“Welcome.”
A voice spoke out from within the darkness. He had mistaken the voice from behind the door as elderly. But hearing it close up, it contained a youthful energy.
Finally accustomed to the change in light, a lizardman appeared in front of his eyes.
White.
This was Zaryusu’s first impression.
Snow white scales, a spotless purity. Round, bright red eyes like rubies, and slim limbs that did not belong to a male, but to a female.
Her entire body was covered in red and black patterns, meaning that she was an adult, able to use a variety of magic and was… unmarried.
Zaryusu had once been stabbed by a spear in the past.
In that moment, Zaryusu felt his body burn fiercely as if it had been pierced by a hot iron stake and likewise his heart also accompanied this by beating rapidly, both combining to produce a feeling of pain shooting across his entire body.
There was no pain, but then…
Zaryusu was lost for words as he stood motionless.
Having interpreted his silence in her own way, she merely gave a self-deprecating smile.
"It seems that I am a strange sight even for the wielder of one of the four treasures, Frost Pain."
Albinos in nature were exceedingly rare, partially because they were too conspicuous. It made it difficult for them to survive.
The somewhat civilized lizardmen had a similar tendency Weak to sunlight, bad eyesight, they have not reached a level of civilization where such feeble individuals could survive. Therefore it was extremely rare to come across an albino adult. There were even cases where they were killed at birth.
It should already be considered fortunate if albinos were seen as detestable existences by ordinary lizardmen. There were even some who saw them as a kind of monster, that was why she had a self mocking attitude.
However Zaryusu was not like that.
"…What is it?"
The female lizardman inside asked a surprised question towards the motionless Zaryusu standing at the door. Without reacting to the question, Zaryusu let out a tremolo cry.
Hearing this sound, the female lizardman widened her eyes and opened her mouth, in surprise, confusion and in embarrassment.
That sound was none other than a courtship cry.
Zaryusu came back to his senses and realised what he had done. Just like how a human's ears would turn red, he flicked his tail repeatedly in agitation.
"Ah, no, wrong, wait not wrong, not that, this isn’t what I…"
Zaryusu's frantic movements caused the female lizardman to calm down, and she smiled, making Zaryusu puzzled.
"Please calm down. It’s troubling if you move so violently.”
“Ah! Sorry.”
Zaryusu hung his head, made an apology and then entered the room. At the same time the female lizardman’s tail drooped as if she had finally relaxed. However the very tip of her tail was still fluttering, indicating that she was not entirely calm.
“Please come over.”
“…My sincere gratitude.”
Entering into the home, Zaryusu saw that the area where she was indicating had a cushion woven from an unknown plant. He sat on it, and she sat opposite to him.
“This is the first time we have met, I'm a traveler of the Green Claw Tribe, Zaryusu Shasha.”
“Thank you for your courtesy. I am the acting chief of the Red Eye Tribe, Crusch Lulu.”
After the introductions were over, the two observed each other as if to guess each other's intentions.
The hut was temporarily submerged in silence, but this could not be allowed to continue. Zaryusu was a guest, therefore it should be the host Crusch who should say the first word.
“First, mister messenger, I believe there is no need for us to be so formal. I would like for us to speak freely, so please make yourself comfortable.”
Accepting the proposal to speak without reserve, Zaryusu nodded.
“I am truly grateful for that, since I am not accustomed to speaking with a serious and formal tone.”
“Then do you mind sharing the reason for your visit?”
Although she asked, Crusch already had a rough idea.
The mysterious undead which appeared at the centre of the village. Magic that controls the weather, 4th tier magic 「Control Cloud」. And now the male lizardman from a different tribe, one who could even be called a hero.
From here, there could only be one expected answer. As Crusch pondered on how to deal with Zaryusu’s reply— she felt all of her expectations shatter.
“…Please marry me.”
……
……?
……?!
“…Ha?!”
For an instant, Crusch doubted her ears.
“Actually, this was not my original purpose for coming here. I fully know that this should wait until after my objective is completed. But I can’t lie to my heart. You may laugh at this foolish male.”
“A…a…ah… ha.”
These were words which she had never heard since the moment of her birth, and ought to have no relevance to her. Her thoughts were torn to shreds in a turbulent storm, scattering all over the place and as such she couldn't organize them.
Towards such a flustered Crusch, Zaryusu revealed a forced smile and continued to speak:
“I apologize, I don’t know what to say, we are currently facing a contingency. Your response can wait until this is over.”
“Uh, ha…haha.”
Finally able to piece together her psyche and successfully resume her thoughts, Crusch regained her composure. However upon immediately recalling Zaryusu’s words from a moment ago, her thoughts once again slipped into disarray.
Crusch tried to secretly take a peek at the male’s face in front of her which had an extremely calm expression.
Saying something like that to me, but he’s still so calm… Perhaps he frequently proposes to other people?! Or perhaps he is already accustomed to this having been proposed so often? …Although he certainly is rather dashing… Ah, what am I thinking! This is part of his plan, it must be, intending to control me, making a proposal to me and proclaiming love. P-p-proposing to someone like me…
She, who had never had the experience of being treated as a female, was unable to keep her cool and failed to notice that the tip of Zaryusu’s tail was also slightly trembling. The man in front of her was also using strength of will to control his emotions from displaying themselves.
That was why a period of silence resulted. Both individuals required some silent time to allow the exuberance to settle.
Barely ten minutes later, it seemed possible to finally return to the original topic at hand.
Crusch intended to ask Zaryusu again for the reason for his visit, but remembered the words from earlier.
…Just how do you bring that up!
With a slap, Crusch’s tail hit the floorboards. The male in front of her flinched, almost as if he was the one who was struck.
This action was too impolite, and Crusch panicked inside.
Even if he was only a traveler, the other person was also a tribe representative… and furthermore not just any ordinary lizardman, but the hero who wielded Frost Pain. Impoliteness towards such a person could surely not be forgiven.
But this is your fault! What’s more, say something!
Zaryusu was in fact reflecting in embarrassment on his rash action, and had chosen to remain silent. However Crusch, who was preoccupied with her emotions as if she was putting a lid over an active volcano, did not notice this at all.
The silence continued, but since this was not a solution to the current situation, Crusch who had realised this decided that it was best to change the topic.
“Since you are not fearful of my body, perhaps it is not surprising that you are a hero?”