Chapter 75
Titania disappeared, and they left the Fairy Lantern Cave.
As they exited the cave, the tour boat was bathed in the brilliant sunlight pouring down from the sky.
"Reina! What on earth was that just now!?"
As soon as they exited the cave, Eric rushed up to Reina.
"That conversation with Titania earlier... Is it true that you defeated the Kin of the foreign god or whatever it was!?"
"Whoa, calm down, Eric."
"That's right. Let's hear the story first."
Vincent and Will stepped in to calm the agitated Eric.
"Tch... Sorry. I lost my composure."
Chided by his friends, Eric regained his composure.
He cleared his throat and turned back to Reina.
"Reina, I want to know. What exactly was the Fairy Queen talking about earlier...?"
"Just what you heard, Your Highness."
Reina responded to Eric's question with her usual gentle smile.
"The other night, I ran into a monster while out for a walk. I used the power of the Saint to defeat it. It wasn't a particularly strong monster though..."
"S-So that was the threat to this land... the Kin of the foreign god, huh?"
Eric fell into thought for a moment, then sighed and bowed his head.
"...Thank you, Reina. Thanks to you, it seems this land has been protected. As the Crown prince, I thank you from the bottom of my heart for protecting the people."
"No... I did what I had to. Please, think nothing of it."
"...You truly are a Saint. Even your heart is pure."
Eric let out an earnest sigh of admiration.
"I'm glad someone as pure-hearted as you became the Saint... Truly glad..."
"By the way, Reina onee-chan, what did you get just now?"
Pushing aside Eric, who was clutching his chest in deep emotion, Luy stepped in front of Reina.
"Well... They look like rings."
"Wow! Matching rings! That's so cool, Reina-chan. Can I have one?"
In Reina's hand were two rings—one red and one blue.
Luy's eyes sparkled as he quickly tried to snatch one of them.
"Kuma!"
"Hebuh!?"
But the plush bear sitting next to Reina on the bench moved even faster than Luy and kicked the boy in the stomach.
Luy rolled all the way to the edge of the boat and stopped moving.
"...He's dead. We lost a good one."
"No, he's alive! Vincent-senpai!"
Will shouted as he tended to Luy.
Though Luy had fainted from being kicked by the plush bear, his life didn't seem to be in danger for now.
"Lord Clael... I'm sorry for keeping the monster incident a secret..."
Meanwhile, Reina bowed her head apologetically to Clael.
"I didn't think it was a big deal, so I kept quiet... But I should've told you, right...? Are you mad?"
"Ah... No, I'm really fine with it."
Clael frantically waved both hands at Reina, who had her eyes downcast.
"It was a minor thing for you, right? Then it can't be helped. I mean, you defeated a monster and saved many people. If anything, you deserve praise, not anger!"
"I see... That's a relief."
Reina exhaled in relief, a look of comfort on her face.
"I don't know if this can make up for it, but... I'd like to give you one of these rings, Lord Clael. Please wear it."
"Wha!? No, I can't accept that!"
Clael frantically waved both hands.
The rings Reina had received from Titania were the 'Crimson Sun Ring' and the 'Blue Moon Ring.'
Each was a powerful artifact that greatly enhanced abilities when equipped.
(These rings can't be transferred once equipped... What am I supposed to do with it if I wear it!?)
It wasn't the kind of item a mere background character like him, not even a party member, should be wearing.
Clael desperately tried to decline... but Reina insisted.
"I really want you to wear it, Lord Clael... Is that not okay?"
"I-I wouldn't say that..."
"If it's not a no, then that means it's fine, right? Is there a problem?"
"Well, that is... um..."
Clael struggled to come up with an excuse.
But before he could think of a good way to refuse, someone pushed him from behind.
"Nyan!"
"Wah...!"
The one who suddenly pushed his back was the plush cat sitting on the bench.
As he was pushed forward, his finger slipped through the ring Reina was holding.
"Ah...!"
Clael tried to take the ring off in a panic... but it wouldn't come off.
This equipment was cursed.
(N-No... I don't think it's cursed, but what kind of logic is it that you can't remove it once equipped!?)
He now resented the game settings more than ever.
As he wore one of the rings—the 'Blue Moon Ring'—he could feel power welling up from deep within his body, and he resented it.
"Yes, that's perfect. It suits you very well, you know?"
Reina smiled brightly and put the 'Crimson Sun Ring' on her own finger.
It probably wasn't intentional... but they both wore the rings on the ring finger of their left hand.
(What am I supposed to do... with this...?)
It wasn't as bad as the Sky Something-or-other, but it was still a fairly important key item, and now a background character like him had equipped it.
Clael's face twisted in utter panic, turning pale as the ocean itself.