Interlude 12
《The Case of the Adventurer Girls Trio》
Five girls are sitting at a large table.
「And then! There was this loud ‘BUUOOO!’ sound that echoed! When we looked up in surprise, there was this Hyper Great Orc that must have been three and a half meters tall!」
Says Lil, the smallest of the gathering team. She has a cute charm that could pass for a middle school student even in Japan.
「No, that thing was definitely four meters tall. When such a giant suddenly appeared, I thought it was all over for us.」
Replies Tor, the tallest girl in the gathering crew. She speaks the most politely out of the three and has the most voluptuous figure.
「Yeah! When the drool dripping from the orc’s mouth got on my face, I thought ‘Ah, I’m dead’.」
Adds Midi, the slender, short-haired beauty who is exactly in the middle in terms of height among the three. Both her way of speaking and appearance have a somewhat androgynous quality.
「That’s when it happened!」 Lil raises her voice as if to say this is the crux of the story.
「Yes, I will never forget it. That gallant face and courageous action,」 Tor chimes in with a somewhat distant expression.
「’You girls run away! Leave this to me and go on ahead! Don’t worry, I won’t lose to anyone when it comes to protecting you!’」
Midi spreads both arms, imitating that person’s words and actions.
「As we hesitated about whether to flee from the scene────」
This is today’s biggest highlight.
「『──I suppose you don’t mind if I take him down, do you?』」
Midi looks at everyone with a cool pose after saying that line.
「No fair! Lil was going to say that!」
「Ah, Lord Kuro, where art thou and what could you be doing now?」
One of the two girls who had been listening the whole time waves her hand in front of Tor who is still spacing out.
「Hey, come back to us,」
The other listener mutters,
「I mean, I’ve heard this story like 100 times already…」
「Who is Lord Kuro anyway?」 「Who knows.」 「Hey.」 「What?」 「How long is this going to go on?」 「I don’t think it’s nearly enough.」
Someone had saved them, and their noisy chatter continues late into this night as well.
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《The Case of the Milan’s Household》
「Mom, you have the day off work today, right?」
「Yes, that’s right.」
「Y’know, lately even on your days off you’re dressing up, do you realize that?」
「Wh-what are you talking about?」
「Mom, recently y’know…」
「Geez, what! A-anyway Milan,」
「What?」
「Uhh, how’s work going?
Like, you’re not overdoing it lately, right?」
「You asked me that yesterday too, didn’t you? How many times are you gonna make me say it?」
「Ahaha, that’s right, what am I even saying. Umm, anyway Milan,」
「What is it mom? I gotta get to work soon.」
「Lately, y’know, latelyyy, is there something going on lately?」
「Mom, if you don’t cut it out I’m gonna get mad, okay?」
「N-now now, there’s no reason to get angry.」
「Mom, you’ve been really weird lately!」
「I’m not being weird at all! Look, my body is energetic as ever! Thanks to Mr. Low.」
「Mom, you’re just getting more and more suspicious.」
「That’s right, I need to thank Mr. Low sometime soon. Have you seen him lately, Milan?」
「Hmm…」
「So how about it, Milan? I guess Mr. Low is busy after all?」
「I run into him in town sometimes. He said ‘I’ll show my face around town more often since there’s two big eaters here.’」
「Did he say anything about me?」
「When I told him ‘Mom says thanks,’ he said ‘She doesn’t need to worry about it. More importantly, tell Ms. Marlo not to overdo it.’」
「Oh, Mr. Low…」
「Mom, do you have a fever or something?」
「I don’t have any fever! Geez! Anyway Milan, when are you meeting Mr. Low next? Bring him over here when you see him.」
「Why are you so desperate about it?」
「This isn’t about me being desperate or not. Next time you see Mr. Low, you absolutely have to bring him over, okay? Got it?」
「Okay, I got it! If you’re done talking, I’m going to work! You take it easy too, just like Mr. Low said!」
「I understand. Be careful, Milan. Don’t go following any strange people!」
「Okaaay.」
◇◇◇
「Mr. Low──」
「Mooom! I forgot my haaat!
…Wait what are you hugging a glass bottle for? That’s an empty potion bottle.」
「O-oh, I was just thinking this needs to be washed clean before returning it.」
「Mooom, how many times are you gonna wash thaaaat?」
「I-I’m just being extra careful! Geez!」
Someone had protected them, and their peaceful days continue on.
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《The Case of the Glasses Merchant Girl》
I saw the dull light deep in his eyes.
I thought it was a lonely color. At the same time, I felt I couldn’t just leave it that color.
It was a strange urge that bewildered even myself, but that didn’t mean I wanted to let go of that feeling.
If I ever met him, I wanted to ask about his past.
And I wanted him to listen to my story.
If two people who have endured hardships could truly share their sorrowful pasts and hearts with each other, that might just be the greatest happiness in this world.
「A black-haired young man with a shadowy air about him. That must be him, someone of his skill must be a renowned adventurer.」
So today too, I search for him.
This woman, who was saved by someone, seeking that someone out – it may be proof that she, who had been struggling in adversity, has taken a step towards tranquility.
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