Chapter 825: The Two who Returned ①

The conversation between Frea-san and Lilia-san ended without delay and in a rather pleasant atmosphere, but as it was already evening, I decided to see Frea-san off with Lilia-san.

After exchanging a few words with Lilia-san, Frea-san turned to me and smiled.

[My comrade, it was by coincidence that we met today, but I plan to visit you again soon. Does comrade like drinking alcohol?]

[Yes, I'm not really that heavy of a drinker, but I do like drinking.]

[I see, that's fortunate. I've always wanted to have a drink with comrade. For such an occasion, I'll definitely bring you one of the best of my collection.]

[Ah, yes. I'm looking forward to it.]

Although we have only known each other for a short time, Frea-san has a very likable personality and is fun to talk to, so I welcome the idea of drinking together with her.

Since we're at it, I guess I'll prepare a drink of my choice as well. Depending on the time of her visit, going to Iris-san's bar might also be an option. Somehow, the atmosphere of that bar seems to suit Frea-san very well.

After exchanging a few words, Frea-san lightly waved her hand and left. Hmmm, the view of her back as she departed looks kinda cool.

[Kaito-san, thank you for today!]

[Eh? Ah, yes. Well, it's not that I did anything in particular anyway, but I'm glad if Lilia-san is happy.]

The sight of Lilia-san smiling as she happily held the autograph that Frea-san had given her was different from the times when I had brought various people with me, which tells me that she was really happy to see Frea-san.

Well, as far as I'm concerned, I'm just relieved that she didn't get mad at me. Ahh, come to think of it, has Lilia-san ever met Magnawell-san? Even though she was in the scene where Magnawell-san spoke to Sieg-san at the Six Kings Festival, I don't think they've had a direct conversation.

I mean, I think the only one among the Six Kings with who she had never had a direct conversation with was Magnawell-san…… Hmmm, I'll have to ask her about this later, but if Lilia-san wants, I think it might be a good idea for me to talk with the two of them and try setting up an opportunity for Lilia-san to meet Magnawell-san.

As I was thinking about such things, I was about to go back inside the mansion with Lilia-san and Luna-san, when I suddenly heard the sound of someone appearing behind us and their familiar voices.

[Oh? We appeared in the garden of Lilia-san's mansion huh.]

[Hmmm, I guess we would be returned to where we were when we returned back to Earth?]

[Ahh, I see———- Ahh, Kaito-senpai! Lilia-san! Luna-san!]

As if guided by the voices, I turned around and saw two familiar people.

[Aoi-chan! Hina-chan!]

[Ehehe, it's been a while!]

[The tournament finally ended, so we've come to visit again.]

Yes, there stands Aoi-chan and Hina-chan, who were summoned to the other world and spent a year together with. The two of them have been given magic tools by Shiro-san that allows them to teleport between worlds, so they can move between the two worlds as they please.

Lilia-san and Luna-san were a little surprised by the sudden appearance of the two, but soon welcomed their visit with a smile.

It seems like Lilia-san and Luna-san have some things they'd like to talk about, some, Aoi-chan and Hina-chan talked with them over a cup of tea. The topic of conversation, of course, was about our current situations.

[Heehhh…… So you both made it to the nationals huh. That's amazing.]

[Ahaha, I didn't do so well in the nationals though. However, Aoi-senpai came in fifth! ……Well, she doesn't seem to be too happy about it though.]

[Eh? Really ? If you ranked fifth in the nationals, I think that's a pretty impressive achievement though……]

[Ahh~~ No, it's just that if I could have set a record close to my personal best, I could have made it to the top 4, so I was a little frustrated……]

How should I say this…… That sounds like something Aoi-chan would say. She kinda had this cool persona around her, but she's someone competitive and hates to lose……

Even so, I think it's pretty amazing that they both made it to the nationals without using any magic at all.

[Speaking of which, Kaito-senpai. Can I ask you a question?]

[Eh? Unnn, what is it?]

[……Did the fact that there's a new mansion next to Lilia-san's house, or rather, that Lilia-san's mansion doubled in size, have anything to do with Kaito-senpai?]

[Eh, ahh, errr, I guess that mansion that grew out of Lilia-san's mansion is my house.]

After Hina-chan asked about it, I started to explain the situation to her. I explained to them that when I came back to this world, my parents had come back to life, that I had built a house and that I was receiving this strange special treatment from the country.

Thereupon, with somewhat dumbfounded expressions on their faces, they spoke.

[…….How should I say this…… It feels like I don't even know what stability means anymore.]

[……Well, it's Kaito-san after all.]

[Right, that's just like Kaito-senpai.]

Well, leaving such lines, the two kouhai looked as if they had given up on many things. Unnn, well, even though I was the one who explained it myself, I also feel like too much had happened in such a short period of time……

<Afterword>

Serious-senpai : [……Incomprehensible. In the end, Lilia didn't faint…… Was this novel ever gentle on stomachache?]

? ? ? : [Well, I have lots of things that I'd like to throw a tsukkomi at, but let's stop calling stomachache Lilia-san.]

Serious-senpai : [No, no, you got it in reverse!]

? ? ? : [……As for the rest, it would be that. It's just that thing before the storm.]

Serious-senpai : [……Eh? There should also be a process of explaining how the kouhais become adventurers, so is there still some space in Kaito's schedule that he'd go meeting someone again?]

? ? ? : [I wonder about that? Let's just look forward to the next chapters! The "Transcendentally Beautiful Phantom Thief" might make her entrance after all!!!]

Serious-senpai : [Isn't that just you!?]