Reincarnated Into A Dead Woman's Body In Another World-Chapter 228: Arc 4, Act II, - 73: Fleeting Leisure Time
Through the wide open doors they departed. Citizens and Ordinate members alike waxed their eyes to the two. Perhaps the blonde’s beauty? Her noble face? The fact that the Thundering Blade herself was strutting out of the building?
Or perhaps that the woman was holding out a bright beacon of a blade while the other beside her walked with a gleaming purple dagger in her grasp...
"Time to go back to the palace I guess."
"W-wait! We’re in the city, don’t you wanna look around?" Fumeko halted before they could reach their carriage.
Jotou looked up at the market district in sight and then looked back to the Ordinate; and to the rainforest park behind it. "I’ve looked around, let’s go."
Before Jotou took another step Fumeko grabbed her by the wrist, "I’m serious!"
She swivelled her head back and smirked; followed by a wink and her tongue out. "We have things to do detective. You need to learn new spells and so do I. Plus all the training."
"I know, I know," Fumeko let go and twisted the dagger in her hand. Her determined gaze eyed up to the other, "Just a few sights here and there on foot.
Cravolta City’s just a little smaller than the whole of Kria, so it’s not gonna take that long to explore a few places. We’ll be back to the palace before dusk!"
Her cheeks rose up, "Alright, let’s go."
"You, really don’t mind?"
"Training is good and all, but we don’t have much leisure time. If we’re too focused on it without taking a break, then we might break," Jotou shrugged.
"Uh," Fumeko beamed with all her teeth, grabbing her by the wrist to tug her along, "Let’s go then!"
"Hang on," Jotou yanked back. She glanced around... ’Yeah, I’m not leaving my sword worth more than my organs in a carriage. Should’ve brought a sheath.’
She pulled the waistband of her skirted leggings and gingerly pushed the sword down the side, snapping the waistband onto the hilt.
The flat bit of the blade outlined down her left leg against the black leggings, the pommel poking out at her waist. She moved one leg after the other and jogged on the spot. It seemed not to poke or prod.
"Heavy and dangerous... bit cold too, but it’ll be fine."
Fumeko stared...
"I’ll leave it with the Ordinate for now..." Jotou took it out and walked back. Once they returned and Fumeko had tucked her dagger in her sock, the brunette grabbed Jotou by the wrist and sprinted forth!
"Where’re we off to?" Jotou kept up.
"Hm, the market district first!"
Trinkets and knickknacks were sold right before the Ordinate tower. The sunlight glittered onto the metal and glassware upon soft silk swathed tables.
Above their heads in their sprint were countless colours and patterns making the light below into rainbow-like spotlights. The silks and waterproof fabrics were strewn about from stall to stall.
"LATEST DESIGN FROM SELLERS IN LUXINOR!"
"CRAFTED AND IMPORTED LOCALLY!"
"SPEND TEN SILVER, HALF OFF THE NEXT PURCHASE!"
The hawkers shouted and exclaimed into the crowd. It was impossible not to bump into someone on either side of the street as carriages went through the middle.
The blonde held onto her head as Fumeko looked back and forth for a stall to pique her interest. The brunette continued to drag her along while the other smiled to all the sights; somewhat apologetically to the people she would bump into.
With a cat-like grace she kept on her toes to every footstep that would pass, following Fumeko who would pause and stand upright like a prairie dog looking above grass made of people.
She spotted one of the shopkeepers yelling about his wares with multiple wide open frames of wood; to which the kids seemed to flock towards, against the behest of their parents.
She towered over the kids who were crouched down, winding up various toys and surveying the rocking horses by the side. Multiple rings were formed into the shape of a ball, about the size of a marble.
"What the heck is this?" Fumeko squinted.
The bronzish marble drifted on its own within the wooden frames alongside other similar marbles, each a different colour. One kid picked it up and flicked it into the middle.
With the given momentum it spun on its own. "TING!! SCrrrAP!" It fought against another marble and drifted to the side where—"TING!"—it met another.
"You’re a bit old miss, but interested? Maybe you have younger siblings or children that might enjoy them!" the hawker leaned forward.
"I’m not THAT old!"
Jotou giggled and surveyed the rest of the toys. Yoyos, card decks in packings of aluminium, building blocks and other various things. She picked a metallic doll up, "What’s this one do? Why’s it metal?"
"Oh, I’ve been meaning to take it off the shelf. I don’t sell batteries anymore, too expensive. Sorry miss, it’s supposed to dance. But if you want to buy it- Ohp, that’s five gold for that marble," the hawker turned to another customer.
"You want that ugly thing?" Fumeko turned.
"I’m allowed to be curious," Jotou turned it to the back to see where the gigantic battery would be placed. ’I wonder...’ She placed her finger against it and gave a mild zap into both terminals.
The hand of the doll shifted and short red-haired green-hatted doll looked up... The holes it had for eyes stared for too long before she realized the energy she gave it had already run out.
She cocked her head with a chuckle, "Yeah, no, this thing’s gonna move on its own in the night and slice my throat." She put the thing back on the stall.
"Why don’t we get those marbles," Fumeko’s leg bounced slightly. "I mean, Asobi might like them, that’s why." She had crouched down with the other kids that watched.
"Sure, that’s why..."
"I don’t know what you’re implying paranoiac," her head turned with a little glare. "Fine, we’ll only buy one for Asobi."
"We’ll take one good sir," Jotou hid a smile.
"That’s five gold miss! Wait... have I seen you before?" the vendor squinted.
"Nope," she quickly handed the five gold as Fumeko grabbed a marble. "Let’s get out of here," she whispered. ’Should’ve brought my hood.’
The kids and adults turned, squinting or tilting their heads to the blonde who fled. She looked so much like the woman in the papers... The Thundering Blade wouldn’t just randomly be in the market district, that’s ridiculous!
With those thoughts, they disregarded the pretty woman and went back to business. Fortunately, what pictures they had were black and white, aiding her in the endeavour not to be recognized.
Fumeko pocketed the toy and took over the lead, glancing through the streets. All they surveyed were other objects, potteries, utensils on this end of the market.
"All the food must be on the other side."
Jotou stepped ahead, taking the brunette by the hand, "There’s no rush. One step at a time, let’s explore this place," she beamed.
Fumeko looked up, the Sun hitting a right angle, beaming down an orange light to the top of her blonde strands. Her cheeks went red, "Yeah..."
"Take a step though, we’re gonna bump into people."
"Right!" with a smug smirk she glanced back to the lines of people and pushed through, stopping stall by stall to survey wares from all over the world.
Another then another, no sight of food just yet. The two stopped at a small tent that mostly women walked in to. "Euagh," Fumeko grimaced.
"Oh no." Hundreds of makeup products lined across the tables, mirrors at every one of them. The scent of perfume that had no particular scent, "It smells like the colour pink..." which was the hue of the interior itself.
"Let’s get out of here!" Fumeko ran out.
"Agreed!"
The detective’s eyes bubbled, a scent hit her nose... She closed her eyes and swivelled her head, "...Food," her mouth salivated and dragged the blonde with demonic speed.
Plastic bags of freshly cut fruits, skewered spicy meats, a small cone made with leaves with a spoon that contained rice and a spicy orange gravy with chicken.
Jotou bit into a fried puff pastry that contained chunks of pork and potatoes as filling. She swallowed with a smile, "If this is just the morning stuff, I wonder what food they’d sell in the evening."
Fumeko chomped down, "You’re saying you wanna come here in the evening too?"
"I said wonder detective, we have to get to the palace at some point," Jotou took one of the paper towels from the many food items and wiped across Fumeko’s cheek the leftover gravy, "You’re disgusting," she smirked.
She grumbled in response and averted her gaze. She held up the leaf cone of rice and gravy to Jotou.
"No thanks, I don’t like curry."
"More for me then!" She took another spoonful.
"What is your favourite food anyway?" Jotou could spot the end of the market past all the people.
"You’re asking for an answer that may not exist within the vast sea of the universe Jotou Howllett," she spoke while she chewed.
A grin curled up on the blonde, "Maybe it’s me."
Fumeko nearly spat out what she ate, "PLAH! What!?" She went red, completely crimson like the Sun had turned her into a lobster.
Jotou’s shoulders kept shifting as she giggled continuously, pulling Fumeko along out of the market. Her mouth wriggled and sweat formed at her brow, even losing her appetite...
No, that was quite literally impossible. Fumeko began eating faster. The two waltzed by the streets, getting a proper look at the city.
The ice-cream vendor had made it into the path where brown pavements cut through the rainforests. The two raised their heads, now back under the greens of trees.
Eventually, with an ice-cream cone in each their hands they sat on a bench, watching people pass by; walking their dogs, taking a little jog, some kids playing.
The chocolate ice-cream was devoured within seconds whilst Jotou still licked hers of vanilla and caramel. Fumeko stared, the vendor long gone. She looked at all the people...
Their daily lives, seemingly barely perturbed by the last stand to come. Perhaps they were distracting themselves. Or perhaps, they had complete faith in Cravolta.
As such, they have their hopes held high. Knowing how many suffered in Kria and Hartamat, this was a new sight. With everything going on... the hope for another day goes on; and a hope for a better one.
"What d’you think’ll happen if we lose?"
Jotou turned to the query. ’Hmph. As if those possibilities don’t plague my mind as it is.’ She sighed, "I don’t know. A lot of bad things I can say at least."
"Maybe some good stuff too?"
"Mostly bad. What makes you say that detective?"
Fumeko slumped, "Things can’t always be bad," she glanced over to the blonde.
"By that logic, it should also apply to our enemies. Things can’t always be bad for them either."
"I’m just saying, people don’t easily change. Just because they win, doesn’t mean suddenly everyone changes their mind like a switch. They’ll probably want to fight again."
"There’s your answer then."
"If we lose, we’ll just fight again?"
"It’s never that simple, but in reality, losing this would mean losing that last stand. It just continues whatever war there was before Trailon committed their crimes. But it also means-"
"Morale will be dead, a lot of allies probably won’t want to back Cravolta again and if they do they might be stingy."
"If people lose hope, they’ll move on to the next thing. Maybe even leave the army or apply for citizenship for elsewhere with their prides hurt."
"That’s why it’s important to keep it alive isn’t it? There’s always another thing to do; another attempt, another chance, right?"
"Always."
"As long as we never give up hope," a dark glimmer shadowed in Fumeko’s eyes.
"Whatever happens in that fight, I just don’t think we’ll lose," the blonde took another lick of her dessert.
"If you’re so sure paranoiac, it must be true."
"It’s just a feeling," she smiled. ’However, loss in inevitable. It’s more about who... Whatever happens, I’ll protect the people I care for first.’ "So, where else you wanna go?"
_
"What’s that store over there?" Fumeko squinted to one of the many shops in the city, wedged in between the others. A small red door and blacked out windows.
Unlike the many other shops, it had no advertising, no indication to what it sold, not even a sign. A couple looked around and entered the shop.
"Well, it’s clearly open... but we’re running a little late and we should be getting back to the Ordinate." Jotou looked up and the Sun had gone well past noon. The clouds had gathered and a shower was due.
Fumeko held multiple bags of finished food, some she even kept for later. "Hm... fine, let’s go back," she pouted in agreement. They made their way back to the Ordinate, retrieving the armite blade and hopped into their carriage.
As they entered the palace gates and got off, no one came to welcome them. "They’re probably all busy," Jotou sipped a cup of mango juice with a straw.
"Hey Jotou," Fumeko fumbled for one of the bags. Jotou turned as Fumeko presented something to her, "For you."
Jotou fluttered her lashes. A golden yellow headband with spherical beads all over was given, like little yellow bubbles across the plastic. "I, thought, it looked, uhm..." she stumbled while fighting to maintain eye contact.
The blonde smiled and took it from her hands, "Thank you." She put it on behind her bangs, "Does it look good?"
"Of course it does! I picked it out!" she blushed in exclamation.
"Great; I’ll keep it safe," Jotou turned and began walking to the palace. She turned her head, "Detective?"
Fumeko followed a few steps behind, "...Yeah?"
"Thanks for the date," she stuck her tongue out and gave a wink before striding into the palace in haste.
"W-what? Huh!?" Fumeko’s eyes widened to the flowing fountain... Her eyes began glazing over, "She’s messing with me..."
