Chapter 70

While listening to the sound of the alarm being lifted, I was walking leisurely towards the infirmary when I was called by Marianne.

"Kent, good job today."

"Ah, Marianne, thank you, I saw your fire magic, it was amazing..."

"Oh, compared to you, it's nothing much."

Nothing much? That's ridiculous.

Even our clumsy hero would run away with his tail between his legs.

Marianne, who had been giggling, suddenly became serious and stared at me as she began to speak.

"If it weren't for the efforts of your familiars, Volzard would have suffered great damage. I want to thank you again, thank you very much."

"Thank you... Volzard is an important city to me, so it was only natural to protect it."

"I'm glad to hear you say that. That means you'll take my daughter, right?"

"Huh? I, I think you're jumping to conclusions..."

I thought we were having a nice conversation, but it suddenly changed.

"Oh, you consider Volzard important because it's the hometown of the girl you're going to marry, right?"

"No, no, it's too early for me to think about marriage..."

"Oh, Kent, we talked about this in the cafeteria the other day. In Volzard, it's not unusual for someone to become independent from their parents and start their own family at fifteen."

"Bu, but I just arrived in Volzard... and, Riche hasn't turned fifteen yet, has she?"

"Oh, really? But it's only about two months until the New Year, and if we make it an engagement, there won't be any problem."

"An engagement? That's a bit sudden..."

"Well, it would be difficult to be suddenly engaged. But, Kent, my husband, I, and Riche herself all agree, so if you're interested, just let us know."

"Even Klaus is okay with it?"

"Yes, he won't oppose it, so you can rest assured."

"Y-Yes..."

For a moment, Marianne looked like a demon... and I felt like I was being cornered.

Marianne left with a smile, but I couldn't stop the sweat running down my back.

I started walking towards the infirmary again, but there was a crowd around the cafeteria.

Perhaps the breakfast distribution had started.

As I approached, I saw that the crowd was mostly young adventurers.

"You, that can be fixed with a little spit."

"Shut up, you don't even have a scratch."

"Idiot, I have this goblin bite..."

"You, you probably bit yourself, it's not a goblin's teeth!"

"Hah... She's really an angel... Ah, I could die happy..."

"Hey, hurry up!"

"Idiot! The one who rushed you, come here and apologize to the angel!"

Ah, I have a bad feeling about this... "Angel"...

I thought about just going back, but then the committee leader would be angry.

I decided to peek from the side and let her know I was safe before leaving.

"Excuse me, can I get through...?"

"Hey! Get through? Everyone's waiting their turn, do you understand, you..."

I tried to get through the side, but I was glared at by a tough-looking guy.

"N-No, I'm not here for treatment, I have a message to deliver..."

"Huh? A message..."

I thought I wouldn't be let through, but then a friend of the tough guy spoke up.

"Hey, Kurt, isn't that guy a monster tamer?"

"Huh? Oh, this guy... is the Demon King..."

When Kurt and the others heard this, the adventurers in line turned to look.

"Monster tamer" was bad enough, but "Demon King"...

I heard "Demon King" from all around.

"No, I do have familiars working, but Demon King..."

"Hey, it's true..."

"Um... can I get through..."

I don't understand, but the young adventurers moved aside to make a path.

"Ah, I'm sorry... thank you..."

While being scrutinized, I bowed and made my way through. I saw the committee leader smiling and treating someone.

"Ah, Kent!"

When the committee leader saw me, she let go of the adventurer she was treating and ran over, hugging me tightly.

Of course, angry and resentful voices rose, but at the same time, words like "monster tamer" and "Demon King" were heard, along with voices trying to calm the situation.

"Kent, are you hurt anywhere?"

"No, my familiars did all the work, so I'm fine."

"Are you sure? I bet you pushed yourself too hard."

"N-No, I didn't push myself at all."

The committee leader slightly pulled away, glared at me for a moment, then relaxed her expression.

"You probably did push yourself, but I'm glad you're back safe."

"Y-Yes... I'm home."

"Welcome back."

The committee leader wrapped her arms around my neck and hugged me tightly.

"Damn, the monster tamer got everything!"

"Ah... The angel is in the Demon King's clutches..."

"Damn, go bald, go bald from the back of your head!"

The young adventurers left, leaving behind resentful voices.

It seems they didn't need treatment.

I don't want to cause any more trouble for my committee leader.

The defense force's cafeteria is open to the adventurers who were called up, so I decided to have breakfast with the committee leader before returning to the boarding house.

I was a little worried about the other classmates I rescued, but the teachers are there, so they should be fine.

Just as I was about to leave the temporary infirmary and head to the cafeteria, my face turned pale.

A blue-haired girl was running towards me from the entrance of the defense force... at this timing?

I could feel the warmth of the committee leader's arm around my left side, but I couldn't reject Manon, who was running towards me with tears in her eyes.

"Kent, Kent, Kent!"

"Phew... G-Good morning, Manon."

I caught Manon, who came at me like a wild boar without brakes, but it hurts... It hurts, my left arm is being squeezed by the committee leader and feels like it's about to break.

"I was worried, you didn't tell me anything, stupid Kent... stupid... ugh..."

"Sorry, the situation changed suddenly, and I had to hurry..."

Manon buried her face in my right neck, opposite the committee leader.

I think my left arm, which is being squeezed by the committee leader, is reaching its limit.

"Ah! A love triangle, a love triangle!"

"Ugh... Monster tamer..."

"Volzard's crisis is over, but Kunitomi's life is hanging by a thread."

"Yagi, I found something I have to kill, even if it means a lifetime of forced labor."

"It's a coincidence, I feel the same, Nishida..."

I hear various voices from all around, but I protected Volzard, didn't I... So, I don't have to pay the price, right?

And why are the glasses-wearing duo and the old and new pair wandering around freely? They should go back to forced labor.

"Kent..."

"Kent..."

"Y-Yes... Well, um... let's have breakfast together... I'm sorry."

I felt the warmth of the committee leader on my left arm and Manon on my right, but I had no time to enjoy it as I was led to the cafeteria.

This morning's breakfast, prepared to satisfy the hunger of the adventurers and defense force members who worked hard last night, consisted of a large meat stew, round bread, salad, and fresh milk.

Under normal circumstances, the smell would make my mouth water, but with my stomach feeling tight, it seems a bit too much.

I chose a seat in the back, but my classmates surrounded me, and the adventurers and defense force members were watching from a distance.

Wow... What is this situation? I've never been this much of a center of attention before.

"Kent, let's eat before it gets cold..."

"Y-Yeah... Let's eat, I-Itadakimasu."

The committee leader, who can calmly say she wants to eat in this situation, has nerves that go beyond my understanding.

"Kent..."

"What is it, Manon?"

"Here, a-ah..."

"Ah... Ah... Ah... Mmm..."

Manon, you shouldn't listen to the story of the凸凹の悪魔 (convex and concave demon) sitting next to you.

Then, I was called by the committee leader from the left side.

"Kent, here, a-ah..."

"Ah... Ah... Mmm..."

This is bad, I can't taste anything.

And with the guys' crazy eyes, I feel like I'm being cursed to death.

I finished breakfast, or rather, I finished breakfast, without tasting anything, while being on display.

No, I finished breakfast.

"Um... Itadakimashita."

No one is reacting, so I guess I have to take the initiative.

I took a deep breath once, twice, three times...

"Kent..."

"Meow?"

Wow... Why is Manon talking to me at this moment?

I made a weird sound, "meow," what is "meow," "meow"...

People are bursting out laughing and I can hear giggles.

"Sorry... Kent, I think it's okay if you don't decide right now."

"Manon...?"

"I think the recent arrivals don't know, but Kent has really worked hard. He can easily travel between Reisenburg and Volzard with his powerful magic, but he's been thinking of ways to rescue everyone, securing a place to live in Volzard, and trying to live his own life... He's been working really hard."

Manon's words are being listened to by the classmates.

"I love Kent, who works so hard, and I don't want to get in his way... I don't want to make Kent suffer... I want to be of some help to Kent..."

This is bad... My tear ducts are about to collapse.

"Kent, you still have a lot to do, right?"

"Y-Yeah, I have to negotiate with Camilla... the princess of Reisenburg to send everyone back to their original world."

"Then, I want you to prioritize that... and even if I'm not chosen, I'll support Kent."

"Manon... thank you..."

I won't cry. Some of the girls who worked with Manon are crying, but it's uncool, so I won't cry.

This is just sweat coming out of my eyes.

"I'm sorry, Manon, I misunderstood you."

I was about to hug Manon without caring about the people around us, but the committee leader started speaking calmly.

"I thought you were a calculating girl who noticed Kent's magical talent. I'm sorry, I was wrong."

The committee leader stood up and bowed deeply.

"But I don't intend to give up my role in supporting Kent. Life in Lastock was really tough