CH 222

“Oh~. We have a rare visitor~.”

Someone appears in front of me just as I’m finishing today’s work and getting ready to go home.

It’s someone who’s pretty popular around here, the guildmaster of the adventurer guild.

“It’s been a while. And thank you very much.”

“Hn~? For what~?”

“You granted Mister Ignis’ wish.”

Oh, that? I did guide them, but that really is a special thing that can only be obtained there. Maybe they could find it in the dungeon if they were extremely lucky, but the odds are very low.

“It’s not like I really listened to his request or anything~. I just told them because they were after that thing~.”

“Even so. If Miss Celes hadn’t told them about it, it would have taken longer.”

I can’t argue with that. Even she didn’t know about it… No, Ignis might have ended up telling her.

“Also~. I can’t have him go crazy in here~.”

If I treated him like an enemy, I might have caused a riot.

Reese says Ignis would never do that, but that’s because she doesn’t know him very well.

Things are calm now, but… Well, it’s fine for now.

“So, what do you need~?”

“…Miss Celes, are you planning to stay here?”

“I am~. I don’t think that’s strange~.”

“But the humans…!”

I get why she’s worried, but it’s ironic considering she’s a human on the side of the demons, who are said to be enemies of mankind.

It’s true that it’s hard for people like me to live in human societies. Although I don’t remember when it came to be like that.

“It’s all right~. It’s not like all humans are bad~. And~…”

I can’t leave this land.

Who knows what would happen if I abandoned the dungeon, after the demons messed with it.

A long time ago, during the reign of the king that was said to have become a lunatic in his later years, they tried to mess with me, and I did leave this land.

And then monsters started bursting out of the dungeon, and there was all sorts of trouble.

Now it’s just a nice memory, how they laughed at me with scorn when I tried to discuss my concerns with them, and how in the end they came crying to me asking for help. I can’t help but smile, remembering those faces covered in tears and snot.

The contract I formed then is still active today, so if I’m harmed, this country will be punished. Kind of like divine punishment in a way.

“H-hum…”

I guess I really was smiling. I can’t even describe the look Reese is giving me.

“Anyway~. You don’t have to worry about that~. Actually, are you all right~?”

“I have this, so yes. And to begin with…”

Reese seems to be holding some sort of magic item. It looks pretty elaborately made, and it represses its magic energy response to the point where you wouldn’t notice it unless you were looking for it.

“I see~. Well, let’s just say neither of us should overdo it then~.”

I think our opinions are going to continue running parallel and never intersect, so it’s best to end this conversation here.

“So, is there anything else~?”

“N-no, that is all…”

“I see~. We have other eyes on us, so we should probably refrain from seeing each other~.”

It’s not really a problem, because I have a partner watching over our surroundings, but just in case.

If it comes to that, I could do something, but Reese… Is pretty weak. Of course, there’s also the fact that I’m just too strong.

Reese bows deeply, and vanishes into the darkness.

She’s kind of awkward. I worry about her.

Good grief, playing with a lady’s heart like that. I need to give Ignis a mouthful over that.

I look in the direction of the Dragon Kingdom of Ruflet, and remember the boy reading the book whose letters normal people can’t read, like it was nothing. And that girl that was with him.

I thought back to it like time had stopped. It was like I was seeing my old friend.

The way she looked at him… Was it love? Hum, probably?

That’s why I was worried. And sure enough, Ignis told me he came from another world.

I figured he wasn’t a normal human, since he could read that book, but of all things, an otherworlder… No, I think deep down, I knew.

“It will be fine~. But~…”

The boy got away from the hands of politicians, but I feel like Ignis wants to use him for something. For what, I don’t know…

“I just hope he can stay in peace with no issues~…”

I can’t help but wish for that.

I want young people to be happy, and not be stained by anything.