Chapter 35

Summary of the previous chapter:

【Bad News】After saying in the afterword of the 13th episode of Chapter 2, "This time, I'm a proper human," it was discovered that the first person I conversed with was actually an elf.

17

The next morning. After finishing my preparations, I was led by a soldier to the dining area with Lily.

I was guided to a room slightly smaller than the one I was shown to yesterday. I exchanged brief greetings with a few students who had already started eating and headed to the elderly woman serving the food.

I was handed a loaf of bread that was still warm from being freshly baked, had a salad of root vegetables piled onto my plate, and was served a hearty meat soup from a large pot, then took my seat at the table.

After starting breakfast across from Lily, Kanki arrived.

"Good morning, Takahiro. Mizushima."

"Kanki. Good morning."

"Good morning, Kanki-kun. ...You sure eat a lot."

As Kanki, who had taken the seat next to me, said, the amount of breakfast he had brought on a wooden tray was about three times what we had.

"Ask for more, and they'll pile it on. Takahiro, you should too?"

"I'm fine. I can't eat that much in the morning. Besides, I didn't know you were such a big eater."

"Hmm. Well, I guess it's because I almost starved to death once. Seems my body has changed."

Kanki said this as if it were casual conversation, which was quite shocking to hear, and then stuffed his mouth with bread.

"Scary, I might get fat. You need to exercise properly."

Despite saying this, Kanki looked much thinner than in my memory. He probably hadn't fully recovered from the state he described as "almost starved to death."

Perhaps his body was trying to compensate, as Kanki was eating voraciously.

"Speaking of exercise, what are you guys doing today? Planning to join the training?"

"Training...?"

"Yeah. The fort is sending personnel at the request of the exploration team. They're apparently going to give a light training session to those who volunteer. It's a fantasy with swords and magic. Even if the remaining group has cheat abilities, it's useless if they don't understand what they are. They're going to try out various things from today."

"I see. I understand the situation. ...But, we have an appointment with Shiran, so we can't."

"Ah, right. You mentioned you were going to talk to her."

We had arranged to have her come to our room after we finished breakfast. Though, it's questionable whether we would have participated even without this arrangement.

"Are you going to join that training, Kanki?"

"Huh? Me?"

As I asked, looking down at the two short swords hanging from his waist, Kanki glanced sideways at the other students in the room and snorted.

I smiled slightly at his obvious attitude.

I had no intention of criticizing Kanki's attitude. Honestly, I don't like the exploration team either, and I don't have a good impression of the other students.

It's just petty jealousy. I know that. But, there are things that can't be helped even if you know it. I find it annoying how small-minded I can be.

"I'm planning to go to the captain's place today."

Kanki swallowed the food in his mouth.

"Actually, today as well."

"......You're quite taken with her, aren't you?"

I recalled the silver-haired woman I met last night and Kanki's affectionate demeanor towards her.

"Being taken with her is good. You hit the mark in various ways."

Kanki didn't even blush. He was shaking his shoulders in a playful manner.

It seems he's quite serious about it.

"......I'm surprised. Didn't you say you weren't interested in anything but two-dimensional characters?"

"It's that serious. Though, it's not easy. Differences in origin, or rather, world, and age can be managed, but the difference in status is a tough one."

"Status?"

"She's a princess of a small country, despite appearances."

"......Why is someone of that status the captain of the knights?"

"There's a lot to it. Various things. Including connections and all sorts of things."

Upon hearing this, it seems the Alliance Third Knights, which she leads, is a collection of knights dispatched from one of the small countries that make up the Alliance, which is a nation bordering the forest.

The captain, being a member of the royal family, leads these knights. It sounds like a troublesome situation in another world, and I think it's something I'd rather not get involved with.

However, Kanki said this without any particular airs.

"She has a lot on her plate too. I want to support her."

To me, it just seems like a troublesome situation. But, it seems Kanki is determined to tackle it head-on.

I don't think it's a good idea to stick one's neck out into such a troublesome situation.

Somehow, I could understand Kanki's feelings at the moment.

I myself can't imagine leaving Lily and the others, no matter what circumstances come to light in the future. It's probably the same for him.

"If I had met a human from this world instead of the monster Lily, or vice versa, our positions might have been different."

"......Good luck."

"Thanks."

That's all I can do for a friend. Kanki smiled a little sheepishly and nodded.

"......Huh?"

Noticing Lily, who was alternately looking at us, I tilted my head.

Her expression seemed unusually happy, more so than her usual friendly demeanor. Was it just my imagination?

"What's up?"

"Nothing. It's nothing."

Lily shook her head and returned to her meal.

Was there something she couldn't say here? Or was it really nothing? ...Well, if there was something, she would say it eventually.

I decided this and spent the meal time chatting with Kanki.

Half of Kanki's conversation was about the captain, and the other half was teasing me and "Mizushima Mihō." In short, it was almost entirely idle chatter, and I didn't get much useful information.

But, that's what idle chatter with friends is usually like.

Lily didn't join the conversation much and just watched us talk.

She seemed to be in a good mood, watching over us.

* * *

After finishing breakfast, we left the room.

Kanki offered to take us to the room, but since we were starting to get a grasp of the internal layout and thought it would be fine to return to the room, we politely declined.

Lily and I walked side by side, returning straight to the room.

To express the appearance of the fort where we are staying in a very rough way, it is shaped like a flat polygonal column stacked in three tiers. We are staying on the third tier.

It seems that some of the knights also sleep and wake up here. On the way back to the room, we encountered several well-dressed knights a few times. Each time, they stopped to give polite bows, which made me feel quite annoyed. There seemed to be a separate building where the soldiers slept, and it was a relief that we didn't often encounter anyone other than the guide and guard soldiers.

The noise reached our ears when we arrived at the floor where our room was located.

It seemed there was some commotion.

I don't want to deal with troublesome matters, but we can't return to our room without passing through here.

"Get lost! It's annoying!"

As we stepped into the corridor, the blonde male student, Sakagami Gōta, who had left a strong impression among the protected students, was coming towards us with his shoulders hunched in anger.

"Move!"

Since it would be troublesome to get involved in a commotion, we obediently made way.

Sakagami passed in front of us. He glared at me as he passed, perhaps because he didn't like that I was with a girl.

The atmosphere was such that he might have tried to pick a fight, but Sakagami left without saying anything.

There were three members of the exploration team in the corridor.

And one boy was sitting on the floor, his cheek swollen.

This was the timid "bully victim" who had been with Sakagami on the way.

"Really, what a guy."

Kurumitsu, one of the exploration team, crossed his arms and expressed his indignation.

On the other hand, Watanabe, another male member of the exploration team, was helping the boy who was sitting on the floor to stand up with his hand that wasn't holding the battle staff.

"Are you okay?"

His movements were unexpectedly strong. Although he seemed more like a mage, Watanabe, a "Warrior" with both physical strength and magical power, must have considerable strength.

Watanabe healed the boy's injuries with a recovery spell and gave him a warning.

"You shouldn't get too close to him. We'll also make sure to talk to him."

"......Yes. Thank you."

The boy bowed his head and turned to leave.

His expression was dark. He passed by us.

I casually looked back to see him off, and his small back disappeared down the stairs, chasing after Sakagami. It seemed the exploration team's words didn't reach him.

"Troublesome, don't you think?"

As I turned around, Kurumitsu, who had noticed us, was about to speak to us.

"Right now, we need to work together, but it's troublesome if they act as if they're still in the world they came from."

It seems the exploration team has their own difficulties. Even with the charisma gained from their newfound great power, leading people is not an easy task.

"By the way, where are you guys going at this hour?"

Kurumitsu asked us as if he had just noticed.

"Didn't you hear that the knights are going to give you training after breakfast?"

"We're not participating in the training."

My response surprised Kurumitsu, who had asked the question.

"Are you not feeling well?"

"It's not that."

"Then, why not?"

Kurumitsu's tone had a hint of criticism.

I see. I understand.

That's why Kanki looked so displeased when he talked about this matter.

It's troublesome when it's just well-intentioned talk. It's not that they have any ill will...

But, it's better to wrap up the conversation quickly in this situation.

"Sorry, but we have an appointment. So, we're going to go."

I started walking with Lily. Kurumitsu frowned, but I ignored it.

"Hey, wait a minute."

However, as we were about to pass by the three members of the exploration team, we were stopped.

"Sorry, Kurumitsu-kun, Watanabe-kun. I have some personal business. Can you go ahead?"

This was said by Iinoya Yuna, the only female member of the exploration team, "Vajra."

This seemed to be unexpected for Kurumitsu, who nodded with a deflated expression.

"Ah, okay. Don't be late. You'll miss your meal."

"I don't have a word for 'late,' Kurumitsu-kun."

Iinoya said this jokingly, let the two male members go ahead, and stood in front of Lily.

It seemed she had some business with Lily... or rather, with "Mizushima Mihō" in her disguise.

"Long time no see, Mizushima-san. We haven't talked much, but do you remember me?"

"Of course. We