Chapter 83
At any rate, the Goblin King is dead, and the town has regained its peace, so theres no need for us to do anything anymore.
The only thing left to do is to take care of Nico-chan and her father.
Even if Duke Orba is now dead, it will be difficult for the fallen Arcs house to return to its former noble status. Im sure Claire-chan is aware of that as well. in other word, the only way to avoid any harm to befall Nico-chan and her father from now on is first to withdraw the soldiers who are searching for her, and then make it as though she and her father have died in this town.
Arcs house seems to be a magician family lineage, so even with Duke Orba death, that doesnt mean the possibility of them being targeted by the Royal Family is completely gone. So pretending to be dead is the most optimal solution for them.
Now that it comes to that, staying in this town is no longer a good option for them. I guess that means we have to take them out of here to another place. Thats more or less the gist of the idea, and Im sure Claire-chan also thinks along those lines.
For the time being, Im intending to take Nico-chan and her father to the next town. Just in case, theyll have to use a fake family name, but the next town isnt under the protection of the Grandile Kingdom, so I think its safe for them to stay there.
Yeah, good idea.
Okay, looks like well be together for a while longer, right, Nico?
yes.
After coming to this town, my stats have grown greatly, so speaking of gain or loss, so I think coming to this town is still a plus. As far as Im concerned, staying here is suffering in itself, and I want to get away from anything related to Grandile Kingdom as soon as possible. Otherwise, I dont know when Ill get dragged into the troubles caused by that fake hero, after all.
Well, leaving that aside, lets move on to the next problem.
Its about the newbie adventurer whos been hanging his head up until now. He seems to be an F-ranked adventurer, which means his rank is higher than me, but how should I put it, hes supposed to be a newbie, but his is already higher than mine.
Well then first thing first, care to introduce yourself?
Jack Itona.
If I dont get it wrong, dozens adventurers fought against the Goblin King, but youre the sole survivor. And then, all of the demonic beasts were found dead, including the Goblin King something like that, am I right?
yes, everyone, they all died protecting me. I shouldve died back then, too but somehow I survived! Someone like me, it wouldve been better if I just died there!
With face filled of grief and regret, he clenches his fists and vexedly says so.
Hes exuding this air as though a protagonist whos suffering from a setback, but whats with this situation? Eh, is this where Im supposed to console him? Give me a break, Im not good at that kind of thing I mean, Ive never had anyone to console, after all. Or rather, I didnt have any friends except Shiori-chan.
Kitsune.
You can do it.
When I glance at Rishe-chan and Leila-chan, Im wonderfully betrayed. Rishe-chan seems to be not very good at this kind of thing, as for Leila-chan, Im sure she just finds it bothersome.
How bothersome, geez why do I have to console such a protagonist-like person? Honestly speaking, I dont want to be in such a depressing room, or rather, I wonder if I can just have him return to his place now.
Dont blame me for whats going to happen later, alright?
Saying so in the voice that only Rishe-chan and the others can hear, I turn my gaze to the gloomy young man. His shoulders are shaking, he seems to be crying. His tightly clenched fists are pale white, and blood can be seen flowing from his gritted teeth. Just how far down is he?
. umm Jack-kun, its not good saying something like youd rather die or the like, you know?
..
Why do you think the people who died back there sacrificed their lives for you? It was because they thought you were worth it. So, if you choose to die, wouldnt you just make them all died in vain, dont you think so too?
.!
There is a response, does that mean its working? Those are words I read from manga, but it seems that you cant really look down on them, huh! Umm, I believe the next sentence is.
From now on, you have to live and shoulder all of the wish those died adventurers entrusted to you. Moreover, youre still very young as an adventurer your potentials are as numerous as the stars in the sky. You have to keep on getting stronger and make those adventurers who died protecting you think it was totally worth sacrificing their lives for you! I think thats the best you can do for them, right?
Yup, it should be something along those lines. I somewhat sugarcoat it, but in the end they still died a dog death, though. Apparently, the Goblin King died due to a stroke of luck, so thats about it.
For now, my top priority is to have him leave. Its getting very bothersome, after all.
. youre, right thank you I was wrong Ill become more more and more stronger and surprise all of them!
Yeah, yeah, thats the spirit.
So. for now, let me cry for a bit!!
. feel, free.!
When I say so with cramped smile, he starts bawling like a broken dam.
I leave the room with Rishe-chan and the others. Nico-chans father is still unconscious, so I let him sleep in the bed, but he shouldnt be waking up for a while. Even if he does wake up, he should be able to read the mood. Hes a father, hes also similarly a man, and whether he decides to console him or pretends to be asleep, I think either way is fine.
Well, not that not reading the mood is wrong or anything, though.
..
..
..
..
Neither I, Rishe-chan, Leila-chan, nor Nico-chan say anything. Were only standing in front of the door, while listening to the the faint cry from inside the room. Probably, though I think were silent for different reasons.
Im speechless from the thought of what the hell is going on here. Rishe-chan is probably thinking what a youth life. Leila-chan probably doesnt understand of the situation. And I think Nico-chan is silent because everyone else is silent.
That makes me think again. Whats with this situation?
How bothersome, adventurers are.
What?! That, just now, didnt you manage to say those splendid words?
Nah its a total pain in the ass first, this is our room! Why do we have to read the mood and leave? I just dont get it.
Err
When I complain so, Rishe-chan is somewhat taken aback. Im sure by now shes noticed that the words I used to console him previously were actually shallower than a dry river. Well, frankness is indeed her good point, but it becomes her bad point at times like this.
Well, Leila-chan and Nico-chan arent interfering and are only watching the situations unfold, but in this case, thats the right thing to do.
What do we do now?
Lets see well, its late today so why dont we take some rest tonight and then leave the town tomorrow?
Youre right, its already getting dark outside, so I suppose lets just do that.
By the way, the sun is already setting. Its time for dinner.
Its already quite late to leave for the next town, so lets go with Rishe-chans plan. Leila-chan has a basic stance of following the others decision, so its normally Rishe-chan and I who decide on our plan.
but hes still crying, you know?
For now, lets wait a while longer for.
Yeah lets do.
Weve decided on our plan, but we cant enter the room until he stops crying.
Hence, we have to wait in the hallway for a while longer.
In the end, when we entered the room after the crying stopped, we found him asleep, exhausted from crying. The sheets were soaked with tears, and hes lying on the bed quietly sleeping. I was a little irritated by it, but I was also feeling a little tired, so I decided to just take some rest.
I wanted to use the bed, but even if I moved him away, I still wouldnt be able to use it since the sheets were wet, so I decided to let him and Nico-chans father used this double room. By the way, I let Nico-chan sleep with her father.
So, in the end, I decided to have Leila-chan and Rishe-chan sleep on the bed in my own room. If they stick close to each other, theyd still fit on it, after all.
Huh? Me? I made a futon from miasma and slept in it. It took me a long time to recreate the fluffy feeling, but I was finally able to sleep at dawn. Because of that I barely had any sleeping time at all, though.
And now its morning.
I barely slept at all, but I still wake up and do some light stretching. I can hear a cracking sound.
So we can maintain the miasma even while sleeping, huh Well, it seems to become a little unstable, though.
I make the miasma futon disappears, and have a yawn. Now then, lets wake up Rishe-chan and Leila-chan.
Both of you, wake up.
Hmm Oh, good morning Im sorry, but can you not look at my sleeping face too much?
Ufufu, Kitsune-kun good morning!
Good morning. For now, Im going to check on Nico-chan and the others, so please bring the luggage once everythings ready.
They both seem to be the types who are strong in the morning, the wake up when I lightly call out to them. Rishe-chan, like a girl, prefer to hide her sleeping face, but Leila-chan on the other hand doesnt hide hers and gives me smile. Or rather, she has such long hair, yet she doesnt have bed hair at all, and theres also no strange mark on her skin. How should I put it, I guess thats the advantage of being prime beautiful girl, huh.
With such thoughts in mind, I leave the room and head to where Nico-chan and the others are.
When I enter Nico-chans room, I see that her father and the young man are already awake. Or rather, I see Nico-chans father bowing to the young man. Nico-chan seems to be still asleep in the bed, but whats with this situation?
What the heck?
Oh, ki, Kitsune-san! Please help me!
Huh, do you always talk to me like that? I feel like it was more casual, though.
Ill explain about it later! For now please do something about this person!
I dont know whats going on, but Jack is somehow using honorific when hes talking to me. I wonder why? Is it because I consoled him? If he could recover thanks to those empty words, then thats good and all, though.
But leaving that aside, I wonder whats going on here? Why is Nico-chans father bowing to Jack?
Can you explain whats going on?
Well I dont really understand myself, he said something about thanking me for saving her daughter.
Oh, okay, I get it.
In other words, he thinks Jack-kun, who was sleeping next to them when he woke up, was the one who saved them. Im not going to correct him by telling him that I was the one who saved them, though. Or rather, wont it be better if I just leave him think that thats the case?
But, well, Nico-chan will definitely tell him eventually, and if I clear up the misunderstanding now, it should be less troublesome later on, right?
Well, Nico-chans father?
Mu you are..! The one I left my daughter to!
Yeah, yeah, and hes actually got nothing to do with Nico-chan whatsoever.
Oh. is, is that so? Im sorry, I jumped to a wrong conclusion that means, did you?
Thats right, I brilliantly, skillfully and coolly saved Nico-chan and you! Ive also silenced Duke Orba, you can no longer live in this town, but there are no more pursuers or people who are after your life. So you can rest assured.
When I say so, Nico-chans father seems to feel relieved from the bottom of his heart and feebly sits down on the bed. Im sure hed never expect that Id actually silence Duke Orba. Well, strictly speaking, I killed him, so let alone silencing him, he already has no mouth to say even a word, after all.
Well, at any rate, we need to talk about the future. Nico-chan and her father now end up in a very awkward position, after all.
Anyway, lets talk about what to do from now on. Jack-kun, you can leave.
Arent you treating me so horribly here.?
Thats none of my business.