“I thought I’d play with you because you looked decent, but I’ve lost interest,” she said.
“No, that was, you know, acting.”
“Geld-kun, that’s awful.”
“It’s not like that. I have to show Millie that I won’t lay a hand on her…”
It was Monday afternoon, two days after the kidnapping. I was in my dorm room, having a final meeting with Millie about the upcoming Monster Attack. But somehow, the conversation had gone off track, and I needed to get it back on course.
“More importantly, what about those guys? Did they manage to swipe the jewels?”
Millie was probably planning to hold court again, find me guilty, and sentence me to a punishment of comforting her with a hug. Since we didn’t have much time after school today, getting caught up in that would mean we wouldn’t get to the important stuff before curfew. With a heavy heart, I had to cancel the kangaroo court.
“Yeah. I talked to Master Desroah’s lingering thoughts too. But it’s still like, ‘Even if you suddenly tell me to save the world…'”
Millie seemed reluctant, but she got to the point since it was important. She’s been acting spoiled lately, but she’s basically a serious girl.
“So, there’s an attack, and that’s when you decide to go on a journey, right?”
“That’s how it was before. But I didn’t go.”
Being exposed to the threat of Monsters at the academy she attends gives her a sense of crisis and mission, and she sets out on a journey to save the world. The flow feels a bit forced, but old RPG scenarios tend to be rough. Master Desroah will probably trick her into it easily.
“What about me? It doesn’t seem like there’s any movement on my part.”
“We figured we’d just beat you up again if you did anything, so we’re leaving you alone.”
“…Mmm.”
It seems like this Geld is being completely underestimated. Maybe I should have punched each of them at least once.
“Oh yeah, what was that about? I was wondering what you were going to do this time, but you just kept running away, going ‘Eek!’ and ‘Wawaah!'”
“That’s because I didn’t have my Sword.”
Millie gave me a slightly exasperated look. But it’s debatable whether that was my fault.
“I see… I wanted to see Geld-kun being cool.”
If she had such expectations, she must have been disappointed by my pathetic figure. But the people I was fighting are going to be her companions on her journey, so I wonder how that’s going to work out. I’m starting to worry if Millie will get along with them.
“Sorry about that. I was serving my sentence for bullying Millie, comforting Millie, so I couldn’t prepare.”
“…W-was that so?”
She probably remembered that the reason for my lack of preparation was her. Millie turned her face away, looking embarrassed. Somehow, she’s developing quite the personality. The innocent Millie I met at the beginning is gone.
After we finished discussing what we needed to, we spent the time relaxing, and before we knew it, curfew was approaching. Millie didn’t show any signs of leaving, so I reluctantly had to urge her.
“Millie, it’s almost time.”
“Mmm…”
Millie must understand that she has to go back, but she just gave a vague reply and didn’t move. She had been smiling and talking until just now, but suddenly she fell silent and sulked.
“Hey, curfew’s almost here.”
“…I don’t want to.”
I put my hands under Millie’s armpits, lifted her up, and forced her to stand. But she just clung to me and wouldn’t let go. She’s completely acting like a spoiled child.
“What’s wrong?”
“Because it’s almost time…”
“Mmm…”
The Monster Attack is coming the day after tomorrow, and the departure will be a few days after that. In other words, there are only a few more chances for us to meet like this. If she’s trying to stretch out those few remaining moments, then there’s nothing cuter than this spoiled behavior. I’m starting to not want to let her go either.
Besides, I’m going to be quitting the academy soon anyway, so what’s the big deal about breaking curfew? I should just let her stay here. That’s what I should do.
“…Haa. Sorry, I’m just being selfish.”
“Huh? Ah, no, it’s not like you’re being selfish.”
But contrary to my feelings, Millie looked somewhat satisfied and let go of me. Maybe some kind of replenishment work was being done, like when I hugged Shino to recharge my Shino reserves, and it was completed.
“I don’t want to, but I have to go back.”
“…No, don’t you think it’s okay if you don’t go back? What’s the harm in breaking curfew for half a day?”
The situation has completely reversed from just now. I feel like Millie often pulls the rug out from under me the moment she gets me in the mood. It feels like I’m being played by a little devil.
“…………No. If I don’t go back, they’ll start looking for me.”
Millie frowned and thought carefully about my suggestion, but unfortunately, the conclusion she came to was a rejection.
But now that she mentions it, that’s true. If Millie doesn’t return by curfew, that Blonde Twin-tails will start making a fuss and start a search. And if they think something happened, the first person they’ll suspect is me. At that time, information about the previous kidnapping will also spread, and they’ll definitely break into this room. That’s completely out.
“…Yeah. Here, take this.”
“Okay.”
I open the window, hold Millie, and jump outside.
Taking Millie through the dorm would be a huge hassle, so we’ve adopted the route of going in and out through the window to the back of the dorm. If we walk near the dorm like this, we can pass below the first-floor windows, so the people inside won’t see us. After that, we can go behind the teachers’ dorm, and the Girls’ Dorm is right there.
“Geld-kun… I still don’t want to…”
“Millie…”
At the parting, Millie, with tears in her eyes, clings to me again. It’s like a scene from a final farewell, but there’s still about a week until the day of departure. I’ll probably see her every day during that time.
Millie’s future father and mother, whom I have yet to meet. Your daughter has become a strange child. But it’s not my fault, it’s probably due to genetics.