Leveling Up by Executing Monsters

After seeing his sister off, Lloyd took a moment to tidy himself up in front of the full-length mirror before rushing out the door, hurrying toward the old book market.

He found his pace quickening unconsciously, turning into an urgent near-jog.

Before long, he reached the antique shop in the furthest corner of the old book market. The same attendant was at the door, dozing off as always.

’This guy said he needs to sleep at night, but isn’t he just sleeping 24/7?’

Lloyd grumbled to himself. Without a word of greeting, he tried to sneak past and head up to the second floor.

But the man suddenly snapped his head up, held out a hand toward Lloyd, and beckoned, as if demanding something.

Lloyd: "???"

"Let me play with your cat."

The kitten: Σ(っ°Д°;)っ

"What’s there to be scared of? I’ll give him back in a bit. I don’t even like cats, I just think this one seems a little special,"

the attendant said with a look of disdain.

Lloyd sighed. Left with no other choice, he scratched the kitten’s head and comforted it.

"You’ll just have to put up with it for a bit. I’ll be back down soon."

"MEOW MEOW MEOW!!!"

The kitten let out a few fierce but squeaky meows that sounded suspiciously like cursing.

But that didn’t stop Lloyd from placing it on the counter and hurrying up to the second floor.

He exchanged a few brief words with the enthusiastic Attendant, then activated the valuable special invitation.

A black wooden door immediately appeared before him.

Before he could reach out to open it, the door was thrown open from the other side. A dazzlingly beautiful Elolo leaped out.

Even through the blurry mosaic obscuring her, you could still feel her joy and excitement.

"Ta-da~"

Elolo announced her arrival with a cute flourish, throwing her hands in the air in an exaggerated pose.

After a quick glance around, her gaze landed on Lloyd.

She blinked rapidly and asked tentatively,

"You’re... my Lord Uther?"

They had never had a real conversation before; Elolo had done all the talking while Lloyd listened quietly, so she had to confirm it was him.

Only, she put a heavy, heavy emphasis on the word "my," as if to make a special point.

Lloyd, however, didn’t notice this small detail. He simply nodded and replied,

"Um... I suppose so? I’m here under the Venerable’s..."

He was just about to properly introduce himself when a soft, fragrant body suddenly threw itself into his arms.

Even though this was their first formal meeting, Elolo was surprisingly bold and proactive, throwing herself right into Lloyd’s embrace.

She pressed her hands against his chest, secretly listening to his heartbeat, then twitched her cute little nose as if trying to catch his scent.

Then, she suddenly broke into a happy laugh.

"Mhm! The same scent, the same feeling, the same warmth... You are my Lord Uther!"

’What a strange way to identify someone.’

As Lloyd was grumbling internally, he felt Elolo, still in his arms, spread her own and give him a big, tight hug.

She continuously nuzzled his chest with her soft cheek and whispered,

"Thank you, Lord Uther. Thank you for getting me out."

Seeing this, Lloyd returned her embrace—a friendly one—and replied in a low voice,

"Don’t mention it. I’m just glad you’re safe."

His hands could feel the delicate frame in his arms trembling slightly. Even without seeing her face, he could sense her overwhelming emotions.

"Mhm!"

Elolo nodded, pulled away from his embrace, then very naturally looped her arm through his and asked,

"Alright, where are we going to have fun next?"

"How about we go see the place you’ve been most excited about, Radiant City?"

"Okay! Then let’s go, quickly!"

Elolo tugged on Lloyd’s arm, eager to leave the small garden.

After the two had departed, the Attendant who had inexplicably vanished just as inexplicably reappeared. He stared in the direction they had gone, scratching his head nonstop as if pondering some incredibly complex problem.

Then, a dazed, spaced-out expression crossed his face, and he stood frozen on the spot.

Meanwhile, thanks to all his prior preparations, Lloyd and Elolo smoothly reappeared in the room from before.

With the blurry mosaic that had obscured their faces gone, the two could finally see each other clearly for the first time.

Lloyd already knew Elolo was pretty and cute, so he wasn’t surprised. He did, however, notice that she had dressed up carefully for the occasion, making her look even more radiant and captivating.

As for Elolo, her eyes instantly lit up, a faint blush dusting her pretty cheeks. She said, quite directly,

"Wow! Lord Uther, you’re so handsome! Much more handsome than I imagined!"

With that, she tightened her grip on Lloyd’s arm even more proactively, as if afraid he might escape, making them look just like an affectionate couple.

She even boldly pressed his arm against her chest.

Unfortunately, her chest was too flat to effectively trap his arm.

Not knowing whether to laugh or cry, Lloyd said,

"Let’s go. We can take a look outside."

The two of them then quickly headed down the stairs.

But as soon as they reached the bottom, they saw the attendant holding the little kitten up to his face, rubbing his cheek vigorously against its fur...

When he saw Lloyd coming down, he hastily placed the kitten back on the counter, coughed twice, and explained,

"Ahem... It really is special. It can actually understand what I’m saying."

The moment it was free from the man’s clutches, the kitten scrambled along the narrow countertop toward Lloyd, its short little legs moving so fast they were a blur.

But before it could reach him, another pair of hands snatched it up into an embrace.

"Hee hee~ What a cute little thing!"

Elolo had temporarily forgotten about Lloyd, turning her full attention to the kitten, petting it and nuzzling it.

The kitten, however, looked at Lloyd with a bewildered expression and meowed twice, as if asking, ’Who is this strange woman?’

Lloyd wasn’t sure how to explain, so he just gave Elolo’s shoulder a gentle nudge, signaling that they should head outside first.

After the two humans and one cat had left, the dozing attendant wore a puzzled expression. He scratched his head, then shook it, before lying back down to continue his nap.

But he hadn’t been asleep for more than a few minutes when he suddenly shot up as if he’d been shocked. He rushed outside, trying to find Lloyd.

But they were nowhere to be found.

A look of dawning horror crossed the attendant’s face, and he muttered under his breath,

"You little bastard... how dare you?"

...

"Wow! There are so, so many books here! Can I take some?"

"Wow! That over there looks delicious! Lord Uther, buy it for me~"

"Huh? Is this the ’streetcar’ I’ve read about in books? It’s so interesting! It actually goes ding-ding-clang-clang when it moves."

Elolo was like a curious child. The simplest things captured her attention and curiosity, and the treasure-hunter’s smile of discovery never left her face, causing passersby to turn and stare.

Her joy was infectious, bringing a faint, constant smile to Lloyd’s face as well.

On the short walk from the old book market to the commercial street, Lloyd had already bought her a mountain of things: outdated fashion magazines, cheap trinkets from street stalls, childish plush dolls, and a wrap from a newly opened shop.

The other items could be temporarily stuffed into his Storage Bag, but not the wrap. Lloyd had no choice but to carry it.

"Radiant City is huge. There’s no rush. Eat something first. Didn’t you say you were starving?"

Lloyd handed her the wrap and led her to a bench on the side of the road.

Elolo eagerly took a small bite. Her eyes immediately curved into crescent moons, her smooth legs stretched out straight, and her feet, clad in delicate little leather boots, swung happily.

"Mmm! Delicious! Even better than cake!"

She then began to nibble at it delicately, looking as adorable as a little squirrel clutching a pinecone.

But after eating about half, she seemed to realize something and held the wrap out to Lloyd.

"Lord Uther, you should try some, it’s really good!"

"Er... well..."

Lloyd hesitated for a moment, but still found a spot she hadn’t bitten and took a small taste.

"How is it?"

"Mm, not bad. Only a tiny bit worse than my own cooking."

"Hee hee~"

Elolo smiled sweetly, then, as if she hadn’t noticed a thing, took a bite right where Lloyd’s lips had been.

"Mmm! It’s even sweeter now!"

After patiently waiting for Elolo to finish eating, Lloyd hailed a taxi to take her to the Central District.

Radiant City had plenty of sights and attractions. Even just the southern part of the city had enough to keep Elolo entertained for a long time. However, as a member of the Sect, Lloyd felt he should first take her to the city’s core, to see the Veto Sanctuary.

According to the newspapers and various magazines, it was the top-rated first stop for most tourists.

Coincidentally, Lloyd had never been there himself.

During the taxi ride, Elolo pressed her hands against the window, curiously gazing at the streets and pedestrians outside. Then she said in a low voice,

"This is my first time in a city this big. It’s even more amazing than I imagined. I wish I could stay here forever."

"I can arrange a place for you. You can stay for as long as you like,"

Lloyd offered generously.

"Mhm, thank you, Lord Uther."

Elolo smiled, pulled her gaze away from the window, and shuffled a little closer to Lloyd in her seat. She then naturally rested her head on his shoulder and hugged his arm tightly.

’This...’

Lloyd’s body couldn’t help but stiffen slightly.

But after a moment’s thought, he didn’t have the heart to push her away.