Interlude 10
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「I haven’t seen you in a while, and the first thing you want to talk about is something like that?」
Simmons, whom she hadn’t seen in several years since graduation, was still the same as ever, working as a teacher at the national knight academy and doing quite well for himself.
「What do you mean by ‘something like that’, Simmons?」
Simmons laughs heartily.
「You used to call me ‘you’ or ‘hey you’! And if an argument ever started, you wouldn’t hesitate to raise your voice and shout ‘you bastard!’ at me.」
Her yakuza-like militant mindset of ‘an eye for an eye’, ‘if you let them push you around, it’s over’, and ‘if you can’t tell if they’re friend or foe, preemptively strike first’ was instilled in her by her parents.
Her rough way of speaking to Simmons was a result of her parents’ teachings taking root and manifesting themselves.
「Ah, that was—」
Orphelia’s face turns red. The world is vast, and she was a child back then. She’s aware that she relied on Simmons a lot.
It’s only been a few years, but she’s learned that there are many different professions besides swordsmen, and regardless of strength, they all have their roles to play.
Healers who use Heal magic, scouts who detect traps and safely guide the party forward—professions that support the party.
And that’s not all. There are countless people who support the party without ever entering battle. Orphelia, who wasn’t particularly good with numbers, has come to deeply understand the incredible work that goes into managing a party over the past few years.
「I get it, miss. That was just youthful indiscretion on your part.」
Simmons says with a laugh. 「Though you’re still pretty young.」
「And anyway, there’s no rule saying you can’t have two teachers.」
「W-Wait a minute.」
「Nope, not waiting. Let me say this.」
Simmons bows his head to Orphelia.
「I didn’t fulfill my role as your teacher well enough due to my own shortcomings. I’m sorry.」
Surprised by his sudden action, she reaches out and places her hand on Simmons’ shoulder to stop him from bowing further.
「Don’t say that, Simmons.」
Orphelia strongly feels that she can’t let him say something like that.
「Thank you for putting up with me when I was a cheeky brat sulking at that boring academy.」
The words spill out faster than she can think.
「I wouldn’t be who I am today without you.」
So everything she says is genuine and heartfelt.
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「Oh ho! Such gracious words from the hero candidate! Oh! I’m gonna cry!」
Simmons spits out sarcastically, but in the end, he smiles.
「Come show me your lively face again sometime! And let’s cross swords again! So, Orphelia—I’ll be here, dealing with these brats while praying that the next person you meet will guide you well.」
He waves goodbye to her.
In response, Orphelia calls out, 「I’ll be back! And I’ll beat you to a pulp!」
This is also her way of expressing gratitude.
Even as she’s grown, she’s still a militant one through and through.
◇◇◇
Eris and Ryūgūin’s whereabouts are quickly determined.
Some time after clearing the Blade Dungeon, they apparently headed to Lemone, the largest city near the dungeon, to use as their new base for attacking the next dungeon.
Hearing that, Orphelia immediately springs into action.
One of her favorite sayings is 「Strike while the iron is hot.」
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She rides a series of carriages, covering a journey that would normally take three weeks in just two.
It’s a grueling trek befitting a muscle-brain, but her impatient heart won’t let her dally.
Upon arriving in the city of Lemone, she doesn’t spare a glance at the inns that regular adventurers would typically seek out first, instead heading straight for the Adventurers’ Guild with singular focus.
She wants to meet Eris and her master as soon as possible.
Even if they aren’t at the Adventurers’ Guild, she figures she can at least learn about their recent activities and whereabouts there.
She energetically opens the guild’s door to find it nearly empty.
It’s a common sight for the guild to be deserted in the afternoon once all the good requests have been snatched up in the morning.
As expected, Eris is nowhere to be seen inside the guild.
「Guess it won’t be that easy,」 Orphelia mutters, momentarily dejected. 「Well, I should start by asking the receptionist.」 Just as she approaches the counter, she hears the sound of a blade cutting through the air.
The sound is coming from the training hall.
Could it be?! In there?!
As a top-class swordsman, Orphelia can naturally discern who is swinging their sword.
Her joy is proportional to her earlier disappointment.
However, there is one concerning point.
◇◇◇
Opening the door to the guild’s training hall, Orphelia finds a young girl inside.
Whether by good or bad timing, the girl—Eris Gladius—has paused her sword practice and is currently talking to a man who likely came here.
Curious, Orphelia eavesdrops on their conversation, focusing intently to make out their words.
「Master—so I—once more—I…」
Eris reaches out her hand imploringly.
「No, you’re quite persistent—how many times do I have to tell an idiot—so that’s why—what’s funny is—if there’s another chance—so anyway—」
The man laughs through his nose and brushes Eris’ hand away.
「Why—Master—I—please—me—please—」
Eris drops to her knees on the ground, weeping as if in agony, her sobs escaping.
She seems like a completely different person from the Eris of the past.
The Eris in the training hall back then had appeared to sparkle brilliantly.
Orphelia doesn’t know the reason, but the girl before her eyes—Eris Gladius—looks pitiful.
So pitiful that Orphelia wants to avert her gaze.
The man doesn’t lend an ear to Eris’ words.
And, without looking back, waves his hand dismissively as he approaches the door to leave Eris behind.
Orphelia recognizes this man.
The person who engaged in fierce combat with Eris before attacking the Blade Dungeon and guided her.
That’s right, he’s the one who’s been called the key figure in Eris’ evolution—the Hero Ryūgūin.
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