Many Tarnished wanted to challenge Raya Lucaria Academy, but everyone had to register in the first ten days of the month and pay a fee.
What?
You think you can just challenge anyone anytime, for free?
If you break something during the fight, will you pay for repairs?
Wouldn't the Academy have to pay?
In short, if you wanted to challenge, money was necessary, which was no problem for Kaito.
The only issue was waiting a week to register.
First, they found the best lodge in Liurnia Town—a whole house!
It was just a slightly better medieval house, a bit pricey, but getting it was a steal.
Thanks to Liurnia Town's order and prosperity. Stormveil Castle was better now, but before, it was awful.
The towns along the way were even worse.
No comparison.
Take hygiene, for example.
Medieval Europe was notoriously filthy, but here, with Raya Lucaria Academy overseeing things, and mages with personal hygiene quirks, residents were required to maintain cleanliness.
Afraid to offend the revered mages, residents complied, forming good habits.
There was little garbage in the streets. Corner trash bins were provided, collected and incinerated with mage fire.
Well, maybe magic helped.
"My Lord, the hot water is ready. Would you like to bathe now?"
"Definitely! We haven't had a proper bath in days!"
Kaito smiled, answering the Fire Keeper.
A large house was great; it even had a bath.
He stripped without hesitation. The Fire Keeper led him to the bath, helped him wash, then he soaked in the large tub.
"Call Melina. The tub's big enough for us all."
"Okay, I understand."
The Fire Keeper blushed, but accustomed to Kaito's closeness, she didn't refuse.
After summoning Melina, they both washed meticulously, their faces flushed, before entering the large tub.
Three hours later, the Fire Keeper and Melina rested on the main bedroom's large bed. Kaito, refreshed, prepared dinner himself.
They were tired; rest was good.
Kaito rarely cooked. Melina had bought ingredients for the next few days.
Seasonings were still lacking.
After making dinner, the two women came downstairs to eat. Afterwards, Kaito said he wanted to take a walk.
A city without a strict curfew, with bright streets at night—it would be a shame not to explore.
Even his own Stormveil Castle had a curfew for safety, only lifted on special occasions.
The Fire Keeper and Melina didn't refuse. Curious, they dressed in plain robes, while Kaito dressed as a common noble, and they left the house.
On the streets, many residents were out, enjoying themselves.
In the distance, a minstrel sang, telling stories and sharing news, drawing a crowd.
Nearby taverns were booming, with tables spilling onto the streets like a night market.
Residents drank, sang, played cards or chess.
Occasionally, a blue-robed mage could be seen.
It was quite a lovely scene.
If someone from a struggling, filthy medieval town came here, they'd think it was paradise.
Even Kaito, from modern times, found the scene pleasant.
"Oh? This shop... 'Yukinoshita Ramen'?"
Walking into the bustling main street, with many shops and stalls, Kaito stopped before a shop with a long queue. Reading its name, he was stunned.
Seeing that name, he instantly knew who ran it.
It was Hirano, Hirano's shop!!
With no means of direct communication, and separated across the world, Kaito had missed the ladies.
Those close to him, and even those not so close!
He was a man of love~
"My Lord, this shop seems very popular. Ramen... it sounds like a novel food. Would you like to try it?"
Seeing Kaito pause, the Fire Keeper thought he was curious about the food.
The long queue and the unfamiliar name "ramen" piqued her own curiosity.
It must be delicious to attract such a crowd, right?
Even Melina was intrigued!
"Actually, there's a high chance a very close friend of mine runs this shop. She's also a Tarnished, like me."
"Ah?"
The Fire Keeper was taken aback.
'Oh no, another woman like Yor Briar?'
If she wasn't a Tarnished, fine, but being a Tarnished meant she was also a candidate for Elden Lord, potentially becoming Kaito's enemy!
The closer the bond, the harder it would be to act, the more the hesitation.
If she was ambitious but lacked loyalty, and ended up betraying Kaito, the Fire Keeper would be beside herself.
"Don't worry, she won't compete with me for the throne."
Kaito pinched her cheek. The Fire Keeper felt a bit embarrassed.
But she didn't think she was wrong.
As Kaito's Fire Keeper, wasn't it her duty to care for him, to guard against potential threats?
Unlike that wooden Melina, hmph!