The day after yesterday’s great banquet and my first bath.
I had seen Hayato and the others back to the royal capital, and now I was taking a breather at his house.
「Itsuki-san. Please wait a little longer」
「Yeah. I’ll sit here and let my magic power recover」
I sat down on the sofa and drank a magic power recovery potion.
Hayato and Freed had gone to the treasury in order to grant the request I had made of them.
『I want the strength to fight. I know it’s shameless of me, but if possible… if you have any weapons you’re not using, could you lend them to me? I’m not saying I want an easy shortcut, but if it could make me even a little stronger, then… what do you think…?』
Of course, the first thought anyone would have is: ‘Buy your own.’
That’s only natural.
But this world is one where accessories also grant special powers, and status values are greatly affected by equipment.
Rather than buying an ordinary weapon, borrowing something Hayato had would surely make me a little more capable, even if only slightly.
To be honest, with my skills and stats being so unsuited for combat, it was better to ask than to cling to pride. If it didn’t work, I would be no worse off.
『Itsuki-san!? You mean… you’re going to fight? You want to become an adventurer?』
『No, nothing like that. Even now, the thought of fighting scares me, and I’ve no intention of rushing into battle. But… how should I put it… I just couldn’t accept staying weak forever anymore… I don’t want to feel like I can’t do anything…』
When I said that, Hayato looked a little taken aback.
Freed patted his shoulder and nodded, and Hayato turned to confirm with him.
『If I recall, all of my weapons are stored in the mansion’s treasury, right?』
『Yes. All of them are properly preserved』
『Understood. Then I’ll lend everything to Itsuki-san. From those, I’ll select the one most suited for you and give it to you』
『Wait, everything? I’d be fine just trying a few and borrowing or buying whichever worked best…』
『Even weapons of the same type can differ greatly in weight, length, and ease of handling. And whether you can use it in extended combat is something you won’t know until you try. The more you can test, the better. And some of the weapons have special powers, so the more options you have, the better』
Ooooh. As expected of a hero.
The number of battlefields he had faced was on a completely different level.
I had only thought about weight and length.
『Then… sorry, but could I trouble you?』
『Of course! They’re all unused anyway, and if they can help you, then I’m glad to lend them!』
And so, Hayato had gone to fetch the weapons.
「Onii-san!」
「Oh, what is it, Chris?」
「Let’s do our best together!」
「Y-Yeah」
Chris grabbed my hand and shook it up and down with such excitement that I was taken aback.
Uh… what exactly happened?
「Lately, Chris has been learning the bow. She said she didn’t want to stay powerless. She didn’t want to just be protected」
「Yes! I want to fight alongside everyone too!」
「I see… so you too, Chris. Yeah. Let’s do our best together!」
「It’s a race between onii-san and Chris to see who gets stronger first na no desu! But Chris has talent with the bow! She never misses a shot nano desu!」
「Th-that’s not it… it’s just that ever since I used the holy elixir, my eyesight has been much better…」
「Even so, being able to shoot something moving in the dark is impressive」
「Auuuu…」
When praised, Chris shrank back shyly, looking embarrassed.
She’s amazing, but so humble…
「Still, the reason you want to fight really is just like you. Back when we first met, you had no motivation at all and seemed kind of hopeless」
「That’s true. But I think it’s fine this way」
「Well, people change when circumstances change. And besides, you’re not saying you want to jump into battle. You just want to be able to protect yourself at the very least」
「And that’s a good thing no desu! If onii-san can protect himself, then Shiro and the others can fight without holding back, which means our attack power increases nano desu!」
Well… as it is, I’m the one dragging everyone down.
If anyone’s the number 1 candidate for ending up in danger, it’s me.
I’d like to avoid putting myself in those situations, but there’s no guarantee something like what happened last time won’t happen again.
And if it does, I don’t want to regret not having trained.
「Sorry to keep you waiting!」
「Welcome back. That’s… quite a haul」
Hayato came back pushing a cart piled high with weapons leaning against each other. At a glance, there had to be dozens.
I activated Input and, working with Hayato, stored them into my magic space. Still, holding them in my hands, I couldn’t help but think, of course, they really were weapons.
Come to think of it, isn’t this the first time I’ve actually held proper weapons?
「But… they’re all incredible」
「Some of them are dungeon drops. Since I usually just fight with the Holy Sword of Light, Excalibur, and keep my spare weapons in my magic bag, these ones have been completely unused. Please, use them freely!」
「I see. Well, as long as it’s not a burden on you, I’m relieved. I know it was selfish of me to ask… Oh, and I made some healing potions as thanks. Please use them」
I had gotten up early this morning to prepare a parting gift for Hayato and his party before they headed into the dungeon.
I’d made a large supply of healing potions(greater) and panaceas.
「Wow! Thank you so much!」
「Sorry it’s not much… but it’s all I can really do」
Honestly, I had wanted to make accessories for everyone… but I didn’t have the materials or the time for that.
「Not at all! We can never have too many of these! We’ll use them with care!」
「Well, the best situation is if you never have to use them…」
「That may be true… but it’s something I have to do」
「Yeah, I know. …Make sure you come back safely」
「Yes!」
With Hayato’s reply, Letty and the others also nodded.
「Well then, do your best out there」
「We will! You do your best too, Itsuki-san!」
「Yeah. Once I decide on a weapon, I’ll let you know. Thanks again. See you」
I raised my hand and said a short farewell, and they all responded in kind.
After looking over each of their faces one last time, I returned to Yutopola via teleport.
-0-
After leaving Hayato’s house, next was Makoto.
I had offered to send him off as well, but he said they had their own horses and wanted to take their time traveling.
「Alright then, aniki! We’ll be parting ways here!」
「Yeah. Stay safe out there」
「We will! We’ll come visit Einzheil sometime too!」
「When you do, I’ll give you a warm welcome」
As an adventurer constantly traveling from one journey to the next, Makoto would surely come to Einzheil eventually.
When that time came, I’d put them up at my house and serve them a proper feast at the very least.
「Thank you so much, Itsuki-oniisan. And for the soy sauce too…」
「Don’t mention it. I got good ingredients from you as well」
With Mika-chan, I had managed to do a food exchange.
I received things like dried fish that would make excellent soup stock, and in return I gave them a small supply of soy sauce, sweets, and even some healing potions.
「Well then, Aina-san. I’ll be in touch again!」
「Yes, Mika-dono. I look forward to it」
「Right!」
Apparently, Aina and Mika-chan had grown quite close without me realizing it.
It seemed they had exchanged contact information through their guild cards.
「…Turns out she’s been a fan of Aina since the beginning of her adventuring days」
「Really?」
「Yeah. You know how Aina gives off that aura of a dignified knightly woman?」
「That’s true. That impression is definitely there」
「Because of that, she has a lot of female fans」
「I see…」
A dignified woman can often be cooler than some good-looking guy…
…If I’m not careful, I might even have to worry about being stabbed by Aina’s female fans.
「…See you, Misa」
「Make sure to try that thing out」
「It was good advice. I’ll try it」
「Hehe, with this, you’ll be completely hooked」
「Lord belongs only to Shiro!」
That group was giving off a suspiciously dangerous atmosphere.
Just what exactly are they planning to make me try…?
「The oneesan’s quite the schemerssu…」
「Schemer…?」
「Yesterday she was teaching us how to eat sausages in a seductive way, and also lectured on how important the balance between nudity and clothing isssu. She said when it’s just a shirt and nothing else, that’s called a boyfriend shirt, rightssu?」
…Somehow, modern knowledge of eros has been passed on to Shiro and the others…
But if Shiro wore my shirt, it would probably just look like long sleeves swallowing her hands.
There would be no erotic essence at all…
「Next time, please let me wear master’s clothes toossu!」
「Alright… when that time comes, you’ll wear only a dress shirt」
I happen to have a dress shirt on hand!
Naturally, she won’t wear anything on the bottom.
Or maybe I’ll have her leave the chest open and only wear underwear below… ah, I’m torn!
「Well then, aniki! Until we meet again!」
「…Yeah. Stay well」
I watched Makoto and his companions leave, and with that, things seemed to have settled down…
-0-
Alright. Time to return to the villa and relax.
「Hold it right there, mister! You still have to pay my contract fee!」
Ah… it’s not that I forgot, alright?
Yeah. I remembered, of course. Naturally.
「Ah, that face! You definitely forgot!」
「…My bad, my bad. I’ve got it prepared」
「Geez… please don’t do that…」
I handed over a pouch filled with gold coins, and she immediately began counting through them.
Considering the confidentiality clause and other factors, it was quite a large sum I was paying.
Wendy and the others had already been informed, so it wasn’t a waste.
「One, two, three… um… this seems like quite a lot…?」
「Well, you can guess why」
「Ah, I see. It’s mostly hush money, isn’t it? You don’t need to worry that much. I would never be so untrustworthy as to leak information I obtained from work. Besides, I’m not stupid enough to make an enemy of hero Hayato」
Well, I figured as much.
But that money wasn’t only for that.
「Yeah, that’s part of it. But honestly, you really helped us out. Without you, we wouldn’t even have finished on time. So I added a little extra as thanks. I really appreciate it」
「Wh-what’s this all of a sudden? Putting on such a serious face… this gap from your usual self is way too much!」
I wasn’t lying.
Originally, Guide-san was only supposed to guard us, or protect us in case of trouble.
But she had gone far beyond that, smashing rocks, carrying luggage, even hunting monsters for us.
That was why,
「Once more, thank you. You were a great help」
Saying that, I reached out my hand.
For a handshake.
「…Hmm. In that case, I’ll gladly accept. But it’s still too much, so… take this」
The guide took my hand and pressed it against her chest with a squish.
It was, of course, over her clothes, but the softness was clearly conveyed.
Unfortunately, my thoughts hadn’t quite caught up with the situation yet.
「Consider it a service. Ahhn. Honestly, you’re such a lecherous man…」
Even if my thoughts hadn’t caught up, my fingers, having made contact, naturally moved as if memorizing the sensation, kneading guide-san’s chest.
Surprisingly… no, not quite. I hadn’t fully reached the breasts yet.
Everyone around stared blankly.
My fingers were still moving, kneading, until the moment it suddenly felt as if they were grasping empty air.
At the same time, guide-san had slipped away.
Shiro and Sorte had stretched out their hands toward where she had been, but her figure was already gone.
「Hah-hah-hah! I’ve gotten back at you! Well then, see you!」
At some point she had moved to the roof, laughing proudly, leaving behind those words as if to say it was payback for yesterday, before leaping away.
「I’ll chase her」
「Let her go…」
I stopped Shiro, who was about to activate Black Weasel and give chase, and we all simply watched until guide-san was out of sight.
Truly, unshaken until the very end…
「So then, what should we do now?」
「What do you mean, isn’t it obvious?」
「Of course it is」
「We’re taking a bath, right?」
Everyone looked at me with grins, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
Wait, wait. It’s not like I’m that simple-minded, ah, no, that’s exactly it.
The reason I built this villa was to enjoy a mixed bath!
There’s nothing else to do!
If I couldn’t have a mixed bath, I’d rather go home!
「Alright! The sun’s still high, but let’s get in!」
Kuh kuh kuh.
At last, the long-awaited hot spring mixed bath!
They’ll wash me so thoroughly that there won’t be a single place on my body left untouched!
Hah-hah-hah-hah!
The hot spring… is the best!
-0-
AN: With this, Volume 6 comes to an end.
Maybe I should have dragged out what I said earlier, but in the end, I just went ahead and wrote it.
As for the mixed bath, I’ll cover it in a Volume 6 interlude…
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