After dinner, we all took a bath and, assuming everyone must be tired, decided to part ways for the night and rest in our respective rooms.
As the night grew late and the surrounding sounds faded into a hushed stillness, silence gradually descended.
And yet, I still couldn’t fall asleep.
Maybe it was because I’d already taken a nap earlier, or maybe it was because I kept thinking about Sorte and the others. I couldn’t say for sure but sleep just wouldn’t come.
Trying to clear my head, I stepped out onto the balcony and sprawled across the large reclining chair I’d made some time ago, gazing up at the starlit sky, but even then, no good ideas came to mind.
My thoughts drifted back to when I first came to this world, back when Aina and the others had become slaves.
At first, I’d just been talked into asking them to gather ingredients by Reinrich…
And they helped me a lot. Even now, I owe everything to them.
When it came to Wendy, too, it was thanks to the materials those three gathered that I could craft all those accessories.
Later, due to a misunderstanding on Renge’s part, all three of them were branded as criminal slaves.
I wasn’t at fault, but the memory of that time still stings.
Even so, I don’t regret the choices I made back then. Not for a second.
「Things sure have gotten lively, huh…」
Now there are six of us at the dinner table.
Every meal is loud, chaotic, and fun.
And to think… those three might suddenly be gone soon, it’s only natural to feel a little lonely at the thought.
Hmm…
Honestly, I’m part of the reason it came to this, too.
The concept of slavery didn’t exist in my original world.
Even if someone told me, “You can do whatever you want”, the truth is, I didn’t know how I was supposed to treat them.
Sure, if the food’s already on the table, I might take a bite, but if that bite comes with a side of guilt, it doesn’t exactly go down easy.
Not to say that meaningless sex is always wrong…
But I just couldn’t see them that way. I couldn’t force myself to.
And besides, I still get the sense that Sorte and Renge feel guilty about what they did.
If they’re trying to make amends, I’m grateful for that.
But their chosen method… feels way too dangerous.
…Shiro might seem like the root of it all, but really, all she did was explain that her strength came from fighting powerful enemies.
From there, they must’ve made their own decision, to leave me behind and face something on their own terms.
I guess I’ll find out their reasons once they’re ready to explain them properly…
Ugh, it’s all just so confusing.
If they’re going somewhere dangerous, we’ll need Shiro’s help for sure.
But I doubt they’ll let her go with them.
And if that’s the case, even getting her to help if they’re in trouble might not be possible.
Not to mention, I don’t even know how far they’re planning to go…
「Ah… I’ve got nothing… not a single good idea…」
「…master?」
A shadow blocked out the stars, and after passing by Renge’s thighs and her chest, her upside-down face appeared before mine.
「What are you doing out here without anything on? You’ll catch a coldssu」
Renge laid the thick blanket she was holding over me.
「What about you, Renge? What brings you out here?」
「I got up to use the bathroom, but I felt something on my way back, so I came to check it out, and here you aressu. I figured you’d catch a cold like this, so I brought my blanket overssu」
「I see… thanks」
「Don’t mention it! Brrr… it’s pretty cold out here thoughssu」
「That’s because of how you’re dressed… Want to join me under this?」
「You sure? Then I’ll take you up on that offer!」
Renge smiled brightly and happily crawled under the blanket with me.
「Ahh… nice and toastyssu」
「Is it?」
Even though the air was chilly at this hour, Renge’s clothes weren’t any different from usual, soft in fabric but still her usual belly-baring shorts and tank top combo.
「Of course! Master’s warmth is super cozyssu」
「Then get closer」
I tugged her back toward me and pulled her in. Her chest pressed softly against mine, and our faces drew close.
「Sorry I’m not oppaissu」
「No, you’ve got more than enough. Nothing to worry about」
「…What exactly am I not supposed to be worrying aboutssu?」
Going by my internal ranking system, sure, she didn’t rank particularly high in the chest department, but Renge had plenty there. I could definitely feel how soft she was. That was enough.
「So, what’s on your mind this late at nightssu?」
「Well…」
「Worried about something? If it’s me, I’ll listen to anything you wanna say」
Renge didn’t flash her usual wide grin this time, just a gentle, soft smile.
She’s always smiling, always bringing a cheerful atmosphere to the room. She’s the type who puts others at ease just by being there.
Her offer made me want to lean on her a little, so I decided to ask her directly.
「You’re leaving soon… right?」
「Oh! So Sorte actually told youssu」
「Well, not exactly… I sort of overheard it」
「Ehhh… I told her I’d be the one to explain it properly thoughssu…」
Well, I guess it was kind of an accident…
Or maybe it’s my fault for pretending to sleep.
「I’ll probably still tell you again laterssu, but if you already know… yeah. I’ve been thinking a lot since the tournamentssu」
「Because of what Shiro said?」
「That’s rightssu… so you knew」
Technically, I was there and heard it too.
「…How do I put this… We’re adventurers, you know? We yearned for adventure, we admired it, that’s why we became adventurersssu. But ever since we got stronger… we haven’t really gone on any adventures at allssu」
「Adventures, huh…?」
「Exactlyssu! Adventuressu! Beating strong enemies! Discovering treasure! Those kinds of heart-pounding, soul-stirring adventuresssu! I think it was thanks to adventures like that that we got strong in the first place!」
Renge’s eyes sparkled with excitement, but then she gave a wry, almost self-mocking smile.
「But, well… now that we’re ranked A-class, people rely on usssu. We don’t travel far anymore. We just complete assigned requestsssu. When there aren’t any, we help out people with their troubles… but that kind of work isn’t gonna make us any strongerssu」
「So that’s why… you’re going to fight a powerful enemy?」
「Hmm… Wanting to get stronger is definitely one reasonssu. But the biggest thing is, I want a great treasuressu」
「Huh? Do you get that treasure by defeating this powerful enemy?」
What is this, some kind of known drop item?
Or maybe it’s a dungeon, and she’s after the treasure at the deepest floor?
Wait, no way, don’t tell me…
「Sort ofssu… I mean, it’s not really something I’ll “get” by beating them. It’s more like… getting the courage and resolve I need in order to go after it」
「Wait. You mean… you’re gonna fight a strong enemy, and use that to steel your resolve to… confess to me or something…?」
J-Just kidding, obviously?
I’m not being conceited or anything here. That was a joke, okay?
So please don’t look at me like I just broke your heart.
「Master… even if you figured it out, aren’t you supposed to ‘pretend’ like you didn’tssu!?」
「So I was right!? I’m sorry!! I mean, I never would’ve guessed for real…」
「Come on, you had to know after seeing Sorte and Aina latelyssu!」
Well yeah!!
Like how Aina looked so overjoyed to share a room with me!
Or how Sorte kept practicing nervously while I was “asleep”!
Sorry, but I’m not exactly dense, you know!?
If noticing all that counts as arrogance, then I’m ready to give up on love entirely!!
「Haaah… couldn’t you have made it a little more dramaticssu!?」
「Sorry. I’m really sorry…」
I’m just not good at surprises, okay…
If I had a girlfriend, I’d be the type to ask “What do you want for your birthday?” instead of surprising her…
「Since Sorte said she’d be the one to explain everything, make sure you act properly when she does, okayssu?」
「I’ll… I’ll try my best…」
「You don’t sound confident at allssu…」
Well of course I’m not.
I’ve got no confidence in my acting skills.
But I’ll do my best, I swear!
At the very least, I ‘do’ know that saying “Whaaat!? No waaay!” is ‘not’ the correct response.
「Jeez…」
「Hmm… I mean, well, y’know? If that’s the case, then… part of me wishes you’d just tell me how you feel now…」
「That’s exactly what we ‘can’t’ dossu! That’s why we’re going!」
「Ah… right. Then maybe I could be the one to confess first or something…」
「Too latessu! We’ve already made up our minds! We decided, we’re going to overcome this trial, and then tell you properly! If you said it now, it’d just feel weirdssu!」
Yeah. Now that she says it, even I can tell.
It’s not about jumping to the result. That’s not what this is.
「But still… I can’t help worrying, you know? What if something happens to you…?」
「That’s what you’ve been thinking about all this timessu?」
「Yeah… But if I get involved, then it defeats the whole point, doesn’t it?」
「Right… with how Sorte is now, it might actually backfiressu.」
Exactly…
I’m worried she’d feel like I didn’t trust her to handle it on her own.
But even so, letting her go and possibly die? There’s no way I can sit still for that.
「…But master, you’re still planning something, aren’t youssu?」
「…Yeah. Is that bad?」
「Nopessu. That’s totally you, master. It’s fine. Honestly, we all love that sweet and overly-worried side of youssu. Sorte especially, she’s got that strong maiden’s heart. She might act all cold, but inside she’d probably be blushing like crazyssu.」
…That was a compliment, right?
Yeah, I’m just gonna assume that was a compliment.
「I see. Then I’ll go ahead and say it, I ‘will’ do something, secretly.」
「Just be sure not to get caught, okayssu?」
「Got it. If they end up hating me for it… well, that’s the risk I’ll take.」
「It’s not something we’d hate you for. Our feelings for you aren’t that shallow, you knowssu.」
Man… It’s like three parts warm fuzzies and one part embarrassment.
Being cared about this much… yeah, it’s a nice feeling.
But I care about them just as much. I really do.
「…Renge, you too?」
「Of course. I still hate men, you know. That hasn’t changedssu. But… I can be this close to you, master, so you get what that means, rightssu?」
…Guess it’s not really a character break after all.
Honestly, I’ve barely seen any of that supposed 「man-hating」 in the first place, so I was starting to wonder if it was ever real…
「And besides… you’ve already seen everything anywayssu…」
Renge looked away, her eyes distant.
Hey now, that was ‘your’ fault for not locking the door properly.
Not mine.
「Well, I’m gonna give it my all too this time. There’s something I really want to tell you, seriously.」
Something serious, huh.
Now I’m curious what that’s going to be.
「Renge.」
「Yeahssu?」
「I really like how bright and thoughtful you are… how much you care about everyone.」
When I smiled at her gently, Renge froze with her mouth open… then slowly shut it, lowering her head.
「…master, stuff like that, you gotta learn to read the mood first, seriously…」
Can’t blame her. Ha ha ha.
She buried her face into my chest to hide it.
I could barely see the edge of her cheek, flushed a gentle red in the pale light of the moon.
Leave a Reply