Netori: Stealing The Hero's Party!

Chapter 153: A Day So Bittersweet

Sitting under the shade of an overhead tent, Liliyana sipped on shaved ice, flavored with a cherry syrup. Held at the end of a small stick, she wanted to gobble it all up before the heat melted it completely.

"You don't have to slurp so much, you know?" Suggested Amedith, although he didn't exactly mind either way.

Her legs swinging back and forth on the stool, Liliyana was far too engrossed in enjoying the sweet treat to put any mind to anyone else. And despite being consumed in her own little joys, her eyes didn't stop wandering from here and there.

The bazaar, a festive place brimming with people and commodities of all kinds. From groceries to tools, or items of convenience, but most importantly, some of the most delectable treats in town. But what does a devil desire but a stick of ice with syrup?

'At least nobody has recognized us so far.' Looking around at the passing citizens, Amedith felt a prick in his heart. Losing the title of the hero had made him the laughingstock of the town, and the rumors were so rampant that he'd already heard a dozen people talking about it as they wandered through the bazaar.

"What are we doing next?" Playfully pushing her shoulder against Amedith, Liliyana got his attention back on her. "I'm already in love with this place, what are we doing next?"

Smiling wide with all her teeth visible, the fae genuinely seemed to be enjoying her time, even if the most exciting thing they'd done was sitting on a stool and sipping ice. Giving it some thought, Amedith wondered where to go next, and the next place that came into his mind for some reason was the church, more especially the playing ground behind it.

However, before that, there was another spot he wanted Liliyana to visit.

"Alright, let's go then," wearing a gentle smile, Amedith felt like a tour guide to Liliyana. Although showing her around, someone who'd been trapped for most of her life, gave him a joy that eased the pain in his heart. Not to mention, the presence of a charming fae, did help him keep his calm.

Her presence was growing on him like a stranger turned friend in the span of a short time. Yet the goddess' wishes for the duo were far from where they stood.

Shaking those thoughts out of his head, Amedith led Liliyana to a collection of fare rides. They weren't quite as colossal or exciting as what he'd heard they were like in the outside world, but even a two-storied Ferris wheel was more than enough to make Liliyana smile. Even if that smile quickly turned crooked when they got on and the wheel started spinning.

"W-we're so h-high…" She stammered, her hands gripping Amedith tight.

Having rescued her from when her body was transformed into twice the height of the Ferris wheel, Amedith couldn't help but chuckle for a moment. But then slowly placing his hand on her head, he tried to comfort her with pats.

"I helped you before, right? So don't worry I won't let you fall," still keeping her eyes closed for a few more spins, Liliyana finally opened them up and looked up at Amedith.

Being so close to him, to such a delicate face–almost angelic, her cheeks were flushed red, but she tried not to let the embarrassment get to her head. Instead, keeping her hands gripped tight, she turned to the scenery. Every time their cart reached the very top, she could see a flood of houses and streets merging into one direction that led to the outer gates of the city.

Blanketed under the golden glow of the setting sun, the hustle and bustle, and the kaleidoscopic symmetry of the city, it captured her in that moment in time.

"It's all so pretty…" She muttered.

Following her gaze, Amedith couldn't help but agree.

"But they say there's more beauty out there," tales of Atlaria's beauty soothed every baby in their cradle, and though Amedith didn't remember his parents, the stories they told stayed with him.

"Really? There's more pretty things out there?" Liliyana questioned right as their ride came to an end.

Turning to face her, the ex-hero answered with just a few words.

"I hope so, but I doubt there's any place better than home," getting off the ride with smiles plastered over their faces, the duo's next destination was the church where Amedith and his friends were raised.

Upon arriving there they ran into both Mel and Erika although not affected by the same mask as them, both of the girls couldn't see Amedith and Liliyana's true appearance. Instead, they simply saw a young man and a woman coming to church right as it was time for them to leave.

For Amedith, it was for the best that he wasn't recognized as he didn't want to look Mel in the eyes just yet after what had happened.

Slipping sneakily through the church, the duo arrived at the backend where a lone ball rolled around the ground instead of being played by the orphan children.

'Seems like we were too late to see them?' With the skies painted dark, it was no wonder that the children were taken back to their rooms. Even so, that didn't mean Amedith and Liliyana couldn't spend time kicking the ball around.

Playing lone in the church's yard, the two simply enjoyed each other's company for the night. For Liliyana who was easily amused, the mere act of passing the ball around, stealing it from each other's foot or just running from one another, was more than enough to keep her giggling all the time.

The escape from his usual routine seemed to help Amedith as well, and the dire state of mind that he was in just days ago, was finally at a point of complete cure.

And soon enough as it was time to head back, Liliyana finally learned something that she'd been wrong about Amedith this whole time.

"Aghh…I smell so bad, we should head to the communal bath," Amedith suggested.

"Sure thing~ Ahaha, I'll help you clean your back!" Liliyana's reply left him confused for a bit, but as he came to realize what was wrong, Amedith couldn't help but ask.

"You know I'm a guy, right?" Now being the one who's shocked, Liliyana's body froze up on the spot, and only after a few seconds of awkward silence did her lips open up.

"HEH?!" Needless to say, she was a little more than surprised.