The Gatekeeper Chapter 19- An Eventful Date.

As we were resting in my room after our dinner, I abruptly brought up a certain topic which needed to be seriously discussed.

"So our first day was a complete failure, huh."

I said so in a grim voice while slouching down on the couch in my room.

"Yeah, and we ventured through the city the whole day as well."

"Sorry Celice for having you miss school, and making you accompany me the whole day."

"It's fine, Sylvia, I would be lying if I said that I didn't want to meet this 'prince charming' of yours, and also, you know how I feel about school right?"

"Yeah, you hate it. It's fine, it's fine, it's just school after all."

"Hey, you don't get to speak! Who was the one who completed her necessary education and graduated while leaving me behind?"

"U-Umm, w-well, about that…"

I tried coming up with an excuse but none came to mind. I just scratched my cheek as the awkwardness of the situation intensified.

"Well… what can we do? We'll just search for him whenever we go into the city."

I tried changing the topic of conversation with a slightly tensed suggestion.

"And by 'whenever' you mean everyday, right? I can see it in your grin Sylvia."

She saw right through me…

"It's fine… We have nothing much to do either way. The school will be suspended starting tomorrow. Father and your big brother are keeping us in the dark about this festival as well. At least we can search for this Toru and get him to partic.i.p.ate."

"I love you Celice."

I jumped on Celice who was sitting on the bed in my room and hugged her tightly.

She started to lose breath and pushed me aside with all her might.

"Are you trying to kill me Sylvia?"

"Uu~ Sorry~ It's just that I adore you so~ much."

While having our breakfast, I glanced at Shirone who was sitting on the opposite side of the square table.

She had an elegant and senere atmosphere surrounding her entire being. Her mana, which was white in colour and at an ordinary human's level, shrouded her in an air of calmness and tranquility.

Some of her pure white hairs were falling down in front of her face, covering her grey eyes as she chewed on bread and drank the herbal tea which was specially prepared for her by the chef.

She was wearing a beautiful, purple one-piece, which I bought for her before returning to the inn the previous evening.

Her beauty would certainly seem to be unparalled. And after suddenly showing up with her at the dinner yesterday evening, I managed to send the whole guest list into an uproar, it was even more true when you consider that I had another unparalled beauty, Freya, by my side the previous day.

Even as the centre of such commotion, we ate our breakfast indifferently, as if it was natural for such gazes to be directed at us.

After I finished my breakfast, and was waiting on Shirone to finish her herbal tea(which she was choking down as quickly as she could), I suddenly addressed her in order to stop her from burning her tongue by mistake.

"Listen Shirone, I'll be going out with someone today. I want you to change into a bird or something and keep an eye on me that way."

"Understood Toru-sama."

She understood the real intention behind my words and reluctantly placed her cup on the table to let the tea cool off. She slightly bowed as a gesture of apologizing for keeping me waiting.

I just waved my hands horizontally, indicating that it was no problem.

To be honest, it's very relaxing with Shirone around. I was a bit skeptical about our situation during the night, but Shirone obediently accepted a separate room, and unlike a certain hot-headed individual, she had exceptionally good manners during our dinner and our breakfast.

After having our breakfast, I started moving towards the guild.

Shirone transformed into a highly mobile bird and took off into the clear sky.

It is currently around 10 AM, and the promised ranzdevous time with Mirae-san was 10.15 AM.

After about five minutes of waiting, around ten minutes before the a.s.signed meeting time, Mirae-san was seen observing herself in the mirror and fixing up her make-up and dress.

The meeting place was a cafe a few blocks away from the guild. I was standing outside the cafe while wearing a black coat over a white shirt accompanied by l.u.s.truous black pants and a new pair of charming looking black shoes.

As I was waiting, I managed to gather attention from many of the women pa.s.sing by. My appearance could be considered a pretty common one back in j.a.pan, but here it seemed that my attire was considered unusual.

What I gathered from the whispers of the females around me, it seemed that they thought that this attire looked 'unnaturally natural' on me, and they were attracted by the mysterious charm generated by this appearance of mine. And of course, many other females were gathered because of my looks, but I decided to pay them no heed.

After Mirae-san was done confirming her appearance in the mirror, she finally decided to head over in my direction.

I think that what I just saw Mirae-san do must be kept a secret. Well, I wouldn't have been able to see her in the first place if I didn't possess such a keen eyesight.

She saw me through the small gaps between the ranks of the females who were observing me with glint in their eyes.

She indifferently approaches me while pushing through the crowd of women.

"Ah! Good morning Toru-kun. Did I make you wait?"

She greeted me in a very typical feminine manner, and my reply was one which was honed through various battles, as I am now, one could call me the 'king of the battlefield'.

"Good morning to you too Mirae-san. I just arrived."

I greeted her with a small smile on my face. I prepared myself for the next order of 'business'.

"Ah!"

I leaked an intentional surprised voice, which seems to have hit right on the mark.

"What is it, Toru-kun?"

"Ah, it's just that I was a little surprised looking at you in anything other than work clothes. You look very pretty Mirae-san, and femine as well."

Mirae-san was wearing a frilly one piece dress which was in colour of a refreshing light pink. She had high heels on her feet which were violet and looked uncomfortably beautiful. She also had a hair ornament made from an azure jewel which kept her hair tied in a cute ponytail.

My interaction with Mirae-san was certainly limited, and I had only seen her on a very low number of occasions, but I still got a feeling that this appearance of Mirae-san was a rare one, and I couldn't help but honestly admire her for it. I was an expert in the art of flaterry, but this time I was honestly taken aback, I just didn't let it show on my face and pa.s.sed it off as an introductory compliment.

"He he, to be honest, it's been years since I went on an actual date, so I was honestly a little excited, unbecoming of an older lady I know, but please take care of me Toru-kun."

She had an embarrased expression on her face as she grabbed the hem of her skirt and showed an accomodating smile towards me.

"Oh, no such thing. Umm, should we move, I think we're being looked at too fiercely here..."

I just noticed that while I was trapped in a pink s.p.a.ce with Mirae-san, who was about one metre away from me, the number of women drastically increased and were glaring fiercely at Mirae-san. There were a few men as well among the ranks of onlookers, but they were simply overwhelmed by the sheer number of females.

This situation could be considered the exact opposite of the ones I've been facing since I arrived here.

"Ah well, that's to be expected, right? After all..."

Mirae-san cut herself off and ran her gaze over my stihoullete once, and after she did, she averted her gaze with slightly red cheecks, and spoke lightly.

"You're right, let's just go. You're new to the capital, right? Allow me to take the lead, I'll show you the best places in the Royal Capital."

"Ah. Thank you Mirae-san. I'll be in your care then."

I had a pleased expression because Mirae-san was genuinely happy.

"Yes!!"

She excitedly said and took right arm and started walking towards a spot with many women huddled up together.

As soon as the women saw us approaching, they cleared the way for us to leave, but their scornful gazes could be felt on our backs with severe intensity.

After that, Mirae-san took me along on a much needed tour of the interior of the Royal Capital. She showed me the Royal Palace, the royal dome, the largest cathedral in the Kingdom, and many such attractions.

She was just like an excited child visiting the zoo for the first time, it was honestly cute.

But not every good time persists forever, does it?

After we had a late lunch at a restaurant recommended by Mirae-san, I received a telepathic communication from Shirone.

"Master, sorry to disturb you while you are busy, but this is important."

"What is it, Shirone?"

I felt a sense of urgency through our conversation, so I seriously started paying attention to her while I was being lead to the central park of the Royal Capital by an overjoyed Mirae-san.

"There are three men approaching Master's current position, they have malicious intent towards Master. What is your command?"

"Can you give me specifics?"

"Yes, one of them is a short man who seems to have an impressive amount of mana, the other one is a man with-"

"Okay, I got it. I'm sending Kuromi to you, I want you two to capture them with as much stealth as possible. Place them in confinement and interrogate them as to their motives. Recently, they targeted this Kingdom's Princess as well, I want to know about that as well. They would probably try to kill themselves, I want you to prevent that from happening. And after you make sure that all the information has been obtained, kill them and make sure that the bodies shall never be found. You are free to call upon your dependents by using my mana channels, I'll allow it."

"Understood Master. Am I allowed to contact you if any other complications arise?"

"Yes, keep me updated."

"Understood."

"Toru-kun, hurry!! Look they're performing tricks with water magic!"

"Y-Yeah Mirae-san. Allow me to excuse myself for a minute. I'll be back."

"Yeah, sure. I'll be here."

Mirae-san twirled and waved towards me while I temporarily left her in the crowd who were watching the tricks being performed by magicians utilizing water magic in the middle of the Central Park.

After parting with Mirae-san, I summoned Kuromi and gave her explicit instructions to follow Shirone and complete the mission, she energetically replied with "Understood!!" and flew away after transforming herself into a black bird.

After that, I joined Mirae-san again while leaving it all up to Shirone.

I don't paticularly care about what happens to this world, as long as I am entertained. These are my honest thoughts on the matter.

After about fifteen minutes after sending Kuromi to Shirone, suddenly, more than thirty mana channels opened in my mana stream. They didn't consume as much as the four dragons, but they were quite straining as well, however, it didn't even phase me, perks of unlimited mana supply, I guess.

"Shirone, I suppose those were your subordinates?"

"Yes, Master. There are thirty in total. All from the Phantom race, they specialize in stealth, and are highly intellectual as well."

"Is that so? Well, I would like meet them afterwards then."

"It will be an honor of the utmost level for them Master. Now then, please allow me to initiate the mission."

"Go. Have fun."

"Thanks Master."

After that, I spent the rest of my day with Mirae-san, unguarded, for which I was later scolded by Freya, but it is a story for another time.