287-259 Get dindle (1)

After lunch, we took a short break and left Kerg for Laffan again.

The road didn't look much different.

However, the increase in the number of lumberjacks and adventurers guarding them in the southern forest reminded us that the seasons had come and gone.

From now through winter, the logging season is at its peak.

It's also a time for adventurers in Rafan to earn money.

According to Diora, there has been some change thanks to the spread of backpacks.

But the change is so slight that it doesn't seem to be enough to encourage more adventurers to stay in Rafan.

In our case, we stepped up to orc hunting without experiencing lumberjack guarding, but it seems that Kiura, a town a little east of Sarstat, is a better place for that. ...... It seems that Raffan is a little sensitive.

I'm sure you'll be able to find something that works for you.

That's right. You should also report to Diora. If Master Ilias is Diora's cousin, she'll be curious.

Hmm?　Speaking of which, Diora-san is also a nobleman, right?

Should I address her as "sir"?

--No, it's too late for that.

If you haven't heard anything about it so far, then I guess that's what it is.

I entered the town of Raffan through the south gate and went to the adventurer's guild on my way home.

When we entered, Diora was sitting at the counter as usual, and she smiled at us when she noticed us coming in.

Welcome back. If you're back, that means you've made it to ......, right?

In the middle of the dialogue, Diora noticed that it was only me and Haruka who had come in, and she looked a little worried.

"Oh, don't worry. We're all safe. Of course, so is Master Ilias.

"I see. I'm glad.

When I briefly explained to Diora, who breathed a sigh of relief, about the request for this escort, she seemed to be on edge during the conversation, but when I finished listening to her, she bowed deeply once again.

Thank you very much. It was the right decision to ask Haruka and the others. If I had asked a poor adventurer, I doubt that Ilias and the others would have been safe. ......

We're a little out of practice now, aren't we? If the other side had come with abandon, we might have been in danger.

It seems that their goal was not necessarily to kill Master Ilias, which was a relief.

I would like to think that they are elite, but if soldiers of that level are common, I definitely don't want to get involved in a war with the Empire.

Oh, by the way, Diora, you are a nobleman, aren't you?

"Yeah, ......?　Oh, the Iliad. I'm sure you've heard of it, but I'm a nobleman at least.　I'm sure you've heard of it. And it's hard to get married because of that.

I'm sure you'll be pleased to know that I'm not the only one who's a bit of a jerk.

"What do you think, Nao? You're almost certain to get a title now, aren't you?

"That's a nice offer, but I'm afraid I have to decline. I understand the troublesome nature of nobility now.

That's right~. Especially, a nobleman like me is not wanted! We don't have much money, and having troublesome Alexandria and mother-in-law around is a punishment game! I don't like it either.

Ms. Diora must have been joking.

When I refused, she just shook her head with a smile and shrugged her shoulders, but she didn't seem offended and smoothly changed the subject.

So, why are you two here alone?　Have you and Toya gone home yet?

No, Toya and the others are still pining. We've been asked by Viscount Nenus to do some work for him. ......

When I explained what I had been asked to do, Diora's expression at first was one of dismay, but then she quickly bowed her head apologetically.

I'm sorry, he's ....... I'm sorry, I'm afraid I've come in handy.

"No, it's for our own good. We came back because we wanted to go and get some dindol. Oh, and I'll share some with Diora, okay?

"Oh!　Is Haruka-san a god?　I was half expecting it to be impossible this year.

Hahaha ....... After what happened with Kerg, I'm not sure I feel comfortable being called a god.

"What ......?　God is not so narrow-minded as to be affected by light words like this.

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In the end, God's punishment has not fallen on the cult of the Holy Satomi, so it is not something to worry about in everyday life.

You are going to return to Pining after you have finished collecting Dindol, right?

Yes. Yes, for a few days.

"I see. I haven't heard of anyone going to collect dindol this year, so please go ahead and collect as much as you can. It's almost the end of the season.

And you'll have plenty to share?

Yes, that's the best way. Good luck!

I'm sure you'll be pleased to know that I'm not the only one who's a fan of your work.

I'm sure you'll be happy to hear that.

"Nao, are you happy?

You're happy?　...... Oh, you're talking about earlier?　It was lip service. You can't just say, "No, I don't want you at all," when you're doing me a favor. Diora-san was probably just joking.

For a moment, I couldn't understand what Haruka was saying and pondered over it, but then I realized she was referring to the marriage proposal I had just received from Diora. I'm sure you'll be happy to hear that.

Could it be that he was jealous?

I thought Haruka wasn't the type to worry too much about it, but...

"I don't know.　If you had said, "Yes, that's a good idea," you might have been able to put it together quickly.　You're an aristocrat, so you might not be able to use the 'it was just a promise' excuse.

".........

I'm sure Diora will be fine, but if she is a noblewoman, she might do it.

If it's in their interest.

I've been to Crevilly and thought again that there are a lot of noblemen.

I don't know what kind of noble family Diora's family is, and considering the way they treated her, I can't help but feel that they might have some problems.

So be careful not to be taken for a fool!

Got it. But is it something to worry about?　It's not every day you're in a situation like that.

I don't know, okay?　Nao's a beautiful elf now, and she's an adventurer who can make money. --Oh, yes. Natsuki gave me a mirror. Want to take a look?

And so Haruka took out a mirror about the size of a compact.

It seems that while Haruka and I were struggling with the nobles in Crevilly, Natsuki and his friends, who were strolling around the city, bought it for Haruka.

It's not as beautiful as the mirrors you see in Japan, but it's not too bad for practical use.

If you look into it, you will see that ...... you certainly have a good face.

I don't like to say it myself because I feel like a narcissist.

If you have a sufficient income, you may certainly have the makings of being popular.

...... Well, anyway. Before leaving, let's go to Aella's place. I'm sure you'll be able to find something that works for you.

You've gone off on a tangent. I don't mind. I don't mind. ...... Last year, we went to pick them to make sauce, didn't we?　Given that, I'm sure you'd like to go.

The question is, can you get the store closed? It seems to be doing well.

I know. Well, let's just call out to them. If you can't do it, we can give you some of our own.

"Tomorrow at ?

"Tomorrow at ......? Hmmm...

So I went to Aella's store and asked her about it, but as I expected, she looked a little troubled and thought about it.

As I expected, she looked a little troubled and pondered. I'll be back by this evening, though.

I'm sure you'll be glad to know that I'm not the only one who has a problem with this.

Well, ...... it depends, but three days?

It depends on how much you can collect, but fortunately, this year we have magic bags.

Fortunately, we have magic bags this year, so we don't have to worry about transporting them, we can just collect them, and our physical abilities are not as good as they were a year ago.

Last year, the reason we needed so many days to collect was because there was a physical limit to what we could bring back in a day.

If you have a magic bag, you can probably collect enough in three days.

If that's the case, would you be willing to join us for the third day?　I can manage to get some time off then.

"Yes, of course. I'll pick you up in the morning the day after tomorrow. ......　Speaking of which, where do you live, Aella?

It's right upstairs.　I bought this whole building. I live here with Luce.

Oh, really?

That's right. It was a pretty shabby room, so I was pretty surprised when I came here. But I can't complain because it's free.

The one who entered the conversation was the one whose name was just mentioned, Luce.

She shrugged her shoulders and shook her head, indicating that she might have been in a really bad state.

I came from the city to help, but I feel a little sorry for Luce if that's the room he was given.

"Oh, my God!　I'm sure you'll be pleased to know that the room has been renovated and is now beautiful.　......Thanks to Nao and her team, though.

When I first came to Laffan, I had been working hard to save up enough money to buy this rather old store.

After that, the first floor of the store was remodeled, but the second floor was completely untouched.

However, thanks to our advice and Aera's hard work, the store was thriving and they were able to save up some money, so they recently renovated the second floor.

"Well, we can't invite people in that condition, can we?

No, that's not the reason!　It's because you said it was hard to live in, or that it was cold in winter!

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But the fact is, buying a house in this area, renovating it, and setting it up as a store must have cost a lot of money.

I don't know how much money Ms. Aella had saved when she came to this town, but it would have been difficult to buy a house unless it was very cheap, in other words, very old.

It's a miracle it didn't leak, yeah.

There wasn't even a hole in the wall. There was a little draft, though.

Yeah. Insects also came in, and that was a problem. It was cold in winter. When it was bad, we slept downstairs.

We slept downstairs when it was bad." "...... That might have happened.

Aella gently averts her eyes from Luce's gaze.

It is also a good memory to huddle in front of the oven in the kitchen.

Apparently, she was having a harder time than she thought.

"Well, Aella, you're okay now, right?　If you're in trouble, I can help you out a little.

"Yes!　I'm fine!　I can afford it right now!　d*mn it!　Because Luce said something strange, you worried Nao-san.

"Haha, sorry, Nao. I'm so much more comfortable now. Those days are really good memories, aren't they?　I knew I had no choice, and the situation I'm in now is the result of my hard work with Aella!

I'm not sure if it's a good thing or a bad thing.

Aella poked Luce with her cheeks and he smiled brightly and waved.

"Luce, Luce!　No, no, no.

Oh, no. Oh, no. I'm afraid I can't do that.

I knew he was joking, but I shook my head immediately.

"Yes, of course. It's not polite to pay a surprise visit to a woman's room.

Of course, it wasn't that I was afraid of Haruka's gaze.

Of course, he wasn't afraid of Haruka's gaze.　Well, I'll see you in a day or two!

"Yes, that's right. ....... Yes, I'll be waiting.

We left the store with a relieved, yet slightly disappointed, look on Aella's face.