Chapter 150: A Date Suggestion
Dominic snatched a package of meat pie sandwiches from the food Louis had bought for lunch and used them for breakfast.
Louis made a fuss, half in tears, but Dominic paid no mind.
That man was always strange anyway.
"Good morning," said Amal from the driver’s seat.
As usual, Aaron sat beside him.
Apparently, he liked being outside.
He was dressed in a coat of yellow mountain cat fur.
He didn’t seem cold at all.
Rex guided his horse up beside the driver’s seat and exchanged a few words with Amal.
The sky was a clear blue without a single cloud and today even the north wind was calm.
It seemed the day would be perfect for traveling.
Holding Shiao Yi in his arms, Dominic climbed into the carriage and called out the order to depart.
Far in the distance, faintly visible, the mountain range of Dalmasca was painted white with snow.
The true winter had finally arrived.
...
"Huh? What did you just say?"
Shiao Yi looked up from the desk in front of him, his gaze landing on the man standing before him.
The man who is standing in front of Shiao Yi’s personal office desk, had short, bright red hair and round eyes.
Towering like a massive bear, his presence was intimidating, yet the playful lightness in his expression softened his tough features and made him seem approachable.
Still, during training, he became a fearsome vice-captain.
"I said... a date."
Louis glanced around nervously, as if making sure no one was listening.
They were in the Second Division of Knight Order captain’s office, located in the western wing of the royal castle in the capital, Rosalith—a huge area dedicated to military facilities.
Dominic was currently out at a meeting in the west wing’s conference room.
Shiao Yi, meanwhile, was at his own desk, diagonally beside Dominic’ main office desk and under the window, diligently handling all administrative tasks for the knight order.
He had just returned from a temporary business trip to Dalmasca and with the second division mobilized, an overwhelming amount of work had piled up in his absence.
Since returning to the capital, Shiao Yi had become a workaholic, even staying overnight in the office.
He sincerely wished for more personnel capable of handling the paperwork.
"Shiao Yi, have you ever been on a date?"
"A... date?"
He didn’t even consider asking if it was some kind of dessert.
But looking back at his life, he realized he had never experienced anything that sweet or romantic.
Memories of scouting enemy bases with a laser rifle and exploring the pink crystal grasslands with Susu crossed his mind.
Definitely not what anyone would call a date.
The crystal grasslands that were covered with crystal-like plants and surrounded by a silver forest under a purple sky looks very beautiful, almost dreamlike place.
Yet the crystal grass leaves were razor-sharp.
A single touch while swaying in the wind could slice a body apart.
When they had discovered an enemy base there, a trap was activated and it’s nearly killing them.
Without Susu’s vibration resonance interference, they would have been destroyed.
She crushed the structure into fine dust and they were able to destroy the base with a nuclear bomb.
"You’ve never gone out with the captain? Like having tea together, or going on a long ride to a place with a nice view?"
Louis seemed frustrated by Shiao Yi’s distant gaze and began listing specific examples.
Did he think Shiao Yi didn’t know what a date was?
"Now that I think about it... I haven’t really been anywhere. Since coming to the capital, it’s only ever been between the mansion and here, I guess."
He had never explored the streets of the capital either.
Straight from the fort to the mansion, then studying every day.
The only places he truly knew were the west wing of the castle and this office.
Maybe the road to Dalmasca, too?
Wow... his world was incredibly small.
"Shiao Yi, why don’t you invite Captain Dominic on a date? He’s in the worst mood right now."
"Eh? Really?"
Louis froze, shocked.
"His attitude is different with just you, isn’t it? That’s... awful..."
Shiao Yi panicked at the sight of Louis on the verge of tears.
"What’s going on? Tell me everything," he demanded.
According to Louis, ever since returning from Dalmasca to the capital, Dominic’ mood had steadily worsened day by day, now reaching a point where it was explosive and unpredictable.
"He’s like... a human frozen in an instant. Wrapped in a blizzard. He’s so scary that no one dares even to speak to him or approach him. Just his gaze alone freezes you in place. Even I... I’m scared. That’s why I’ve come sneaking in while the captain’s away."
Shiao Yi had no idea.
He had been completely absorbed in work, and Dominic always greeted him with a kind smile when their eyes met.
He hadn’t noticed anything unusual.
"Even at the training ground, he shows up often. But now, with the upgraded version of him, everyone’s completely terrified. They’re so tense they keep making mistakes, and that just makes the captain glare even more! Please, Shiao Yi, you’ve got to help us!"
Louis who is normally looked imposing clung to him with tears brimming in his round eyes.
"Me? But... why is Dominic in such a bad mood? Has some new problem come up?" Shiao Yi asked feeling confused.
"Shiao Yi... you don’t realize, do you? Haven’t noticed?"
Louis’s voice sounded like a panicked cry.
Shiao Yi blinked his eyes in surprise.
"Wait... me? My fault?"
"Shiao Yi, you’ve been working nonstop since you got back, haven’t you? All day, from morning till night."
"Yeah, but that’s because so much work piled up. I was just trying to get it done quickly," Shiao Yi replied.
"And... have you been going home? Or have you been sleeping here at the office?"
"Well... sometimes I lost track of time and ended up staying here overnight," he admitted.