Chapter 50

I have some free time.

After being ordered to stay at home due to yesterday's mistake, I'm obediently staying at home, but I have nothing to do. Kokushin is practicing with a sword in the garden. I could go out, but Rada is making medicine in another room. When I tried to watch her, she kicked me out.

I can't really complain since this is my own doing, but what should I do? I want to read a book, but I don't have any. I thought about doing something with magic, but I'm not confident I won't mess up again. This is a dilemma.

By the way, I was trying to make mayonnaise. I don't have a hand mixer or a whisk. Can I use chopsticks? Oh, I don't even have eggs. No, making purification magic water today after yesterday's incident, am I an idiot?

Well, how about making udon? I've never made it before. But I made suiton, so I can probably do it. Come to think of it, I've never seen noodles before.

While rummaging through my magic bag, Kokushin came back.

"What are you doing?"

"…I won't do anything dangerous."

It seems my credibility has plummeted.

"I was thinking about making lunch."

"I'll go buy it, so stay here."

"Okay."

I thought a day of waiting was too lenient, but it's a fitting punishment for someone who can't sit still without doing something.

Kokushin smiled and headed outside with the magic bag. Then, she came back immediately.

"Rada, can you go shopping?"

She knocked on Rada's door.

"Wait, isn't going out forbidden?"

The door opened, and Rada poked her head out. She looked at me and Kokushin.

"So, I'll watch Raito while you go shopping."

"By myself? No way!"

Rada hurried back into her room. Kokushin knocked on the door again, but Rada kept saying "No, no." It seemed her reclusiveness was getting worse. After some back and forth, Rada remained stubborn.

Kokushin sighed and looked at me. I gave her a smile and tilted my head. Should I go alone? Or should we go together?

"…I'll go."

After a moment of hesitation, Kokushin left again, looking exasperated. Is shopping that traumatic for her…?

The room became quiet. Occasionally, the sound of bottles clinking from the next room could be heard. There was no clock or electronic devices. It was very quiet. Since Kokushin took the magic bag, I thought about going to bed.

I rested my head on the table and dozed off. No, I can't. I always sleep well. I sat up and fixed my messy hair. I'm bored. If I had a smartphone, I could pass the time. Out of sheer boredom, I started tapping my index and middle fingers on the table, making them run around. They jumped over a glass, took a sharp turn, and I started narrating my solo play.

"Haha!"

Of course, I was laughed at by Kokushin, who returned at the perfect moment.

Today's lunch is bread and skewered meat. Pickled Mantarakora. It's like dried daikon. I eat the pickled Mantarakora as a palate cleanser.

Rada seemed very interested in the ecology of Mantarakora as Kokushin explained it. She even said she wanted to go next time. I don't want to see that void again.

"By the way, I met that knight earlier, and apparently Raito is a candidate to marry the magistrate's daughter."

"Wha—!"

I accidentally spat out the meat I was chewing. I quickly picked it up and put it back in my mouth. Three-second rule. Munch, munch, it's okay, it's okay.

"W-Why! I need to leave this town quickly!"

I started panicking, but Kokushin remained calm. She gestured for me to sit down.

"Don't worry. It was canceled immediately."

"What…? Why such a story…?"

I drank water from a glass. My heart almost stopped.

"It seems they thought Raito was some noble's son."

"Huh?"

I look like an ordinary commoner. Rada is the one who looks like a noble, and Kokushin stands out more.

"The girl is five years old."

Marriage at five. Nobles are scary. Yeah, it's pretty common for them to have betrothals from birth.

"Anyway, it's because of Kokushin, definitely."

A shining prince following a toddler (or so it seems). Kokushin has the 'Horse Riding' skill, so she looks very good on horseback.

"Why? It's because of Raito's behavior."

Ordinary toddlers don't act like that, she bluntly said. Also, Raito isn't a toddler. She just exploded a moment ago.

"Alright, alright, it was canceled, right? Is it because they found out Raito is a commoner?"

Rada waved her hand confidently. That's right. Did Kokushin tell them?

"Yeah, that's it. The rumor about the curse reached them…"

Kokushin looked at the magic bag, seeming reluctant to say more.

Is it about that? The interaction with the escort adventurers. I destroyed it and didn't heal them. Well, they probably got healed later. …They did, right?

I explained to Rada, who tilted her head.

"Ah. You did something weird again…"

"But, the curse was supposed to be on the person who tried to steal it. Why am I the one cursed?"

Kokushin tilted her head and said, "I don't know."

"Rumors change over time. Maybe it became the owner, Raito, who is cursed."

"What about you?"

"My name didn't come up."

"That's harsh."

I did create the curse rumor to scare them, but I was the one holding it. Did my impression really stick that much? Who leaked this to the public? Well, it's a funny story to outsiders.

"…So, am I also cursed?"

Kokushin looked away.

"…It seems to be a curse that makes you shrink."

I thought she was having trouble saying it, but she was just trying not to laugh.

"What does that mean!? There's no basis for that at all!"

"I don't know. Maybe Raito's impression was too strong… That's why they thought you were small."

That's terrible. Everyone keeps saying I'm small. Being thought of as shrinking is better, I guess. No, I still don't like it. I'm a boy, and I don't hate girls or anything.

But, a curse that makes you shrink… what is that?

"At least we didn't set up any unnecessary flags."

"Flags?"

"Um. Are those bearded knights still here?"

"No. They're leaving for a town called Ridgo tomorrow. They usually stay there."

"I see. Then, let's avoid Ridgo."

Kokushin nodded and said, "Understood," while laughing. Rada didn't seem to care.

By the way, what happened with the thief situation? Did they solve it since they're returning? What about the Shiny Squad? Does Kokushin know?

"Ah… Apparently, the other side caught them. But, they're arguing with the noble who hired them about the damage to their armor or something. The knights here were disappointed and returned."

Wow, what are they doing? They brought ceremonial armor and are asking for repair fees. They're pretty dumb, but it's impressive they caught the thieves.

"They left this morning, so we probably won't see them again."

That's fine then.