Chapter 34

After finishing the ID card, I went out to buy daily necessities, but I ended up being caught by the old-new duo and the fake glasses, and Manon was captured by the mismatched sisters.

"How did you meet Manon?"

"Well, we ended up in the same combat technique class at the guild..."

"How far did you go?"

"There's no 'how far'—we just worked together..."

"Don't lie... You must have made something happen, right?"

"N-no, nothing... T-there's no way something like that happened..."

"Sounds suspicious..."

"Rather than that, we need to get clothes and daily necessities, or we'll be in trouble."

Maybe because I had been living under suppression in Lastock, the old-new duo and the fake glasses were being particularly persistent.

Manon, on the other hand, seemed to be being asked something by the mismatched sisters, her face turning red and her eyes darting around.

Hmm... I wonder if she's okay. Manon can be quite innocent, so I'm worried she might say something unnecessary.

And when we started shopping, the fact that I had given them all the money for the time being backfired, and they started buying all sorts of unnecessary things, like tourists on a shopping spree.

"Hey Kazuki, there's a weapon shop."

"Yeah, we need weapons, let's check it out."

"Hold it, hold it, we can't take on any extermination jobs yet, so we don't need weapons."

"What, Kunito, don't be so stingy, you have money, right?"

"What are you talking about? It's not just Yagi and the others; we need to save everyone else, and that will require living expenses."

We haven't earned a single hert ourselves, so I don't want them to rely on someone else's wallet.

"But Kunito, aren't there monsters around here since we're so close to the forest?"

"That's right, as Daichi says, we probably need weapons, right?"

"There are no monsters inside the city walls. Look at the people passing by; only adventurers carry weapons."

Volsard is called the city at the end of the world, but except when a large number of monsters appear, you won't see even a single goblin in the city.

The only people who carry weapons are the guards and adventurers, and they are not many.

"No, Kunito, even if there are no monsters, it's better to have a knife for self-defense, right?"

"No way! If you want weapons so badly, wait until the combat training on Monday after the weekend. Absolutely not now!"

"Tch, you're really stingy... What about them?"

Looking in the direction Yagi pointed, I saw the mismatched sisters coming out of the clothing store with a large number of packages, and I couldn't help but sit down and hold my head.

I was a fool to think that Kobayashi would be fine.

"Hey, both of you, how much did you buy? I said it was for immediate living expenses, right?"

"What are you talking about? It's normal for girls to spend money on fashion."

"That's right, girls live for fashion, right, Manon?"

"Uh, I... I..."

Manon stammered, and Kobayashi whispered something in her ear.

"Y-Yeah, I... I think fashion is important for girls too..."

Manon is also carrying packages, and I wonder if she was bribed.

Even if she says it with a face like a child who has been caught doing mischief, it's not very convincing, but I can't get angry because I asked for her help.

"So, how much did you spend?"

"Oh, don't worry, we left enough for shoes."

"Right, right, Manon, let's go to the shoe store next."

"U-Uh..."

Manon, who is peeking at my expression, starts to look pitiful.

"Hey, Kunito, can we buy weapons too?"

"No way! By the way, the combat training instructor is Donovan, so if you have a weapon that doesn't suit you, you don't know what kind of treatment you'll get."

"Ugh, that guy... What do you think, Kazuki?"

"Can't be helped, let's... put it on hold."

After that, I was dragged along to the shoe store by the mismatched sisters, and I was tossed around by the old-new duo's endless eating while shopping, and I had to pull the fake glasses back by the ear when he was about to follow a pretty lady. By the time I brought them back to the guard's quarters in the evening, I had been through a lot.

When I finally got the five of them into the quarters, Manon and I exchanged a big sigh.

"Sorry, really sorry, Manon..."

"No, it's not your fault, Kent... I'm just tired..."

Seeing Manon, who was more exhausted than when she was working as a gardener's apprentice, I felt really sorry for her.

"As an apology, I'll treat you to dinner. Is the pasta place from last time okay?"

"Sure, but... I also got clothes, so..."

That's right, it seems the mismatched sisters made her try on clothes like a doll, and she is carrying packages of clothes.

"Ah, don't worry about that. Think of it as a down payment for future trouble."

"Ugh... Y-Yeah..."

Maybe imagining a situation like today continuing, Manon has a distant look in her eyes.

No, I really am sorry.

We finished dinner at the pasta place, where we were watched with a smile by Minuet, and I took Manon home.

While taking her home, I held her hand... but she was holding the packages with both hands, so it was impossible.

"Kent, are you going to continue rescuing your friends?"

"Yeah, the current situation is too bad, and I want to do it as soon as possible, but it's difficult."

"Are you going to get Tomoko and the others to help?"

"Umm... To get them to help, we need to go beyond the forest, which is a bit difficult."

Right now, the five of them don't seem to be at a level where they can be considered combatants, so there's no point in taking them.

"I didn't realize you were doing such a difficult thing, Kent."

"I'm sorry for not telling you before..."

"No, it's not your fault... But I don't think I can help with the rescue."

"Yeah, but when we rescue the other classmates, it would be a big help if you could help them get used to Volsard..."

"Of course, I'll help with anything I can. After all, Kent saved the city."

Manon looks at me with sparkling eyes, but the ones who actually fought were Reinhart and the others, so I can't take credit for it.

"But Reinhart and the others defeated the Rock Ogre."

"But, but, Kent defeated the Gigawolf, right?"

"U-Uh, yeah..."

"Wow..."

Ugh... You can praise me more, Manon. I'm the type who grows with praise.

"N-No, but it's the power I received, so it's not me who's amazing."

"Still, Kent defeated it, right?"

"U-Uh, yeah... It was just a coincidence."

"Hey, Kent, can you go to the dungeon with me someday?"

"Uh... Well, if we can save all the classmates and send them back to their original world..."

As I said that, Manon suddenly stopped.

The expression that was sparkling and smiling a moment ago had stiffened.

"Hey, Kent, if we can go back to our original world, will you go back too?"

"That... I don't know yet..."

"Will you stay in Volsard?"

"U-Uh, I'm... I'm thinking about it..."

"I... I want you to stay..."

Ugh... If you ask me with such teary eyes, I might decide to stay right away.

Or, maybe I could take Manon back... No, that's impossible.

If I go back to Japan, I'll revert to a broken child, so even if I take Manon, I won't be able to support her.

Hmm? But maybe I can still use magic after going back.

"Still, it's not decided that we can go back... I'll think about it..."

"Okay, think about it..."

From there to Manon's house, neither of us could find the words, and we walked in silence.

If we can save everyone... If we can go back to Japan... That's supposed to be our goal, but when that time comes, I have to make a decision, and I feel scared about that time coming.

"Thanks for taking me home."

"Sure, see you later..."

We parted ways in front of Manon's house, and just as I was about to head back to the boarding house, I was stopped.

"K-Kent... Ow!"

"Ouch..."

I turned around when I was called, and Manon's face came close, and I got a headbutt on my temple.

"Good night!"

"Wh-What...?"

Manon ran into her house like she was escaping, and I was left standing alone on the street.

Why a headbutt? Or, did I do something to make her angry?

Maybe she was really upset about being dragged around by Kobayashi and Sakai.

Hmm... I thought we were getting along well, but was I mistaken?

What did I do wrong, and will Manon continue to help me? I kept thinking about it, and before I knew it, I had returned to the boarding house.

Ugh... Girls' hearts are a mystery.

I greeted Amanda and returned to my room, and Fred, who had returned from Lastock, called out to me.

"Mr. Kent... Don't forget to take care of the Holy Maiden..."

"Ah! Right, I left everything to the class president..."

I slipped into the shadows and headed to Lastock's garrison with Fred.

The class president was lying on the sofa in the examination room, looking completely exhausted and breathing heavily.

"Holy Maiden, don't overdo it..."

"Don't be ridiculous! Do you know who's responsible for this situation!"

The class president lashed out at Elna.

She looked like an angry cat with its fur standing on end.

On the other hand, Elna looked like a confused owner who wants to pet but can't.

"Did you see the injuries of everyone today? They are mentally and physically broken! Why do we have to suffer so much!"

"I know it's bad, but I can't do anything about it..."

"Then don't say irresponsible things like 'don't overdo it.' I can't bear to lose any more friends... I absolutely don't want to!"

The class president, who had been shouting, collapsed onto the sofa, holding her forehead as if she felt dizzy.

Elna, who had rushed to her side, stopped as if intimidated by the class president's glare.

"I'll go back to my room after resting a bit, so leave me alone!"

"Understood... Please rest early."

Elna bowed and left the examination room.

I heard the class president's sobbing from inside the closed door, sighed, and walked down the corridor.

"Fred, is