by CHIROLU
But considering the circumstances, the fact that there was nothing wrong with him was a problem in and of itself.
“I’d like to avoid having her hate me, but still... What should I do?”
Sylvester had known her for so many years now that he knew she wouldn’t back down even when dealing with hot-blooded, wild adventurers. With that thought, his old friend’s face came to mind and he gave a faint sigh.
After that, Kenneth’s party stopped taking on the guard jobs that were supposed to be their specialty, and instead began heading out into the forest where magical beasts dwelled, to the south of Kreuz. And yet, their reputation remained rather impressive all the while.
Since the magical beasts weren’t that common in the areas surrounding Kreuz, there was a strong tendency for the weak ones to gather in the forest. That went to show just how many adventurers gathered in the town. And in turn, that resulted in the forest having a greater variety and number of magical beasts than in regions where adventurers were never seen, making it far more dangerous.
If a party was able to venture deep inside, that was proof of just how skilled they were.
When they first took jobs in Kreuz they stayed on the outskirts doing basic hunting and gathering, but in no time at all they were going mid-way deep.
“Your magic sure is handy,” Helmut stated one day after they started working around Kreuz, sounding half astounded.
Dale’s Earth magic was almost too helpful when it came to exploring the forest. Even when it was an area they were supposedly visiting for the first time, Dale would never get lost or choose the wrong path. And on top of that, he could even grasp the terrain to a certain degree.
Those abilities really were a big reason they were able to proceed deep into the forest so unusually quickly. And his skills from growing up in Tislow were even more effective in a forest or on a mountain.
However, Dale himself understood firsthand that wasn’t the only reason.
“I think I probably personally have a strong affinity with this place.”
“What do you mean?” Helmut questioned, while as magic users, Karel and Scipio immediately looked jealous.
“You mean an affinity with your divine protection, right?”
“I’ve heard magical beast habitats are generally brimming with the energy of the gods.”
“By divine protection, do you mean that stuff that priests have? Does it really have that big of an effect?”
“My divine protection has a strong affinity with magic in the first place. And the divine energy from around here is from Quirmizi, Azraq, and... I think probably Akhdar. So yeah, it’s having a pretty big effect. It’s super easy for me to weave the mana I need.”
Dale had received a portion of miraculous power from the gods Quirmizi and Azraq, but even he was surprised at how strong of an affinity he had for this place.
Normally, it wasn’t recommended for adventurers to act on their own. The unusually high affinity of this land was a big reason that Dale would later come to carefreely do just that on a daily basis. In terms of earnings a guard job with a merchant caravan was more profitable, but since he was always able to catch his prey and turn a profit, it wasn’t half bad.
As for Dale’s training at the time, he was steadily getting some on-the-job experience at negotiating sales of his catches with the veteran merchants of Kreuz. At first, the merchants always managed to strike a one-sided bargain, but by now he was able to earn a definite profit.
He was getting such fulfillment from his everyday life, and yet from Dale’s point of view at least, Kenneth’s romance didn’t seem to have made any progress.
“Rita, I’d like to hear about the fine details of this request,” Kenneth called out to Rita like it was only natural when visiting the Dancing Ocelot.
“The rule is that you are to negotiate directly with the client. Our shop doesn’t get in the middle of such things,” she answered in an incredibly blunt tone.
However, Kenneth just briefly replied, “I see,” and walked further into the shop. “Sorry, Sylvester, but I wanted to ask about this job. Do you know anyone who would be familiar with where the magical beast in question can be found?” he asked the regular.
Sylvester didn’t look displeased to be bothered in the least, and he placed his hand on his chin as he mulled it over.
Seeing how Kenneth and Sylvester had gotten so friendly at some point caused Rita to furrow her brow even further. However, the pair just kept on seriously discussing the job, paying the waitress’s bad mood no heed.
It was unbelievably frustrating.
Unable to suppress that feeling, Rita instead turned it into fuel to passionately tackle her work.
They were completely earnest. More so than any other party of adventurers Rita knew, they were totally serious about their work.
Whenever Kenneth addressed Rita, he had impeccable manners for an adventurer seeking work. If he uttered even a single vulgar word she was prepared to curse him and toss him out, but he always remained a perfect gentleman.
The dragon parts his party had brought into Kreuz had come from a port town by the name of Wal. Apparently a rare beast known as an agate-eyed dragon had taken up residence in the harbor and brought the town’s business to a screeching halt until they took it down. Thanks to their careful preparations in fighting it, they managed to defeat the massive dragon with hardly any damage to the town, and apparently a number of minstrels were already singing a new epic song based on the event. They asked for their just reward to be the remains of the beast, but they didn’t ask for any further payment from the town. Since fishing had stopped, the economy of Wal had also stalled out, and so it would have a serious effect on the town if they had to pay a fitting reward for taking down a dragon. The party’s chivalrous actions in keeping that in mind was another big reason their tale was getting sung.
Their reputation around Kreuz was also steadily on the rise.
Even Sylvester’s friendly reception was based on what he had seen of their work ethic.
It really did seem like no matter what job they took on, they would fulfill it quickly and honestly. By now they were getting repeat clients, with some of them even occasionally inquiring if they could ask for the group by name. Rita had never heard of such requests coming in this short of a period of time before.
Rita slid her hand over the Akhdar message board again today, clearly unable to hide her irritation all the while.
If she hated him, then she just had to not look and have nothing to do with him.
And yet, Rita was abusing her position to gather information, for some reason she couldn’t explain. Ultimately, her excuse to herself was that she was just being picky and feeling a need to deal with the questions that occasionally came to mind.
“It’d be a bad joke if someone were to say it’s because I have feelings for him...” she muttered without thinking.
Then, she reaffirmed it. That was a joke. Yes, of course it was... After all, ever since they first met, he didn’t try to hit on her or flatter her.
And she didn’t want that either. No, definitely not.
But still, it was frustrating. It just wasn’t fair, that she was the only one worrying so much about it.
“Well then, I’m off, Rita.”
“I hope you never come back.”
That was why she had thrown such words back at him again today. It was clear that she had completely given up on offering the sort of friendliness you would expect of someone in the service industry.
But still, if he came again tomorrow...
“This job looks like it’s going to be a bit of trouble. You mind worrying about me a bit, Rita?”
“Of course I won’t. In fact, it’d be refreshing never having to see your stupid face again.”
She didn’t have any expectations, of course. But still, if he came yet again...
It was quite sudden when Kenneth’s party stopped showing up.
He had just said he would come ag
ain tomorrow, then he left the shop like normal. How had she responded to him, though...?
She had known for some time that the party wasn’t exactly based out of Kreuz to begin with. And it wasn’t exactly as if she could ask as to their whereabouts, either.
The days passed by, but she was too afraid to gather information on them.
She was well aware that adventurers would often disappear suddenly. It was a job that sat side by side with danger, and since she was born as the daughter of this shop’s owners, she had always known what that meant.
And so, she covered her ears. There could be all sorts of information flying about this shop that she didn’t want to hear.
And Sylvester was always in his regular spot, but he wasn’t there today. A few days prior he had received some information and left the shop with a heartbroken look on his face, and it seemed he had been around to various places since then handling some sort of work.
Even in the middle parts of the forest, powerful magical beasts would at times wander through from deeper in. Countless parties of adventurers had been wiped out through such run-ins.
When Sylvester and his allies heard that such a magical beast had reached the shallowed parts of the forest, they hurriedly rushed to come up with a plan to handle it.
Among the parties that fell victim to it were those who could even manage just fine midway into the forest. And so, they entered a state of high alert, barring inexperienced adventurers from entering the forest at all.
Even skilled fighters were falling.
One may have the skill needed to defeat a dragon, but if they were suddenly attacked in an unexpected place, there was no guarantee they would be able to deal with that.
Plus, Rita knew without having to ask that this incident had occurred around where Kenneth’s group was most active.
She was well aware of all that. And yet, she didn’t want to face the reality.
“If things were going to turn out like this, should I have at least told him to come back safely...?” she whispered, surprising even herself with how weak her voice sounded.
Kenneth at last appeared again before the emotionally overwhelmed Rita half a month later.
“You’re alive...?”
Kenneth tilted his head at that sudden question, clearly not understanding where it was coming from.
As for Rita, she was shocked at how much her voice trembled as she confirmed what she was seeing.
“Seems like it’s been pretty crazy here in Kreuz. We’ve been on a request from a merchant caravan we’re acquainted with, escorting them to the capital, but I heard plenty of rumors along the way,” Kenneth stated in sympathy, assuming Rita’s trembling voice had a different cause entirely.
To Rita’s ears, even those words felt totally unreal, and she sat there in a daze.
“I heard it was a massive enough snake that it could swallow large trees whole, right? And apparently a big group banded together in order to take it down. Dale from our party really wanted to participate, so he was disappointed not to get the chance. Ah right, I had been hearing there were some bandits active lately along the highway, but we didn’t run into anything like that on the round trip. Could you update that information?”
Kenneth had kept on talking away because Rita hadn’t replied, but when he looked at her face again, he was taken aback. She was so strong-willed and always wore a look of confidence, but now tears were streaming down her face onto the counter.
He had no idea whatsoever what he had done to cause her to cry. And he was utterly disgusted at himself when he realized he wasn’t even being caring enough to offer her a clean handkerchief to use.
“R-Rita...?”
“It’s nothing.”
“You say that, but I mean, look at you...”
“I told you it’s nothing, so it’s nothing.”
That reply at least had some of her usual toughness, which caused Kenneth to feel seriously relieved. As that showed clearly on his face, Rita shot him back a smile even as the tears rolled down her cheeks.
“You made it back safely, so it’s nothing... Welcome home.”
That was the first time Kenneth saw Rita smile, and it was so charming that he felt himself fall for her all over again.
†
Dale’s tale of the past seemed to have seriously stirred up Latina’s curiosity.
She saw all the people around her as adults, but even they were once children. That observation was hardly profound, but she hadn’t really considered it until now.
“Theo and Emma were babies, but they’ve grown so big. And I guess it’s that way with everyone, but it still feels strange somehow.”
“And you were so small that your hands couldn’t reach the top of the tables, little lady,” Sylvester said while his eyes narrowed.
Hearing that, Latina pouted just a bit as she held out a cup full of freshly poured tea.
From back behind the counter, Rita smiled a bit at the sight of Sylvester acting like a doting old man looking at his granddaughter.
The regular was as much a fan of drinking as he’d been when Rita’s father ran the place, but thanks to a certain adorable waitress personally preparing it, now his usual glass of booze was replaced by a teacup half the time. Latina herself didn’t seem to realize the impact she had there, though.
“Mr. Syl, you knew Rita when she was a child?”
“Since before that, even, since her old man and I were childhood friends. And even when I started heading all over for work, I would still make frequent stops in this shop to gather information, so we’ve known each other for a long time. Thanks to that, I’ve known Rita ever since she was born.”
“Ooh, Rita as a baby...?” Latina questioned with a tilt of her head.
“I mean, even I was one once, yeah,” Rita quipped back.
Even so, Latina still looked like she was deep in thought.
“Hmm... So was it like when Emma was that small?” Latina asked, seeming like she was pushing her imagination to its limits.
“Nah, she was just like little Theo,” Sylvester answered, straight-faced.
“That must be because of the hair color, right?”
Their son had his mother’s black hair, while their daughter Emma got her blonde hair from her father. And that fine, soft hair of hers wasn’t too much like her mother, either.
“I wouldn’t say that was all. Theo cried the exact same way, too. All of us old family friends thought for sure a boy had been born when we heard it and prepared a celebration, so we were left real flustered when we found out they had a daughter.”
Apparently, Rita’s strong nature had been there since birth.
“So you celebrated a girl... But Rita just isn’t that girly, so I find it hard to imagine...”
“My dad wanted to put me in clothes like that. My own tastes certainly turned out differently, though.”
Rita had no interest in girly clothing, but she didn’t have a strong hatred for it or anything either. After all, there was no need to reiterate how deeply she enjoyed dressing up the adorable little Latina in cute outfits.
“Back when Rita was around Emma’s age, she got dressed in frilly stuff.”
“No way,” Rita replied, looking shocked.
“What would be the point in lying about that?” Sylvester replied.
Watching that exchange, Latina returned to her original question, which she then asked while doing her signature little head tilt.
“Mr. Syl, did you know Dale back when he was a kid?”
“We didn’t meet Dale till he’d already become an adventurer, and first visited this shop.”
“Kenneth would stop by Dale’s home village back when he lived there, so he should have known him back when he was a good bit younger.”
“I see...” Latina muttered, then shifted back to a serious expression. “Hmm... It really does feel a bit frustrating, somehow...”
“If you keep saying stuff like that, you’ll end up like Dale.”
; “Like Dale...?” Latina questioned.
Rita replied, sounding truly astounded, “I mean, he feels seriously competitive with your sister. Like, he was honestly frustrated whenever she mentioned how she knew how you were back in your old home and the like.”
“I think Chrysos is at fault there, too...” Latina advocated for her husband while trying to remain an impartial judge, since she knew her sister actively tried to stir him up.
“Actually, I should say he was more beyond all help rather than merely being frustrated, considering how insistent he was that you must have been absolutely adorable when you were even smaller than you were when you first got here.”
“Um...”
“You normally wouldn’t go saying stuff like that about your wife.”
“Ah, yeah... Even I have times where I’m not sure what to think, too.”
Ultimately, she didn’t go as far as to advocate for him. Hearing that, Dale slumped his shoulders.
But in the end, that side of Dale was an established fact, so that hardly came as a surprise.
“Well, I also figure you were definitely awful cute when you were that tiny, Latina.”
“I’m sure you two must have been the apple of your folks’ eyes when they saw you and your twin sister standing next to each other.”
“Huh?”
When Latina had first arrived they thought from her manners that she must have come from a good family, and knowing of her origins now, they could tell how much overflowing love her parents had for her.
Though she’d cruelly lost everything, she’d simply missed her parents and the sister that she was separated from, rather than feeling any resentment. And that kind of gentle kindness didn’t come simply from being born into a prosperous family.
She had grown a great deal under her parents, and they surely had loved her greatly. Even that doting fool of a former guardian had to admit as much.
“Anyway, once you start talking about stuff like that, it never ends. I mean, it’s not like I know every single thing about Kenneth’s past,” Rita concluded, not realizing that Latina was staring at her with great curiosity. That was at least in part because she had already returned to glancing over documents, though.
