Chapter 44

In a crisis, one must remain calm.

First, let's sort out the situation.

“Uwah, uwah, a lover... a lover...”

First, I don’t currently have a relationship with anyone specific.

Elise probably only thinks of me as a roommate, and with Ruruka, we just treat each other occasionally and sometimes touch her chest as payment.

So, the idea of a lover is a mistake.

But probably, I shouldn’t tell Aria that.

Aria likely thinks that if Elise lives with a man, it means she considers him a beloved and a fiancé.

Even if I say that I’m not in that kind of relationship with Elise, I don’t think she would listen.

I moved into the clinic because I bought it back for Elise.

But how should I explain it?

Aria seems extremely angry, with her arms crossed under her chest, glaring at me.

If I say that I’m not in that kind of relationship with Elise, she might say, “Is my sister just a plaything to you? Are you toying with her?” and it would only make things worse.

...Ah, no, maybe I should just explain it normally.

Usually, I have a lot of things to hide, so I forget, but this time I was just being shown around a magic item shop.

“Aria, it’s a misunderstanding. I’m just looking for a magic item, but I’m not very knowledgeable about them. Ruruka is an adventurer and knows more about magic items than I do, and she knows a good shop, so she was showing me around. Right, Ruruka?”

“U... u, lover...”

But Ruruka, who is crucial, is looking down and muttering, not responding.

Was she that shocked to be called a lover?

...But I need her help to clear up this misunderstanding right now.

“Why are you looking for a magic item...? But I saw you holding hands with that person just now! I saw it clearly!”

“That, that’s because... well, I was watching the priestess’s healing for a long time, and Ruruka was pulling me along to hurry up. And, I’m looking for a magic item because...”

“Suspicious... You’re definitely suspicious!”

Before I could finish, Aria said.

It seems my credibility is already gone.

Probably, the credit I earned from Elise’s letter was used up by the street flirting incident and this one.

She won’t listen to me.

Aria is probably as stubborn as Elise.

This is no good.

“It’s suspicious, but...”

I need to wait until she calms down a bit to clear up the misunderstanding.

...But why do I always have to clear up misunderstandings?

Lately, I feel like this happens a lot.

Well, more often than not, I’m trying to cover up facts that aren’t misunderstandings.

But if I have to clear something up, I’d rather it be the laces of her underwear or something.

While I was daydreaming,

“It’s not those people who are suspicious! Stop fooling around and get back to your post!”

Aria’s head was hit with a loud voice.

“Ittai! Who... Ah, Vice Captain!?”

The one who hit her was a female knight who looked a few years older than Aria.

She was glaring at Aria with a very angry face.

“You’re on guard duty now! Do you understand that anything could happen at any time?”

“U... Yes, I understand, but...”

Aria was being scolded fiercely by the female knight called Vice Captain.

Aria seemed to realize something and looked away awkwardly.

From the conversation, it seemed she had left her post to come see me.

...That’s why she’s being scolded.

“Come on, let’s go back. This isn’t a game or a simulation. Failure is not allowed. Do you understand why we accepted students like you?”

“...Ah, but wait! I just need a little more time to talk... Ah, don’t pull me, wait, please!!”

“It’s not acceptable. We’re really short on personnel right now. We have the Crankheit Turtle attack investigation, the Holy Maiden’s protection, and mediating disputes between travelers. If the priests of the Medine faith hadn’t offered to help with patrols, the knight order’s work would have been overwhelmed. Really...”

Then, Aria was dragged away by the female knight into the crowd.

Even Aria can’t defy her superior.

...It seems the crisis has passed.

It feels like it’s just been postponed, but at least I’m saved for now.

And just as I thought that,

“I’ll make you explain about that lover later! Absolutely, absolutely!”

A cry came from the crowd.

“Hey, Ruruka. What’s wrong? Let’s go, already. ...Ruruka?”

Well, there was an unexpected event, but I can’t forget my original purpose.

I was walking with Ruruka to find a magic item shop to help Elise level up her healing magic.

But Ruruka has been acting strange lately.

She’s been looking down, deep in thought, and not responding when I call her.

“Hey, it’s uncomfortable being here because of Aria... Ruruka, can you hurry up and show me the shop? Let’s move quickly.”

Maybe because I was called a lover in front of everyone, I’ve attracted a lot of unwanted attention.

This place is like a bed of nails for me.

Then, after calling Ruruka a few times, she suddenly looked up, startled.

“...Oh, right, the shop, the shop!”

Ruruka said and started walking down a back alley.

...But her voice was a bit high-pitched.

And after a few steps into the alley, she stopped.

Then she slowly turned to me, slightly lowering her head.

“...Hey, Shiki... That, that girl just now, who is she?”

Of course, she asked.

Honestly, I can’t predict Ruruka’s reaction if I say she’s Elise’s sister.

I’m not sure, but I feel like Ruruka has a crush on me.

It could be a minefield.

But if she asked, I can’t not answer.

“Ah, that’s Aria...”

“Ah, wait! That golden hair... and calling her ‘sister’... Could it be... Ah, it’s fine, you don’t have to answer! I’m not interested or anything!”

What’s with this reaction?

When she reacts like this, I get more curious.

I start to feel uneasy.

“Hey, it’s the magic item shop, right? Let’s go! This way!”

Well, if she’s showing me the way, that’s fine.

Ruruka turned and walked down the alley a bit faster.

It seems the conversation is over.

Ruruka led me through a dim alley.

There was no light conversation like before we met Aria; Ruruka just led the way in silence.

This has been going on for a while.

But it feels awkward, and I haven’t said anything.

Where is Ruruka taking me?

It shouldn’t be that far, but we’ve been walking for quite a while.

And this alley.

It seems to be in the shade of buildings, and the puddles from the rain a few days ago are still there.

The alley is surrounded by old, unused buildings, and it’s hard to see around.

The alley itself is winding and not well-planned.

I can even hear strange animal sounds.

It’s honestly creepy.

But the streets are so twisted that I can’t even find my way back.

“Hey, Ruruka, magic item shops are usually on big streets, right? Are we really going this way?”

“...”

No response.

“Really, I can’t imagine a shop being here... Is there some hidden gem that only adventurers know about?”

“...”

No response.

Ruruka walks deeper into the alley without changing her pace, as if she can’t hear me.

“Ruruka?”

It’s definitely strange, so I grab her shoulder to stop her, and she jumps.

“What, what!?”

“It’s not that. I’ve been calling you for a while, and you’re not responding... Are we really going the right way?”

Ruruka starts looking around.

She looks at my face, the dark ground, and a few old buildings nearby.

Then her face turns pale.

“...Ah... Sorry, this isn’t the right way.”

“...I thought so. Well, let’s go back. This alley is dark and creepy.”

By the way, we haven’t seen anyone.

There are a lot of houses in this alley, so it’s not unusual to see a few people, but it’s creepy.

If it’s not a shortcut, I want to go back quickly.

But before turning back, Ruruka stops and looks around again.

Then she looks at me with a slightly worried expression.

“U, um. But, Shiki... Before that, there’s something I need to tell you.”

What is it?

Dark alley, just the two of us.

Ruruka’s worried expression, her fidgeting.

And her reaction to the talk about Aria earlier.

Maybe she walked this far in silence to tell me this “something.”

Maybe she intentionally took the wrong path to bring us to this secluded place.

I can’t help but feel a little hopeful.

“What’s up, Ruruka? I’m ready. I’m prepared, so go ahead and say it.”

When I say that, Ruruka’s worried expression fades a bit.

Then she says, as if making a decision.

“Sorry, I don’t know the way back...”

“...Really?”

“...Yeah”

That’s not what I expected.

Right.

She was walking absentmindedly.

Of course, she wouldn’t know the way back.

It’s not a love confession or anything.

I feel a bit disappointed.

“Sorry, Shiki. I was kind of spacing out... I know we’re in the old part of the city, but the streets are so twisted that I don’t know which direction to go to get out.”

“Not good. I don’t remember the way back either... Wait, the old part of the city?”

“Yeah. The old part of the city is where the residential areas were built when the city was much smaller. But they were built so haphazardly that the sun doesn’t shine, the houses get moldy, and there’s no sewage system, so a lot of people got sick. Even with many healing magic users, it was abandoned.”

Would a whole area be abandoned due to health issues?

No, maybe the mold in this world is highly toxic and affects the human body quickly.

The buildings look like they’ve been abandoned for a long time.

Well, even if it’s harmful, it doesn’t matter if there’s healing magic, but that’s beside the point.

“You’re quite knowledgeable.”

“Well, Fran loves the history of the city...”

I remember Yuel talking about the history of the city’s walls before.

That woman, with her blonde drill hair, has a surprisingly deep interest in topics.

“So, let’s just wander and hope we find a main street. We’re still in the city, so we should eventually get out.”

“Yeah, it’s a hassle, but that might be the only way. Sorry, I’ll guide you when we get to a familiar street.”

“Well, you don’t have to apologize so much...”

Ruruka must have been lost in thought, which is why she got lost.

And the trigger for her thoughts was Aria’s words.

Why did she think so much about being called a lover...

I remember something similar happening when we explored the dungeon together before.

It’s concerning.

Very concerning.

Maybe I should talk to her to find out.

While I’m thinking about this,

“...Hey, but, isn’t there a voice coming from over there?”

Ruruka said.

Then she put her hand to her ear and started looking around.

“Really...?”

I also listen carefully.

And I can hear something.

“Shiki can hear it too, right? Great, maybe we can ask for directions!”

The source of the sound doesn’t seem far.

Ruruka and I turn two corners in the alley.

And there it is.

...A monster.

It’s not a person.

In a space that looks like a house was demolished to make room, there’s a large lizard-faced monster.

A chain extends from a large stake in the ground, connected to a collar around the monster’s neck.

The monster is about four meters long, covered in scales that are a color between brown and orange, with large wings on its back.

...Is this a dragon?

It seems to be the kind of monster called a dragon.

I try to identify it, and it comes up as an Earth Dragon.

So it is a dragon.

It seems the sound we heard was the dragon’s growl.

“What, why is there a monster like this in the middle of the city...”

Why is there a monster in the middle of the city, in a deserted area?

What are the knights, who are supposed to guard the city, doing?

If this dragon attacked, could Shiki and Ruruka defeat it?

No, could they even escape?

Questions pile up.

“Wow, wow, amazing, Shiki! It’s a dragon! I’ve never seen one this close before! ...Wow, it’s so cute!”

But Ruruka doesn’t seem to have the same concerns.

She’s pointing at the dragon, excitedly looking at it from different angles, commenting on the shine of its scales and the hardness and size of its claws.

Ah, this...

I feel a sense of disconnect.

“Oh, by the way, there might still be some marbled beef... There it is! Should I feed it... Ah, Shiki, it’s eating, this one is eating! Ah, it’s rubbing its head against my hand. So cute!”

Then, without showing any fear, Ruruka starts feeding the dragon.

She holds the meat in her hand and brings it directly to the dragon’s mouth.

It’s very dangerous.

But the dragon is only eating the meat and not Ruruka’s arm, and Ruruka is watching happily, her eyes shining.

...Is it not scary to be a monster and be bitten?

Does she not think it might suddenly bite like a black, round dog in a certain plumbing game?

Just looking at the dragon’s sharp teeth, I feel the trauma of being bitten by a Giant Ant resurface.

“Hey, don’t get too close. It’s dangerous.”

“Huh? Oh, dragons are different from other monsters. They’re intelligent, friendly, and won’t attack unless provoked. They can understand human language and aren’t bad monsters. ...This is common knowledge, Shiki, didn’t you know?”

Ruruka explains, seeing me backing away from the dragon.

It seems the disconnect was due to this.

Monsters are generally thought to be aggressive and attack humans without discrimination, but not all of them are like that.

For example, the wolf we encountered in the forest was trying to take advantage of the situation between us and the armored ogre, and the Crankheit Turtle was enraged because its eggs were broken.

Some monsters have intelligence.

Depending on their intelligence, there are monsters that don’t attack humans.

Or rather, it seems to be common knowledge in this world.

“Ah, but even so, it might bite by mistake or something.”

“It’s fine, look, it’s so friendly.”

It does seem friendly.

The dragon is rubbing its head against Ruruka, who fed it high-quality meat, and licking her hand.

Also, looking closely, the dragon’s collar seems to be a magic item.

I