CH 50

Chapter 50 The Price of the Thoughtless Choice

「Water ball!」

「Wafuuu….」

「One more time, Water Ball!」

「Wafuuu….」

Nina’s Water Ball was mixed with our magic and hit the kobolds one after another.

Water Ball is inferior to Water Arrow in terms of the number of enemies that can be defeated in one attack, but it’s easy to use and it consumes the least amount of MP among water magic.

It’s also time efficient… it’s a simple and convenient magic that’s much better than defeating them with a sword.

Anyway, Nina agreed with Ian’s strategy.

She couldn’t come up with any other good strategy, and seeing us shooting magic seemed to make her want to use magic herself.

Right after the start of the battle, she was happily shooting water balls in rapid succession while gulping down mana potions.

But Nina… even Ian is saving MP, so if you, who have less MP than him, keep shooting magic like that from the beginning, you’ll see hell later.

「Nina, it’ll be bad later if you drink a lot of potions from the beginning, so don’t be too reckless.」

「Yes! Water Ball!」

She’s having so much fun.

She is not listening to my warning….

「Ugh….」

「That’s why Master told you to be careful, Nina…. Wind Arrow! Just give up and use it.」

「How cruel! Even Ian-kun abandoned me!」

「Even I can’t help you in this case. You reap what you sow….」

Well… Ian is right.

After all, she drank a lot of potions right after the battle started….

About half an hour has passed, and it’s about time that the physiological phenomenon attacks her mercilessly.

Even if you’re desperately trying to hold it, the battle still continues, so you’re not going to last until the end.

「Ian, don’t let any kobold pass behind you. Nina… it’s an order. We won’t look back, so just give up and use the box.」

「Understood.」

「…… Yes.」

Slaves are bound by the fetters of absolute obedience to my orders, but… I never thought I’d end up using them for something stupid like this….

I felt sorry for her because she really didn’t want to, but I can’t let her trembling behind us all the time during the battle, it can’t be helped.

…… It’s okay, I and Ian won’t take a peek.

「…. Yeah, no survivors! The kobolds have been annihilated. Both of you, hurry up and pick up the drop items and magic stones.」

「Understood.」

「…… Yes.」

Come on… don’t look at me with those resentful eyes….

…… Fine, I get it.

It was my fault, okay!?

「Nina. When we get back from the exploration, I’ll buy you the aquamarine pendant you wanted as enchantment equipment, so stop sulking.」

「Hmm!? …… Yes, thank you very much!」

You… you just had that sulky look a few seconds ago….

That smiling face reminds me of a consumer finance receptionist….

Even though she’s only 12 old….

Girls are scary….

「What are we going to do after this?」

「Adventurers don’t come here, and almost no monsters come here. As planned, we’re going to keep attacking them while leisurely taking a break in between.」

「There’s also a tent! It’s comforting to have a base where we can take off our shoes and relax.」

After preparing a light meal while muttering 「Pendant, pendant ♪」, Nina, who immediately got into a good mood, is relaxing in the tent eating cookies.

…… Setting aside the reason, I’m glad she’s feeling better.

Ian is working on replenishing potions and rough counting of drop items and magic stones while chewing his food.

Even though we consumed a lot of potions, it seems that we got enough income, so he’s looking at the account book happily.

As for me, I’m reading the textbook for the exam while drinking tea.

If I focus only on fighting… I might end up becoming a musclebrain, and I might fail to earn credits because of it.

Being a student adventurer is not easy.

「Come to think of it… what about you, Ian? You were the eldest son of a large merchant family and you were smart, so you went to the Quall Royal Academy, right?」

It suddenly came to my mind as I was studying.

For the sons of upper-class families in the Quall Kingdom, graduating from the Quall Royal Academy is necessary to be considered a full-fledged man.

Naturally, Ian must have attended the Quall Royal Academy as well….

He’s 18 years old now, so I’m not sure if he has graduated.

「I graduated 7 years ago. I was able to study well, so I entered the second class of the economy department seven years earlier than usual.」

7 years ago… you entered school at the age of 8!?

「At that time, my goal was to graduate from school as soon as possible and help out in the family business, so I thought that the second class was fine as long I was able to enroll. …… Thinking about it now, it was shallow thinking.」

After all, if he had studied for a few extra years and graduated from the first class, he would have been treated as an honorary viscount.

And he wouldn’t fall into slavery since a noble would be innocent if it’s a case between a noble and a commoner….

「It might be cruel for you, but… it was lucky for me since I was able to get you.」

The least salvation is that he had already graduated when he fell into slavery….

It’s not a big deal compared to becoming a slave, but… it must be painful if he had to drop out after working hard until the third grade.

「I am glad to hear that. I will continue to work hard so that you wouldn’t be disappointed.」

「You’re lucky~, I also want to study! Ian-kun, please teach me later when you’re free!」

「Haha…. Ian, you’re going to be a private tutor, huh? I think she’s a formidable student, but… well, do your best.」

「Master…. There are things I can and can’t do….」

It’s okay.

I can’t do it, but I’m sure you can do it since you’re talented!