as travelers, dancers, and various things that imitate lovers are made with colorful candy craft. There are many children around the store who probably live in this area.

In the back of the store, an uncle with a wide physique, who is probably the owner of the store, is making a new candy craft, and the sweet smell of melting sugar has enveloped the store.

"Hey, hey, next time make a knight's candy for me!"

"Eeh! It's my turn next! Hey uncle, I want a princess!"

The children are making a lot of noise and trying to get the shopkeeper to make their own candy.

"Please be patient. I'll make it without rushing."

The children around him were rushing and said "quickly", perhaps because they couldn't wait, and the owner of the store was struggling to make candy with the children.

At that time, the line of sight of me and the shopkeeper suddenly met. 

"Aah, you guys! Give me a moment please?"

When the shopkeeper suddenly stands up, he pushes his way through the children and came here.

"Hey, can you help me a little? There are too many children. It's okay even for a moment. Of course, I'll return the favor. Can you please help me?"

"Isn't it okay? Looks like the children are about the same age as Somia, so there is no problem. How about Nozomu-kun?"

"It's okay, well, I've never made candy myself, but I can cook, so I think I can help."

"Alright !! It's bad, but I'll ask for your help."

The shopkeeper guides me into the stall, and Irisdina-san heads for the children. I'm not sure, but the candy craft itself is my first experience. I'm a little worried, but it's a great opportunity. Let's do it anyway.

***

Iris' POV

I am now surrounded by children. When I asked if they would like to talk because it still takes time to make the candy, the children suddenly get into it.

"Heey, heey, Onēsan. Is Onēsan a student at that big school?"

The children started listening to me because I'm a student at Solminati. The beautiful school uniforms based on white are quite noticeable. And if they live in this city, they can't be unaware of Solminati Academy. Children may see the students of the school many times in their daily lives. As soon as they realized I'm a student at the school, the colors of the children's eyes changed.

"Aah, that's right. I'm studying a lot over there."

"Amazing! That's the school for becoming a knight ?! Then, will you become a knight in the future? You're so lucky, I want to go too!"

One boy was amazed, saying "amazing, amazing", and the eyes of the other children are shining like the boy. Perhaps the Solminati Academy is a place for children to admire.

Children are about the same age as Somia. They, looking with the same pure and innocent eyes as my sister make me very happy.

It is true that many of the graduates of the school have been summoned to various countries and have held various important positions, and the countries of the continent have established this school and provided a large amount of support to develop such advanced human resources.

Knights are one of the positions of those who serve the country, and some go on that path. It is incorrect that the children thought students of Solminati Academy = knights, but in a sense, it is also not entirely wrong.

"I see, then why do you want to be a knight?"

"I want to be strong !! Get stronger, defeat the bad guys, and protect everyone!"

The boy answers my question without hesitation. His eyes are shining.

"I see, it's good to have a goal, but you have to do a lot to reach your goal."

"Yup. That's why, when I grow up, I'll go to Onēchan's school!"

I listen to each children's future dreams. All the children happily talked about their dreams.

“I want to be a knight”

“I want to be an adventurer”

“I want to be a candy shopkeeper”

"I want to make a lot of beautiful clothes"

The children who told me their story were all full of dreams, and I was strangely happy listening to them, and it is as if they were sharing their strengths.

(Yes, I want to protect many people, including Somia, and above all........ I want to continue to be Somia's goal) 

That's my goal and the reason I keep going. Somia was never held in her mother's arms. I tried to be her mother replacing her deceased mother, and above all, I wanted to be the sister she is proud of.

For that reason, I was able to devote myself to the harsh training and endure it.

Suddenly, Nozomu-kun, who is making candy in the street stall, caught my eye. What is the reason for him to fight? What is the reason why he continued to keep going even after he was sentenced to be unable to become stronger due to the manifestation of Ability Suppression?

And the rumor with Lisa that flowed during the 1st year, and what happened to him after that?

I met him only a few weeks ago. I and he didn't have enough time to understand each other.

***

Nozomu's POV

When Irisdina-san was dealing with the children, I helped the shopkeeper to make candy and to put the candy in the bowl on the fire to melt the candy.

I have never made sweets such as candies, I lived alone, cooked for myself at Shishō's place, and cooked simple meals even in the forest. However, it was limited to when a safe place could be secured in the forest.

All I'm doing is putting a fixed amount of syrup and ingredients such as sugar in a bowl, stirring them, and heating them to boil. The shopkeeper looks at the stickiness and color of the candy that I boiled, takes out the candy from the bowl at the right time, uses a wooden stick, and quickly makes work with his familiar hand. There is no momentary stagnation in his hand, and in a blink of an eye, a candy craft of a princess and a knight is made.

By the way, I also tried to make one, but I couldn't handle the soft and dripping candy with a wooden stick, and it became messy.

"... It's an amazing handiwork ........."

"Well, I've been a candy shopkeeper for a long time. I'm used to it."

I'm not sure about candy craft, but I felt that his technique for skillfully making various things into candy craft was great. In fact, the candy I made wasn't a craft, it was clearly an object of avant-garde art that went too far.

"Ermm, why are you running a candy store?"

I was wondering why he had so much refined his candy crafting skills. Candy craft obviously needs a lot of effort, and the price isn't high compared to the trouble. It won't pay for the effort he spend.

"Originally, I love to eat rather than make. I bought various candies and compared them. Of those, I wasn't satisfied with just eating them. I started making various candies myself. I was surprised to see the candy I made, and I was happy to see everyone's smile when they ate the candy. So before I know it...... that's about it."

The shopkeeper does not stop his work while talking. The softened candy swells as if it were alive in the hands of the shopkeeper.

"But as I thought, it's the most fun when I'm making candy. Sometimes it's not very profitable and sometimes it's painful, but it's fun so it doesn't bother me at all. I want to do this job all the time."

The shopkeeper's face is lively while making delicate work with candy. I think he really likes candy. It's a smile that only for those who are doing what they really love.

"What I want to do ......... a dream, is it? ..."

A dream I had before. A dream that I have lost and turned my back on.

I'm a little jealous of the shopkeeper who could talk about his dreams like that.

"Hoi, It's done. Please don't fight, just eat peacefully"

"Waa~a~a !!"

"Amazing! It looks just like in the picture book princess and a knight !!"

Children flock to the candy that was made. It was like ants swarming in sugar. Not only Irisdina-san and the candy shopkeeper, but also the people passing by naturally smiled at the appearance of children chewing on the candy with smiles.

Looking at them makes me feel a little more energetic. A scene that I never saw when I was alone. Before I knew it, I was naturally smiling.