Chapter 83: Reinhardt (3)
“A fine job, Lord Baumgarten. I’ll be sure to report this to my superiors!”
“Yeah.”
I was praised by the captain of the Royal Capital’s garrison, the one in charge of its public safety.
The garrison is usually slow to act, but they seem to be quick once they get moving. Even though it’s still night, it looks like they’re about to head into the sewers. They probably want to secure the scene before any evidence is erased. Good luck to them.
“I want you to take the rescued children into protective custody. It might be difficult since they’re children, but you might be able to get some useful information out of them.”
“Understood. We’ll take custody of the children.”
I also entrusted the six children we rescued to them. They’ll probably be returned to their parents by the garrison.
“Ugh! It stinks!?”
“Seriously…? We have to go down there now…?”
“You lot! I don’t want to hear any whin—uooergh…”
The sewers reek something awful. May fortune favor the garrison…
◇
After parting ways with the Royal Capital’s garrison, I walked with Bach towards the mansion.
Even though it was already late at night, the Royal Capital was, as expected, on a different level. Amazingly, it was still bright. The light spilling from the shops allowed us to walk without torches.
And there were still people out and about. Naturally, far fewer than during the day, but there were pedestrians and carriages passing by.
Occasionally, we’d pass by people, and without exception, they’d wrinkle their noses. I didn’t understand why at first, but apparently, we reeked.
“Do we really smell that bad? Master, can you smell yourself?”
“I can’t tell. But we were in those stinking sewers. The smell has definitely rubbed off on us. My nose might be used to it now, so I can’t tell, but I’m sure it’s pretty bad. Worst case, we might have to throw these clothes away.”
“Ugh… That’s the worst. And these clothes are brand new…”
“I’ll give Bach a special allowance. Use that to buy new clothes.”
“Yes…”
He must have been quite shocked; Bach, walking ahead of me, was hanging his head. I’ll give him a generous special reward.
“More importantly, we need to take a bath when we get back. Sorry, Bach, but could you prepare the bath?”
“Understood…”
“You should take one too, Bach. Want to get in together?”
“Please spare me. I’m not into that sort of thing…”
What “sort of thing” is he talking about?
◇
“Ah! Cornelia-cha~n! You’re cute today too! How about it? Won’t you have tea with me after school? I found a great shop. I’m sure you’ll love it too, Cornelia-chan!”
“No, thank you.”
“Eh? Ah! Cornelia-cha~n!”
When the weekend ended and the academy started, everyday life began. The whole routine of Reinhardt hitting on Cornelia the moment I entered the classroom, only to get shot down, somehow felt like part of that everyday life.
Or rather, had this guy still not given up on Cornelia? Learn your lesson already.
“Reinhardt, I have something to talk to you about. Can you come to a private room?”
I tried inviting Reinhardt to a private room. It was because I’d become worried whether this utterly unreliable protagonist-sama could really save the world as he was.
After all, Reinhardt was not only disliked by everyone in the classroom but even by the main heroine, Eleonore. Wouldn’t you be curious about his progress with the other characters?
Besides, the idea of the world ending if Reinhardt failed was too terrifying. It’s not like I trusted Reinhardt enough to entrust the world to him, you know?
“What is it, Onii-sama?”
“Stop with that ‘Onii-sama.’ I have something important to discuss with you.”
“Important…? Could it be… that?”
“That?”
What’s “that“?
Reinhardt straightened his posture and, for some reason, looked at me with a smug, ‘I’m ready for this’ expression.
I don’t have that kind of hobby, though?
“I see. If that’s the case, you should’ve said so sooner. Got it. Let’s go right now.”
“Yeah…”
Reinhardt, suddenly full of energy, was unsettling.
I was pushed on the shoulder by Reinhardt as we left the classroom and entered an unoccupied private room.
“So? What’s this talk you wanted to have, Onii-sama? Hurry up and tell me, hey?”
“Why are you so enthusiastic? It’s creepy.”
“That’s harsh!? But, saying that, you have a favor to ask of me, right? Come on, spit it out.”
“Well, you could call it a favor, I guess. I want to ask about your relationships.”
“A check-up first, huh? Fine by me. Ask me anything.”
“Let’s sit down first.”
“Sure.”
Reinhardt and I sat down on sofas facing each other. Reinhardt, leaning forward eagerly, was unsettling. I couldn’t help but lean back.
“So?”
“First, do you have a childhood friend who belongs to the Church?”
“Hmm? You mean Bianca?”
Bianca. She’s a commoner, so she has no surname. She’s the other main heroine in the game “Legend of the Magic Sword.” A specialist in Healing magic.
“Yes, that Bianca. Reinhardt, is your relationship with Bianca good? You two haven’t grown distant, have you? Are you properly conveying your feelings to her verbally?”
Bianca and the protagonist are childhood friends, but because the protagonist entered the academy and Bianca joined the Church, their time to meet became limited.
Because of that, if you miss a choice, her affection level is hard to raise. And if her affection isn’t above a certain level, she won’t join the protagonist on his adventure.
Bianca is one of the few healers. And a very capable one at that. It’s absolutely necessary to get her in the party.
“What’s with you all of a sudden? Why are you suddenly asking about Bianca? Don’t tell me…!”
Reinhardt’s face showed an expression as if he’d received a huge shock, as if he were utterly devastated.