Now then… let me explain the current situation.
Right now, I’m probably lying down with my eyes closed.
My vision is at zero. But I can vaguely sense light beyond my eyelids, so it’s probably morning.
I feel warmth on my neck, chest, torso, and legs.
That must mean someone is pressed up against me.
If I assume I fell asleep while talking to Renge last night, then the one clinging to me is most likely Renge.
And judging by how the wind feels, my shirt is probably rolled up.
On top of that, the sensation of Renge pressed against me doesn’t feel like fabric but skin, and there’s a lot of contact.
Renge usually wears something pretty revealing, her midriff’s always out, but even so, this feels like a bit much.
Now, here’s the problem…
Whose presence is this around me?
It’s not just one person. I’d say there are at least three.
And one of them feels extremely close, like they’re staring right at me.
「……You’re awake」
…Ah, I see. The one staring was Shiro.
And she’s right. I’m awake.
Assuming there’s no point in pretending anymore, I slowly open my eyes and squint at the blinding sun as I look around.
「……Good morning」
「Hmm, morning」
「Good morning, my lord」
「You… with Renge outside…」
「Did you have a good time last night?」
…Hmm.
Everyone’s here.
Wendy, Aina, Sorte, and Shiro were all gathered around me.
And as for Renge…
「……Why are your clothes such a mess……」
Renge had her arms around my neck and was pressing her entire body against me.
Just like me, her shirt had rolled up, and she was clinging to me in a way that barely kept her private parts covered.
As for her pants, they had slid down to her knees, and even her underwear was slightly out of place. Her legs were tangled with mine.
Ssuuu… This is strange.
Before we fell asleep, we were just lying side by side, talking normally.
That’s how I remember it.
I don’t recall doing anything weird… which means…
「Renge must toss and turn a lot in her sleep!」
「No, actually, Renge sleeps pretty calmly for how she looks」
……
Then I really can’t explain this…
It’s gotta be one of two things, right?
Either I did it, or Renge did it herself…
Personally, I’m leaning toward the latter…
「Fuwaaah… mm? What’s going on~? Oh! My clothes are all messed upssu!」
「So you did it yourself, Renge…」
「Ahh… no, it’s probably master, like always…」
「「「「Ah…」」」」
Getting oddly convinced by all this just makes me more confused…
They’re seriously okay with just accepting this as the usual? Can they really?
「Wait, do I toss and turn in my sleep or something?」
「It’s not that you toss and turn… exactly…」
「Right. It’s not like you sleep badly or anything」
「Hmm. Even in your sleep, lord makes Shiro happy」
「Happy… well, yeah. It’s not bad, so…」
What is this?
Now I’m seriously getting worried.
What on earth am I doing while I’m unconscious?
「My liege. Since none of us are bothered by it, there’s no need for you to worry either」
「Yes, just keep being yourself, Master」
「Exactlyssu! Yesterday was a bit more intense than usual, but… I didn’t mind at all, reallyssu!」
…Even if you say that.
If something’s going on, I’d like to be told…
「Well then, shall we get breakfast ready?」
Wait, that’s it? The conversation’s over?
「Right. We need to stop by the Adventurers’ Guild today too… My lord, if you’re going to deliver potions, we can take them there for you」
「No, I was planning to go myself…」
「You’ve got a lot of stops to make, don’t you? You could just leave the Adventurers’ Guild for next time when you restock the potions」
Hmm.
If they’re saying that, I guess I’ll go with it.
「Alright, I’ll give you the potions later, so let them know. I’ve prepared extra of each type, so there shouldn’t be any shortages. But if there’s anything missing, don’t hesitate to tell me」
「Understood」
Now then, today I’ve got to drop by the Alchemy Guild, check in with Meira, Origol, and also Yasis.
As for souvenirs… snacks from the royal capital should be fine.
Hayato gave me some popular sweets that keep well, so I’ll share a bit with everyone.
「Okay then, Wendy, let’s make breakfast」
「Yes, Master」
-0-
Today’s breakfast will be bread, scrambled eggs, thick-cut bacon, and corn soup.
A classic western-style breakfast, but it’s still delicious.
Since we finally got our hands on some rice, I’d like to serve a Japanese-style breakfast sometime.
But without soy sauce or miso, it’d be hard to plan a proper menu. If we’re going to do it, I’d rather prep it the day before, so maybe next time.
「Alright then, I’m heading out」
「We’ll be off to the Adventurers’ Guild as well」
「I’m sure there’s plenty to catch up on. If you finish before I do, feel free to head back first」
「Got itssu! I’ll also pick up a quest while I’m theressu!」
A quest, huh…
According to what Renge told me yesterday, that so-called powerful enemy has had its request posted on the quest board for quite a long time.
Back in the day, a lot of adventurers took on the quest, dreaming of striking it rich, but apparently, not a single one ever returned.
A certain cave lies far to the northeast, beyond the borders of the kingdom.
It’s the subject of one of the high-difficulty quests posted on the quest boards of every Adventurers’ Guild.
A powerful monster is said to be sealed within the cave. It doesn’t leave, but an intense concentration of magic has built up inside, and from that, many other monsters have been born.
And now these girls are planning to take on that quest…
「Well then, we’re off」
「Yeah. Be careful」
Alright. I still haven’t figured out exactly what I need to do, but for now, I’ll take care of what has to be done today.
Even if I want to sit down and think things through, I’ll get further if I wrap up everything else first.
First, I should go check in with my mentor, Reinrich.
-0-
I open the familiar doors of the Alchemist Guild and step inside. At the reception desk, I see Riito-san seated as usual.
「Oh my, welcome back, newbie」
「I’m back, Riito-san」
「How was your first time in the royal capital? Did you enjoy it?」
「Ah… there were a few problems, but overall, I think I had a good time」
The auction, the scenery of the capital, the food, Hayato’s mansion… there were a lot of fun things.
Plus, I made a lot of new connections.
「Problems? Did you get into something again?」
「No no. I wasn’t the one causing trouble this time, okay?」
「Fufu. I know, but it just seems like trouble always follows you, newbie」
…That’s true!
But that doesn’t make me a troublemaker!
「Still, it sounds like you’re having fun. Life needs a little excitement, after all」
「A little is fine… but just a little…」
Exactly.
Everything in moderation.
Moderate work.
Moderate rest.
Too much of anything is no good.
「Oh? So you’re back, huh?」
「I’m back, Reinrich」
Reinrich appeared from the back room.
「Good timing. A letter arrived from the capital」
「From the capital…? Ah, it’s from Iris」
Let’s see…
An additional order for the accessories I made.
Oh, that mic-like thing.
They want one for each captain and vice-captain, plus a few extras as backup.
That’s fine.
Then there’s this note about her bust having grown by a fingernail since the last measurement. Promising for the future… yeah, totally irrelevant.
And a postscript: she’s planning to visit soon and wants to stay at my place… Wait, why my house!?
Shouldn’t it be the lord’s mansion or a luxury inn or something!?
「What was it about?」
「Ah… mostly an order for more accessories. Sounds like they want more of what I put in the auction」
「I see. That’s a good sign. If your reputation keeps growing, you’ll get more work」
「…Is that really a good thing for me…?」
Getting paid is nice, but if this turns into regular government contracts, I’m worried it’ll never end…
If that happens, maybe I can just make the designs public or transfer the rights so someone else can produce them…
「Ano… Reinrich-sama didn’t react at all, but… by Iris, do you mean ‘that’ Iris-sama?」
「Yeah, I think it’s probably that Iris-sama」
「…How does someone even form a connection like that?」
「Maybe by letting her sit on your lap and feeding her sweets?」
That’s really all there is to it.
The first link was Hayato, the middle step was the lap, and the finishing move… was ice cream.
「Feeding her sweets, huh…」
「Well, isn’t it fine? It’s good to stay on friendly terms with those in power」
「I know that」
「Of course. You were saying from the very beginning how you wanted to live by relying on others」
…she sure remembers a lot for someone his age.
Then again, with Reinrich, it wouldn’t be surprising if she remembered it until the day she dies.
「Ah, right. I brought souvenirs. They’re from a famous sweets shop in the capital. Hayato prepared them and said to share them with everyone」
Hayato had given me a huge amount of souvenirs, including ones for us.
I did have time to go shopping, but I completely forgot until the very end. He really saved me there.
As expected of Hayato. A thoughtful guy always has admirers.
「Ara ara ara. You need a reservation just to buy from this place…」
「Quite the high-end stuff. Let’s have it as our afternoon snack」
「So you two really do like sweets」
「「Because we’re」」「female」「mature women」
Riito-san…
You didn’t need to suddenly scramble to use “mature” be more adult…
Also, “mature women” kind of came out weird there.
It’s alright.
Even if you look about the same age as me, just seeing you now makes it clear you’re still a girl at heart.
Your face is turning so red it’s almost purple, though.
「You’ve got other stops to make, right? You’d better get going. If you wait too long, the sun will be down by the time you’re done」
「Yeah… you’re right. I should get going」
「I’ll be having tea with the girl and these sweets now」
「Reinrich-sama!? I’m—」
「Ah, ah, none of that. You’re a young lady, so don’t raise your voice like that」
「That’s not it! I’m a woman! A mature woman!」
Hang in there, Riito-san!
You’re probably going to get teased all day today, but stay strong!
「Alright then… I’ll stop by again soon」
「Yeah, come anytime. Especially if you’re bringing souvenirs」
Looks like Reinrich’s got a sweet tooth too.
Next time, maybe I’ll bring some handmade treats.
「Please, Reinrich-sama, listen to me! Just don’t spread any rumors! It’ll ruin my chances for marriage! Everyone will think I’m weird!」
…Maybe I’ll bring a few extra for Riito-san.
I should invite her out for drinks sometime and lend an ear to her complaints.
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