Chapter 108: Once Again

For some time starting from the moment she came back, Faima was so embarrassed that she curled up into a ball and writhed all day long on her bed.

Although she got induced into a temporary [nyannyan] state through a drug, it looked like she could remember the memory of that time quite clearly. Needless to say, this and that and so on during our liaison were all etched inside her head.

「……I never thought I would come to loathe my own exceptional memory this much.」

Such faint whisper came from the curled-into-a-ball Faima.

Although she turned into a ball, she got out of her cocoon by the third day. On the fourth day, she could hold a conversation with me, albeit awkwardly. After a week, she resumed her research at the Imperial Palace’s library.

I’m glad we didn’t fall apart.

But, not everything returned to how it used to be. One such example was during the way to the library.

「ーーーー…………………(po~~)」

「……Hey, Faima.」

「Hiu!? K-Kanna?」

When I called out to her who was leading the way, she got startled so much to the point of being amusing.

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「Eh? Why are you there?」

So she said with an expression as though she was surprised.

「W-Wh-What would be……the matter?」

「Well, we already passed by the library door and then we walked into a corner twice.」

「Couldn’t you tell me earlier!? Or rather, why didn’t anyone stop me!」

ーーAmong other things.

Sometimes she inadvertently turned absentminded. It didn’t matter whether she’s walking down a road, doing her research or eating.

According to Kiska, she also goes [po~] while taking a bath and lost track of the time until she became dizzy.

……Well, it’s definitely because of our [nyannyan time]. I can’t think of any other possibility.

「Oi bastard, what did you do to milady.」

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「Why don’t you stop that belligerent attitude?」

Agatt drew closer and while I was evading him noncommittally, Rand mediated before he goes too far. I dunno when he put his hand on the sword on his waist but it gave me a chill.

When he learned the truth, just as I thought, heーー

「ーーActually, does he even understand?」

Agatt needed [adult education]. I completely forgot about that. He should be taught that much but not to the finer details. Anyway, it’s best to consult Rand first1.

To explain Faima’s circumstances for the few days after she returned from the party, Rand said to him…

『She was worn out from the unfamiliar party in a foreign country.』

Considering Agatt’s personality, I thought he would come to kill me with no questions asked as soon as he learned the truth but when I think about it again, I wonder he can understand it to begin with. After all, he’s a pure type ikemen who seriously believes that children are a gift from God, literally.

In the first place, what kinda education was he given to grow into such a pure ikemen? If he had the chance, he should’ve at least found out the relationship between [stamen] and [pistil].

Agatt’s [education] aside, I’m currently trudging my way to the adventurer’s guild with slight wound in my heart due to the talk with Real.

Real told me to show up at the guild when I was leaving. Apparently, Lydeal baa-san wants to hear the progress report from my mouth.

Faima had already given me permission to have a break today.

Fortunately, starting from a few days ago, the librarian allowed Faima to borrow books after seeing her eagerly researching. Although she got permission to borrow books that are limited to those authorized by the librarian, she was strictly prohibited from taking it out of the palace. There’s no problem if she stays within that range.

Thanks to that, it was possible for her to continue researching even at night after the library closed its door. And on that note, if she hauls in a large number of books while the sun is still up, she won’t have to leave her room for practically the whole day.

Even for the standard of the Imperial Palace, the guest room where Faima is staying are built stronger than others and neither the door nor the windows can be destroyed by ordinary impact. And while I’m at it, Faima took measures of her own by installing magical formation above the ceiling. By doing so, it would instantly warn her of any trespasser.

To sum it up, her safety is guaranteed while she’s in the guest room. Since that’s the case, me being absent won’t be a problem.

Efficiency-wise, it’d be far better to visit the library directly but then Faima happily sent me off by saying…

「Kanna have been taking care of me, so please take a rest once in a while.」

And so, today is my free time.

The adventurer’s guild, which I haven’t visited for maybe more than half a month is still as bustling as ever.

Despite the din, I feel contrastingly calm. Maybe because I’ve been cooped up in a place where formalities are observed. As I thought, it seems that places with stiff atmosphere such as the Imperial Palace is completely at odds with my nature.

「Oh, if it isn’t aniki!」

The moment I’m about to enter the guild, someone called out from behind. Turning my head to look, I can see a well built man with tattoo covering half his face smiling happily. For a moment, I was stunned by his clearly crooked appearance but then, I immediately recognize this person. When I was chucked into jail by the Steel Dragon Knights, I got acquainted with a fellow inmateーa street thug called Tamar.

「Long time no see, aniki!」

「E-Even if you say that, it was only around half a month…」

I winced when this grim looking guy comes close to me in a friendly manner. I couldn’t bluntly push away my follower so I return his words despite the cramp on my face.

「L-Let’s go inside first. We’re blocking traffic.」

「Got it!」

I step into the guild along with Tamar, who responded vigorously. Inside the building, I take up position where it wouldn’t be a bother and start over my conversation with him.

「I heard you became an adventurer. Well done.」

「This is all thanks to aniki scolding me inside that jail and on top of that, provided support as well. If that didn’t happen, I’d be back at the back alley and return to being a street thug by now.」

Tamar bows down while scratching the back of his head.

「How do you feel about becoming an adventurer?」

「Great! Thanks to aniki, ever since I became an adventurer, I could eat three proper meals a day and sleep in a proper bed at night!」

He’s saying something exceedingly commonplace while being emotional but if I turn his words the other way around, his life at the bottom must’ve been to the extent where even something commonplace was lacking.

「Did you come to the guild today to accept a request?」

「Although I’m able to lead a proper life nowadays, presently, it’s still impossible for me to work on a magic beast subjugation. I’m earning my daily pay by accepting miscellaneous types of requests. ……Um, I’m terribly sorry butーー」

Hearing Tamar’s cloudy words made me laugh and hit his arm lightly.

「I’m not in trouble with money, so I’ll be waiting leisurely for you to pay back the money I lent. It’s fine as long as you don’t get involved in bad things and properly repay me through the right way.」

「T-Thank you very much, aniki!」

When a man with a better physique than mine lowers his head, the sense of discomfort isn’t half-hearted at all.

「……A question suddenly popped in my head. With your appearance, do you have problem with accepting miscellaneous types of requests?」

At first glance, Tamar’s appearance is a [warrior type 893]. Not only that, half his face is covered with tattoo, further adding intensity to his presence. If a timid person were to bump into him in the back alley at night, they’ll burst into tears at the get-go.

To top it off, many of the miscellaneous type requests are closely related to people’s daily lives and compared to magic beast subjugation requests, distance with clients are closer. Also, those clients are ordinary commoners who has nothing to do with violent fights. Their compatibility with this 893 is probably the worst.

……Tamar is a [former (faux) 893] but it’s not something someone could grasp in their first meeting.

「Well yes, even when I brought the guild’s paper to the client, I was often greeted with strange faces. In some cases, the request was withdrawn as soon as they look at my face. It’s because I look like this.」

Tamar laughs powerlessly but it didn’t contain much sadness.

「It’s only once but I told a client I’ll mow the lawn in her garden and the granny said [thank you].」

「Glad to hear it.」

「It was only a mowing job and the reward was cheap but I felt like I was rewarded with those few words.」

「……Sounds like you can still continue for a while longer.」

「Please be at ease. If nothing else, my behavior alone won’t betray aniki’s expectations.」