Chapter 219: Morning Comes, a Friend Departs, and Longdagger’s Chest is Soaked 3
Using the Magic Stones from the Monsters we subjugated along the way, I produced a large amount of water and distributed it liberally to the Villagers.
Unlike nobles like Jen, or adventurers like us, the Villagers weren’t wearing clothes equipped with Magic Tools to regulate their body temperature, so hydration was crucial.
When using Physical Enhancement, one becomes more resistant to cold and heat, so it’s easy to forget, but the season could very well be called summer.
The elderly and children especially needed to be careful.
They might be accustomed to manual labor, but not to long-distance travel.
We split up to distribute water and food to the Villagers.
Erika, who had become flustered after Jen and I held her hands, was for some reason keeping her distance from me while distributing water and food to the Villagers.
Perhaps I was now genuinely disliked.
I reflected that I had completely gotten carried away.
Just because an opportunity presented itself, seizing a woman’s hand without permission was not something a gentleman would do. It was an act far removed from the path of a gentleman as preached by Eguchi-kun.
Since my head was still on my shoulders, it seemed Erika wasn’t furious, but there was no doubt I had made her uncomfortable.
It was just a feeling, but lately, I’d sensed that Erika’s demeanor towards me had been softer, or warmer, or perhaps kinder than usual.
And I, who got carried away by that, was entirely at fault.
I mustn’t get carried away; to her, I am nothing more than a temporary husband.
Moreover, she knows of my affection, and on top of that, I’ve already been rejected once.
For such a man to suddenly take her hand without permission… I doubt Erika would have been scared, but it must have certainly been unpleasant.
Should I just disembowel myself? I pondered this at the edge of the plaza.
“What are you looking at your own stomach for with such a serious face?”
“I’m considering what percentage of my organs I’d need to pull out from my stomach to be forgiven.”
A grand sigh was the response from Yuunou-san, who had called out to me.
“Thrusting your entrails at someone as an apology is just plain harassment, you know? Masked Man.”
“My adventurer master told me that usually gets you forgiven, though?”
“If you let ‘Kind Barbara’ anywhere near Drim, I will absolutely never forgive you, you hear?”
I wouldn’t want that either. Nothing good would likely come of it.
If Master were to find Beardy, Beardy would probably end up becoming a king or something in some country. The process and the scale of the damage are somewhat beyond imagination.
“Would Yuunou-san be queen then?”
“Hey, Masked Man. I don’t understand a single thing you’re saying, but I can tell you’re not thinking anything good.”
Just as I was about to explain with an “Well—,” I saw Beardy approaching.
Yuunou-san signaled me with her eyes to “keep quiet.”
“Partner, Masked Man. I’ve finished distributing the water. Everyone’s a bit tired but doing well.”
I could tell just from his voice that there was a charming smile beneath that mask.
I suddenly thought that Beardy could have become anything. A carpenter, a baker, a tavern master. Even if he had taken up a difficult profession for which he had no aptitude, wouldn’t he have become a competent and well-liked person through effort and his smile?
Such a person was an adventurer.
Even I, who had known him for a short time, thought so. Yuunou-san (Maricia) must feel it even more strongly than I do. Last night, during the night watch, Beardy had grumbled, “My partner is so persistent about me going back to being a carpenter,” and I understood why when we acted together.
Beardy, Drim, is a good man.
He’s a comrade from the Forest of Fools, but I have no hesitation in calling his innate kindness, and the mental fortitude to act on that kindness, noble.
I understand why Yuunou-san would want him to quit being an adventurer.
Being an adventurer is a rotten job. There’s no doubt about that.
Even I, who became an adventurer for the simple reason that I wanted to be one, understand this.
In that case—I can’t help but think it. Knowing full well it’s meddling, since he has other options he could take, he should just quit being an adventurer.
And at the same time, I also think this: if this man were to be an adventurer, he would become a truly great one. The kind of adventurer that would make you want to boast to others, “Look! This guy is an adventurer, ‘just like’ me!”
Hmm, perhaps Beardy is actually a ‘bad man’?
It was the next moment, as Yuunou-san, who had been caught by that ‘bad man,’ was about to offer words of appreciation to Beardy—
Beardy’s head exploded.
＊＊＊＊Afterword＊＊＊＊＊
Thank you always for your comments, likes, stars, etc.
Last week, I said something like, “Since it’s a weekly update, I need to increase the word count,” but…
I’m sorry, but due to various circumstances, updates will become irregular.
Seriously, I’m sorry.
Mentally, I want to do my best to aim for weekly updates, but whether circumstances will allow it is uncertain.
Also, I don’t think I’ll be able to reply to comments.
Of course, I read all of them, but I’ll likely be at a level where I seriously have no time to reply.
For now, I’ll pray for Beardy-san’s safety, and I promise to at least do my absolute best.