Chapter 20

Summary of the previous chapter:

~What if Kato wasn't in the second chapter of the second volume~

(omitted)

It was because the person who named them didn't like being the only one not named after a flower.

She didn't want to be left out.

Despite such a meeting... or perhaps because of it, she seemed to value her companions very much.

It was a good trend. I opened my mouth, pleased with her attitude.

"Right, Tulip. I mentioned it before, but are you ready?"

"..."

"What's wrong, why the strange face? Are you not feeling well, Tulip?"

"U... Uwaaaaaaah!"

"Wh-Where are you going? Hey, Tulip—!?"

* Refer to the previous chapter. The result was not a joke.

2

The next day.

"Sorry for the rush."

"No problem..."

I received new equipment from Rose.

The usual breastplate and lower body protector, and a large shield.

However, the color was slightly darker than before.

It wasn't as strong as the pseudo-damascus steel sword that Rose had made, but it seemed to be stronger than before. If everyone could be equipped with it, our combat strength would increase by a certain percentage.

Rose always does a good job.

I quickly prepared myself.

"Well, I'm ready. Let's go soon."

I called out to Rose and Kato, then stroked the surface of the transparent jelly-like monster that was standing still like a statue.

"Lily too. I'll be back."

There was no response.

"..."

Lily was unconscious to recover. It was similar to human sleep, and during this time, she couldn't maintain her camouflage. She would 'wake up' several times a day like she did in the morning, but her poor condition made it a bit painful to watch.

There was no danger to her life, and given her strong vitality as a slime, she would recover within a few days. However, it was best to leave her alone until then.

"Then, I'll leave the rest to you."

"Understood."

"...Yes."

We exchanged greetings, and I was about to leave the Arachne's nest.

"Master."

Just as I was about to leave the nest, Rose, who had just said goodbye, called me back.

I turned to Rose.

Had I forgotten something?

"Master, are you really going?"

"Is it that talk again?"

Since yesterday, Rose had been opposing my exploration of the forest.

The battle with the white Arachne was only three days ago.

Given what had just happened, it was understandable that she was worried.

However, her worry seemed a bit excessive.

"This has been discussed many times. I have fully recovered. You can rest assured. I won't suddenly collapse."

"I understand that, but..."

Rose seemed to be at a loss for words.

"Also, there are other issues, such as safety, right?"

"Are you talking about the safety of this Arachne's nest?"

Safety issues... I see, so that's why she opposed it.

However, that was also an overreaction.

"It's fine. If anything happens, I can wake Lily. With the two of you now, you won't be easily overwhelmed by any monster."

Originally, it was just Lily and Rose.

When they lived in the cave, Rose stayed behind to guard while Lily went out to secure food. Compared to that, now that both Lily and Rose are in the nest, the safety has increased.

Currently, Lily is unwell, but it's not to the point where she can't handle one or two battles.

"Besides, this Arachne's nest is said to not attract many monsters."

High-level monsters like the white Arachne don't attract many other monsters. Or rather, any monsters that do approach are eliminated over time.

In a sense, this is a mechanism of natural selection.

"It's fine if you don't care about us."

Rose persisted.

"I'm worried about you, Master."

"…That's not something to worry about. My guard is a high-level monster, the white Arachne. There aren't many monsters that can match her."

As I said this, I felt a bit suspicious.

Rose's worry seemed excessive.

Originally, it was rare for Rose to oppose my decisions. She was more likely to keep her objections to herself and silently carry out the orders given to her.

So why...

...No, perhaps.

Maybe Rose is holding back her true feelings, 'this'.

"Why are you so opposed to me going into the forest, Rose? Are you hiding something?"

"..."

"Come on, Rose. Are you thinking, 'I don't want to do something that goes against my will'? Don't hold back. If you have any complaints, say them all. You are my familiar and an important companion."

Even as I encouraged her, Rose seemed hesitant.

But as I patiently waited, she suddenly knelt and bowed her head.

"I'm sorry, Master."

"What's wrong?"

"I know how much you care for your familiars. I think it's a wonderful thing, and I don't want to waste it."

Rose kept her head bowed as she began to speak from her heart.

At the same time, a sense of guilt and embarrassment from her heart also flowed into mine through the path.

But, what for?

As if answering my question, Rose continued.

"However, I just can't... trust Gerbera as much as I trust my sister."

"…What?"

This was an unexpected confession.

Before I could say anything, Rose continued.

"Can't you at least wait until either I or my sister can move freely?"

In other words, she was saying, "Because I don't trust Gerbera, please take either me or Lily as your guard."

I felt a bit dizzy.

I realized how serious Rose was.

"Is that the real reason you opposed my going into the forest?"

"I'm sorry."

When I asked, Rose bowed her head even deeper.

"Can't you forgive her?"

"...Yes."

"I see."

Ah, damn.

This was my mistake.

Rather, this was something I should have predicted.

I had forgotten the possibility because Lily accepted her so easily.

Rose is different from Lily.

Her role is to ensure my safety, and her essence is that of a guardian.

She won't allow anything to harm me.

That's her nature.

—I exist to protect you, Master. For that, I would let my body be reduced to splinters.

These were the words Rose once told me.

Protecting me is her reason for being.

It's natural that she can't forgive Gerbera, who hurt me. It's something I should have handled better.

"I'm sorry."

"You don't need to apologize so much. It's a feeling that can't be helped..."

I can't forgive the students who hurt me in the colony either.

In a way... they were in a panic, it was an emergency, they were usually good citizens, the situation was bad, not them... such thoughts are possible.

Just thinking about it.

I can't really believe it.

They all died, but I had no sympathy for their deaths.

The human heart has parts that can't be rationalized.

Lily, another familiar, forgave Gerbera, but that doesn't mean Rose is less forgiving.

Lily prioritizes my feelings, while Rose prioritizes my safety in a more practical sense.

This is their individuality, and it's a part of Rose's personality that shouldn't be denied. At least, I don't want to deny it.

Furthermore... to be cruel, but in this matter, Gerbera is completely at fault.

The fact that the white Arachne, an incarnation of brutality, hurt us is true.

And even if she repents, her nature as a spider doesn't change.

Once done, it can't be undone.

No matter how much she regrets it, the past can't be changed.

Of course, I trust Gerbera.

I want my familiars to trust her too.

But, I can't order Rose to trust Gerbera. That wouldn't be a real trust relationship, and what would be built wouldn't be the kind of relationship I want them to have.

Gerbera will have to earn the trust she lost at first meeting.

However, this isn't something to worry about.

Building trust step by step.

In terms of building relationships, this is the right path.

Even if I put myself aside... for example, the fact that Lily accepted the white Arachne, who was once an enemy, so easily is an exceptional event.

—Earning Rose's trust.

The shortcut for this is to show Rose that I am useful to her.

In that sense, my decision to take Gerbera as my guard into the forest is correct, even if it's for a different reason.

What Gerbera needs now is a track record of trust.

With a track record, Rose will eventually recognize her. Fortunately, Rose is rational. It shouldn't be too difficult for her to recognize Gerbera, who has already shown remorse.

Moreover, it must be painful for Rose too.

Rose wouldn't want to doubt Gerbera, who is a fellow familiar.

If not, I wouldn't have received a sense of 'shame' from Rose.

Since both have the willingness to compromise, they will be fine.

There won't be a situation where there are no problems at all. Small problems need to be solved one by one.

Helping them is the duty of the master.

After finishing the conversation with Rose, I went outside the Arachne's nest.

There, Gerbera was waiting.

Gerbera had folded her spider legs and was looking up at the sky absentmindedly.

Because I had been talking with Rose, some time had passed. It seemed I had kept her waiting. I felt bad.

"Sorry for keeping you waiting."

"No, I wasn't waiting."

Gerbera, who had been looking up at the sky, had a slightly stiff expression.

I tilted my head.

"Is something wrong?"

"U, um. What do you mean?"

Gerbera hurriedly stood up and turned her back to me.

"Come on, we need to hurry or it will get dark. We need to be back before sunset, right?"

What she said was reasonable.

Although I had some doubts, I started to leave the Arachne's nest.

***

As we progressed through the forest, we encountered a monster called a Stubby Beetle.

The Stubby Beetle is a beetle-type monster, about seventy centimeters in size, resembling a giant stag beetle.

Its body is covered with a thick exoskeleton, which is probably one of the most robust in the forest.

Its conical horn, reminiscent of a lance, is very sturdy and won't break easily from a minor impact.

Its specialty is a diving attack from the air.

This is a simple yet powerful attack, and in the colony, it caused the death of one member of the exploration team in the early stages.

The Stubby Beetle we encountered seemed to have noticed us before we noticed it. By the time we heard the buzzing of its wings, it was already flying high in the sky.

At this point, there was no possibility of me making it a familiar.

It was clearly showing an intention to attack us, and more importantly, I couldn't sense