Not long after, a refreshing energy enveloped her body. Kana’s eyes curved gently as her mood naturally improved.

“It feels nice. Thank you for bringing me to such a wonderful place.”

“It’s nothing. Come here and sit down.”

Kiriel, who had already spread a blanket on the ground, gestured towards her.

As Kana sat beside him, he took out a moderately thick shawl from his spatial storage and wrapped it around her. Kana was a bit surprised.

“When did you prepare the shawl?”

“I always had it. I keep various items in my spatial storage.”

Kiriel shrugged. This was something briefly mentioned in ‘Fake Saint’. Kana smoothly glossed over the setting she had missed.

“Ah, I see. Then why did you take out the shawl now……”

“The wind is stronger than expected, so I thought you might need it.”

From his sparkling purple eyes to his gently curved lips. Judging by his attitude, it seemed more like an action born from genuine care rather than professional consideration. Kana blinked slowly.

‘Strange, why is he taking such good care of me? It can’t be because he likes me, considering he said he didn’t when I probed on the day of the boat incident.’

To begin with, Kiriel Curtis was a character somewhat distant from keywords like kindness, attentiveness, and consideration. Even if he was favorable to those he thought well of, it wasn’t to this extent.

Kiriel stared blankly at her face lost in thought. From her lightly fluttering eyelashes to her tightly closed lips. Seeing her serious expression, he spoke first.

“What are you thinking about now?”

“About why spirit summoners felt good energy here. It’s interesting that I’m feeling something similar.”

Kana skillfully deflected without revealing her complex emotions. Kiriel, thinking her interest in spirits and spirit magic was very like her, shared some minor information.

“They say it’s because there are high-grade water spirits in this sea.”

“Oh, really?”

“Yes. Although I’ve never directly seen the water spirits reveal themselves… considering the energy felt, it seems plausible.”

Kiriel whispered softly in her ear and smiled brightly. Just as Kana was nodding silently, translucent blue spirits emerged from the undulating waves.

Small fairy-like water spirits twirled in the air before sinking back into the sea. Kana pointed at the spirits that appeared and disappeared as if on cue.

“Oh my, spirits… Did you see that just now?”

“Yes, they appeared right after I told you about them, what perfect timing.”

“Do you think they appeared because we mentioned them in conversation? It’s a bit fascinating.”

A faint curiosity clouded Kana’s eyes. Kiriel waved his hand lightly and answered with a voice tinged with laughter.

“It’s probably a coincidence. I’m glad we saw an interesting scene while out together.”

“Me too. I think this will remain a good memory in the future.”

“Wow, that much? Then we should come here together again next time.”

Kiriel clapped his hands, quickly catching her words. His mysterious purple eyes were filled with expectation.

He didn’t seem to consider the possibility of her leaving after finishing her work and becoming physically distant, or him falling for the female protagonist and becoming emotionally distant. Kana involuntarily flinched and asked back.

“…Next time?”

“Yes, we can come together again when our time and intentions align.”

Kiriel gently patted her shoulder. Unlike him, who was imagining a future together with her, Kana, who had never considered a ‘next time’, bit her lip slightly, feeling oddly guilty.

Usually, she would have responded appropriately with a businesslike smile, but for some reason, even formal pleasantries didn’t come to mind. Kana fell into serious thought.

‘What’s wrong with me? Could it be that I’ve grown attached to Kiriel?’

Kiriel carefully examined her suddenly pale face and lightly touched his finger to his lips.

“Miss Kana, your complexion suddenly doesn’t look good… Are you alright?”

“Ah, yes. Of course.”

Kana quickly composed her expression and smoothed over the awkward atmosphere.

Except for her days as a novice, she had always thoroughly played her supporting role, but in ‘Fake Saint’, she unintentionally became disheveled.

‘What’s done is done, so I should be careful from now on. Let’s hang in there until the day I collect all the star ratings and settle in a decent world to live peacefully.’

While Kana was steeling herself by recalling her ultimate goal, Kiriel, unaware of her inner thoughts, wondered and guessed at reasons for her seriousness.

“Did I say something wrong? Or are you worried that I might change my mind later after saying we should come together?”

“It’s not your problem, Lord Kiriel.”

“Then is it just needless worry?”

“…Something like that.”

Kana gave an evasive answer. Kiriel tried to gauge her inscrutable inner thoughts.

“I guess you’d say it’s a secret if I asked?”

“Yes, I’m sorry.”

“It’s okay. I’ll just wait until you’re ready to tell me.”

“Thank you for understanding.”

Although she probably would never confide in him, Kana responded with a gentle smile. Kiriel softly stroked her fine light brown hair and advised in a low voice.

“I don’t know what you’re worried about, but just let the wind blow it away. Holding onto such things for too long isn’t good for your mental and physical health.”

“…Alright.”

Kiriel silently watched Kana as she took slow, deep breaths in the wind, then naturally pulled her close and wrapped his arm around her.

Kana, who unexpectedly found herself resting her head on his shoulder, blinked in surprise.

“Lord Kiriel?”

“Ah, you looked tired. We’ll be walking around a lot later, so rest for a moment while leaning on me.”

“I’m fine.”

Kana lifted her head and straightened her posture. Kiriel tried to persuade her with a plausible reason.

“Don’t be like that. I’m worried about you as a companion.”

“Ah, if that’s the case, I’ll excuse myself for a moment.”

Kana, not noticing the subtle personal interest in his words, hesitated before leaning slightly. Satisfied, Kiriel smiled silently.

They spent time until the darkening evening. Kiriel, seeing her now more relaxed face, casually asked.

“Miss Kana, shall we head back to the capital now?”

“Yes.”

After tidying up, he held her hand tightly and used teleportation magic. The background instantly changed to a secluded place near the magic tower.

Kiriel glanced at Kana as she adjusted her clothes with one hand.

“Miss Kana, is there anything you want to do?”

“Yes. How about we look around the night market and then watch the fireworks from the top of the clock tower or somewhere high?”

“Sounds good.”

Kiriel agreed readily with a smiling face. They walked towards the night market held in the northern street.

The night market, with temporary magical lighting devices set up here and there, was quite large and colorful, bustling with people moving about and merchants calling out to customers. Kana looked around and began to speak.

“It’s such a lively atmosphere.”

“Yes. They say the Founding Festival gets more exciting after sunset, and it’s really true. Is there anything you want to buy?”

“Hmm, I think just looking around is enough for me.”

As Kana answered calmly, a gray-haired girl holding a flower basket came into her view.

The basket was full of unsold flowers as everyone just passed by. She approached the flower-selling girl and asked kindly.

“Hey, can I buy all those flowers?”

“Yes, of course!”

The girl’s downcast expression brightened noticeably. When Kana paid, the girl was overjoyed and even gave her the basket. She received the entire flower basket and comforted the girl.

“Enjoy the festival.”

“Thank you, customer!”

The girl bowed politely and left. Kiriel, who had been watching quietly, tilted his head.

“I thought you said having too many flowers would be burdensome.”

“That’s true, but I just wanted to buy them. I’ll give you two flowers as well, Lord Kiriel.”

Kana took out purple and yellow wildflowers in good condition from the basket and handed them to him.

Kiriel, who received the flowers unexpectedly, even cast a preservation spell on them before putting them in his spatial storage, just in case.

“…Thank you.”

“It’s nothing. I just gave them to you because they resemble the colors of your eyes and hair.”

Kana pointed at his eyes and hair with her finger, smiling with her eyes. Kiriel was so flustered he couldn’t even respond properly.

He just kept grinning uncharacteristically even as she put the flower basket into her ring’s spatial storage. Kana waved her hand in front of his somewhat dazed face to change the atmosphere.

“Let’s keep walking.”

“…Right.”

They walked slowly, looking around. When Kana unconsciously stopped at a skewer stall, Kiriel quickly bought some skewers, handing one to her and keeping one for himself.

“Ah, when did you… Thank you.”

“It’s nothing.”

Kana smiled awkwardly at his nonchalant words.

As they were enjoying the night market while eating skewers, they moved to the clock tower in time for the fireworks.

Thanks to Kiriel’s teleportation magic, they could instantly move to the top floor of the clock tower. The clock tower was empty as the time for fireworks slightly overlapped with the monster-slaying demonstration.

“It’s dark, but it seems like there’s no one here.”

“That’s better, we can watch quietly.”

“I agree.”

As she nodded, Kiriel snapped his fingers. A small light floated in front of them like a lantern, illuminating the dim surroundings.

“Is that light magic?”

“That’s right.”

“Thank you. It’s convenient.”

“It’s nothing. Let’s go over there and watch.”

“Alright.”

Kana leaned her arms on the railing of the clock tower with Kiriel and gazed at the pitch-black sky. Soon, colorful and brilliant fireworks began to paint the night sky.

In the midst of a strange atmosphere, Kana murmured calmly.

“It’s a breathtaking view.”

“Yes.”

Kiriel was too busy observing her to notice the fireworks. Feeling unnecessarily nervous, he swallowed and impulsively opened his mouth.

“Miss Kana, could you perhaps hold out your hand?”

“My hand?”

“Yes.”

She immediately held out her hand. Kiriel slowly wrote a brief message on her palm with his finger. Kana’s eyes shook violently.