I fought off the dark men and returned to Emily's tent.

　It hadn't been moved since I'd cared for Celeste, and it was still there, so the dump was nearby.
　There would be even more people and more trash from now until the last day of the tax exemption.

　Celeste faced the trash.
　Standing a bit farther away, she increases her magic power, chanting and releasing magic to burn the trash.
　Flames that seem to leak out of nowhere envelop the various trash and turn them to ashes.

　It's beautiful and cool.
　I thought.

　The trash is burned by the magic of the powerful flame, and the interesting profile illuminated by the flame is very beautiful, I thought.
　While I was gazing at that profile, most of the trash was burned and there was only a few left - about a poly bucketful of trash.
　I'll just burn the rest appropriately and be done with it, and then I'll call out to him when I'm done - or so I thought.

　Celeste chanted her magic.
　The same magic as before, the same magic, the same great magic that spread out the magic circle and fluttered her hair.

　With enough karma flames to burn up a truckload of trash, he annihilated a bucket-sized amount of trash.

　Defeating the weakest monster with the final magic, such an overkill sight.
　Why would he do that--I thought.

　Celeste wobbled!
　She collapses from her knees and nearly falls over.

　I dash over and hold her close.

'Lyota, Ms.'

　Celeste murmurs in my arms, raving in my sleep.
　He looks exactly the same as when I met him. Consumed and weak.
　His eyes are unfocused, I'm not sure he's conscious.

"Don't move.

　I pulled out my gun, making sure the recovery round was still loaded, and pressed it against Celeste's second arm and pulled the trigger.
　I shot the recovery round into her as if it were an injection.

　One shot wasn't enough, so I fired two.
　That's when Celeste's complexion finally returned.

'Are you okay?'
......
Celeste?

　I mean, my eyes are focused, but Celeste isn't saying anything.
　I thought she was just sitting there staring at me, and I was like.

"No, I'm fine. I'm fine.

　He hurriedly pushed me away from him and kept his distance from me.

　At the end of the distance, she blushed for some reason and glanced at me.
　You look like you're in trouble, what are you in trouble for?

Why am I so nervous?　And .......

　Celeste glances at me and blushes even more.
　You're mumbling something, what's the matter with you?
　If you're in trouble, I'll listen and help you out, I thought.

　Patin.

　Celeste suddenly slapped herself on the cheek.
　'Taut with my right hand, taut with my left hand, taut with my right hand, taut with my left hand--'

'I mean, that's too much!

　I interrupted her in a hurry to stop her.
　I didn't know what was going on, but I stopped her from slapping herself on each side of her cheek in turn.

　She slapped herself all over the place, and then she inhaled with a sigh.

'Yeah, it's calmed down.'

　And then he went back to the crisp look he had seen earlier.
　The crisp face, though, is a face that suits the tall Celeste well.

　...... delicately swollen cheeks, I could only say "eeeeee".

　　　　　☆

I had a funny thought, and I got fired up.
You see?

　She calmed down and explained the reason for her earlier odd behavior.
　It made sense, to a point. Surely there are times when you slap yourself in the face to get your spirits up.

　...... Yeah, there is.
　Let's not go into the ...... number.

　When I got my bearings, I asked her what was on my mind, just to divert the conversation.

You were burning trash earlier," she said. And at the end you were burning a lot of trash with your fire magic. Why?　Why didn't you just save your money and use some simple magic?
Because that's all I'm good at.
Is that all you got?

A level three ranged fire magic, the inferno. I'm the only one who can use this magic.
That's it?
That's it.

　Celeste nodded clearly.
　...... mmm?

Did you just say level 3, or is it level 1 or 2?　Isn't that available?
No, this is all I have.

　The wind blew, her beautiful hair fluttered.
　Celeste nodded clearly, without an ounce of hesitation.

　...... So, you mean that you can't use me* and me*mi, and you can only use me*zoma.

　I see, so that's why I did that.
　I overkilled him with level 3 magic against garbage until the end.

I'm not sure how often that happens.　Well, you know, levels one and two are not available and only three are available.

　There's not much I know about magic, most of it is learned from the bottom up.

No, I don't know anyone else who does either.
Really, and why is that?

　I ask, but instantly regret it.
　It's because Celeste gave me a complicated smile.

　It takes me a moment to realize that I don't want you to hear this.
　I have to follow up, I have to divert the conversation. What to do?

Welcome back, Yoda.

　Then Emily came out of the tent.
　She greeted me with her usual warm smile and gently painted the air of the place.

'Oh!'　My Goddess!
"Huh?
Thank God, I need a goddess like you to be around for a long time.
'Huh?　W-what is it, Yoda?!

　She rolled her eyes and I thanked her over and over again.
　I made her blush, but I made her blush even more, telling her how much I appreciated her.

　　　　　☆

　Emily is cooking a feast.
　She has heard that I'm done with my work and she's cooking a feast to celebrate.

　Emily builds a fire beside the tent and begins to cook.
　I watch as Celeste and I chat with her.

I'm impressed," says Celeste, "that the attack, as I recall, still has the confirmation of rare monster drops. Does that mean you've confirmed all of them?
I've only checked the odd floor.
Just the odd floor?

　I told Celeste about Cyclo and Hetero.
　He nodded his head at first, but it quickly made sense.

'It's great, isn't it?'
I don't know.
I've never heard of anyone doing that on their own.

　I'm a little embarrassed.
　Being lifted up by a beautiful woman like Celeste is embarrassing in and of itself.
　I'm embarrassed, but at the same time I wish she'd say more.
　I'd like to see more praise, just as I thanked Emily with all my might.

"Celes--
He's waiting for you.

　I was about to ask for courage when Emily came back to me.

'It's just baked, so be careful how hot it is.
Thank you.
Thank you--cake?

　Celeste was aghast when she received it.
　I was also a little taken aback and stared at the cake.
　I was presented with a white plate, a silver fork, and a delicious-looking cake cut into triangles.

'What's wrong with this cake?'
I burned it.
Burned? In the bonfire?
Yes, sir.
'Cakes on a bonfire: ...... Cakes on a bonfire?'

　Celeste was mumbling and comparing the fire and the cake in turn.
　I blew out a little.

"Celeste, I don't want you to think too much,
What?
'We don't understand Emily's cooking or how to make a warm tent, just as a warrior can't understand how to use magic. Even if it takes a lifetime.
Oh, .......

　Celeste glanced at the tent and made a convincing face.
　Other people wouldn't be convinced by saying this, but she actually knew that tent, and she was convinced when she heard Emily's wonder (...).

'Yeah,'
Baked a cake in a bonfire. You think Emily could do that?
Yes, we do.
So, thank you, Emily. I'll take it.
Thank you.
Yes, sir. You are welcome to eat. I'm going to prepare the next one.

　Then Emily runs off with a clatter.

　Celeste and I watch her and giggle at each other.

I wonder what they'll come up with next?
'I don't know. But it's Emily, so I won't be surprised if anything happens.
You've been through a lot, haven't you?
Emily is amazing, that's all.

　I said, and Celeste nodded.
　We both ate the cake.
　The cream was sweet and the sponge was moist and delicious.
　I wondered how it would burn over an open fire, but it was good, so that was okay.

'We're waiting for you,'

　Just as we were finishing the cake, Emily came back again.

'Thanks for the meal, the cake was delicious,'
Yes, sir. And now this.

　Celeste - who received what Emily offered her - but

Ice cream?　Why the ice cream?
Thank you. I'll take it.
'Yeah?　You're going to eat it, Ryota?　Are you going to eat that ice cream without question?
I told you, don't be surprised by what you find.
'Yeah, yeah, ......'

　Celeste is puzzled, and Emily is smiling.
　I ate the ice cream she had made for me.

　It was sweet and delicious, and it soaked into my body.
　It was worth all my hard work with Celeste.

"Thank you, Emily.
Good night, Mr. Yoda.

　With a slumping Celeste in between.
　We laughed serenely at each other, feeling the satisfaction of having done our job.