Chapter 47

Yesterday, Fred seemed... really cute. When I met him at breakfast, he looked really embarrassed and said, "Please forget about my embarrassing appearance from yesterday," but I don't think I can.

In the afternoon, I planned to go to the market in the crafts district to look for the minerals I wanted, so until then, I had some free time. I had originally planned to head to the market early in the morning, but I learned yesterday that it only opens to the general public in the afternoon. In the morning, only those registered with the local craft guild can enter. Indeed, it would be inconvenient if there were a lot of tourists around while people were buying things for work.

It seems there are various delicious foods at the market, so I decided to have my meal there. Anna apparently made a friend in this short time and arranged to learn cooking in the staff kitchen. I wonder when she managed to do that. Fred said he was going to take a late morning bath. Since the apartment only has a shower, it makes sense that he wants to enjoy a proper bath while he's here. I might do the same before dinner tonight.

With time to spare, I wandered around the inn and looked at the souvenirs for tourists. The soap being promoted by the local tourism association seems to be selling well.

...Come to think of it, I make my own, but since it's a souvenir, I could buy some. Most of the people I helped in Lindemen are women, and this won't go bad over time, making it a good souvenir.

I'll consult with Anna and choose some later, so I bought one soap and headed to the backyard of the inn where Anna was staying, a bit early. There's nothing to see, so no one is around, but the backyard is a space where guests can freely stroll. Apparently, there are staff quarters beyond this area.

I didn't make any specific plans, but I came to pick up Anna when I thought her task would be finished.

"Ah, you're back? ...Well, there's nothing I can do... Just wait a moment."

The voice from the back seemed to be that of a staff member. I couldn't hear any response to what they were saying.

"Here. ...I know it's a problem if it happens too often, but just this once."

From the sound of the door closing, it seemed they were dealing with some kind of animal, like a stray dog. But the inn's grounds are surrounded by a high wall, so it must be a cat.

Thinking about the cat, my curiosity got the better of me. I wouldn't touch it, but...

Feeding stray animals isn't a good thing, I know. I understand the feeling of wanting to help when you see them, but if you can't take full responsibility for their life or can't keep them, you shouldn't get involved. That's what I was taught, and it's right.

But I was drawn to the "cat" and then started to lecture about not feeding it, which seemed hypocritical. It wouldn't solve anything. The more I thought about it, the harder it was for me to leave.

Pretending I didn't see anything also felt wrong... As I was getting lost in these thoughts, an idea popped into my head, and I acted on impulse.

Could I take in the cat that's here now?

I wasn't really thinking it through. I didn't consider that being kept might not make it happy, or that it was a strange impulse to act on while traveling, or how I would bring it back. But the image of the fox-eared child from yesterday, who had run away, lingered in my heart.

I thought maybe this time I could be of help.

"Is there a cat around here?"

The woman, who had been muttering to herself, "You're as unfriendly as ever," quickly stood up. The person she was talking to wasn't a stray animal as I had imagined, but "Amber," the child I had parted ways with uncomfortably yesterday.

"Ah..."

"I'm sorry...! Are you a guest...?"

Before I could say anything, the child darted into the bushes, leaving only a blur. The face I saw for a moment was wide-eyed with shock, and the tail fur stood up like an explosion. Both of us, who had been sneaking closer because we thought there might be a stray cat, were quite surprised.

Looking at my feet, there was no sign of any other living thing except the child who had fled. It wasn't about feeding a stray cat... Was she giving food to the child?

I looked in the direction of the bushes, which had rustled loudly and then fallen silent. ...Had she left? At least, I couldn't see her within my range of perception.

"I'm sorry, no one usually comes this far, so I was... here..."

"No, it's not that I was trying to be sneaky... I heard someone talking and thought there might be a cat, so I peeked. I'm sorry for coming this far."

This area was clearly not intended for guests. There were gardening tools in one corner, and piles of leaves that had been swept up, waiting to be cleared away.

"The child just now... Wasn't that Amber, the one from the Adventurer's Guild? Do you know her?"

"Oh, you know Amber? ...Well, not really a close acquaintance. She helped my daughter... My daughter works at a restaurant in town. She was about to be assaulted by a drunk tourist, and Amber helped her."

The woman picked up the bread that had fallen when she was startled by my appearance. She seemed to have been holding another piece, but I thought it wouldn't be enough for such a small body.

"At the time, I gave her a meal as a thank you, and she seemed to get attached. Since then, she comes for food when she's in a bind. She stays here until it's time for her break, so it's a bit of a hassle."

"I see..."

Yesterday, I had worried about whether she was eating properly after seeing her lose her job. Sadly, my concerns were confirmed.

...I realized I had taken away her chance to eat by suddenly appearing, and a dark feeling spread in my chest.

"I know it's not good... But she's not a bad person... I wouldn't be doing this if it weren't for my daughter's gratitude."

I had thought the same thing. She's not a bad person, but what she does is questionable. I had heard the story without interrupting, and the trouble she caused in the middle of the street could have led to injuries.

I understood that, but I still felt hesitant about leaving her alone.

The staff woman, saying, "I shouldn't be saying this, but it's better not to get involved," returned to the building through the nearby staff entrance. She had her own break to take, so it made sense.

The bread that was supposed to be for the child had been picked up. Even if it hadn't been, I wouldn't have given her something that had fallen on the ground.

...The woman had said, "She comes for food when she's in a bind." Considering the fine and the medical expenses she had to pay, and the fact that her adventurer's license had been revoked yesterday, she must really be struggling to eat.

I tried to call out her name, but the words stuck in my throat. I couldn't do anything for myself, let alone for everyone I met. I knew my actions wouldn't be welcome, but I couldn't just leave her.

"Hey, you."

I was about to call out "Amber" when I was suddenly called. I jumped in surprise. I hadn't sensed anyone there, and I thought no one was around.

"How do I become as strong as you?"

It had been years since I was caught off guard like that... I could even sense Wilfred's presence. My heart was pounding as I tried to calm down. The question I was asked was hard to respond to.

...As strong as me...? No, I don't think I'm strong at all...

A figure with animal ears, which I had been about to call out to, appeared silently from the bushes. I followed it with my eyes and finally managed to speak.

"Actually... I think you're stronger..."

"Y-You say that yourself?!"

"Because it's true..."

"But... Amber is stronger, I can see that, yet she couldn't do anything yesterday. Her strength, her spiritual power, and her skills are all better than mine..."

That's true, but in a fair fight, I couldn't win. I knew she had powerful attack methods, so I did my best to use what I could.

"Reiryoku" is a term I'm not familiar with, but I remembered it means "spiritual power," similar to magic in the royal capital. It's not exactly the same, but I noted that in my mind. I'm such a complicated person.

"Right... I don't think there's anything I can do better than you."

"...There must be something."

"No. I'm not strong at all, and I don't have any standout strengths... That's why I always think and act to win. I'm not strong, but if you ask why you lost... it's because your fighting style is worse than mine."

Her dull, lusterless bangs parted, revealing shocked golden eyes looking up at me. Her tail and ears drooped, and it made me feel guilty. I wondered if I should have been gentler.

"You're saying I'm not strong at all because Amber lost so easily...?"

"Right. The combat instructor who trained me never praised me... and never acknowledged me as a full-fledged fighter."

I... forgot again that my family deliberately didn't praise me. It's so ingrained that I often forget. But if the evaluation was that I would die five times in a real battlefield, even with adjustments, I wouldn't be considered a full-fledged fighter. So it's not a mistake.

"I've never been called bad before... Even those who criticize me acknowledge that I'm strong..."

"Actually... I think you are strong."

This is not just a compliment, but my honest opinion. If a child who often causes problems like the ones I've seen can still be a gold-ranked adventurer... they must be very skilled. The best evidence is that their strength can cover up their flaws.

However, the way they use that strength is... not very good.

The conversation had drifted. This is important, but it's not what I originally wanted to talk to her about.

How can I make her understand? I wanted to consult with Fred and Anna first, but I was worried that if I missed this chance, I might not see her again. Her words became fewer, and she looked down, making me think that.

What should I say? How should I ask? The more I thought, the harder it was to find the right words.

I hadn't even decided if I should really talk to her.

"Hey!!"

While I was agonizing, the awkward silence was broken by a loud voice. I looked down to see the person who had called out to me.

"Make... Make Amber your disciple!"

The content of the request was exactly what I had been struggling to phrase, and I was momentarily stunned, unable to blink.