Chapter 38

Meline, who is training at Amanda's shop, is also helping with the preparations early in the morning.

She says she wants to learn the procedures and recipes as soon as possible so she can reopen the shop her father left behind.

Really, I wish I could make my foolish younger brother, Nicolas, drink a decoction of his fingernail clippings.

Amanda also seems to be teaching her enthusiastically after hearing her story.

When I asked if it would be fine to have a business rival in the same Volzard, she said that even if it's someone who trained under her, she doesn't intend to lose, and that having rivals would help them both grow, so she welcomes it.

Amanda is like a hero from a shonen manga, isn't she?

So, Meline has started joining us for breakfast, making our mornings even more lively.

"Meline, did Karl say anything?"

"Yeah, Karl sometimes comes to eat lunch here."

Of course, he would, for Meline, and now the food is good, so he must be happy to come.

"The number of male customers, including the guards, has increased, and sales have gone up, which is a big help."

Today is a day of rest, so the guild is closed, but many restaurants and shops, including Amanda's, are open on the Dark Day.

Misa, who lost her position as the shop girl to Meline, is full of enthusiasm to help the shop to regain her status.

"Kent, don't wander around, you'll be in the way."

"Okay, okay, I understand..."

After finishing breakfast, I thought about what to do today and remembered that I hadn't explained anything about taking jobs to the five people I rescued.

The day before yesterday, I took them to the guild to look for jobs, but after talking with Donovan, they ended up in a rematch with Gilik and were sent to the infirmary.

Then, after being drugged to sleep by Muell, I woke up to find myself being led by Donovan to treat Beatrice, and after collapsing again, I returned yesterday evening.

In the end, I had completely neglected the five of them.

Isn't my daily life too hard?

According to Muell, the new and old duo seems to be fine with Gilik, and the Odd Couple should be okay too.

The problem is Gase Megane, who was on a straight path to being a NEET.

I took him to the guild using Muell as bait, but after being beaten up by Gilik, I don't know what happened to him.

I'm worried, so I'll go check on him.

"Amanda, I'll be out for a bit until this evening."

"Alright, be careful... Oh, you have a bodyguard, so you'll be fine, go ahead!"

"Okay, I'll be back!"

After telling Amanda, I went out the back door and was surprised to see Manon standing there.

"Ma, Manon...?"

"Good morning... Kent."

Manon, who usually wears baggy pants and a large shirt, is wearing a skirt.

A light blue dress that matches her hair, a dark brown half-coat, and cute short boots with flower decorations.

It's dangerous, she's cute, she's incredibly feminine.

"Do, do I look bad...?"

Manon, fidgeting, asks, and I can only shake my head in silence.

"Do, do I look good...?"

I could only nod my head, but then I felt a gaze and looked towards the alley, where a shadow quickly hid.

When I stared, two faces peered out from the shadows, the Odd Couple, I see.

But... it's good! If there were no meddlers, I could hug her, hug her... sorry, that's a lie, I don't have the courage.

"Cute... really cute..."

"Really?"

"Yeah... really cute..."

Kuuu... Manon, bouncing slightly, is so cute it hurts.

"Kent, were you going somewhere?"

"Huh? Yeah... but I think I'll decide after talking to those two over there..."

"Oh... they know?"

"Yeah, and by the way, isn't that the dress you bought the other day?"

"Umm... sorry, I spent it unnecessarily..."

Oh no... I made her enter a dejected mode.

"No, no, I'm not angry, it's okay, the Gigawolf sold for a high price, so don't worry about it."

"Really?"

"Yeah, really, really... you're really cute."

"Huuu..."

Oh, she covered her face with both hands and turned away, but her back is cute too.

If only the Odd Couple weren't there... I felt a gaze and turned to see Amanda, Meline, and Misa grinning at me.

"Kent, you're not to be underestimated..."

"Yeah, Kent is kind..."

"But, Kent is a pervert."

"Hey, what are you saying, Misa!"

Anyway, I think it's awkward to stay here.

"Ma, Manon, come with me..."

"Huh? U, um... okay..."

"We're going to the Leible farm!"

I pulled Manon's hand and headed into an alley opposite where the Odd Couple were.

I was going to check on Yagi, but I'll do that later.

I walked quickly down the alley, then into another one, hid behind a stack of boxes, and made a square dark shield to hide behind.

"Oh, they're gone, where did they go?"

"Tomoko, there's another alley ahead!"

"Damn, we won't let them get away..."

"Right, something about the Leible farm..."

"Okay, let's go, Akane!"

"Got it, Tomoko!"

The two sets of footsteps faded away.

I held my breath until I couldn't hear them anymore.

I was so focused on hiding that I ended up hugging Manon in the shadows.

I calmed my heart, which was pounding, with deep breaths and whispered to Manon.

"Manon, I want to go check on Yagi... Yusei, is that okay?"

"Um... okay..."

I canceled the dark shield and stepped out, and Manon held my hand.

I was a bit surprised, but I boldly intertwined my fingers with hers.

This time, Manon was surprised, but she squeezed back.

I wanted to head to the guards' temporary quarters, but... would she think I'm sweaty and gross?

People passing by are giving us warm and murderous gazes.

Hya-hya-hya-hya! I'm living it up!

Ah, maybe I should just forget about Gase Megane and go somewhere to play.

"Yusei... I was a bit worried about him too..."

"Huh, really? What happened?"

"Yeah... how to put it, he was targeted by Gilik..."

"Oh... he was a mess, wasn't he..."

"Yeah... and after that, he was taken away by Kazuki and Tatsuya, I think..."

"Oh, right, what about yesterday?"

"Yesterday, I only saw Tomoko and Akemi, so I don't know..."

I think it would be better to check on him.

I went to the guards' temporary quarters, but Yagi wasn't there.

"Where did Yagi go?"

"Should we look for him?"

"Hmm... if he went out to clear his head, I think it's okay, so we don't have to go."

"So, so... then, how about we go up to the wall?"

"The wall? Sure..."

I wonder, there are no more Rock Ogres, so is Manon just really fond of going up the wall?

I was surprised when I went up the wall as she suggested.

The scenery had completely changed from the last time I went up.

No matter which way I looked, it was full of couples.

There were couples around our age, but mostly older, more mature couples.

Naturally, the level of intimacy was different.

It wasn't just holding hands and getting excited; they were sticking together, kissing passionately.

There were couples kissing passionately all over the place.

"Um, um... is it always like this on the Day of Rest...?"

"It, it seems so..."

I was getting a bit dizzy from the unexpected pink atmosphere.

I've heard that there are dating spots and places where couples gather in Japan, but I've never been to one, and of course, I've never had a girl to go with.

It felt like I had stepped off an elevator and suddenly found myself on the adult floor, not knowing what to do, and just walked along the wall.

The pink atmosphere was so strong that I couldn't even look up, and my heart was pounding.

When I glanced at Manon, her neck was flushed with a seductive hue.

"Ma, Manon... I think this is a bit too early for us..."

"U, um... I think so too..."

Manon, are your eyes spinning? You're pushing yourself too hard.

I pulled her hand, which was about to roll, and turned back to go down the wall.

But, when I grow up a bit more, I'll... what am I saying?

We returned to near the gate and decided to check if Yagi had come back to the guards' quarters.

Yagi wasn't there, but I met someone unexpected.

"Oh, Mr. Kent, my daughter was a great help to you yesterday."

"Oh, Mrs. Mariann, no, I received an excessive reward, thank you very much."

Mariann, in her guard uniform, looked even more dignified.

Umm... Manon, your hand is creaking... aren't you squeezing too hard?

"Good timing, Beatrice, say thank you properly."

Beatrice, who had been hiding behind Mariann, was staring at me and Manon.

She seemed to be back to full health, and when she stood next to Mariann, I could sense the aura from the first time we met.

She held her skirt with both hands, bowed gracefully, and then spoke.

"Mr. Kent, I am deeply grateful for saving my life."

"Y, yes... no, I just did what I could..."

"Even so, you saved a life that the healers of Volzard had given up on, and I can't find the words to express my gratitude. And..."

"And...?"

Beatrice glanced at Manon and covered her cheeks with both hands, blushing.

"Having been thoroughly caressed all over my body... I can't get married now."

"Kent... what does that mean?"

Iiiii... Manon, your fingers... your fingers are breaking...

"N, no, that was for treatment... it's, it's a no-count..."

Still, why is Beatrice suddenly saying this? She's making the guards around us start to murmur.

"But, having been seen in such a state by a man... will you take responsibility?"

"Eee... w, what do you mean by responsibility..."

Stop hiding your chest with both hands! It makes it look like I did something terrible.

I'm not completely innocent, but it was part of the treatment...

My whole body was drenched in cold sweat, and I was panicking, when Beatrice approached me with a confident smile and hugged me.

In the midst of the murmurs, she kissed my cheek and then licked her lips.

Are the rabbits of Volzard carnivorous?

"Mr. Kent, from now on, please call me Leiche."

"H, huh..."

"Then, I'll take my leave, Mother, let's go."

No, Mariann, don't just look at me with a "Well, well" expression, say something.

Surrounded by the guards' warm gazes and Manon's sharp, dagger-like gaze, what do you want me to do?

"Kent... will you tell me the details?"

"O, of course..."

"Kent, look at me..."

"Ugh... a, ah, it's just a joke..."

"Did you touch her?"

"Ugh... but it was for treatment..."

"Did you touch her...?"

"Y, yes..."

"Kent, you cheater!"

"Hya-bu..."

S, such... Manon, after giving me a full slap, left.

And, Manon, you're wearing a skirt today, so don't walk so confidently.

Ugh... the warm gazes from the surroundings are painful.

"Hya-hya-hya-hya, Kunito, serve you right!"

"That voice... Yagi..."

I turned to the voice and saw Yagi, holding his stomach, pointing at me and laughing.

"Learn your lesson, Kunito, you're... one of us!"

No, no, I don't think you should be proud of that...

"Listen, you can't be ahead of me in getting close to a cute girl for a thousand years!"

"No, I can't live for a thousand years."

"Of course not, that's why if you want a girlfriend, you should introduce me to a cute girl first. Then everything will be fine!"

"Okay, okay, I understand, I'll tell Gilik that Yagi is after Muell..."

"B, bastard! What are you saying? Do you know how much I've suffered because of you? Don't spread false rumors! I'm not thinking of anything as big as going after the cat-eared lady!"

He must have been treated badly by Gilik, Yagi is being too desperate.

"Okay, okay, not after her, not after her, but I'll tell Gilik that you were staring at Muell's chest..."

"Id