Great O’Browns ③
Day 2.
When I woke up in the morning, a major incident had occurred.
My sleeping companion had been Chive-san, but that very same Chive-san wasn’t wearing anything.
Chive-san’s sleepwear is usually that yellow jersey-like outfit she always wears.
It even had something like a zipper. And believe it or not, this mock jersey? It’s Legendary.
It’s a treasure Chive-san discovered deep within a certain Dungeon long ago.
Things that are familiar to me from my past life memories can become Legendary here, huh?
Eh? It adjusts your body temperature according to the outside temperature… That sounds like something Liv-san would make.
And so, yes. When I woke up, the top and bottom of it were off, and she was naked.
Honestly, I’ve seen her naked in the bath countless times, so I’m used to it—as if that could ever be true.
Even if she has a rather unbalanced physique, being flat-chested, skinny with her ribs showing, yet possessing a soft derriere.
She’s still a naked girl, no doubt about it.
In the first place, she should have been wearing underwear, so why was she completely naked under the jersey?
And just when I thought it was one of Chive-san’s mischievous pranks, it turned out to be completely different.
Because when Chive-san woke up and saw herself, she let out a very cute scream.
Afterward, Shiro-san, awakened by the scream, arrived. Munieca-san, who was already up and in the kitchen, also came.
Furthermore, the Witch, who had been enjoying her morning bath, came out as she was, and thus, it escalated into a major incident.
Well, the meeting ended without any particular turmoil or confusion.
However, I was surprised that the agenda item was “Performance Evaluation of Guild Masters from each Seeker Guild branch.”
Incidentally, Alance-san, the Guild Master of the Seeker Guild Hydrangea Branch,
collapsed from overwork and is currently recuperating. Thank you for your hard work.
And it was Alveld who was particularly active regarding this evaluation.
The Witch, Kaede-san, and Pianie-san, the Knight Commander of the Seeker Knights, also voiced their opinions.
But, frustratingly enough, Alveld’s words felt undeniably correct.
And so, the meeting ended.
Since it was genuinely a meeting, that’s to be expected, but still, I don’t know.
It felt plain, or rather, lacking in flair. It’s a meeting, so that’s natural, but still…
Well, aside from that, Hydrangea is bubbling with excitement like a geyser.
I haven’t lived in this city for long, but it’s a level of fervor I’ve never seen before.
The main street is lined with stalls, packed tightly together.
The commotion from the crowds is so bad that the military police are shouting and apprehending people.
They’re so short-staffed that the military police finally resorted to hiring Seekers.
It seems Bid-san is also patrolling, teamed up with a rookie I haven’t met yet.
Also, on the main street, they were holding hero parades at set intervals.
They parade with hero statues on special carts. Like festival floats, or maybe Neputa floats.
Come to think of it, there are an awful lot of hero statues here and there in the city, but what exactly is a hero?
I hadn’t really thought about it much until now, but I’m a little curious.
Stalls, huh? Being here, I don’t feel any sense of festival or festive mood at all.
Being a Tsukaeshi is an honorary position, and it’s relatively free.
Maybe it would be nice to look around after the Exhibition Match is over.
And today’s Exhibition Match. It’s Ax-san VS Ens-san.
What’s he going to do, Ax-san?
He said something about landing one punch, but can he actually do it?
That family is just too complicated in the first place.
More importantly than that, food. Food. But still…
Hmm. Pondering this, I head towards the restaurant district.
“Woff.”
Someone called out to me midway, so I turned around to see Mineha-san.
“Mineha-san.”
“Saying ‘it’s been a while’ feels a bit strange, doesn’t it?”
“I suppose so.”
Mineha-san had transformed into a Fairial. She flew a lap around my head before settling on my right shoulder. This, too, felt like it had been a while.
“Mineha.”
She called her name, and a Fairial flew over. Huh, this person.
She noticed me too.
“Oh my, my, you. From that time.”
So it really is her. The Fairial lady who was lost before.
During the meeting, she was far in the back and small, so I couldn’t make out her face due to her position.
I gave a slight bow. Mineha-san casually asked.
“Mother. Is he an acquaintance of yours?”
“Yes, he’s the young man who kindly guided me when I was lost… But why is Mineha riding on his shoulder?”
“Because it’s my seat.”
It’s not really a seat, but I should greet her.
“Pleased to meet you. I’m Woff.”
“You are… I see. So that’s how it is. Pleased to meet you. I am Mineha’s mother, Ruriha.”
She smiled softly and, with a little “oomph,” sat on my left shoulder.
Wh-What is this situation? Mineha-san is surprised too.
Fairials on both shoulders. It’s not heavy since Hayyarn and Dagaa have ridden on me.
I’ve gotten used to it, one way or another. I wonder if Dagaa is doing okay.
Right now, he’s being looked after by the Torquetum.
Well, he’s a resourceful guy, and he knows the Torquetum, so he should be fine.
“Mother…?”
“Ufufu. This is comfortable. Woff-san. Where are you heading now?”
“For a meal. But Cidre Tavern Second is likely crowded, so I was thinking of going somewhere else.”
“Indeed, you probably wouldn’t be able to get in right now.”
“Exactly. So I was wondering what to do.”
The restaurant district has all sorts of cuisine.
I haven’t been to any other places, but going into an unfamiliar place takes courage.
“What were you two planning to do for your meal?”
“We’ll eat in our room.”
“In your room?”
“Yes, we brought our own dedicated chef.”
As expected of the Fairy Queen. I’ve never heard of having a dedicated anything before.
“In that case, Woff, why don’t you join us?”
“Me too?”
“Yes, authentic Fairial cuisine. You haven’t tried it, have you?”
“Oh, that sounds wonderful,” Ruriha-san chimed in.
Authentic Fairial cuisine, huh? I’m interested.
“Well then, if you insist, I’d be delighted.”
“Fufu, you don’t have to be so formal. Your shoulder is quite comfortable to sit on.”
“Is that so?”
“…It reminds me of my husband.”
Eh? W-Wait, Ruriha-san leaned against my cheek.
It was lukewarm and soft. Her face touched my cheek.
“Mother…!?”
“You should do it too,” Ruriha-san said to Mineha.
Ruriha-san smiled mischievously. Sh-She’s an adult.
“Oh, Mother, honestly!”
Mineha-san’s face turned bright red as she dangled her feet.
What is this? And so, with the two of them on my shoulders, I headed to their room.
It was on the way there. I encountered a man wearing a hood, and a Fairial sitting on his shoulder.
I stopped in my tracks without thinking.
“Air.”
Mineha-san murmured.
The Fairial called Air had fluffy, pink side-tails and eyes of the same color.
She wore a blue dress. A truly adorable girl.
“Mineha…?”
“It’s been a while.”
“Y-Yes…”
“Air, an acquaintance of yours?” the hooded man asked.
“You know, the childhood friend I mentioned before… I think…” Air replied.
“She looks like a charming woman, no matter how you look at it,” the man said.
“Fufu, you think so too, right?” Air giggled.
“Ruriha-sama! I-It’s been too long!” Air exclaimed, noticing Ruriha-san.
“Air. You look well. You too, Jeeks,” Ruriha-san said.
“Ruriha. It’s been a while,” Jeeks replied.
Jeeks?
If I recall… he’s the Tier I Seeker, the ‘Six Attribute User (Six Elementalia),’ wasn’t he?
He possesses six attribute Relics.
When he noticed me, he waved.
“Uh, hello.”
Then Air-san also looked at me.
“With Mineha and Ruriha-sama on your shoulders… Who are you?”
“Pleased to meet you. I’m Woff.”
“Ah, you’re The Witch’s disciple, the ‘Impregnable King of the Night’!”
Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait.
“No, I am The Witch’s disciple, but I am not the ‘Impregnable King of the Night’!”
King? What king?! What’s with the “night” part?!
“Oh my, is that so? It’s not true?” Ruriha-san teased.
“Ruriha-san… It’s not true.”
“You really get called all sorts of things, don’t you,” Mineha-san said.
“You can say that again…”
Mineha-san rested her cheek on her hand, looking exasperated. I’m being called so many things I can’t even keep track.
“Fuhahahaha, this is amusing,” Jeeks laughed.
“I’m sorry about that. So, um… are you acquainted? You all?” Air asked.
“Actually, Air. It’s like we’re living together,” Mineha-san said.
“Eh? Cohabiting… Mineha. You. Are you cohabiting?”
“We are living together, yes,” Ruriha-san confirmed.
“Y-Yes,” I managed.
“…I-Is that so… I see.”
Air-san looked completely taken aback.
“Oh, you two are partners as well, aren’t you?” Ruriha-san said to Air and Jeeks.
“We are, but…” Air started.
“When camping in Dungeons, we take turns on watch, and we have separate rooms at inns,” Jeeks clarified.
“I’ve never stayed in the same room as Jeeks,” Air added.
“That’s right. Um, well, Mineha,” Jeeks said.
“What is it?”
“…You’ve grown up, haven’t you.”
Air-san said to Mineha-san with deep emotion.
Her expression was complicated.
“Huh? No, I haven’t.”
“But you. Isn’t it… that sort of thing?”
“What sort of thing?”
Mineha-san tilted her head in confusion. I tilted mine too. Jeeks-san said nothing.
Then Ruriha-san laughed.
“Air. I understand what you want to say. Innocence can be a sin, can’t it.”
“Is it not naivety?” Jeeks inquired.
“You’re quite worldly-wise for one so young, aren’t you,” Ruriha-san said to Air.
Stung by the remark, Air-san’s cheeks flushed a faint crimson.
“It’s only natural to know this much!”
“What on earth are you talking about? Air. Mother.”
“It’s nothing,” Air said.
“It’s fine, Mineha. You should stay just the way you are,” Ruriha-san said.
“…Understood.”
“By the way, Mineha. You. You’re going to fight Ruriha-sama in tomorrow’s Exhibition Match, right? Are you serious?” Air asked.
“What do you mean? Of course, I’m serious,” Mineha replied.
“But you. That OOPArts…”
“It’s alright, Air. You don’t need to worry about that,” Ruriha-san interjected.
“Ruriha-sama? I-Is that so? In that case, that’s fine then.”
“Thank you for worrying about Mineha.”
“I-It’s not like I was worried or anything.”
“You were worried about me?”
“I wasn’t. Why would I be?”
“Not very honest, are you?”
“Shut up. Well then, we’ll be taking our leave. Mineha. Tomorrow, the match. I’ll be watching, okay?”
“Air. Yeah. Thank you.”
“It’s not like I need your thanks.”
“Not very honest.”
“Let’s go, Ziekus. Come on, walk.”
“Yes, yes. Ruriha. Well then, we’ll be taking our leave.”
“Yes, Ziekus. Take care of Air for me, okay?”
“Of course.”
Air-san and Ziekus-san calmly took their leave.
I said to Mineha-san.
“They’re good friends, aren’t they?”
“Yes. Though their inability to be honest is their one drawback.”
Is that… really the case? I looked at Mineha-san.
I wonder?
After that, we went to Ruriha-san and Mineha-san’s room.
Their exclusive chef was also a Fairial. Her name was Chefful-san.
I was honestly surprised by the authentic Fairial cuisine that was promptly served.
It was curry. Moreover, it was spice curry. Ah, Ogikubo.
I had also wanted to eat curry, so I had tried to make it somehow.
But I lacked the essential spices. Like cumin, turmeric, and coriander.
I did manage to gather spices unknown in my previous life and make something resembling curry.
And actually, it’s on the menu at the Cidre Tavern. I know it’s quite popular, too.
But to me, that isn’t curry, so I’ve never ordered it once.
Mineha-san ordered it several times, but I wonder what she really thought of it.
What made me even happier was that there was a version of the spice curry with spinach in it.
Spinach spice curry was my absolute favorite.
“…Is it good?”
“Yes. Very!”
“In that case, shall I make it for you when we get back?”
“Really?! Please do!”
“Calm down a bit, what’s wrong? Did you like it that much?”
“Yes! I’ve wanted to eat it for so long, I really, really wanted to, so it’s incredibly delicious!”
“……Chefful.”
“Yes. What is it?”
“I… will do my best.”
“Yes. Let’s do our best together.”
“Ufufu, isn’t that nice, Wof-san.”
“Yes.”
“There’s still plenty left, so please don’t hold back and eat up.”
“Y-Yes.”
Ah, but I’m getting pretty full already.
As expected, I can’t eat as much as a Fairial.
However, if Ruriha-san tells me that, I have no choice but to push myself, right?
I pushed myself. I really, really pushed myself.
And then I collapsed.