Chapter 32

The next morning after receiving the request from the knight's guild to participate in the Crankheight Turtle extermination.

"I'm going, Elise!"

In front of the clinic's gate, Yuel called out to Elise with a bright voice. However, Elise had a complicated expression on her face ever since yesterday.

Elise had been looking at me worriedly during meals and before bed since yesterday. No matter what, she might be terribly worried about me.

She also made a subtle face when she saw Yuel hugging my waist while sleeping, or when she saw the matching bracelets on my and Yuel's wrists. Perhaps she was worried that I might make a move on Yuel.

"Go safely, Yuel. Be really careful... Shiki, you too."

Oh.

It seems Elise was genuinely worried about my safety.

That's good.

Elise didn't label me as a lolicon just because I was wearing a matching bracelet with Yuel.

Then, with a serious face, Elise continued.

"If you harass the knights, it won't be a joke. It won't just end with a stern warning. I don't want to have to go to the knight's guild's station as your guarantor to take responsibility for you."

That's it.

That's what it was.

Indeed, Marietta from the knight's guild was quite cute.

But I wouldn't harass anyone without thinking of the consequences.

I do consider my own safety.

And I wish she wouldn't make statements that could cause misunderstandings in front of Yuel.

"I won't harass anyone...! Well, it's time to go."

I hurried to end the conversation, and Elise chuckled at my reaction.

It seems it was a joke.

"Wait."

Then, Elise took a step towards me.

A light impact ran through my chest.

She seemed to be checking my warmth, grabbing my clothes and pressing her head against my chest.

It's almost touching.

No, it's touching a little.

"Oh..."

What's going on?

It's rare for Elise to be so close and vulnerable to me.

Usually, she avoids physical contact to keep me at a distance.

Is it her dere period?

Maybe it is her dere period.

Perhaps she was moved by my dedication to working for the town, which she couldn't refuse in front of Yuel, who respects me.

"Someone has to do it, so you can't not go... But... come back safely, okay?"

Then Elise looked up at me and said that.

Looking into Elise's eyes, I realized something.

This is different.

Her eyes showed genuine concern for my safety.

She also seemed a bit regretful.

...Come to think of it, Elise said her parents died in an accident.

I don't know what happened, but surely her parents said they would come back and never did.

I think I'll be fine since I'll be protected by the knight's guild, but maybe Elise doesn't see it that way.

But Elise's healing magic skills would only be a hindrance.

She can't defend herself against monsters.

She can't even join the extermination team.

Maybe she feels powerless about that.

"Don't worry."

I placed my hand on Elise's head, not her butt.

I don't have the nerve to touch her butt in this atmosphere.

Honestly, I'd like to hug her and enjoy the feeling of her chest, but Yuel is here.

"I'll be fine, Master will definitely be protected by me!"

Then, Yuel, looking at Elise, said something very reassuring.

"So when you come back, teach me how to make delicious cookies, okay!"

But Yuel, that's a death flag.

We left the clinic and headed towards the city gate, where we were to meet up with the knight's guild.

Yuel seemed to have fully recovered from yesterday's "Elise chest button shock" and was walking beside me with a smile.

As I walked and looked at Yuel, I noticed her gaze moving.

Yuel glanced at my bracelet.

Then she looked at her own bracelet and gently touched it.

After that, she sighed contentedly and looked at my bracelet again.

Noticing that I was watching, Yuel blushed and smiled shyly.

Cute.

It seems Yuel really likes the bracelet.

Maybe the matching part was what she liked.

But this accessory will break if activated.

I bought the same magic item as the one Yuel bought on a whim, but maybe a regular accessory would have been better.

It's good that she likes it, but if it breaks when activated, will Yuel be okay?

She might cry.

I don't think I'll receive a fatal attack, so I don't think it will activate.

But I should think about how to comfort Yuel if it does activate.

Thinking about this, we arrived at the meeting place.

Looking around, I saw armored knights, mages and healers in robes with the knight's guild emblem, and a few healers like me.

There were about fifty people from the knight's guild, and maybe a dozen healers like me.

It seems there are fewer, but they are elite.

As I was looking at the group, a red-haired woman in light armor came over, waving her hands.

"Good morning, Shiki. Thanks for the other day. So you were also called to participate in the Crankheight Turtle extermination, huh?"

It's Luluka.

She's wearing her usual adventurer's gear.

Why is she here?

I thought only people from the knight's guild and excellent healers were supposed to be here.

"...Why are you here?"

"Hehe, do you want to know?"

When I asked, Luluka said with a proud look.

"No, not really."

Well, I can kind of guess.

Luluka's party was affected by the Crankheight Turtle, so she's probably here for that.

Maybe as a guide.

"Why? Why not ask! Actually, we were the ones who found the location of the Crankheight Turtle. So the knight's guild hired us as guides. Isn't that cool? Surprised?"

Sure enough, she's a guide.

But didn't they just get lost in the fog?

I think Luluka herself told me they got lost in the rain and fog.

When I gave her a cold look, Luluka seemed to remember and quickly looked away.

"Ah, by the way, what's with that bracelet?"

Then Luluka looked at my bracelet.

"Ah, this? This is from Yuel..."

But how should I explain this?

Saying "Yuel bought it for me" sounds like I'm a freeloader.

Saying "We exchanged gifts" sounds even worse.

"Master says that you should give gifts to people who have helped you."

As I hesitated, Yuel explained.

Then Yuel whispered, touching the bracelet.

"It's a matching one with Master."

With a very, very happy expression.

She sighed.

Whether Luluka heard Yuel's words or not, she looked at my bracelet, then at Yuel's bracelet, and then at mine again... and froze.

Sure enough, the matching part was a bad idea.

It's not a pair of rings, but a pair of accessories.

I might be labeled as a lolicon and be rejected.

"Hey, if that's the case, what about me?"

As I was thinking this, Luluka started fidgeting and said this.

If that's the case, she's probably referring to what Yuel said about giving gifts to people who have helped.

But that's just a polite excuse for Yuel.

I don't plan to give anything to Eito or Gazer, who have also helped me.

"Nothing for Luluka..."

"Eh!?"

Luluka has helped me, but I don't think I should give her a gift.

It might be a bad idea.

If she gets a taste of it and asks me to "buy it" while pressing her chest against me, I'm confident I'd empty my wallet.

"But, but, it's just right, so here, I'll give this to Shiki."

Saying that, Luluka took off one of her earrings.

It was a rather expensive piece with a red gemstone.

"Earring?"

"Here, as a thank you for healing Fran and Sera."

No, I'm confused if you give me just one earring as a thank you.

Ignoring my thoughts, Luluka quickly put the earring in my ear.

"See, we're a pair now?"

Then Luluka pulled her hair back to show me her earring.

I was a bit startled.

What's going on?

Maybe she's jealous of Yuel and is burning with a competitive spirit.

But, but maybe she's just being flirtatious.

Remember, how many times have I been tricked into getting a discount on treatment fees?

But if this is an act, what kind of expensive gift will she ask for in return?