"Bellf...?"
"If you're awake, let go of me already."
"Mm..."
About an hour later, Aiz woke up and reluctantly loosened her arms, looking a little disappointed.
"There are marks..."
"..."
Maybe she'd held me too tightly while we were asleep, because the marks looked like they'd stay for quite a while.
"What do you want for breakfast—no, lunch? Want to eat here?"
"Mm..."
"Ah, but you told your Familia, right?"
"...Mm."
"Then that's fine."
Her answer was a little slow, but... well, she probably told them on her own.
"Aiz-chan left home without saying a word!"
"She probably went to Bellf's house. Don't make a fuss, Loki."
"Waaah!!! Aiz-chan! That man is no good!"
"...I've been wondering for a while, but why is Bellf no good?"
"Because he looks like a Casanova at a glance!"
"..."
Riveria couldn't deny it.
After we ate a simple meal, Aiz and I headed to the forge.
"Bellf, is that the only clothes you have?"
"I do have others, but this is the most comfortable."
"..."
It wasn't like anyone was going to look at what I wore anyway, so comfort came first.
"We're here..."
Maybe because I hadn't aired the place out, the smell of burning and iron had soaked into the workshop.
I thought I could smell a little sweat too... should I spray some air freshener or something?
"Here."
I'd made the armor in the same shape as the one Aiz usually wore.
Familiar was better, if possible.
"The sword's fine, right?"
"Mm. It's easier to swing now."
"Then that's good... Do you need anything else?"
"...No."
Then I had nothing else to do.
I didn't need anything right now either.
The only thing I could think of that I still needed was good-quality materials, but those would come with time, so I just had to wait a little longer.
For the same reason, I was also waiting on materials for weapons.
"Hmm..."
There really wasn't anything to do.
"What are you going to do now?"
"Let's see... I don't really have anything to do..."
"I see..."
There wasn't anything else I was especially curious about, either...
"Ah, right, there was that."
Thinking for a moment to come up with something to do, I spotted the golden sword neatly placed in a corner of the forge.
"...Should I try to find the person who made this?"
The library in Orario mostly only had books about heroic tales, fairy tales, novels, magic theory, monsters, and the Dungeon.
There were a few books about weapons and armor too, but nowhere did I find anything about this golden sword.
Though there seemed to be plenty of books about weapons back at that damned house...
...
"Should I go there again after a while?"
"Where?"
"That damned house in Lacia."