──Piroon.
That electronic sound rang through my mind again. I really wished it would stop already.
「Miriel has joined Ichinose Takato’s team. She is now able to enter the Sefuti Home. Keep working hard on goblin extermination」
「W-what was that just now!?」
「I will explain when we get back. I cannot talk about it here」
Talking about that useless goddess here would be a hassle. Explaining after we returned would be enough. It would be easier for her to understand once she saw the Sefuti Home.
「It is late for this, but we should introduce ourselves. I am Takato. This is Ladarion. Nice to meet you」
「Y-yes. I am Miriel」
Even if our names were already known, introducing ourselves mattered. We would be living together in the same Sefuti Home from now on.
「A-are you alright…?」
「I am fine」
There was no way I was fine while carrying someone when I was already so thin. But whining here was something my pride would not allow, not as a man and not as an adult.
Laugh if you want. Men are creatures who cling stubbornly to their tiny bit of pride.
I somehow managed to keep a straight face until we reached the Pioneer’s place. I did well. Even if no one praised me, I would praise myself.
I helped Miriel into the back seat, grabbed the bottle from the cup holder, and chugged the water. Ah. Perfect.
「Ladarion. Sorry, but give me a towel and some water」
She took a towel and water from the backpack. I dampened the towel, wrung it out, and helped Miriel wipe her face and arms so she could feel refreshed.
「Miriel. Drink this. It is a healing potion」
She could use her own healing magic, but her body had to be weakened after living like that. She needed to recover her strength first before anything else.
After I gave her a single healing pill, her complexion improved a little. Maybe the weaker someone was, the stronger the effect became.
「Takato. Sorry to keep you waiting」
Around four, Kainzel-san returned.
「Not at all. We did not wait long」
「And that girl?」
「She is Miriel. She could use healing magic, so I recruited her as an exterminator. She said she is one of the Morrisite. Are they despised?」
「They are not hated that much, but they belong to a defeated nation. People do not think well of them」
I had never lived through a war, so I could not imagine it. But I could understand that something hard to express must be swirling in the air. For now, I would keep her limited to the Sefuti Home and our place.
「Then shall we head back? It is getting cloudy」
It really only stayed clear for the amount of rain that fell. Strange world.
As promised, we headed home with Kainzel-san driving this time.
「If it rains tomorrow, please train me with the sword」
Even while driving, he handled it surprisingly well, so I brought up tomorrow’s plans.
「Alright. Only in the morning again?」
「Yes. I need to explain things to Miriel and teach her」
It would be a while before she could begin in earnest. Until then, she would get used to living in the Sefuti Home and regain her strength. During that time, I would continue training under Kainzel-san.
「The cleanup will still take some time」
「With that amount, it will take a while」
「I should prepare some shochu to warm us up」
Shochu was cheaper than whisky and warmed the body better. Not that I drank much shochu, so I did not know much about it.
We went straight home without stopping anywhere.
Instead of entering Lasagna Village, we circled around the back. Marg was still riding the cross bike. That guy never got tired of it.
「Master, welcome back」
「Yeah, I am back. You improved a lot in a short time. Do not push yourself」
「Okay. I understand」
He answered without understanding, but learning one’s limits was part of growing up. Failing and stumbling would shape him into a proper adult.
We put the Pioneer away in the shed and unloaded our things.
「Kainzel-san. Please rest today. I would like training from tomorrow morning」
「Alright」
I parted from Kainzel-san at the shed, then carried Miriel back home.
「It is a big house」
「Do you know that Lasagna Village is a village of giants?」
「I have never seen a giant, but I have heard stories」
Now that I thought about it, the town of Misrim did not have streets wide enough for giants. Even though it was the closest town.
「Ladarion is also a giant. She uses magic to shrink himself」
Miriel was shocked when Ladarion returned to her original size in front of the house. Do not wet yourself.
「Humans enter from over there, but today we will use this entrance」
Training tomorrow would be here, and I wanted Miriel’s training to take place here as well.
「Miriel. Do you understand what the Sefuti Home is?」
「Y-yes. It is like a shelter for goblin exterminators…」
The explanation was sloppy as always. They should deliver information properly.
I set Miriel down and told her to head to the Sefuti Home. She vanished instantly. I returned to the Sefuti Home as well.
Miriel stood on top of the dust chute in a daze. I picked her up and moved to the central room.
「Ladarion. Can you wash Miriel? She seems very dirty」
It would not be appropriate for me to do it. I did not want Miriel to think of me as some lecherous old man for the rest of our time together. Men in their thirties were delicate.
「Okay」
Ladarion carried Miriel into the unit bath. Wash her well. I felt bad, but Miriel smelled really bad.
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