“Well, I’ll put my personal life aside for now and focus on work,” Veronica said, pulling her gaze away from Claire and letting out a sigh.
“To prepare for the upcoming decisive battle with the Empire, both the Messiah Rod and the Booster Rod need to be repaired and readjusted. I’ve finished most of the redesigns this past week—but honestly, they’re all terribly damaged. My lovely rods… hmph.”
“I’m sorry, Veronica. Actually, my sword is too…” Claire removed the sword from her back and placed it on a stand.
It was the Disuloon, an artifact that could cleave through magic. When drawn from its scabbard, cracks marred its blade from tip to hilt.
Yes, Claire and the others had also been through fierce battles. The damage to their equipment was proof of that.
“Grrr, I’ll fix it all for you. Now, you two are in the way.” Veronica scowled at them.
When she shifted into work mode, she seemed utterly unapproachable. It was probably best to retreat.
“…Come back to me again later. After I’ve finished checking everything, I want to readjust the Messiah Rod to match you.”
Veronica whispered this directly into Abel’s ear.
“I’ll… I’ll be waiting…” Veronica mumbled, her cheeks flushing slightly, looking embarrassed. Her surprisingly delicate and alluring expression made Abel’s chest ache with a sweet pang.
At noon, Abel left Headquarters with Claire. They decided to have lunch together at a nearby eatery.
Racine and Lil were out on patrol, while Ashe had gone to the royal castle. Abel wasn’t quite sure where Dita had gone.
In any case, Abel and Claire entered the restaurant together. It was a newly opened place specializing in Eastern cuisine. The menu, with its dishes reminiscent of Japanese food, stirred a sense of nostalgia within Abel.
“Hey, what were you talking about with Veronica just now?” Claire glared at him intently.
“What do you mean…” It seemed she had overheard their conversation.
“Veronica’s face… it looked strangely happy, or maybe she was being all lovey-dovey with Abel… it’s bothering me.” Claire furrowed her brow and groaned.
“She just asked me to come back later. Something about readjusting the rod.”
“Are you going alone?” Claire leaned in, her face alarmingly close. What was with her intense interrogation?
“Are you going alone?” Closer still.
“Uh, w-well… probably, yes.” Abel felt as though he was being reprimanded, a trickle of cold sweat running down his back.
“…We haven’t had much time to spend together lately, have we? It’s been a while since we’ve had a chance to talk properly like this.” Claire’s eyes wavered. Was it agitation, hesitation, or something else? Abel couldn’t decipher the complex emotions swirling in her blue eyes.
“I want to be by your side more.”
Huh? Claire…?
“You’ve been so active, and all sorts of women are gathering around you… I…” Claire seemed to want to say something but couldn’t quite articulate it. Seeing her like that, Abel felt an overwhelming urge to embrace her, regardless of anyone else being around.
Just then, “Oh, going on a date, Claire dear? Or is this one of those dramatic showdowns?” A cheerful voice from behind them shattered the serious atmosphere. Turning around, Abel saw a smiling old woman looking at them. This person, if he recalled correctly, was someone Claire knew…
“Grandma Ramida.” Claire’s stern expression softened, and she managed a smile. Though, her cheek twitched slightly, and the smile was a little strained.
“Are you having lunch here too, Grandma?”
“Ah, yes, I’ve heard it’s quite delicious. You two as well? You look so close.” Grandma Ramida beamed, her eyes crinkling as she looked at them.
“Oh, you know, it’s not like that… well, kind of like that…” Claire stammered, blushing.
“Claire is such a good girl. I won’t forgive you if you make her cry, Bable!”
She got his name wrong again. Didn’t she just say she’d remember it properly last time?
“Heh, if I say something like that to the now-glorious hero, would it cause trouble?” Grandma Ramida chuckled.
“The hero,” Abel thought. To be called that even by her…
“Abel wouldn’t do that, Grandma.”
“Is it because he’s the man Claire chose?”
“Wh—?! Ah, no, well, I… oh dear.” Claire’s face immediately turned bright red.
“Stay close for a long, long time. And invite me to your wedding then!”
“W-w-w-w-wedding!? Oh, no, that’s a bit too soon for us, or maybe there will be a day like that eventually, but there seem to be so many rivals, it looks tough, ahhh—” Claire was utterly flustered.
“Alright, I’ll move to that table over there. I don’t want to disturb you young lovebirds.” With that, Grandma Ramida left.
“Honestly, Grandma. You make me so flustered saying things like that,” Claire sighed with a wry smile. Her cheeks were still red. Abel privately thought she was overreacting, but he also found her adorable. He realized that he felt most at ease when he was with Claire. It was as if a sense of peace, worn thin by continuous battles, was vividly returning. His heart warmed, and he felt a sense of healing joy.
“How long are you going to keep smiling like that, Abel!” Claire puffed out her cheeks. Her expression was even cuter.
“…I’m sorry for troubling you earlier.”
“Huh?”
“Well, they say heroes have a weakness for beauty, don’t they?” Abel had heard that before.
“…You’ll have to be a little patient. Even though I get jealous. Or rather, if I become more attractive and catch Abel’s eye… Alright, I’ll do my best!”
What? Confused by Claire’s sudden burst of determination, Abel tilted his head.
In the evening, Abel found himself back in Veronica’s laboratory. Several Booster Rods lay on a nearby stand. The damaged rods were now completely restored. She must have finished so many repairs in just half a day. And she probably had upgraded them with the redesigns, too. She was amazing.
“I was looking at the combat data recorded in the rods, and it seems their functions aren’t always working properly,” Veronica murmured, gazing at the Messiah Rod, almost to herself.
“A malfunction…?”
“No, it’s that your magic analysis isn’t thorough enough and isn’t fully reflected in the rod. That’s why there’s sometimes a lag in amplification. I’m creating circuits tailored to your magic wavelength, but there’s still room for improvement in precision.”
Honestly, Abel only understood about half of Veronica’s explanation. However, he knew it wasn’t good to interrupt, and besides, it was about the rod he himself would be using. Without interjecting, Abel continued to listen.
“Therefore, I’m going to investigate your magic pattern again.”
“Understood.”
“Have sex with me, Abel.”
“Und— What!?”
