Chapter 4 Part 1 - A Merciful Day

TL: Xean

ED: Shish99

“Merry Christmas and Happy New Year Everyone” – Xean

Part 1

The following morning after the day I received the sniper rifle.

“Then, I’m off to work now. If you’re going to take a mission, don’t rashly rush in.”

“Yes, instructor. Take care.”

I said that to Instructor Miya as she left for work.

After doing the laundry, washing of the dishes and cleaning, I left the instructor’s house and headed for the Central Branch of the Musketeers Association.

Now that I’ve got permission, I want to take on a mission.

“Let’s do it!”

A fresh start using this sniper rifle.

“Hmm… These are the missions you can take as a freelancer.”

At the reception desk, I was being shown a list of demon hunting missions that were currently available.

The person on the counter is a receptionist named Sadie Isotonic, a classmate and close friend of Instructor. I know her as an acquaintance.

“What a surprise Theo-kun, you’re back already.”

“I don’t want to call this a comeback. It’s just a rehabilitation for my return as a vanguard.”

Yes, it’s rehabilitation. The sniper rifle I carry on my shoulder was just a tool for rehabilitation. I’m doing this to not lose my sense of combat.

“Will you be doing the mission alone?”

“I think I’m capable enough…”

When I looked behind me. There I saw Sharon and Erza.

I bumped into them earlier, and told them that I would take a mission. They suggested that I accompany me as a support.

“Hey, don’t you have any work to do at the branch today? Unlike me, you’re not freelancers.”

“Today, Sharon and Erza are on standby duty in case of emergencies.”

“If that’s the case, they shouldn’t be following me on my mission…”

“Well, being on standby duty is practically a vacation. Emergencies rarely happen. We don’t allow people to skip work outright, but we do allow them as escorts on short-range missions.”

“Is that the case?”

“Yes, that’s right. So, which mission do you want?”

“Then, this one near the Imperial City.

“Roger. Please sign here.”

I took the pen from Sadie and signed it.

“Hey, Theo-kun, do you want to kiss Miya?”

“*Cough… What’s with that question all of a sudden…”

“Because Theo-kun likes Miya right? That’s why you protected her on the battlefield.”

“Well, yes, but….”

“And yet, Miya doesn’t want to accept Theo-kun’s feelings, right? ”

“…… How do you know of this? Did you have a conversation with the instructor? ”

“Something like that. Anyway, Miya is stubborn, isn’t she? She feels it’s her responsibility for keeping Theo-kun away from the front lines. She thinks that watching over Theo-kun and not accepting your feelings is her way of making amends.”

“If that’s the case, then I’ll just keep trying to get back to my old self. That will probably be the easiest way to help the instructor.”

In the midst of this exchange, I finished writing my signature and completed the order for my mission.

I left Sadie’s side and met up with Sharon and Elsa.

“…… You’ll be coming with me, right?”

“Naturally! I can’t let the current Theo go on a mission alone!”

Sharon said this while drinking a height-increasing milk that she probably bought here at the shop branch.

“As a senior sniper, I’ll teach you every step of the way.”

Erza says these words that are unnecessarily obscene as usual. Both of them seemed to be very motivated. I don’t mind, but I’m pretty sure it’s overkill to take these guys on this mission.

“Just to be clear, don’t steal my prey, okay? This is my rehabilitation mission. If you do anything unnecessary, you’ll each have to give up something precious in return.”

“Gyu- I won’t give up this milk so easily!”

“So for Sharon, it’s milk then. How about you Erza? What would you give?”

“Theo’s underwear collection.”

“Return it immediately.”

After that, I took the sniper rifle and went to the mission together with those two.

The mission was over in a blink of an eye. I shot all four of the demons near the Imperial Capital with my sniper rifle. There was no need for Sharon and Erza to do anything.

After that, we decided to go home.

“Did Theo have any experience with a sniper rifle? You never missed a shot.”

“My experience is limited to what I learnt in practical training at the school.” I responded to Sharon who was walking next to me.

“To be able to do that just from practical school. As expected of Theo.”

“My turn to teach you as a pro didn’t come.”

Erza said in a somewhat disappointed tone.

“So I want you to take responsibility.”

“No.”

“Then let’s make babies?”

“Babies? What are you talking about?”

Please stop with your dirty thinking.

Eventually, we reached the Imperial City Central Branch of the Musketeers Association. I went to the counter to report the completion of the mission.

“I’m back Sadie-san.”

“You’re back early. As expected of Theo-kun. Even If you cannot return to being a swordsman again, you can still be a sniper, right?”

“Please stop with the jokes. I have to go back to being a swordsman regardless of whether I can or cannot do it. I want to destroy the demons with my own hands, and most of all, relieve the guilt of Instructor Miya.

“You’re really an admirable, honest boy. If I wasn’t married, I might have fallen in love with Theo-kun.”

“Can you please stop with the jokes… I don’t know what to say.”

“But I’m being honest here. Though I can’t say it out loud.”

If she says it out loud, I’ll be in trouble too, so please stop.

“Well, that being said, I really hope you do well, Theo-kun. I’ll be rooting for you.”

“Yes. Thank you very much Sadie-san.”

With that accomplishment, today’s rehabilitation was over.

The next day. While Instructor Miya, who was not working today, was enjoying her morning coffee break, I was doing basic training in the yard. I borrowed the instructor’s barbell to strengthen my upper body, while not forgetting to work on my lower body.

“Fight, Theo! Go a little lower! Th-That’s it!”

And for some reason, Sharon, the meddlesome blonde loli came over. She said she wanted to check up on me before going to a mission.

“Okay! Time for a break!”

“Why are you in charge…?”

“Don’t mind it, don’t mind it. Here, I’ll give you some milk. You need to strengthen your bones.”

Sharon hands me a bottle of milk.

“You’re giving me milk, but are you drinking it regularly?”

“Of course I do. I drink it every day. As you can see, I’ve grown so much, haven’t I?” Sharon proudly said this.

“Well, you really are taller than before.”

I think she’s taller now than she was last spring. But still, it’s only a minuscule change.

“Isn’t it?! Mufufu – from now on, I’m going to grow bigger and bigger!”

I really wish she would grow at least as tall as my shoulders. When I walk with Sharon, people look at me like I’m a pedophile, which is simply distressing.

“It’s been going pretty well since the beginning of this year, and if it continues at this rate, I don’t think it will just be a dream to grow an additional eighty centimeters.”

“Eighty centimeters? Won’t you have problems with that?”

Sharon’s height is a little less than 140 centimeters.

“Well, ……, I don’t think I’ll be reaching that. It’ll probably be around in the mid 60 centimeters. ”

Is she talking about… sitting height? If so…

“I think an additional 80 centimeters is not good. If you can achieve 60 centimeters, it’s best to keep it that way. But if it grows normally beyond that, I guess there’s nothing much we can do.”

“Y-yeah…… Th-Theo do you like girls with that height?”

“It’s not that I like it, but if I have to choose where or not I like it, I’d choose I like it.”

It’s not like I’m proud of my sitting height.

“I-I see. Theo likes it better like that. …… Then maybe I’ll aim for that….”

For some reason, Sharon was rubbing her chest while blushing. You should be a little bit confident with yourself. While thinking that…

“Theo-kun and Sharon look great together, like a brother and a sister. What a pleasant view.”

The instructor came to the scene. Because it’s a day-off, she was wearing a white knit sweater and a long skirt with no slits, her hair was hanging down.

“H-huge…”

Sharon looked at the instructor’s chest and began to squirm.

“I’m sure yours will grow up quickly, Sharon.”

“……. Are you seducing Thea with your b*****s?”

“Rest assured that I’m not doing such a thing. And be careful, if you continue thinking that way, you’ll soon be like Erza.”

“A-ah, I don’t want to be like her, so I’ll do as you say.”

Erza is being treated badly, but I guess she deserved it.

“By the way, what about your mission Sharon?”

“Ah, it’s almost time. I have to go now.”

“See you soon.”

“Yes. Sorry for bothering you, but please continue to take care of Theo!”

After that energetic remark, Sharon left with her luggage.

“Take care, Sharon-chan.