Chapter 10: A Budding Bloom

“[Enter the forest around this point and head towards the flower field. I’ll send the hero your way.]”

Those were the words of the young mage who had recently joined the party. Initially, Raphilia was quite taken aback by Aswell’s sudden recruitment of Rui and voiced her opposition.

This wasn’t the first time she had objected on behalf of Serin, who joined earlier, and Aria, who had been with the party from the beginning. Aswell was the hero, and as such, he received a lot of female attention.

Among them were those who, concealing their identities and abilities, tried to gain Aswell’s favor and join the party. But each time, she had repelled them, protecting Aswell and the party.

This was partly due to her feelings for Aswell, but also because she cared about the well-being of the party. While others envied Raphilia’s status as a princess of the Elven Kingdom, she herself disliked it.

She had joined the hero’s party to escape the stifling life in the kingdom. That’s why she orchestrated a “chance” encounter with Aswell when he approached the border of the Elven Kingdom, and thanks to her exceptional archery skills and sense of direction, she was able to join.

“I don’t want to go back to that life.”

Raphilia, the elf archer, not the elf princess, wanted to continue her current life.

Then, a few days ago, a young mage joined. Or perhaps she only looked young. She had heard that a human’s age didn’t always match their physical appearance.

Anyway, the girl who called herself “Rui” said she would be in charge of the party’s equipment and support. Raphilia found that strange. The mage profession wasn’t typically associated with such tasks.

Overwhelming firepower. Wide-area attacks. Immense, unknown magic.

That was the image of a mage that everyone in the hero’s party, including Raphilia, had. But Rui directly contradicted that image.

‘Is it another unskilled woman?’

There had been others who made flimsy excuses to hide their lack of skill. That’s why Raphilia objected to Aswell, but Rui joined the party anyway.

And Rui’s subsequent actions… even Raphilia, who had objected, had to acknowledge them.

“[Here are some gloves.]”

The gloves Rui handed them were astonishing, almost absurd.

“These are on par with Elven Kingdom relics…”

Just gloves. Simple cloth gloves without any metal plating. Yet they were engraved with over ten magic formulas.

Moreover, each set of gloves was tailored to each member of the hero’s party, and the formulas were beyond Raphilia’s imagination.

Converting mana into wind to enhance aiming accuracy?

Not only was the performance unbelievable, but what surprised Raphilia even more were the unmentioned additional functions.

The converted wind not only aided aiming but also supported her movements. People usually exaggerated when showcasing their creations.

But the young mage was the opposite. Perhaps she was just too lazy to explain, or maybe she forgot.

Regardless, with just a pair of gloves, the hero’s party’s doubts vanished. Their initial opposition had already crumbled after witnessing the brilliant magic displayed before the dozing Rui after their meeting.

Seeing Rui’s skills, which even surprised Aswell, Raphilia went to apologize. She was prepared to acknowledge Rui as both a companion and a rival in love for Aswell when she received an unexpected answer.

“[I joined the party to obtain ingredients. So, I have absolutely no interest in the hero.]”

Then, with a cool smile on her cute face, she made a bold declaration. That she would help Raphilia win over Aswell.

After several conversations, Raphilia found herself walking through the forest.

“Will this really work…?”

She had readily agreed, driven by the thought of getting closer to Aswell. The thought of Serin and Aria crossed her mind later, but she couldn’t bring herself to back out, and now the day had come.

She recalled the mage’s blue eyes, giving a thumbs-up with a deadpan expression.

“Ugh…”

She should have worn something more suitable for a romantic atmosphere. She had come in her combat gear in her haste. A slight regret washed over her.

“If I turn right here… huh?”

But that regret quickly disappeared. On the path to the flower field Rui had told her about, she saw something wriggling and moving.

The tumors of the world, monsters.

“…”

The blush on her face was instantly replaced by a cold composure. In a split second, she drew her bow and released an arrow.

Whoosh!

A gentle breeze danced around the arrow, guiding it swiftly towards its target.

—-!!

She sensed the amorphous monsters stir. Seeing their comrade fall, they started fleeing in the opposite direction.

“No, not that way!”

That was the path to the flower field. She couldn’t imagine what would happen to the beautiful flowers if even one monster escaped there. She quickly notched three arrows and let them fly.

A short chase began, and Raphilia desperately pursued the monsters. She was swift on her feet, having lived in the forest, but she couldn’t catch up to the monsters immediately.

Soon, an open vista unfolded in the distance. Dreamlike petals came into view, making Raphilia’s heart pound with anxiety.

Her chance to win Aswell’s heart would be ruined.

That was a significant concern, but another feeling bloomed even stronger within her:

The forest and the flower field would be ruined.

Elves loved nature and lived in harmony with it. Raphilia, too, was an elf, a woman who cherished forests and flowers.

“You can’t go any fur…!”

Just then, she heard a voice from behind.

“Lia!”

“…Aswell!”

He had only called her name, but the black-haired hero understood her intent. He ran faster than her and raised his holy sword.

A flash of light erupted from the holy sword, completely obliterating the last monster that had been fleeing from Raphilia.

“Phew…”

“Oh… thank goodness…”

Fortunately, the monster’s trail hadn’t reached the flower field. Raphilia, overcome with relief, collapsed onto the ground.

Looking at her hands caressing the flowers, she realized where she was.

The flower field.

She looked up, and flowers of brilliant colors swayed in the gentle breeze. Perhaps because of the setting sun on the other side of the forest, the flowers’ natural colors were enhanced with a red, sparkling light, doubling their beauty.

The flower field in the sunset.

“The flower field…”

She heard Aswell murmur from behind. Rui had told her what to do here. But now that the moment had arrived, Raphilia couldn’t think of anything.

“Lia, was the reason you were chasing those monsters…”

Then, she remembered the one thing Rui had told her:

“[If you can’t think of anything in the moment, just tell him how you feel.]”

So Raphilia said,

“Yes, I wanted to protect this flower field.”

The flowers brushing softly against her hand tickled her heart. This moment felt like a dream, and she wished it would never end.

But she had to tell Aswell her feelings.

“Aswell.”

“…Yes?”

She turned around and met his gaze. Black hair, gentle eyes, a well-built physique, the brilliant holy sword. From all the beautiful things that made up him, she focused only on his eyes.

“…Thank you. For appearing when I needed you.”

And then, in a serious tone unlike her usual self, she quietly expressed her gratitude. The important thing was to show him a different side of herself.

Raphilia slowly knelt and sat in the middle of the flower field, her gaze fixed on the flowers. If Aswell hadn’t come, these flowers would have lost their color and died.

That thought made her heart ache even more.

“Thank you so much for helping me protect them.”

“…”

Aswell, the hero who received her gratitude, was visibly flustered. He avoided her gaze, fidgeted with his hands, and needlessly stroked his holy sword.

The setting sun illuminated his face, making him seem as flushed as she was.

‘It’s okay if you don’t confess right now.’

Raphilia thought. This was the conclusion she reached after a complex mix of her feelings and thoughts.

“I’ll also appear and help you when you need me. Thank you again.”

“…Yes. Then, I, um, have something Rui asked me to do, so I’ll be going now.”

With those words, the hero hurriedly disappeared into the flower field. A moment later, Raphilia, who had been lost in the fragrance of the flowers and her overflowing emotions, came to her senses.

And then.

“…Eek?!”

Her face flushed crimson, she fanned herself with her hand and hurried back to the campsite. The plan was a success, no, a resounding success! She wanted to tell her accomplice as soon as possible.

“Phew…”

Aswell, having entered deeper into the flower field, recalled what had just happened.

His companion, Raphilia, had seemed like a different person. She was always cheerful, boosting the party’s morale.

But just now, she was so… serious and beautiful.

The elf princess sitting amidst the flowers was a breathtaking sight, the kind most people wouldn’t see in a lifetime. Her gentle smile as she reassured the flowers made his heart, which had been calm for the past year, pound in his chest.

What would have happened if he had stayed there any longer?

Aswell couldn’t bring himself to imagine it. But the reason he was able to leave was because of someone who suddenly popped into his mind.

Rui.

“Then, I, um, have something Rui asked me to do, so I’ll be going now.”

The unusual flower Rui had requested. He used it as an excuse to flee from Raphilia.

‘I need to be more careful next time.’

He managed to escape this time by thinking of Rui, but there was no guarantee it would work again. Harboring such feelings for a companion wasn’t befitting of a hero.

“…Is that it?”

Finally, Aswell found what Rui had asked for. A radiant, multicolored flower, just as Rui had described.

The flower, emitting a translucent, jewel-like light, bloomed alone on a small hill in the flower field.

“A pure white… flower.”

Pure white. The mage’s face came to mind again. He didn’t know why. The flower, radiating a brilliant light yet small and delicate, reminded him of her.

“…Let’s go back.”

Aswell picked the flower before the sun completely set and carefully left the flower field. Raphilia would have returned by now.

He really had to get back before Rui finished preparing the camp.