“Oh? Hey, they’re back already. Heh, and look at all your faces — sothing nice happened to your attitude out there, eh?”
Bruce, carefree as ever, greeted us after seeing that we had completed our party quest. Looks like Blazer is finally back, too; he’s talking with Ryan about so stuff.
Although they had faced quite a bit of difficulty, Reyna, Adolf, Natsu, and Shiny managed to defeat the S-ranked target. This success is sure to give them a boost of confidence in their coming adventures, and also teach them to be more vigilant when they’re up against higher-ranked monsters.
Now that I think about it, I’ve had to learn those lessons the hard way in the past. And I should also keep in mind that the latter point is sure to keep recurring in the future.
“We have successfully completed the mission, Leader, Chief.”
“Hmm, it seems that you have gained so good experience from your short ti with Sir Asley.”
“Yes, his leadership was most wonderful.”
Reyna smiled happily, and Ryan subsequently did so as well.
I’d prefer that they don’t complint while I can still hear them from right here, though. As happy as I am, it’s making my whole body feel itchy.
“WONDERFUL!?”
And like clockwork, here cos Pochi with her obnoxiously contrarian comnt.
“Miss Reyna!? Are you sure you’re all right? My Master didn’t do sothing strange to you, did he? Master! What have you done to her! Cast a healing spell on her, quickly!”
“Do it yourself.”
“Ah, that’s right! I CAN cast one, too!”
And so Pochi got googly-eyed as she started drawing a Spell Circle with her tongue. Reyna was no longer paying attention to her, though, and was instead talking to Betty, probably asking for fighting tips as I had advised.
“C’mon, Adolf, you too.”
“Ah, y-yes!”
I gave Adolf a pat on the back, and he bowed to before trotting over to Bruce. Then Bruce tapped on his own chest and seed to agree to talk — about sothing, but that ‘sothing’ should be easy enough to guess.
I couldn’t help but let out a chuckle.
Blazer and Ryan walked up to ; the forr gave a pat on my shoulder, and the letter bowed to without saying anything.
“Thanks for the help, Asley.”
“Wish you would have at least asked about it before sending us on our way, though.”
I said that not to Blazer, but to Ryan — since the forr had not been here when I got put to work anyway. Ryan promptly cracked a dry smile and answered,
“Ahahaha… We just thought it would better fit your style for the task to be right in your face, you see.”
Man, he really said sothing really nostalgic there. Back when he had ‘recomnded’ that I went to the Magic University, he did also tell about it at the last minute. Hell, he even told that furball of a dog BEFORE — so much earlier that she had gotten packed up before I even knew about it.
…And speaking of the dog, her attempts at casting healing magic on Reyna are obviously ineffective.
“Hah… well, I’m glad I was helpful.”
“I’ll be sure to thank you properly soti later.”
“Hey, this is nothing. You guys have helped the Pochisley Agency a whole lot — I can do stuff for you guys too, once in a while.”
“Oh yeah? I’ll let you keep doing stuff for us, then.”
“Wha–!?”
Blazer said what he had with a face so straight, I couldn’t help but think he wasn’t joking.
I DO owe everyone a lot, so much that I don’t think I can repay it all in their lifeti, but I never thought I’d be outright told about it like this. Man, Blazer REALLY has gotten accustod to being the leader. Maybe I’ve spoken to him too carelessly.
“Blazer, I did a good job too!”
“Yup, Blazer, both Natsu and Shiny did great. Be sure to praise them, yeah?”
“Sure thing.”
Blazer said just that and put his hand on Natsu’s head. Natsu pulled her head back and forth as if she was rubbing it against snow, and happily grabbed his hand.
These two sure get along really well, huh?
“And now that Sir Asley is back, shall we be on our way?”
Haruhana said as she grabbed my right arm.
Uh, where exactly are we going? Did they pick out another interesting party quest for us to do?
“Yeah! Let’s go, let’s go!”
And now Mana grabbed my left arm. Hmm, so it’s a party consisting of , Haruhana, and Mana? Just three? Will that be enough for a big target?
While thinking about that, I felt a gust of wind hit my back. I had to twist my neck around to look back, and I saw that Lylia was grabbing an edge of my mantle.
“So… a party of four?”
In a corner of my eye, I saw Bruce laughing at , one hand pointing at and the other holding his own belly. I have not even the slightest idea why he would be doing that.
And why is Lylia grabbing my mantle like this, though? It’s like she’s treating like a pet, with the reins in her hands and stuff.
I do appreciate how she’s not pulling on it, at least, but why even grab it in the first place if she wasn’t going to pull? Uh, excuse , Lylia? Why do you look so scary? You’ll end up with wrinkles around those beautiful eyes of yours, you know.
“Hehehe, now, this way!”
“Yeah, yeah, hurry up!”
With pulled along by the two happy girls to my sides, we left the Adventurers’ Guild. Lylia followed right behind us, exerting trendous pressure on . I wonder if this pressure will get to the two others as well, and if they’ll be able to handle it.
Pochi ca along, too, walking to the right in front of … and giggling as she flapped her mouth. Is she telling to lip-read? Hmm, let’s see here…
[“Girls are stronger than you think, sir.”]
Well, true, all these girls around ARE strong. Hell, the lady holding my ‘reins’ behind is probably the strongest person among our whole group, period. Pochi herself is no slouch, either.
Why’d she do that, though? Why go through all that trouble to make lip-read when a simple Telepathic Call would have sufficed?
Nope, I don’t get it.
We walked on — not out the city gates, but in the direction of the city’s central district.
Eventually, we entered a district full of mansions, each contained in its own plot of land.
It’s impressive how oppressive the atmosphere here is, considering we’re at an open crossroads. Could this be another characteristic of the T’oued culture?
“This way, Sir Asley.”
Whenever Haruhana turned to , a certain fragrance tickled my nose, making feel weak.
Am I the only one who’s weak against this kind of perfu that girls seem to like? Or, maybe, the only sll I’m immune to is Pochi’s stink of the great outdoors.
No no, I CAN’T be the only one weak to this. All n have to be, too. Ngh… I’d like to write that down in my book, but both my hands are restrained right now. If I pass the Drynium Rod in my right hand to Pochi, maybe I’ll get a chance to write — but then Haruhana will probably grab my hand instead of my arm.
Mana and Haruhana, noticing the troubled look on my face, asked ,
“Hmm? What’s wrong, Asley?”
“Is sothing the matter?”
And then there’s Lylia…
“Keep walking.”
…Totally treating like livestock.
In a corner of my eye, I see Pochi rolling around on the ground, laughing. Ugh, for so reason, she’s making feel extra annoyed today. And why am I unable to say anything despite being surrounded by girls like this? Usually, I’d be able to talk to them just fine, like back at the Guild…!
“Ah, no, it’s nothing.”
“Oh, I know that’s not true.”
“That’s right. You only make that face when you’re having a problem, you know.”
“Yeah, what they said. Well?”
Looks like Lylia didn’t have anything to say herself, since the two others had already covered everything. That’s what the look on her face suggests.
Still, I’ve noticed that she’s beco more laid-back these days. Back when we fought Lucifer, she probably never would have talked like this. I’ve been told that she’d been sealed in that Crystal a few decades after that, so she must’ve llowed down during that gap.
“T-thanks for… worrying. But I’m really all right — I can take care of myself.”
“Oh really? Well, you better tell us when you’re actually in trouble, yeah?”
“We’ll always be ready to help!”
“All right, keep walking…”
What does Lylia actually want from , getting all aggressive like that? Well, anyway, it’s a great feeling, knowing that I have friends who care about . Unlike that so-called Heavenly Beast rolling around on the ground over there.
And so we kept walking, eventually reaching a particularly large mansion on an edge of the central district. It’s not tall, but certainly WIDE. This is yet another difference in culture, I suppose.
“Oh, you’re finally here.”
And then Reid ca out to welco us.
“Huh? What are you doing here, Reid?”
Co to think of it, I never saw him back at the Adventurers’ Guild.
“What’re you talking about? C’mon, get inside — everyone else’s already in there, you know.”
I took off my boots and followed Reid inside. After a short walk, we entered a spacious hall, and I finally understood exactly what Reid had ant earlier.
Everyone — all the mbers of Team Silver from back at the Adventurers’ Guild — are already sitting here.
“…Huh?”
“What, so you never caught on? I asked Haruhana and Mana to take you on a detour — you know, because I wanted to surprise you.”
Reid rubbed his nose with his index finger.
A surprise, huh? With what, exactly?
Blazer proceeded to stand up and look at .
“Welco, Asley. How do you like our new house?”
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