CH 34

Manon? Or is it the chairman?

***---***

After finishing making the ID cards, we went shopping for daily necessities, but I wonder how it became the situation where I was caught by the old and new duo and fake glasses and Manon was caught by the dekoboko sisters.

"How did you get to know Manon-chan?"

"How ... we took the guild combat training class together ..."

"How far have you gone?"

"Nothing happened, we just worked together ..."

"Lie ... Isn't there an event?"

"No, nothing, nothing ... th, there is no such thing ..."

"It's suspicious ..."

"Well, rather than that, you'll be in trouble if you don't have clothes and everyday items."

Perhaps because they continued to live a life suppressed by Lastock, the questions of the old and new duo and fake glasses are persistent.

Manon also has her face bright red and her eyes are darting around, I wonder if she was asked something by the dekoboko sisters, or if she was sick.

Hmm ... I wonder if it's okay, Manon has a tendency to blurt out unnecessary things.

And when we started shopping, it backfired that I had handed over their living expenses for the time being, and they were trying to buy extra things like this, as if they were tourists in a new country.

"Hey Kazuki, there's a weapon shop."

"Oh, I need a weapon, let's see."

"Wait, wait, you still can't get a job of subduing monsters, so you don't need any weapons."

"What's wrong Kokubu, don't be stingy, don't you have a lot of money?"

"What are you saying, if I rescue everyone else besides Yagi and the others, I will need to pay for their living expenses."

I don't want everyone to rely on my wallet, even though they don't earn even one Helt.

"But Kokubu, if you're so close to the Devil's Forest, you'll see monsters, right?"

"That's right, as Tatsuya says, don't you need a weapon?"

"There are no monsters inside the walls, look at the people on the road, they have no weapons other than the adventurers."

Volzard is known as the farthest city, but you won't see a single goblin in the city except when there are a lot of monsters.

Weapons are carried by garrison members or adventurers, not a large percentage of the total people.

"No, Kokubu, shouldn't you have a knife for self-defense even if there are no monsters?"

"No! If you want weapons so badly, wait until the start of the week and take the fighting class on fire day. Anyway, it's no good right now!"

"Tch, you're really stingy ... or rather, are they okay?"

When I looked at where Yagi was pointing, I saw the dekoboko sisters holding a large amount of packages coming out of the clothes shop, and I inadvertently sat down with my head in my hands.

I was stupid to think that Kobayashi-san would be okay.

"Hey, both of you are buying so much, what about living expenses for the time being."

"What are you saying, it's natural for girls to spend money on fashion."

"Yeah, it's important for girls to be fashionable, right, Manon."

"Well, I'm ..."

Kobayashi-san said something to Manon who was mumbling.

"Well, that's right, I think it's important for girls to be fashionable ..."

Manon also has a package, but has she been bribed?

It's not convincing to be told while wearing a face like a child whose prank was found out, but I can't get angry because I asked her to do some troublesome things ...

"So how much did you spend?"

"No ... it's okay, because I still have the money to buy shoes properly."

"Oh yeah, Manon, next show us to the shoe store."

"No ..."

Manon, who is glancing at my face, becomes pitiful.

"Hey Kokubu, can we buy weapons too?"

"No! I tell you, the instructor of the combat class is Donovan-san, so if you have a weapon that doesn't fit your size, you don't know what kind of treatment you will receive."

"Uh, that old man ... What should we do Kazuki?"

"No, this is ... on hold."

After that, I was forced to accompany the shopping of the dekoboko sisters at the shoe store, and I felt sick by the buying and eating of the old and new duo that I thought would eat inexhaustibly. I had a lot of trouble before I brought them back to the garrison's dormitory in the evening.

When I dropped the five people off at the dormitory and finally finished the job, Manon and I looked at each other and sighed a lot.

"I'm sorry, I'm really sorry, Manon ..."

"Yeah, it's not Kent's fault ... I'm tired ..."

Seeing Manon, who was more exhausted than when we were the gardener's apprentices, filled me with regret.

"I'll apologize with dinner, but is it okay to go to the pasta shop from last time?"

"Yeah, but ... you already bought me clothes ..."

That's right, it seems that she was forced to be like a dress-up doll by the dekoboko sisters, and is currently holding a package of clothes.

"Oh, you don't have to worry about it, it's cheap if you think of it as a nuisance fee for the future."

"Uh ... that's right ..."

Manon has a distant look in her eyes, perhaps imagining that the situation like today will continue.

No, I'm really sorry.

At the pasta shop, we finished dinner while being watched by Minuet-san, and I sent Manon back to her house.

It's impossible to hold Manon's hand while sending her home, because she's holding the package of clothes with both hands.

"Kent will continue to rescue his friends, right?"

"Yeah, the situation is too terrible, so I want to make it as soon as possible, but ... it's difficult."

"Why don't Tomoko and the others help?"

"Hmm ... it's a little difficult to have them help because I have to go beyond the Devil's Forest."

At present, it seems that the five people are not at a level that can be considered as a force, and there is no point in taking them.

"I never realized that Kent was doing such a hard thing."

"I'm sorry to keep silent until now ..."

"Yeah, I understand the situation ... but I don't think I can help rescue them either."

"Yeah, but when I rescue more classmates, it will be very helpful if you could help them get used to Volzard ..."

"Of course, I'll cooperate if I can, because Kent protected the city."

Manon stares at me with her glittering eyes, but since it was Reinhardt who actually fought, I can't steal the credit.

"But it was Reinhardt and the others who defeated the rock ogres."

"But those Gigawolfs were defeated by Kent, right?"

"Uh, yeah, well ..."

"That's amazing ..."

Uh ... you can praise me more, Manon-chan, I'm the type who grows when being praised.

"No, no, but it's the power I got, it's not me that's amazing."

"Still, Kent defeated them, right?"

"Uh, yeah ... it just happened."

"Hey, Kent, can you dive into the dungeon with me someday?"

"Well ... well, if I could help all my classmates and send them back to the original world ..."

When I said that, Manon suddenly stopped.

The expression that had been shining and smiling until just now stiffened.

"Hey Kent, will Kent return if you can go back to the original world?"

"Well, that's ... I don't know yet ..."

"Can you stay in Volzard?"

"Yeah ... honestly, I'm at a loss ..."

"I want you to stay ..."

Hmm ... If you ask me with such teary eyes, it seems that I will immediately refuse to leave.

Is it impossible to take Manon home?

If I go back to Japan, I'll go back to just being a kid, so even if I bring Manon, I can't feed her.

Hmm? Or will magic be usable even after returning?

"Well, it hasn't been decided that we can even go back yet ... I'll think about it ..."

"Yeah, think about it ..."

From there until we got to Manon's house, neither of us could find words to say and we walked silently.

If I could resuce everyone ... If I could go back to Japan ... That should be my goal, but when that time comes, I have to make a decision, and I feel scared when I think that time will come.

"Then, thank you for sending me home."

"Yeah, see you later ..."

We parted in front of Manon's house and I was stopped when I tried to return to my boarding house.

"Ke, Kent ... ouch!"

"Fugya ..."

When I was stopped and turned around, I saw Manon's face was approaching, and I was head-butted in the temple.

"Good night!"

"Eh ...?"

Manon had escaped into the house and I stood alone on the night road.

Why was it head-butting? I wonder if she was so angry with me.

Perhaps the fact that Kobayashi-san and Sakurai-san were around was a terrible influence on her.

Yeah ... I thought there was a good feeling going on with Manon, but I wonder if it was a misunderstanding.

I went back to the boarding house while wondering if Manon would continue to cooperate with me, wondering if something went wrong.

Hmm ... The maiden heart is too mysterious.

When I greeted Amanda-san and returned to my room, Fred came back from Lastock and called out to me.

[ Kent-sama ... Don't forget to take care of the Saint-sama ... ]

[ Huh! That's right, I pushed everyone's care to the chairman. ]

Sinking into the shadows, I headed to Lastock garrison with Fred.

Speaking of the chairman, she was laying on the sofa in the examination room.

Her expression was full of fatigue, and she was breathing heavily.

"Saint-sama, don't overdo it ..."

"Don't be silly, I wonder just who is causing this!"

The chairman snapped at Erna.

It's like a kitty with its fur bristling in intimidation.

Erna, on the other hand, looks like an owner who wants to fluff but is confused about why she can't fluff.

"You've seen everyone's injuries today. Everyone's mind and body are overwhelmed! Why do we have to do something so painful!"

"I think it's terrible, but in my own right ..."

"If so, don't say irresponsible things. I can't stand losing any more friends ... I absolutely hate that!"

The chairman who stood up and shouted, probably felt dizzy, as she held her forehead and collapsed on the sofa.

Erna tried to run up in a hurry, but stopped as the chairman glared at her.

"I'll go back to my room after a short break, so leave me alone!"

"OK ... please come back soon and take a rest."

Erna bowed and left the examination room.

Closing the door of the examination room, she hears the chairman's sobbing voice leaking from inside, sighs, and then walks away down the corridor.

[ Fred, there are no people around us, right? ]

[ It's okay ... I'll let you know when someone comes ... ]

[ I beg you ... ]

I asked Fred to keep watch and returned to the chairman.

The chairman seemed to be crying seriously, not acting, and it made me sick.

"Cha ... Yu, Yuika ..."

"Huh ... Kent-kun?"

When I came out of the shadow of the examination table, the chairman hugged me.

"Kent-kun ... Kent ..."

"I'm sorry, I put a burden on Yuika, but I safely took the five of them to Volzard so that they could live there for the time being."

"Really? Are they all doing well? It's not terrible?"

"They're confused by the new environment, but it's okay because the people at Volzard are working together."

I can't say that they spent their immediate living expenses like hot water and bought explosively.

"That's good ... that's really good."

"What's the situation here? I heard the conversation earlier, but is the situation getting worse?"

"Yeah, everyone thinks the five people are dead, so they're not motivated to go against the knights, and it seems like they're being forced to do more rigorous training than ever before."

"Sorry ... I wonder if they can wait for the actual battle ..."

"Is it possible to speed up the rescue?"

"Hmm ..."

When it comes to rescue operations by invading the garrison, it seems to be a big deal and I don't know what to do.

[ Kent ... Healing the Saint-sama ... ]

[ Oh, that's right ... ]

When Fred tells me to heal the chairman, I realize that we're still hugging each other, and my heart is throbbing.

However, because of the large contact area, I cast healing magic on the chairman as if it were an extension of self-healing.

"Eh ... this is ..."

"Yu, Yuika ... I'm sorry to keep silent, I can use light attribute magic."

"Ah ... then, before ..."

"Yeah ... I'm sorry I silently cast healing magic."

When I apologized for being silent, the chairman put more strength into her arms that were around my back.

"Thank you ... Kent was watching over me this whole time."

"I, I'm not qualified to have Yuika thank me when I made you feel so painful, sorry."

"That's not the case! Takayama-kun is crazy about the maid girl and isn't trying to help anyone, even though he can use such amazing magic."

"But Takayama also wears a slave bracelet, so he can't go against them can he?"

"Still, I think he should at least consider it ... Compared to that, Kent prepared for rescue alone and helped five people, you're amazing, you're really amazing."

The chairman hugs me even more strongly, burying her face in my neck.

"My prince ... just run away with me ..."

"Yuika ... I'm sorry, but for now ..."

"Yeah, I just wanted to say that selfishly ... yes, I'll ask them to let me accompany them in the actual battle."

"Well, yeah, then I can rescue you soon."

"Volzard ... I want to go soon ..."

"It's a very nice city with only very kind people."

[ Kent-sama ... the caretaker is back ... ]

"Yuika, it looks like Erna is coming back, so I'll go ... I'll come back to you again."

"Yeah, I'll be waiting ..."

Fuuuuuuu! Chairman's kiss hit me again.

I was pulled by Fred back into the shadows, and to replace me, Erna came into the examination room.

"Saint-sama, it's about time to go back to your room ..."

"I'm about to return now ..."

The chairman instantly tightened her relaxed expression, uttered in a cold tone, and pushed Erna out of the examination room.

I was a little worried that the fluffy expression she was showing to me was acting because of the sudden change.

From the garrison of Lastock, I returned to the boarding house and headed to the special training ground of the Devil's Forest with Reinhardt.

Tomorrow is light day, and last week there was a rock ogre attack, so maybe the mage's training isn't over.

If so, Muell-san should be free from that mutt in class.

I have to repay the debt of having my collarbone broken last week.

In addition, there are days when I cannot take special training due to rescue operations.

When I can, I have to train, become stronger, and rescue the chairman and everyone as soon as possible.

[ Still a long ways to go, take a solid stance, tighten your waist and step in! ]

"Yaaaa!"

[ Here here, slow, you're slow. ]

"Uuh, Kuh ... daaa ... fugyaa ..."

No matter how much I step in or swing my sword, it is unlikely that I will reach Reinhardt.

But no matter how many times I'm beaten or knocked down, I don't feel like giving up.

Last week, even though he was being careless, I was able to get a hit on Gilik.

This week, he won't be careless, and I'll practice until he's tired of it.

For that purpose, it can be 1 cm or 1 mm, so just move forward.

[ Kent-sama, leave it around here for tonight ... ]

"O, One more ..."

[ Kent-sama, it's also part of training to take a rest. ]

"Well ... yes, thank you."

I thank Reinhardt and wash off my sweat before returning to the boarding house.

As expected, the water in the river was too cold, so before I came to Volzard, I heated water in a large pot I got from the carriage and washed my sweat.

When I fell into my bed at the boarding house, I fell asleep immediately.