For the time being, I emptied a bottle of Yoichi 12-Year and escaped into the world of dreams.
The price of running away was heavy, but at least I was able to sleep without thinking about anything. O-oh… bleegh.
I barricaded myself in the unit bath for around two hours, drinking water from the showerhead to recover. Ugh… my stomach…
What am I even doing? While thinking that, four hours passed before someone pounded hard on the door.
「Takato-san, are you alright!」
Miriel, huh. So, they already came back. It seems I slept for more than a full day.
「…I’m fine. Recovering…」
So please don’t come in. As the older one here, this is not a situation where I can maintain any dignity.
After soaking in hot water for about an hour, I finally settled down. Then I cleaned the unit bath before coming out. Of course, only after becoming a civilized person again. Nudism bad, absolutely forbidden!
Everyone had gathered in the central room, and the atmosphere felt tight with tension.
The useless goddess’s (*゜▽゜)ノ flickered through my mind, but right now, the air pressing down on me was so intense that I couldn’t even care about that.
「Explain yourself」
Miriel’s words, which completely dominated the room, nearly broke my spirit. But I’m the one who caused this situation. I steeled myself and sat at the table.
「First, I’m sorry for not discussing it with you two」
After apologizing to the two of them, I honestly explained everything to indifferent Ladarion and tense Miriel: that Misaro had been an officer of the Demon King’s army, our first encounter, the recent battle, and what the useless goddess had said.
「I didn’t make Misaro an exterminator out of pity alone. Well, maybe there was some pity. But I also did it because I believed it would benefit us. Someone who has information about the Demon King’s army has value」
To begin with, I only made Ladarion and Miriel my companions because they had that kind of value too. I never intended to recruit just anyone.
Well, I do feel guilty for not telling Ladarion about the risks of becoming an exterminator, but right now she chooses to be one of her own will. That means we live and die together. We have to survive as a team.
「Misaro has enough value to be one of our companions」
I do not accept anyone unconditionally. I accept people because they have value.
「Of course, I made both Ladarion and Miriel my companions because I judged that you had value as well」
If someone asked me, then what value do you have? I would probably drop to my knees and apologize. The only thing I can give the three of them is a place to belong. A way for them to keep living there.
「If Takato has decided, I’ll accept it. After all, I’m Takato’s spear.」
Yeah. I’d like you to learn what that means before saying it. I have no idea how to respond.
「…Haa. I’m sad that you didn’t consult us at all, but you are Sefuti Bullet’s leader, Takato-san. If that is your decision, then I accept it as well. Please consult us properly next time」
「Y-yes. Understood…」
What is this feeling? Even though I’m the leader, it feels like I’m being scolded by the one who acts like the leader. W-well, the important thing is that both of them accepted it. Yeah, yeah.
「Misaro, can you accept that too?」
「If I can stay by Takato’s side, I’ll do anything」
「Misaro. Don’t live in a way that depends on me. Only by standing on your own feet can you walk your own life. Live by your own convictions」
Rather than spending their whole lives exterminating goblins, I want the three of them to walk their own paths. They’re girls in their teens with futures ahead of them.
「Now that there are four exterminators, let’s establish rules for Home」
Most importantly, nudism is banned. I’m a man too, so my eyes naturally drift. I don’t want to look at my companions that way. Well, with those two, it doesn’t really matter anyway.
「Misaro, I want you to manage Home, but during your free time, you should cook or study. I want to learn the writing system here too, but I don’t have the time. If you learn it, that would help a lot」
If Miriel and Misaro learn it, communication will be easier, and the burden of teaching me and Ladarion will be lighter. If we are going to live in this world, learning to read and write is essential.
「Cooking, huh. That sounds nice. I’ve always been interested in cooking」
「That’s good. I can make simple dishes too, so I’ll teach you」
I lived alone for about five years, so I can handle simple cooking. First, I’ll need to teach her how to use the kitchen.
「That said, with four of us now, this place is getting cramped」
The central room is about twenty tatami mats in size. Inside are two commercial refrigerators and a freezer. A rack lined with a sink and three rice cookers. Everyone’s dressers. Three mattresses. A sofa and a table for four. It’s so packed there’s barely room to step.
「When we’re in Lasagna Village, maybe we should sleep in rooms at the manor. We can just enter Home for the toilet and bath. Ah, maybe I should make the bath a little bigger」
「How about combining the baths into one? I don’t mind the step anymore, and if we take turns, there shouldn’t be a problem. But with four people, we need two toilets」
「A remodel, huh. That might not cost too much then」
If I merge the unit bath Miriel uses with the one Ladarion and I use, it should become around eight tatami mats in size.
If I enlarge the tub, even three people could fit. Of course, I’ll be bathing alone.
Accepting Miriel’s request, I make the tub about two tatami mats in size, install two showers, and separate it from the wash area. I add a second toilet and also install a sink and toilet near the entrance.
It cost around two million yen, but Home is our safe zone. It has to be comfortable. Two million yen is a cheap price for that.
「…I still need to restock guns too, so I’ll drop below three million…」
The money vanished so quickly it makes me wonder what all that hardship was even for.
「Alright. We’ll make it back at Miroid Fortress」
Since I’ll be bringing staff and dwarves, we probably won’t earn that much, but I still want to end in the black.
「When do we depart?」
「Tomorrow… no, the day after tomorrow. First wave: Kainzel-san, Cyrus-san, and Ladarion will go ahead with the staff. The next day, second wave. Mishinie, Miriel, and Bisha will head out. Then the following day, third wave. I’ll bring Mebi and the dwarves」
The detailed plan will come after I explain Misaro’s situation to Kainzel-san and the others.
Leave a Reply