Chapter 86

"Welcome, I will guide you to your reserved seat."

The employee of the restaurant, with whom we had become familiar, led us to a private room with a cheerful smile. Fred, compared to his usual self, had a rather awkward smile as he expressed his gratitude.

...Ah. Before the meeting time, I had intended to ask if we should have a one-on-one conversation first or if we should all sit together from the beginning.

Before I could ask Fred anything, the door to the private room was already opened.

"Mr. Frederick, it's been a while."

"A, ah... It's been a while, Ed."

Inside, there was a man with slightly brownish blonde hair and blue eyes. The color palette was typical of the nobility on the continent. He looked like a branch manager of a famous store... Upon closer inspection, the fabric and tailoring were of high quality, but he was dressed in clothes that seemed easy to move around in the city.

He was waiting with perfect posture, as if from a etiquette textbook, and bowed deeply to Fred.

"Thank you all for coming today."

His pronunciation was beautiful, though it was clear that it was not his native language. It was impressive how he had mastered the formal language, which is difficult in any language.

After the server who took our first drink order left, I was a bit hesitant about whether I should introduce myself or wait for Fred to introduce me. Fred called out to the man named Ed, and the atmosphere around him changed.

"Look, Mr. Frederick. I know it's awkward that my running away was discovered, but could you introduce me to everyone?"

"It's not... Ah, no, you're right. Sorry, I've always been a bother to you. I've made you worry... a lot. Thank you."

Fred, who had seemed very tense, relaxed a bit, perhaps influenced by the other man's slight smile.

Their interaction felt more casual than I had expected, and I felt relieved that things wouldn't be as awkward as I had feared. It seemed they hadn't come to forcibly bring him back.

Amber also seemed to have relaxed. Her tail, which had been stiff, now settled softly, following the pull of gravity.

On the way here, she had said, "If they try to take Fred back by force, I'll drive them away," and I found her vigilance both reliable and adorable. I remembered how, during our recent conversation, Anna had tried to hold her back, saying, "Stay, stay, Amber," while she got angry on my behalf, and it made me feel warm inside.

"...Oh, it's been a while since we last met, and you've become very honest."

"Yeah... For better or worse, a lot of time has passed."

When Fred said this, the man's eyes widened slightly, and he seemed to smile sadly.

"Let me introduce... um... This is Edward Morgan. He's my foster brother... We're not blood-related, but we grew up like real brothers, like family..."

Fred turned his palm, which had been facing Edward, towards us and bowed slightly, saying, "Nice to meet you."

"Then, this is... starting with me, Riana. She's a gold-ranked adventurer and much stronger than me. She's also a talented magician, alchemist, and expert in various fields... It's almost unbelievable that she's in my party."

Of course, I'm not a runaway or anything complicated like that. I think he's just leaving out the details to avoid a long story.

However, being introduced with such high praise made my face heat up. Hearing Fred say such things about me so clearly was a bit embarrassing. His words kept echoing in my ears, making my heart race.

"And this is Anna, who came with Riana from her family. She's also a professional in all household matters and is very impressive."

Fred's introduction moved to Anna, who whispered, "To be called Riana's sister... It's an honor... but. I'm happy..." Hearing Anna's joy at being called my sister made me feel happy too, and my face grew even hotter.

"And over there is Amber. She's also a gold-ranked adventurer and a member of our party. She's technically Riana's apprentice and is still learning, but... of course, she's much stronger than me. That's about it for the three of us..."

"Hey, Fred. Is that all?!"

Just as Fred was about to suggest we sit down and wait for our drinks, Amber stopped him.

"Huh?! O... Other things?"

"Like Riana and Anna, there must be more. Things to praise Amber for."

Amber's small back straightened, and she puffed out her chest. Her fox ears on top of her head twitched as if to say, "Come on, praise me."

I had to hold back a laugh at how cute she was.

Anna had a similar expression. No... No. Amber is being very serious, and as her teacher, I can't laugh and ruin her trust. I bit the inside of my cheek to hold back my laughter.

"Umm... Ah, Ed. This gold-ranked adventurer, Amber, is very skilled in combat... She's incredibly strong. She can handle monsters that I can't, and in other areas... she has a lot of room for growth, but she's a good adventurer."

"Mmm-hmm."

Hearing Fred's praise, Amber looked satisfied. It was the same as saying, "She's strong as an adventurer, but she's still learning in other areas," but the way Fred phrased it made me want to laugh again.

"I see. Riana, Anna, and Amber. Nice to meet you."

"Likewise, nice to meet you."

"Hmm. Since he's Fred's family, you can be friendly with him."

"Amber, say 'nice to meet you.'"

Prompted by Anna, Amber bowed slightly, but she seemed in a good mood despite being scolded for etiquette. Her face was beaming.

...Edward's mouth was slightly twisted, as if he was trying to hold back a laugh. I felt a sudden sense of warmth towards him.

I think we'll have a serious conversation about Fred's family later, but thanks to Amber, the atmosphere has become a bit softer. I'm a bit grateful to her, even though she probably doesn't realize it.