Chapter 199
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While I’m wondering where to eat, I happen to run into a guild staff member who kindly lets me borrow a room. So the three of us enter the room, spread out the street food we bought on the table, and take our seats.
As expected, they also want to hear my story about the Sealed Dungeon. Though I pretend to be reluctant with a 「Well, if I must,」 I end up telling the story of the Sealed Dungeon for what feels like the hundredth time.
Like Milan and Anon, what is it about dungeon stories that captivates people so much? The brothers before me listen intently to my tale with shining eyes. This makes me even more passionate about telling it.
Just then, perhaps from eating too much street food, Chloa lets out a small burp. Blushing, he hides his face against his older brother’s shoulder.
「Don’t worry about it. It’s no big deal.」
Young men at this age are sensitive. Come to think of it, Hikaru also started getting embarrassed about various things after entering middle school.
「Anyway, hang on a minute. I’ll get the sherbet and those frozen figs ready.」
I place three prepared plates on the table, and we continue our conversation while taking small bites.
Especially during the part about the one-on-one fight with No-Skill:
「No-Skill?! You mean *that* No-Skill?!」
「Yeah, that’s right, that No-Skill.」
Chloe, who had been quietly nodding along until now, suddenly becomes eager and starts asking questions about the battle.
「To think that Low actually fought that No-Skill in a death match and won…!!」
In his excitement, Chloe grabs both my hands and shakes them vigorously.
I can’t tell them that No-Skill was actually a weirdo who got angry and called me a coward. Instead, I end up describing No-Skill’s sword techniques and habits as Chloe eagerly asks about them.
Seeing Chloe’s excited reaction makes me feel good too, and the story gets even more heated.
Before I know it, I’ve already gotten to the story about the super dragon. Chloa claps enthusiastically.
Seriously, if you guys are just acting interested, it would kill me!!
But I digress.
I don’t mention anything about Ainika.
There were many complicated things that would come up if I talked about him.
Besides, I feel like I’ve been doing all the talking.
「I’d kind of like to hear about you two now.」
I request.
Chloe tells me that since the day after meeting us, he’s been actively hunting Fog, mobilizing many parties in Vienetta.
His younger brother Chloa, while regretting that he couldn’t participate himself, has been focusing on providing strong support by manufacturing potions and mana potions. He’s also been enthusiastically working on improving Crane’s Guidance.
Their story from when we met continues to the present and extends into their future plans.
「Now that we’ve settled the Sealed Dungeon matter we promised you about, and our worries about Chloa are gone, we don’t have any immediate plans, but we’re thinking of going on a journey together.」
「A journey…?」
「Yeah, we promised we’d go see the ocean together once Chloa got better.」
「No, I mean, what about running Vienetta?」
「Ah, don’t worry about that. We’re in the process of handing it over.」
「Handing it over… WHAT?! WHY?! WHY WOULD THE CLAN…!!」
「Why are you so surprised? Our clan’s specialty is developing members. We have more than enough successors. The next Clan Master is a person with both the character and ability suitable for succession, so there won’t be any problems.」
「You don’t have to quit. You could just take a long vacation—」
「About that, we’ve decided that from now on, we want to live our lives the way Chloa and I want to.」
Chloe turns to face his brother.
「We’ve already decided! We’re going to do all the things we couldn’t do together before!」
He gives me his brightest smile.
That alone makes my heart full.
「Then that’s good. You’re right. You two have held back for so long.
I think you should do what you want from now on. If you two ever want to be adventurers again, you can always do that.」
They both nod at my words.
「Also,」 Chloa begins, and Chloe continues, 「We want to repay you, Low.」
「’Repay’ me… What are you talking about? I don’t need anything more. Seeing you healthy like this and receiving your words of gratitude is enough for me. I’ve received more than enough thanks.」
「But Low, you just said it yourself: ‘You should do what you want from now on.’」
Chloe gives me a pointed look. Seeing this, Chloa can’t help but laugh, 「Ahaha.」
「You got me there.」
A complete and utter defeat in logic. In short, I was thoroughly owned.
Following my admission of defeat, the three of us share a laugh.
As the party reaches its peak.
Though they invite me to dinner, I apologize and decline.
I need to show my face to Sensei and return to Hidden Mountain where Sena is.
「See you later.」
Since they’ll be staying in this town for a while, we promise to meet again to make up for it, and we get up from our seats.
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