Another ass chapter, so proceed at your own risk! Yes, I am an ass man- Kiyoshi

Chapter 13: Hurried Departure

We exited the Ramburg’s mansion with Celes questioning the rip in my clothes. I try to take her mind off of it, but she’s insisted on knowing. Is it perhaps due to her instincts as a woman? Thank the lord they healed the scratch on my cheek, or she might go ballistic.

Nonetheless, I avoided the question as much as I can.

We take the long steps down to the city’s central area. Above me, the sun flares across the blue sky. Time sure does flies past without you knowing it.

“Celes, can you see Cliona when she’s in her spirit form?” I ask to keep her mind off the blood on my clothes.

“I do,” she answers back with doubt in her eyes.

“What’s the difference exactly? I mean, how is it like?” I smile, but her eyes remains squinted. There’s so many things I don’t know about this spirit it’s making my head hurt.

Celes skips down the stairs and halt at the very last step. She turn around to face me, her eyes meeting my own.

“Hm hm... What made you so curious all of a sudden?”

I knew it. Those eyes are certainly doubting me right now.

“Nothing really. Can I not ask about the things that interest me?”

“It depends,” she replied almost instantly, giving me no room to think about it.

I should be careful.

Celes might be trying to snare me into speaking something weird that could ruin her mood.

“Well, nevermind about that then,” I shrug it off and continue walking.

Knowing Celes, she could’ve easily shooed Cliona away yet, for some reason, she’s not refusing her company.

Does it have something to do with her race?

Or is it more of a special relationship?

I can’t help but wonder about the possibilities.

Since we still have plenty of time, Celes and I walk through the city, looking around, checking for things to buy. I figure I’ll take her out for some shopping and maybe buy myself some clothes as well. She’s noticeably happy, so I’m guessing she’s in a good mood now. I mask the smile on my lips and reach out for her hand.

For some reason, a great part of me wants Celes to stay happy all the time, even though it could be said that I’m spoiling her. But I can’t help it. Watching her reactions and the faces she makes is a bliss that’s worth abandoning everything else for.

“Hey, Reimuz. What is that?”

Celes curiously points to a merchant that has laid his items on top of a blue cloth across the sidewalk. When I look at the items she’s pointing at, I see some weird statues on display. I chuckle slightly, but before I could even properly identify what sort of creature the statues were modeled after, Celes drags me deeper in the area, dancing through the crowd of people.

I smile sardonically and concur, letting her haul me to whatever place she has in mind. Eventually she stops in front of a small building, a wooden box full of vibrant red flowers adorn the arch windows, and outside the shop are tools I often see in games. I walk closer to inspect, and like what I have in mind, it’s a loom and a conventional spinning wheel indeed. If I remember correctly, these are the production tools you would need to make fabric, silk, straps, and so much more. Quite intriguing.

“Let’s go inside, Reimuz,” Celes says, excitement reeling in her voice.

I consent to her bursting energy, and we walk up the wide concrete steps and enter through the ornate wooden door. A young man who seems to be folding clothes greets us as I close the door behind me. We return his greeting and immediately, he guides us into his store to see his designs. A professional smile curve his lips.

“Do you have a bargain bin—”

“Ignore him please,” Celes denies me. Oh why? I’m fine with something cheap you know.

Just what she said, I was ignored throughout the entire time we shop together. Celes got me a few long sleeves with matching trousers to boot, the top having a shade of light blue, while the bottom are mostly grey. She must’ve like these colors. Besides the clothes are simple, but it has class.

“Thanks for the clothes, Celes,” I squish her closer and kiss her hair, the hair that I so love. A small moan escapes her mouth and she flushes. So cute and lovable. “You want to go somewhere else?” I ask.

Celes shakes her head. “You’ll have a busy day tomorrow, won’t you? It’s better if you rest early.”

I stroke my chin. “Oh well, I guess I can have that luxury once in a while.”

In the end, our little date ended pretty quickly. Finishing the day with an early dinner at the inn, we head back to our room afterwards.

I put a hand on my face. I’m starting to feel a little dizzy, as if I’ll throw up soon.

This blood sucking redhead has been treating me as some sort of food source for the last thirty minutes now.

Before my last remaining strength leaves my body, I questioned her.

“Cliona… Why do you have to loosen your dress?”

I can’t help but wonder.

The fine straps of her dress are barely hanging on her shoulders, and add to that, her crimson pupils combined by her long eyelashes are so beautiful that, whenever our eyes met, my mind starts to wander in dangerous places.

“It sets up the mood quite nicely,” she says with a grin.

Cliona pries my hand away from my face. She starts licking that hand for some reason. After her lewd spit covers the entirety of my palm, she starts sucking my middle finger and her mouth starts to produce those obscene, sticky moans.

“Cliona…”

I called out to her with my hoarse voice however, before I could even begin to complain, Cliona seals my mouth with a finger. She pushes me down the bed with a wicked smile. Her tender hand reach for my face while the other guided my palm into cupping something soft underneath her short skirt.

I know this feeling. It’s definitely that.

Cliona pulls herself towards me and buries her face on my neck. In the next instant, I can feel her sharp fangs sinking on my flesh again and my energy draining consistently.

She’s moaning and rocking her body against mine, acting as if the mere touch of my fingers is cradling her to some sort of ecstasy.

“Ahhh, I could get addicted to this… But I liked it better when Reimuz “did” that.”

Cliona whispers some words at the back of my ear but, at my current state where I can’t even discern what is right from wrong, it’s hard to determine what she actually meant.

Once she’s done satisfying herself, Cliona slumps on the bed sideways. She has a happy expression attach to her face, as if she just had a pleasant meal. I grab the bed covers and put it on top of her, mainly to avert my eyes from her breasts.

“Damn troublesome…”

I shake my head to wake myself up. I too, am about to pass out, but I stayed awake and waited for Celes. A few more minutes has passed and yet she still hasn’t gotten out of the bath. It makes me wonder what’s taking her time.

I hoist myself up and walk towards the window. The sun will soon disappear and the solemn light of the moon is fast approaching. I stretch my arms out and relax on a wooden stool nearby. As I wait for Celes, I ponder about our upcoming trip tomorrow morning.

So far I’ve somehow managed with the small amount of money my Master has given me for this trip. If I successfully completed this request that I’m handling, I wonder where should I begin my investigation? Should I visit the Port town after all? I’m here already, I might as well.

But focusing on this task at hand should come first. I can worry about my other businesses at a later date. There’s no need for me to rush things anyways.

“Haaa…”

A yawn escapes my mouth and my eyes came into focus to the figure that’s standing before me. It seems like Celes just finished bathing. One hand is clumping the towel wrap around her body and the other is busy drying her hair.

“Sup? Want me to dry your hair for you?” I grin.

None of the witty retort that comes out of her mouth as usual. Celes silently walk towards me and bounce on my lap. I guess it’s her way of being cuddly and playfully sweet.

Of course, as to not embarrassed her even more, I keep my mouth shut and just do my assigned duty.

“It’s a nostalgic feeling,” she breaks the silence with her hushed tone.

“What is?”

“Many things.”

She cocks her head and gaze at the window. It’s like she’s remembering something important. I want to know what she’s thinking, to know what’s going on in her head, but sometimes, there’s just that distant expression that is keeping me from doing so.

It reminds me of the stare she always gave me when we first met. A stare explaining that she could not tell me about it—as much as she wants to—and the more I try to know, the more I make it harder for her.

“Sorry if I’m taking forever on fixing your sword,” as I continue to dry her hair, some words that I’ve been meaning to say inevitably leaves my mouth.

“It’s fine. Reimuz can take all the time he needs. For us, a human’s life is but a fleeting moment. But it’s also because of our substantially larger lifespan that we hold promises to a certain degree.”

Celes leans her dainty back against my chest. The same flowery scent that she always wore hit me even harder.

“When Reimuz said he’ll find a way to fix my sword, it made me incredibly happy.”

Wait, wait…

“Don’t tell me… You were listening?”

“Accidentally,” I hear her smile mixed in her playful tone.

I blush, remembering my oh-so-cheesy words. Dammit this is so embarrassing.

“I always wonder why Reimuz places me in front of everything. I mean, what’s in it for you?”

My mouth goes dry and mutual silence follows. But seriously, every word that left her mouth in regards to me is the truth.

I smile unseen and just lay it all out.

“Let me put it this way. If I told you that I came from a different world, would you believe me?”

“Different world? Like Rune Mid-gard?” She says hesitantly.

She must be questioning my sanity in her head now. And while this is a subject that I do not want to discuss, it’s a subject that I want Celes to know.

“Yes, something like that. Remember when we first met?”

“What does that have to do with it?”

“Well, I doubt you’ll understand anyways. But I really came from a different world. One where magic is but a mere fairy tale. One where numerous buildings pierce the skies. Something very different.”

Perhaps it’s due to me seeing that pistol that I want to talk about these things. I’ve put my head past these feelings, but I guess I still somewhat miss my old world.

“What… What about your family then? Can you still see them?” Celes inquires carefully.

“I doubt it,” for some odd reason my voice is shaking. “But it’s fine really,” I wrap my arms around her and embrace her tightly. “I found someone as important on this side too,” I murmur, kissing her exposed shoulder.

Saying these words made me realize how much I’ve grown dependent on her. I wonder what I will do about the time that she has to leave? She stays with me for now, but… for how long?

“Hehe, Reimuz is too dramatic sometimes,” with a simple giggle, she prevented the atmosphere from getting sullen.

Celes stands up without warning and finger flick my dumbstruck face.

She starts to dress up, and these eyes of mine got a good shot at her naked behind. My right hand twitches for some reason. Like I want to spank her ass. Damn, this calls for a retreat. I take that chance to take a bath myself. It would be rude if I stay after all. I don’t know. I feel like it’s an unspoken courtesy for me to leave at such times.

After such a refreshing bath, I am presented with a sudden predicament. The smiling middle sister is having a chat with Celes. As for my perverted spirit, it looks like she’s having a sweet dream. I mean, I only have my trousers on and Celes is wearing my shirt. This has got to look bad.

However, when Erumina turn to face me, she has a darkened expression. It smells trouble already.

“Oh… What’s the matter?” I probe as I sit on the bed beside Celes, rubbing my hair dry with her towel.

Erumina is occupying the same stool that I did earlier before the bath.

“Good evening Mr. Reimuz, and I’m sorry for the sudden intrusion……”

She quickly opens her mouth to explain.

Her sisters suddenly disappeared after their meeting with me earlier today.

It seems like Emily followed after me right after I left their mansion, carrying a set of clothes.

Now, ever since then, she hasn’t returned, and the same could be said with her younger sister that accompanied her.

“Do you have an idea on where they could have gone to?”

Erumina fidgets with her fingers.

I’ve read on a novel once that when a girl does that, there’s something that’s bothering her greatly. I get it that her sisters disappeared, but there must be something else.

I show a face saying that I’m worried and press her more about the matter.

Erumina finally opens up after a few minutes.

“...I think Sister might have gone to the mines. Her horse is missing and so is Elseria’s. That was after we’ve gotten the news in regards to the weird activity in the mines today. Sister said she’ll follow after you because she wants to give you some new clothes, but I’m guessing she lied and went to the mines instead.”

“What?!” I shout at once after hearing her story. Her judgement in the matter had a conviction that convinced me. “What happened in the mines?”

“It still wasn’t made clear, but we were informed that some of the miners had gone missing—inside the mines.”

“Have you told your Father about this?”

“Yes, I left the message to one of our maids.”

“I see…”

Damn that foolish woman.

I bite on my lip to suppress my anger.

“I apologize... But is it possible to employ your help in this?”

She instantly bows her head to me.

Her face is pale, probably bothered herself that she’s asking me a favor at a time like this. Not to mention, we’re but complete strangers until a while ago and I have no reason to help them. But she swallowed her pride just for her stupid sister’s sake.

“Don’t worry, how far is the mines from here again?”

I stand up and start to get dress. While I’m buttoning my long sleeve, Erumina answers my question.

“Not very far, if you travel by horse, it’s a trip no more than half a day.”

If it is indeed what she says, then Emily would’ve long reached the mines by now. My guess is that Elseria followed after her, concerned for her sister’s safety. What a useless older sister, dragging her younger sisters to her own childish stupidity.

“Alright, I assume you’ll guide me on the way? Also, I have no experience riding the horse.”

“Yes, that role falls to me. I’ve already prepared everything, and we could leave as soon as you’re ready,” Erumina says with fierce eyes.

Did she expected me to agree from the start?

On consideration, I agreed to her suggestion to leave right away.

“Umm, can you wait for me outside for a moment? I want to have a talk with my boss, ahahaha…” I sincerely requested.

Noticing Celes’s silence have me worried. She could’ve showered me with questions by now, yet she didn’t. She waited for her turn to ask questions, but I’m guessing her patience is running low now. She’s tapping her finger with her arms crossed after all.

“Very well. I’ll wait for you on the gate,” Erumina realizes the dreadful atmosphere and hastily flees.

Now that I’m alone with Celes once more, it’s hard for me to determine if she’s actually sulking or she just wants my attention.

Either way, it’s not good.

If she tells me to stay, then I can only apologize.

“If it’s more trouble, just tell me. Or do you not trust me?”

Celes starts to pout selfishly, so I move closer and slide my arms around her. She’s actually a very gentle girl in contrast to her usual self. There’s just no limit to her cuteness.

“It’s not that… As long as Celes is safe here with me, I can do anything.”

“So you’re asking me to stay then.”

“More or less. And I’ll leave Cliona here with you, you won’t be lonely without me at all.”

“How dangerous is this place that you’re headed at?”

“Don’t worry. I’m only going to help them search. And I’m a coward, I’ll run away as soon as trouble occurs.”

I know that I’m just pushing it. If it’s something as trivial as searching, they wouldn’t be asking for my help. And I know Celes realized this already. However, admitting to it won’t do me any good other than to see her worried face. As much as I like to see her fuss about my safety, there’s more pressing matters for me to attend.

“Celes, I’m leaving now,” I stand up and fitted my gauntlets.

“Fine. Just leave.”

She grumpily slumps on the bed and face the sleeping spirit beside her.

I kissed her cheeks and grab my hammer before leaving the room.

I sprint towards the city’s entrance.

With my running momentum, it take me no more than a moment to reach the gate. Leaning on the stone wall is a girl who’s slightly shorter than me by a few centimeters, wearing a light breastplate that only covers her chest area. Right next to her is a horse geared for traveling.

It seems like she’s still unaware of my arrival, which allowed me to study her profile. It’s Erumina, with an appearance saying she’s ready to go.

“Yo, Erumina. Ready?”

I greet her with smile, however her expression retained its serious atmosphere after she left my place.

“Alright, hop on the horse first and I’ll ride after you,” she says while holding the steed’s rein, urging me to climb on top.

“Umm, I don’t know how to ride a horse…” I hesitate and scratch my cheek.

“It’s okay, you can just cling on my back,” she says with a smile in an attempt to make me feel comfortable.

On well, now’s not the time to be nit-picky.

I climb on the horse as she instructed me to and she hops on after me. It would seem that she’s quite knowledgeable even when it comes to horse riding. Although bigger ones are not really my fancy, there’s a different feeling of happiness hidden underneath this softness.

This thought circled in my mind as I put my arms around her waist.

“Ahem, let us depart!”

Erumina clears her throat and kicks the horse into running.

Because I am not used to this feeling, I accidentally tighten my embrace.

I just hope she won’t come into a conclusion that I’m taking advantage of the situation.