The Holy Knights are helping the people ro rebuild their home and distribute aid through food and handovers. Lenny is focusing through this as he sighs and all he can do is to watch Sylvia's beauty and grace from afar. He recalls the incident fron his last attempt to propose to her, only to see her tending to that man.
"Looks like this is getting nowhere." Lenny thinks as he hand another blanket on a pair of siblings. He then goes back to the barracks to see if there is anymore handovers and supplies that they can distribute, to which he carries some with him.
"You look like a pale ghost in the morning Vice Captain! Something that happen?" A fellow holy knight calls to Lenny as he approach his post again to distribute the supplies. "Well, it is the usual boring day." Lenny replies as the said holy knight giggles. "We fought a black slimes several days ago, and you are acting that like nothing happens? Man."
Lenny just sigh and he finally decide. "After another mission I'll quit the Holy Knights. I have no motivation any longer."
The said knight looks at his Vice Captain and just dismisses him while the two of them continues to distribute supplies to the people. As he continues this boring duty, he see the very man that make his life fall apart. "What is that man doing here?" Lenny utters to himself as his sight catch this man walking towards a store.
"Mr. Gran! Good day to you!" Sylvia calls his attention as he walks by. She happily approach Gran as he is looking a bit happy. "Looks like somebody got their fair share huh." As soon as Sylvia say that Lenny angrily grit his teeth as he leaves. He abandon his work while his comrades are calling him back.
"I'm sorry I'll go something else!" Lenny insist as he step out of the gates outside Helios. He wants to test a little bit of his limbs as he grabs the double headed axe on his back. He seek for a worthy warm up as he wants to work his mind out of removing his image of Sylvia and Gran on his head. He walks further into the woods, and he spots some low level slimes and mid tier kobold. He grips his axe tighter as he exhales.
"I'm a man too!" He charge with his right foot forward as he cleave his first victim with his axe. The kobold's blood splatter as he plunge it through to chop it diagonally in two. He follows with a quick step and he cuts another kobold. The slimes answer with its Acid Bullet, but Lenny dodge it by swaying his head and he quickly spin in a circle to slaughter multiple slimes attacking him. His temple is throbbing with anger still as he chop and hack several more kobolds on the way.
That hunting spree spent his day as he return to the city full of monster blood as he see the setting sun. He notice that the Holy Knights have already pack up. He proceed to the Holy Knights Headquarters as he see that Sylvia standing at the door as she is waiting for someone. As she see him approaching, she approach him with question in mind.
"You okay? I hear that you leave your post earlier. Something in your mind Vice Captain?" Sylvia ask but Lenny just loathe to answer anything, so he just proceed to enter the headquarters, yet Sylvia stop him when she grab his shoulder. "I'm sorry if I made you that way Lenny..." Sylvia adds.
"Don't be, I'm sorry that I bother you for this past four years. That inconsiderate antics of mine just finally caught up with me." Lenny replies as he remember the first time they meet each other.
At the time Lenny is a newly recruited Holy Knight under the kingdom. Sylvia is a newly appointed Vice Captain and at that first glance of her beauty, Lenny knows that he will do anything to capture her heart. He trains and train until he manage to master his combat prowess. He believe that he can stand beside her if he's strong enough.
Sylvia perform so well that she manage to become the Captain of the Holy Knights by a couple of years. Her impressive repertoire motivated Lenny at the time to match her.
"But in the end I didn't know what really interest you. I spent so many times interacting and surviving along you but I didn't understand or I am just blind on my own inadequacy." Lenny thinks on himself as he just smile to his Captain and answer.
"It's fine, I just want to let loose a little. I'm not used to a dull moment aren't I?"
Sylvia unhands herself as he continues to walk inside the headquarters. The lady knight haven't got any affection for him still, yet she notice that his loneliness is getting the best of him. Even though she's gifted in fighting and controlling her mana, she's oblivious to what to do about this matter.
"Lenny, I'm sorry..."
The next day...
Arturo and Martha dress properly as they are closing the inn for a while. Gran, sitting in one of their large table, are drinking coffee and wish them luck. "We will be going to our daughter's place. She's living in Apolonis along with her family. We'll be visiting them, so please behave Gran." Martha told the Exorcist as he finish his drink and his boredom are constantly being challenge by the construction noise as the people outside are repairing the damage incurred by the Black Slime attack.
"My good Lord... This is getting annoying." Gran thinks to himself as he grab the keys and lock the door so he can walk again outside. His unkempt hair and clothes are really driving home that he is somehow lazy that day, yet he stretch his limbs and does some warm up. He then spent his time doing some splits and he later goes to hang out to the same bookshop again.
"Oh my new releases? These books aren't costing you some fortune but damn, this author is something else. That taboo series is some of the mind racing stuff I read for a while." He mutters as he skim through pages and he decides to buy it. As he approach the counter he encounter somebody he doesn't expect.
"Oh? You like that? Nice." Gran remarks as Lenny is buying some questionable literature. He embarrassingly address Gran about the matter. "What the? I'm buying these since the writer is my bestfriend." Lenny answer as Gran's eyes twinkles.
"Oh you know the author of that book? He really likes detailing the betrayal on every scenario, and the main character is basically getting all these women all to himself!" Gran exclaims as Lenny piles up to the excitement. "Right? My friend recounts that all of that is his romantic encounters when he goes to Aphrodoti. He says that women there have this strange charm that will make you stay there for long."
"Really? Wanna check out when you have a time off?" Gran ask as this question snaps out Lenny from the excitement. He remember that his pain is caused by this guy in front of him. He put the books at the counter as he ask something of the Exorcist. "If you thought that I will forgot I've not. I want to ask if you like her." Lenny ask as Gran is puzzling the pieces what is he talking about, and that's when he remember him.
"Oh you are the guy pestering Sylvia. You know man, I highly recommend for you to give some space, let her have some quiet time and you can try it again." Gran advices the Vice Captain of the Holy Knight as he looks at the window to look outside on his right. "Well that won't be a problem further. I decide to drop the whole matter altogether." Lenny answers as Gran visibly get his tongue out as he knows that he is involved in something unpleasant.
"I'm asking you again, do you like her? Because if you do then I'll be pleased and leave you alone." Lenny ask again as Gran wants to clear the misunderstanding in the room. "No no no no. I don't have feelings to that beauty. I do hope that you may get her heart yourself!" Gran answer as Lenny draws his double headed axe as he invites Gran to follow him outside.
The two walk into the gates of the city as Sylvia catch a glimpse of the two and she follows them while calling them both. The two then stand on the middle of the road while Sylvia goes undercover in order to see what's going. Lenny then raise his axe as he ask Gran for a duel. "Why a duel? I told you it is nothing like that!" Gran frustratingly ask The Vice Captain of the Holy Knights.
"Since you said earlier that you aren't interested, then I want to prove something. If I win, then I'll try to confess my love to her again, this time I'll pour my heart and feelings for it. But if you win, I'll quit after a single mission." Lenny propose about this duel. Gran puts up his guard as this proposal if nothing short of a test and he knows that he needs to respond properly.
"Hey advise, I'll quit and hand you the win if that's the case. Please just let me..." Gran answers but Lenny shuts him down. "Shut it! We'll settle this right here and right now!" As Lenny say that he swings his axe and Gran just catch it between his index and middle finger. Lenny quickly follows it up with a gut punch, which Gran catch with his right hand.
"Tch, you people are being a pain! First Gina then you. Give me a break already." Gran express as he pull Lenny and attempts to hit him with a right knee in the gut. Lenny responds with a headbutt and he manage to connect. He let go of his axe and grab Gran's neck and slam him into the ground. Gran doesn't attempt to answer this as Lenny sits on top of him, giving him a bunch of pummeling.
"Hope you'll be having enough of that." As Lenny continues punching Gran's face, Gran cast Stillness of the World on him and slips out of his submission. He then stands and raise his legs. "Just go and confess to her already, you oaf." Gran release the time stop and he drop his foot on Lenny's head. This send the Vice Captain's head to the soil.
This left Lenny in confusion as to how Gran manage to escape such position. Gran then release his foot as he help the Holy Knight to be able to recover by himself. He then sit in front of Lenny to speak with him. "Look, I don't know the history you two have, but I do understand now the intensity of your love for her. You don't have to give your anger for it." Gran states as Lenny starts sobbing.
"I know what I am doing is wrong. I'm sorry if I ask you to go along about this." Lenny reply as Gran sighs and tap his shoulder. "Man, I highly suggest for you to fix yourself, calm yourself down and make sure to be clear and be yourself. I can't guarantee that you will succeed, yet I believe that you can express what you are man." Gran says as it leave Lenny in confusion.
"What the... What are you saying?" As Lenny ask that, a shadow covers him. He face the direction where the shadow comes from, and this shock him more than anything. He see Sylvia's red eyes and blushing cheek standing before him.
"Captain!"
"Ah geez, is this what you are thinking and doing while we are working to help the people?" Sylvia ask while she's pouting. Gran just scratch his head as he slips away from the conversation to give the two the heart to heart talk that they need. "I'm sorry Captain I am... Caught up in the moment there. I know what I am doing is wrong and annoying. Apologies for that." Lenny answers as he looks away from her.
Lenny doesn't want to show that he is enthralled by the pout earlier as he didn't know she can show such cute expression. "I do think I want to leave the Holy Knights after one last mission..." As Lenny say that Sylvia looks down and her hands raise as she slap Lenny.
"You MORON!"
He see a flowing tear on her cheek as she raise her face as he see her lovely face in anguish. "Why? Why do you want to leave your career as a Vice Captain?" She ask as he wants to pick the correct words to say, but he sighs in resignation as he wants to express his own feelings. "I realize that my whole life and identity as a Holy Knights is somehow connected to you." Lenny answers as his memories from back then comes flooding in.
"I do remember how you capture my heart that day Captain. I don't know how you do it but I just know that I need to be beside you. Those confessions I did before, I'm really sorry about those. They are just stuff I can throw to see if i have a chance..."
Lenny pause as he inhale with all of his being.
"But this time! I want to express with all of my being. Holy Knight Captain Sylvia... I LOVE YOU, WILL YOU GO OUT WITH ME?!"
Lenny declares that as he bows. Sylvia's throat lock up as she can't decide if she will answer his confession, but one thing is running through her mind and feelings, she do feel his determination and feelings now. It takes her a couple of minutes before she speaks.
"I-I'll answer you after a mission then."
As these words enters Lenny's ears his face turn red and he can't hide his happiness. Sylvia's blushing like a tomato as well as the Vice Captain finally learns that he have a chance, a chance to have her love.
"You mean it?" Lenny ask as Sylvia turns back and Gran cringes from the cover of a tree as he witness how these two act like highschoolers in love. "My God, hope that help..."
Gran left the scene to return to city. He yawns and he is looking for food as his stomach growls. He decide to go on that one eatery where a bunch of adventurers are eating. As soon as he reach his destination, through the western side of the city, he see a familiar face that he doesn't expect to be there.
"Yo Veronica! Didn't expect that you fancy places such as this." Gran greets as Veronica jump a little as she doesn't expect somebody she knows gonna be showing up there. "How do you know this place?" The pink haired Valkyrie ask as she grabs her dinner. Gran also lines up to buy some food. "Hunger and intel will do such thing. Though I don't expect that you will go to places like this. I expect you go for more... Exquisite eatery." Gran answers as Veronica pass through him in that noisy place.
As the clanging utensils and plates sliding through the marble surface, Gran manage to get his meal and he sit next to Veronica. His spoon and fork glisten as he merrily chomp down and eats his food. Veronica goes along his rhythm as she also eats like how the Exorcist eat.
"Well you see... I am not spending much as I want to since I need to spend it to a very important thing." Veronica replies to an earlier question by Gran. "My Mother is currently sick and she can't perform like she use to be. To heal her knees and legs, I need to get the Eternal Crescent Flower. That Flower cost 3000 Gold Coins." Veronica adds as Gran almost choke on how much she needs to spend for one item.
"3000 Gold Coins? That's almost a cost of a house in here right? What happen to her knees and legs?" Gran ask as he check his Flow and the possibility to use it. He feels that, yes he can use it, but the brain will burnout before he can accomplish fully healing such a task. "Well here's the thing, we are hunting the monster who cause that. My mother is not the only victim if this monster." Veronica explains as Gran leans closer, showing his interest.
"She's said to be attacked by a monster called Plant Mimic. This monster is different from a typical mimic since this one is trying to blend with plants and suck out the nutrients from a target. This particular monster becomes a legend from my Hometown as this grew so large, several S Rank Hunters are commissioned to hunt it. In the end the Sword Saint manage to end it." - Veronica
"Van did it huh." Gran express as he nods. He does see why Van is one of the strongest being he face. Veronica continues the story.
"But after that my mother's legs and knees function didn't return and the Plant Mimic left a curse on her as it dies. The only thing that can lift the curse it made is to crush some Eternal Crescent Flower and to smear it to her legs and knees. Problem is that it is too expensive as procuring one is worth an A Rank Adventurer's task." As soon ad Veronica say that Gran points to her.
"Oh hey, is that the reason why you join the Valkyries? You're A rank Adventurers now right?" Gran states as he manage to finish his food. Veronica frowns as she shares rhe reason why. "I couldn't do it! I am not comfortable asking Leader to have the whole party be dragged into my own mess." She says as Gran looks at her and looks at his surrounding.
"My God... Is communication the most hardest thing in this place?" Gran ask himself as he is scratching his head. "Look, I didn't have much history with you people since like, a week ago. Your leader, Gina, is a great lady and I really admire her strength and her capability to lead. I'm pretty sure she wouldn't mind you asking something selfish from her like that." Gran answers the pink haired mage.
"That's not it! The Eternal Crescent Flower is usually being guarded by a dragon and they really love sleeping in it. It is a rare item that many Adventurers are passing over due to it having a hard opponent to deal with and receiving such meager reward." Veronica tells the Exorcist yet his mind is already made up.
"Tell me Veronica, can you tell Gina about it or not?" Gran then looks straight to her eyes. She feels uncomfortable about it and she avert her gaze. She didn't answer as Gran retracts his look on her.
"Well it is decided then. I'll speak about this to Gina and have this request be done along the way..." - Gran
"Wait! I said wait!" Veronica stands up as the Exorcist tries to leave her there to look for Gina to speak about this. "You really need to clean your ears sometimes!" Veronica protest but Gran doesn't let this past. "And you people need to learn how to value words and expressing your heart out. It is okay to tell people about that matter, if they didn't listen that's fine. I believe Gina will be compassionate and kind enough to help you in your predicament."
Veronica stops from holding his shoulder back as Gran ask her if she wants to come with him about it. She doesn't respond through words but her gesture is an enough response to get through. Soon as the two leave the eatery with full bellies and walking through the lamp lit streets, Gran notice that Veronica is walking two steps behind him.
Gran then walks slower and he later match her walking speed. He never consider himself higher or lower to anybody. The two reach the Adventurer's Guild HQ, where Gran peep through the window and he manage to spot Gina and Rinko there. Gran gives a thumbs up as he ask Veronica to step inside. She's getting shy in front of the building, and Gran pushes her inside.
"Hey hey!" - Veronica
"Please not be a pain on my butt now? You can do it!" Gran responded as the two enters and Gina and Rinko spots them. Gran waves as she grab Veronica's hand. "Don't doubt yourself girl." Gran utters to himself as they approach the Valkyrie leader.
The next day...
The Valkyries assemble at the stables at the southern corner of Helios. There lies the dragon that Veronica manage to tame and that same dragon is acting like a dog when it see her. Rinko hides through her shield as she can't believe that this dragon is really following a human's orders as she's still scared of the monster. Gina and Mayuri tries to embark at the back of the dragon while Gran wants to ask something for the pink haired mage.
"I totally forgot to ask. Do you have a name for the dragon? Kinda want to know where this guy comes from as well."
Veronica thinks something name the scaly beast while the dragon looks at her with puppy eyes.
"Oh I get one! What about Faffy?"
Gran looks at the pink haired mage as she says that in confusion. "What?"