CH 208

Muell's troubles

***---***

When I explained the situation to Katou-sensei, who had just returned from an outing, he was able to understand to some extent, but as expected, I received a scolding for the delay in the work of the return to Japan.

"I know that Kokubu wants to live here, and since we are indebted to you, I can't say it too strongly, but please think about other people a little more. It's already been two weeks since we let Harukawa return, so at this rate there's no telling when everyone's return will be finished."

Certainly, even if one person were to return every day, it would take more than half a year for 200 people to return, and if it were to happen once every two weeks, it would be many years away.

"Sensei, Kajikawa-san of the Cabinet Secretariat told me not to send anyone back to Japan for a while, but what should I do. I also want to proceed with the return work."

"Let's see ... Can I talk to that person named Kajikawa?"

"That would be fine. Please wait a minute."

I took out my smartphone from the shadow storage, called Kajikawa-san, and switched with Katou-sensei.

Katou-sensei complained that the return was not progressing and stress was building up not only among the students but also the teachers, and as a result, it was decided to proceed with the return work.

"So, Kokubu, when will the next return work be done?"

"Yes, I'm a little sick today and I'm not feeling well, so if possible, I'd like to do it after tomorrow ..."

"Is that so, then tomorrow morning ..."

"Wait a minute. The time difference is getting bigger, so it would still be midnight in Japan in the morning here."

"Is that so, then tomorrow afternoon?"

"Rather, it should be evening, it should be morning in Japan."

"Okay, tomorrow evening, a water-attribute girl is fine?"

"Yes, once I get the water attribute, it should be easy to return after that."

If I sucked magical power out of someone with an attribute I didn't have, I would get a rejection reaction and my body would get sick.

If it were a person with the attribute I had, it was relatively easy to steal the magical power, and it took less time and had less rejection.

Also, magic that uses magic circles was said to be a degraded version of the magic that people could activate, so it was possible that I would be able to use magic that was a higher version of the summoning formula.

Even if it was impossible to summon 200 people at once, if I could move 5 or 10 people at once, I should be able to return everyone quickly.

I decided to return to the boarding house after promising to do the return work tomorrow evening.

I thought about eating lunch together with the chairman in the garrison's cafeteria before parting, and moving to the boarding house in the shadows, but I decided to take a short detour.

The first stop on the way was Mesudori Pavilion, and I looked for an assortment of cookies.

Since I first came to Volzard, when I lived and worked at the Livre Plantation, I could say it was the first time I was away from the boarding house, my motive was to try to make Meisa-chan happy with a small gift.

I bought three boxes of cookies and headed to the next shop.

Another detour was Corey-san's medicine shop.

I've run out of sleeping pills and pills that help restore magical power, so I needed to replenish them.

Also, it didn't have to be as strong as the booster, so I was going to ask if there was a magic potion that would keep me from falling unconscious.

"Hello ... Huh?"

"Tch ... What do you want, Chibisuke?"

When I opened the door of the small pharmacy in the back street, it wasn't the witch-like Corey-san or the captivating cat-eared angel Muell-san who was tending the store, but rather a bored-looking Gilik.

Well, it's the first time I've entered a store and suddenly been 'tch'ed at.

"What do I want, obviously, I must have come to buy medicine, right."

"Fuun, I wonder ..."

Seriously, I'm not going to ask you to be nice to me since I'm a customer, but I wonder if you couldn't treat me like a normal person.

The customers would run away with this.

"I would like 100 sleeping pills of 1/8 size and 20 pills of 1/8 size to help recover magical power, please."

"Fuun, wait a minute. Baba-san, a customer!"(TN:Baba = old hag or old lady)

When Gilik raised his voice towards the back of the store, a reply came back.

"I'm in the middle of something, so please wait a moment."

"That's how it is ..."

Gilik sat on the chair and rested his chin on the counter, keeping his eyes fixed somewhere in the distance.

Wasn't it normal to recommend a chair to a customer?

Rather, counting the medicines, calculating the price, and handing them over, I wondered if he couldn't do something to that extent.

From the back of the store, I couldn't hear the contents, but I could hear someone answering Corey-san's voice.

"Umm ... Corey-san is ..."

"Shut up, Myuu-ane is learning compounding right now, so shut up and wait!"

"Haa ..."

When I was standing in the shop without doing anything, a box with the perfect height to sit down came out from the shadows.

When I sat down on the box, Mart popped up and rubbed its head against me, telling me to pet it.

After strong Mart, Mirt showed its face ... Ah, this pattern, come to think of it, after the battle with the Nibble Rats, I didn't take care of all my genus.

Once I've finished shopping for medicine, let's go to the Devil's Forest ... No, the land we've cleared for our new home, and take care of everyone.

As I stroked Mart, Mirt, Murt, Zeta, Eta, Theta, and Nero in order, Corey-san came out from the back of the store.

When I stood up, Murt picked up the box, bowed its head to Corey-san, and then went into the shadows.

"Hii hii hii, was that your genus just now? It's really an interesting kid."

"It's been a while, Corey-san. I'm here again to buy sleeping pills and pills that help restore magic."

Corey-san's mouth loosened a bit when she heard the amount I ordered.

"Hii hii hii, what is it, are you planning to start a war with someone again?"

"Well, I can't say that there won't be such a situation, but it's an indispensable item for capturing bandits, so I'm thinking of keeping it on hand."

"I see, I see, you're a good customer after all, hey Gilik, you're in the way, get out of here!"

Gilik clicked his tongue and went into the back of the store.

"After all, he just got a huge body and is useless."

"Umm, Gilik-san, can't he sell medicines for Corey-san?"

"There's no way I'll let such a rough person touch the shelves I arranged."

"I see, so he becomes like an ornament."

"I could use him as a watchdog, but he won't be able to become a good man unless he goes through some hardships and gets hurt. Maa, it's no good if he's chasing Muell's butt ..."

Now that she mentioned it, Gilik seemed to be a set with Muell-san.

He went out to collect with Muell-san, peeked at Muell-san's lectures, and spent all his time in Corey-san's store, who was Muell-san's master.

"He doesn't do requests for subjugations, or diving into the dungeons, does he ..."

"Who knows ... That's not something I know."

Certainly, Corey-san was not Gilik's guardian, and she probably didn't know about it.

"Come to think of it, is there a booster-like medicine that will keep me from falling unconscious?"

"Hii hii hii, what did you use the booster for? You defeated the Salamanders by yourself, and even beat a Storm Cat. What exactly did you fight?"

"Umm ... After fighting the Gigases, a horde of Nibble Rats and a Hydra."

"Ah~haahaahaa, that's a masterpiece. You're really funny, if you're going to joke, it should be on that scale."

"Haa ... Thank you very much."

Apparently, Corey-san thought the Gigases and Hydra were a joke.

Maa, I don't know if she would believe me if I said it was true.

"So, what did you do after using the booster? You were like an ornament, weren't you?"

"Uuh ... That story, please don't ask me."

"Ah~haahaahaa, naturally, I guess you were taken care of by your bridal candidates ... Down to the bottom."

"Guu ... So, is there a booster that will make it so I don't fall unconscious?"

"Unfortunately, there is no such convenient thing. In this world, in order to get something, you have to give something else. If you don't work, you don't get money. If you don't love, you won't be loved. You can't just get results without taking any risks."

Corey-san's words, which made me laugh, had the weight of a person who has lived for many years.

"Corey-san, can you sell me more boosters?"

"Fumu ... Let's see, what do you think about using the booster?"

"Honestly, I don't want to use it if possible."

"Hou, then again, why is that?"

"How can I put it, I can obtain great magical power, but I feel like I am no longer myself as I am swung around by the magical power, and if I use it over and over again, I feel like my brakes won't work."

"Even after the medicine wore off, it must be hard, hii hii hii."

"Yes, I'm so pathetic ... I can't go against them for the rest of my life."

"Well, if it's you, it's okay to sell it."

"Does that mean there are side effects?"

"Originally, the state after it wears off is a side effect when it comes to side effects. There are very few people who try to abuse it, but that doesn't mean there aren't any."

According to Corey-san, the booster was a medicine made for soldiers going to the battlefield.

In the old days of wars in this world, battles began at dawn and ended at sunset, and boosters were given to the soldiers who stood on the front lines.

The given soldiers could continue to strengthen their bodies and fire offensive magic throughout the day's battle, but once the effects wore off, they became useless.

For that reason, it seemed that victory or defeat was determined by what percentage of frontline soldiers received boosters and when to administer them.

"Some people were drowning in the feeling of omnipotence they felt when using boosters."

"However, when the effect wore off, they would fall unconscious, so wasn't it difficult to use on the battlefield?"

"That's right. It was awkward when the medicine wore off, so what would they do?"

"Eh, is there a way to keep the effects of the medicine from wearing off? Don't tell me, they kept taking it ..."

"That is it indeed, in the distant past, it seemed that there was a person who fought while drinking boosters on the battlefield, what would happen with that recoil, you would understand if you tried it."

When I thought about the sense of exaltation, as if the magical power was coming up infinitely, the omnipotence, and the feeling of emptiness and the immobile body when it wore off, I didn't even want to think of a situation where it was going to hit me many times over.

"Really, did that actually happen?"

"Well, I just asked my master, but it seemed that most of them were death soldiers."

"Death soldiers ... Aren't those soldiers who didn't intend to return alive from the beginning?"

"That's right, a booster is something like that. Are you still going to buy it?"

The booster was not the kind of medicine that I would actively want to use.

However, there was no doubt that it was an effective method in situations like that where there were no other methods.

"What are you going to do? Are you going to buy, or are you not going to buy?"

"For example, if I continuously take pills that help restore magical power, will it have a booster-like effect?"

"That's impossible. That one, the effect is limited even if you keep drinking, you can't keep using magic like with a booster."

"I understand. Then just one booster please."

"Hii hii hii, that's good. If you said two or three, I wouldn't sell them, I think you'll be fine. Just don't use it unreasonably."

While Corey-san was wrapping the medicine, Muell-san came out from the back of the store.

"Hello, Muell-san. Thank you for your hard work."

"Oh, Kent. Thank you very much for escorting me during the gathering. It helped me tremendously."

"No, no, when someone's in trouble, you should be there for each other."

"What's that, is it because of you that Muell was able to go gathering while Gilik was asleep?"

"No, I didn't escort her, I just asked my genus to escort her ..."

"Hii hii hii, that's it, it's all thanks to you. You have a lot of reliable escorts with you, and you also contribute to the sales of the store. After all, you should catch and take Muell as well."

"What the hell are you saying, Babaa! There's no way that Chibisuke and Myuu-ane are a good match for each other!"

Of course, I'm sure she was joking, but Gilik lashed out reflexively, and Corey-san's mouth loosened with a grin.

"Hii hii hii, far from not being a good match for each other, isn't getting money and social status by marrying a rich and powerful man the best thing one could ask for. The youngest S-rank adventurer in history, a hero who protected the city of Volzard with powerful monsters. That's a world of difference from a little kid who's just a little big."

"What's that, Babaa ..."

"Oya, what's going on. I just said some kind of hulking kid. Or are you that kid, Gilik?"

"D, damnit ..."

Gilik clenched his teeth so hard that he gnashed his teeth and rushed out of the shop.

"Seriously, no matter how much time passes, he will still be a kid, and he won't grow at all ... If he keeps sticking to Muell like this, he won't be able to expect any growth. He's young, so he'll have to go out more."

Muell-san had a slightly sad expression, as if she was keenly aware of Corey-san's words.

"Umm, Gilik-san, by any chance, has he never left Volzard?"

"Yup, we go out to collect medicinal herbs, but I don't think he's ever been to another city."

I'm not going to boast that I've been to Resenburg, Barshania, Bakkenheim, etc., but there were many things I didn't know unless I learned from Lau-san or experienced them myself.

I'm not saying that escorting a carriage heading to another city is better than escorting Muell-san, but if you keep doing the same routine all the time, your experience as an adventurer won't increase.

Muell-san, who was lost in thought, suddenly raised her head and stared at me.

That determined expression, was it that she really wanted to join my harem.

"Hey, Kent ..."

"Y, yes, what is it?"

"Could you take Gilik out of Volzard?"

Yes, yes, I thought that was the case.

But wait, as a condition for bringing Gilik out, Muell-san's harem entry ... I can't say something like that.

"That guy, you shouldn't ask Kent."

Before I could reply, Corey-san shot it down.

"It may be pitiful that he was twisted by household circumstances, but if you keep spoiling him, nothing will change."

"I know that, but ..."

Muell-san seemed to think that the current situation was no good, but she seemed to be troubled because she couldn't come up with any good ideas.

But, if you're going to let Gilik stand on his own, wouldn't it be better to hire a bodyguard instead?

"Umm, Muell-san, how much money can you pay to hire someone guard you while gathering?"

"Hmm ... About 400 Helts even if I do my best."

"Ah, I see ... Is it possible to apply for a job like a gathering apprentice?"

"Gathering apprentice? Not so much ... I've never heard of it. Gathering medicinal herbs is something that you learn by learning the basics in the guild's course, and then practicing on your own."

Come to think of it, Oren-san, the gardener, said that there was also a course on gathering medicinal herbs.

But, if you took the course, you would put it into practice right away, and wouldn't you pick the wrong grass.

"I see, but, you can submit a request to the guild, right?"

"Hmm ... I think I can probably submit it, but I don't think anyone will apply. There's a high chance that they'll make more money if they go collect them themselves."

"I see, I see ... If it's an apprentice, they'll get 350 Helts, no, if you pay 300 Helts as a fee-for-service, they'll acquire knowledge, and they'll gain experience as an escort ..."

"Kent, what are you thinking?"

"It's about a cheap way to hire an escort who can replace Gilik-san ..."

"Have you come up with any good ideas?"

"I don't know if it will go well, and in any case, wouldn't it be better after next year?"

"That's right. I also don't plan to go out to collect anything until the end of the year, so is it okay if I talk to you again after the new year?"

No way, Muell-san, if you ask me to do something while looking at me with an upturned glance, I won't be able to refuse.

"Yes, I think I have a basic idea right now, let's work out a strategy when the timing is right."

"Thank you, Kent is really kind."

Fuooooo, Muell-san's hug is here~~~!!

"Hii hii hii, it gets better and better, doesn't it ..."

After enjoying Muell-san's hug without any usual interruptions, I returned to the boarding house after paying the bill.

Amanda-san's shop would be open until rest day, and would be closed for the end of the year from the dark day of the week, so it should be business as usual today.

It was time for preparations before opening in the evening.

"I've just returned. I'm worried that my schedule has gone awry ... Fubuu!"

When I entered through the back door and called out to the kitchen, Meisa-chan rushed in like a rocket.

"M, Meisa-chan ...?"

"Uu~h ..."

Even when I called out to her, she pressed her face against my chest, clung tightly, and only groaned a little and didn't answer.

"Kent! I was told you were reckless and slept for three days again? You seriously like to make people worry."

"I'm sorry. It was a bit of an emergency, so I had to use my last resort ... I'm sorry, Meisa-chan."

"Uu~h ..."

When I gently stroked her head, the arms that were clinging to me loosened a little.

Meline-san brewed tea for me, so I tried to cheer her up with cookies from Mesudori Pavilion, but Meisa-chan continued to pout, and even after the evening business started, she wouldn't leave my side.

Even when we went to bed, she didn't look at Mart or the others, and she clung to me.

For a while, she rubbed her face against me like a cat, but before long she began to sleep.

After Meisa-chan fell asleep, the door to my room was gently opened and Amanda-san came to check on her.

"I'm sorry, Kent."

"No, it's fine."

I'm sure that I have a half-sister in Japan, but I've never met them, and if I compare them with Meisa-chan, it goes without saying which one I'd feel closer to.

"Kent, there are many things that only you can do, and I know that you are relied on by many countries and people, but please don't forget that there are things that only Kent can do here."

"Yes, I think of this as my Volzard parent's house."

"That's right. Even if you own a house and build a new family, feel free to come back anytime."

"Yes, thank you very much."

Amanda-san patted my head and then went back with a smile on her face.

Now then, let's go to sleep too.

The effects of the booster had just disappeared, and I had to return someone to Japan tomorrow.

I had to get a good night's sleep and keep myself in shape.