It was time for Eren’s camping date with Nina.
Eren took his time bathing. When he got out, the Osan Woods’ Butcher managed to look even more youthful than he already was.
Nobody would believe that this kid who looked like he still hasn’t stopped nibbling on his mother’s breasts for milk would be the mystery so many ranked entities were looking to unravel.
Eren wore his usual clothes and stepped downstairs. Nina noticed the difference in looks and aura around him and realized the kid had pulled off entering Rank F.
Entering Rank F at in teen years wasn’t a big deal. A lot of kids his age would be having the same ranking status as him. But these kids would usually prepare for their rank from a very young age, even before they could be termed as teens.
Whereas Eren had started his ranking journey only a month ago. Nina could only make sense out of this because of Eren’s explanation that it was related to the state of epiphany.
Nina took Eren in her embrace and the latter returned her hug.
“Erni, you pulled it off. We should celebrate. I can…”
Nina was going to make him his favourite pancakes coated in layers of maple syrup. But she was cut off midway:
“Aunt Nina, you don’t have to do anything extra. We already have a date planned at the campsite. We’ll celebrate it there tonight.
I’ll go get the camping gear now. But first I’ll need an ID stone. So I’ll visit a shop that sells it. Then register my mana signature on it at the city Admin office.
I’ll also have to buy resources suitable for my current rank. Then I’ll have to buy hunting set for my rank. I’m sure Jake’s shop would cover these things. So I’ll visit him.
My time till the evening is packed. But we can head for the camping site as soon as I come back.”
Eren explained to Nina about his plans today while he had his non-pancake breakfast. Nina could only agree to the young adult’s schedule.
Eren had his fill and was about to leave home when he looked back and asked Nina:
“By the way, aunt Nina, what colour is it today?”
Nina smiled. She thought Eren’s head was filled with today’s plans. But apparently, he still had some space left for ‘these’ thoughts. She didn’t take any detours this time:
“I’ll do you one better. Today’s colour is white with green floral print.”
Nina looked at him mischievously. Eren was impressed at the improvement:
“That’s a nice print. A flower print for a flowery place. How I wish to just inhale the fragrance oozing from the pink blossom!”
“There’ll be time for that. You do what you have to do first. Give me another memorable date. And then we’ll see.”
Nina was looking him right in the eyes when she said it. She thought it would be like their previous adventure. Everything in the menu apart from the penetration.
But what she didn’t know was that Eren had prioritized the final act this time, treating it as the main dish.
“I live to serve M’lady. But would you be kind enough to… you know… ‘mow the lawn’ a little? That way I can enjoy exploring the folded petals of pink blossoms some more without any interruption.”
“Little rat, you said you didn’t mind the growth last time.”
Nina first blushed after Eren made such a demand. She had really ‘let it grow’ and was aware she needed to trim it down if not outright wax or shave it.
Nina was going to groom it today anyway after Eren’s departure. But Eren’s request made her keep it as it is just to spite him. How dare he dislike any part of her body? The contradiction incarnate had struck again.
“M’lady, you misunderstand. I still don’t mind the growth. But I would PREFER if it was all super smooth down there. It would make it easy for me to taste-test.”
Eren said that while kissing Nina’s dorsal hand. But he didn’t bow this time and kept his eye contact with hers. This naked honesty and reason behind it finally made her release her pout!
“Alright, alright. I’ll see what I can do. Come back soon. Otherwise, I might head out without you.”
Nina stuck out her tongue after she said that and closed the door on him. The door was supposed to be kept half-open as the apothecary was still open for business.
But closing the door on Eren just made sense to her at the time. Eren could see that aunt Nina also had a flair for drama.
“Haah! The hotter they are, the crazier they get! It’s like nature’s law or something.”
Eren lamented to nobody in particular while making his way to the city market.
******************************************
Eren returned home at around 4.30 PM.
He now had his F Rank ID stone with his registered mana signature on it. The storage space inside the stone was filled with camping gear and some other stuff Eren had bought from Jake’s shop.
Mana signature was a small inscription array that only responds and lights up when the original user circulates their mana through it.
This mana signature was used in multiple ways to establish a person’s identity. It was also placed on ID stones. That’s how the term ‘ID’ was included in the nomenclature.
Eren found Nina who was just wrapping up today’s work. They both smiled when they saw each other. It was time to head out.
The duo quickly got ready. Eren had already called for carriage service. They boarded the same and waited for the Green Dunes to show up.
The place wasn’t far. Eren and Nina quickly found a remote place. They could see a lot of tents at a distance from them. But the temporary abodes were too far from each other.
The duo quickly got to work after finalizing the place. They erected a tent quickly and chatted for a while before lighting the campfire, post the night’s arrival.
Eren had got skewers and was making kebabs on the campfire. The barbecue table was getting its coal from the same fire. Nina was setting the supper she had made beforehand.
Finally, the duo settled on sitting beside each other on a wooden log nearby. The campfire was giving them warmth amid the occasional cold breeze.
The half-moon didn’t exude as much moonshine as it could. But there were plenty of stars whose collective starlight made a difference.
The smell of barbecue and kebabs was in the air. The sumptuous food awaited for the taking. It was a pleasant way to spend the night. Eren broke the ice:
“Au…. err… Nina, did you like the steaks? I made them medium-well, just the way you like.”
“Ah! Yes. They were good. But the kebabs were something special. When did you learn to make them?”
“Oh, that? I learned that from a recipe book. I wasn’t sure how they’d turn out. But I’m glad you liked ’em. I’ll give you the recipe if you want. You can make it for yourself after I’m gone.”
The topic of Eren leaving for the academy was inevitable. It was looming over their every possible conversation. Eren might as well get it out now on a lighter note to make Nina transition into it relatively easy.
“Erni, will you miss me in the academy?”