CH 80

“Bad feeling.”

It’s been a long time since Hurst-san said those words.

That was when I was about to go shopping at the market in the royal capital.

Hurst-san, who stopped the carriage, suddenly returned to the royal castle. . . Soon after that, magic beasts appeared in the sky. . .

“Hurst-san, is it a magic beast?!”

“I don’t know yet. I will return to the fort as soon as possible. I will call the members here, so please evacuate to a safe place after changing clothes.”

“Okay. Please be careful.”

“Yes.”

After Hurst-san’s last words, the area became quiet.

I don’t think the hot springs and the relaxed atmosphere have changed, but I can trust Hurst-san’s intuition.

That’s why, I stood up while keeping Shizuku-chan’s hand that I was holding.

“Shizuku-chan. It’s sudden, but let’s get out of the hot spring and change clothes.”

“Yes.”

Shizuku-chan who was pulled up by me looked anxious.

“Shina-san. . . the magic beasts are supposed to be trapped in the barrier. . .”

“Yeah. Did you see the bird-shaped magic beasts that came to the royal palace the other day?”

“No. . . I was told to run away right away. . .I’m not sure. . . There was a place like a shelter, and I was there for a while.”

“I see. Then I understand that you’re a little worried, but it’s totally fine. Hurst-san is strong, and Ryleigh-kun’s flames are amazing. All the members are there, and Shizuku-chan has everyone in the special squad. You don’t have to worry about anything.”

“. . . Yes.”

I wiped my body with a towel and hurriedly put on my clothes while continuing to say those words so that she could feel at ease.

Shizuku-chan also quickly changed clothes to match me.

“Isarai-sama! Saint-sama! Are you there?”

“Garez-san! We’re here! We’re leaving now!”

“Okay!”

Apparently Garez-san came instead of Hurst-san.

We had just finished changing our clothes, so when we went out of the dressing room, Garez-san and the rest of the group were waiting for us.

“I’m sorry to bother you.”

“It’s okay! For now, we’ll guide you two to the special squad, so from there, I want you to leave here with the special squad. There hasn’t been anything yet, but I definitely trust the vice-commander’s intuition.”

Garez-san has the atmosphere of laughing as usual, but he seems to be taking Hurst-san’s words firmly, and there is a sense of tension somewhere.

Everyone was vigilant about their surroundings, and they seemed to be paying particular attention to the Magic Beast Forest so that they could bring us safely to the special squad.

But I shook my head at Garez-san’s words.

“Um, about that, Shizuku-chan will do that, but is it okay if I stay with everyone?”

“With us?”

Garez-san tilted his head in wonder.

So I strongly nodded to it.

“Yes. Just like what I had you eat for lunch, my food has the effect of strengthening and energizing everyone. I had Hurst-san, Ryleigh-kun, Garez-san and the whole group eat it, but I hope the other members can eat it too.”

“I see. . . ! That makes me really happy! Everyone is a little scared of what’s going to come out, so if we know that Isarai-sama is with us, the man power increases by a hundred.”

“That’s right! I’ve been in great shape since noon!”

“I agree that the other guys should eat it too.”

“But isn’t it too dangerous?”

Everyone agrees with my words at first. . . but after hearing ‘Isn’t it too dangerous?’ they began to show reluctance.

So I hurriedly continued.

“Ah, if you’re worried about me, it’s okay. If I go to the kitchen, I’ll definitely be safe. After cooking and hand it to everyone, I’ll be very careful.”

“Ah. . .that’s true, so it’s safe?”

“And we are here too!”

“We just have to keep her safe.”

“If we tell the vice-commander that we respected Isarai-sama’s will, he will understand. . .”

Everyone in the first group talks with each other.

Then Garez-san said, ‘Okay!’ and raised their voice.

“Then, we will protect Isarai-sama and have her cook for us!”

“Yes!”

“And I want Isarai-sama to see the manliness of the vice-commander. The vice-commander who is fighting, I think he’s really numb and stops being human.”

. . . . . . .Yes. I know that because I’ve seen it.

“Then split into two, and one side will take the saint-sama to the special squad.”

“Yes!”

Hopefully this will help me too.

So, I was thinking of telling Shizuku-chan to go with the rest of the group, but. . .

“Let me ask you one thing.”

Shizuku-chan takes my hand.

Those dark eyes are staring at me. . .

“Shina-san. . . .Does Shina-san need to work so hard for the sake of this world?”

Straight words.

It’s not a compliment or a criticism.

She just wants to confirm.

Such a voice.

“. . . You were summoned without permission. You were separated from your family.”

I’m sure Shizuku-chan asked herself this question many times.

And then, Shizuku-chan answered that question, surely. . .

“. . .maybe you don’t need to work hard.”

. . . Why me?

. . . I don’t need to do my best.

. . . Yes, you answered.

“Shizuku-chan. I think I’m just not thinking deeply.”

I mean, just don’t think about it.

Because I’m only waiting for a hopeless reality.

“Right now, I’m here. When I make food, it has great power. If I use it, there are people who I can help. Maybe that’s all I can see.”

. . . I can’t give Shizuku-chan a good answer.

I need to do my best, I can’t encourage you that it makes sense.

But. . .

“. . .I think it’s okay to be like that.”

. . . I want to live happily.

For that, I thought it would be better if the people around me laughed.

Because I think it’s okay for me to think only about that.

“So, I’m going.”

It’s not cool at all.

But Shizuku-chan heard my words, bit her lip, and nodded yes.

“Then, everyone, Shizuku-chan, please. Shizuku-chan, see you later!”

“Yes. For sure. . . . Please be sure to be safe.”

“Yeah! Leave it to me!”

I waved at the worried Shizuku-chan with a smile.

And the usual words.

“[Summon Kitchen]!”

Shina is in a state of avoidance, and Shizuku is in a state of blame. Both are stages of grief. I hope they can both move on from this and live happy lives.

I hope you enjoyed this chapter and thank you for reading!