Chapter 14

“So where are you going, Maruno?” Sumuno asked while slurping the noodles. It is stir-fried vegetables and mushrooms with noodles. I have the same thing in my hand. It is sweet and delicious. It was a seasoning that I didn’t find in the city I lived.

“Hmm. I’m thinking of going home once. This is delicious.”

“You’re pretty sick. Aren’t ya? You’re being targeted and chased by the Knights? Is it okay? It is a place that anyone can tell.”

I returned a bitter smile.

We managed to get away from the city of the fort and stopped by a small village along the road, where we were taking a break. The open-air food stall was a hit. The days were high, and some other villagers were eating under the same open-air umbrella. I don’t know the time, but I think it’s about noon. I was a little relieved by the laid-back air peculiar to the village.

Information about the invasion of neighboring countries did not seem to have arrived here yet. I can only believe Sumuno’s words that he would have suppressed it without incident.

“Knights will be busy even if the invasion is suppressed, and I haven’t had time to devote myself to it for a while, and I want to burn the people who have aimed at me.”

“… Do you have any idea?”

“I think it’s about the captain.”

“Captain?”

Sumuno raised his eyebrows.

“The Knights, that Wayley family?”

“Did you know!? Is the captain a celebrity in that country? Are there photos of him on the market!?”

I returned to myself when I saw Sumuno pulling his face away. I was involuntarily leaning forward.

“… I’m sorry.”

“No … it’s amazing. That Maruno is a fan of the captain.”

“I’ve been a fan for ten years now, and when it comes to the captain, I think I’ll change a bit.”

“Oh yeah.”

Sumuno urged him to talk, looking far away.

“What about the Captain?”

“I was advised by the Wayley family not to approach the Captain a while ago.”

“Eh, Maruno, are you a stalker?”

“What!? I did not stalk him!”

When he hit the desk to protest, he was slammed in the head by Sumuno and accused of being 'stupid.”

“What to do prominently.”

“I’m sorry… So I was still staying beside the captain, ignoring that advice, so I’m wondering if they tried to get rid of me. Another possibility is the captain’s fiancée or ex-girlfriend.”

Sumuno seemed to think about something when he heard my words. I hadn’t had any, so I decided to enjoy my meal for the time being. Oh, this side salad also tastes good. The nuts are a nice accent. After chewing and swallowing well, Sumuno finally opened his mouth.

“Hey, is the captain the one that put a mark on Maruno’s neck?”

“Eh!?”

Nodding terrifyingly while hiding his neck, Sumuno held his head, “I can’t believe it …”.

“What a sober opponent of that famous knight captain …”

“Hey”

“No, get angry there!”

I was hit on my head again. It’s unreasonable.

“Ah, if you’re a knight captain, you’ll probably pick it up. Well, I can understand it somehow. He is a famous aristocrat, and there are many possibilities.”

“Yeah. He said he cares about his family.”

Nodding, he turned to Sumuno to see something pitiful.

“Because you see it, you’re a man and a commoner.”

“I’m a little hurt by the statement …”

“But I think the captain is serious enough to make Maruno a temporary member and take him to that place.”

“……I do not think so”

When I lowered my eyebrows and looked down, I was unexpectedly gently stroked.

“That’s right. Well, assuming that the opponent is the Wayley family, it wouldn’t be the intention to name the family when Maruno was detained by the Knights, so if you wander around at home, you will hold your breath. Don’t do anything about that. I think it’s good to grab the tail there. ”

“But?”

“Isn’t it dangerous?”

Seeing Sumuno’s sincere eyes, I thought I was lucky. His eyes were bright red even in the daylight. I smiled.

“But there’s Sumuno, right? Will you protect me?”

Sumuno opened his eyes for a moment and exhaled.

“……I see”

“eh?”

“No, this story … I wonder if there is money? No, should I finally get the knight captain?”

After saying that, Sumuno stood up, maybe he was convinced. Before I knew it, the plate was empty. I also hurriedly swallowed the last bite and followed him.

“No, no, wait, there are a few! Oh, but if the captain says he doesn’t need me … I’d be happy if you could give me a little.”

“Idiot!”

This time my cheeks were struck and I groaned.

Sumuno is not good because he is a little quick to hit me.

The journey was smooth.

Sumuno was a friendly and light brother, and he was very good at getting in with people, and it was very helpful for me to get various information in the town I stopped by. Maybe Sumuno is the type that can live anywhere, I’m jealous. Thanks to that, I could easily know what happened to the city of the fort.

After all, it seems that the invasion of the neighboring country was suppressed in less than a day.

It was an overwhelming and quick decisive battle without allowing invasion inside the fort. There was almost no damage to the city, and the city released by the Knights was instantly revived.

As expected, by the Knights led by captain…! By the way, I was hit by Sumuno when I was thinking. I can’t figure it out.

Anyway, there was a kind of a festive mood in every city in the country that prevented the worse things from happening. The Knights will be busy with post-processing, of course, and the prince will go to the city of the fort to conclude a new peace treaty from the royal castle, and there are no rumors related to me and Sumuno that couldn’t reach my ears. Well, having me wanted in a big way also leads to the responsibility of appointing the leader. The nation should avoid pouring water into this festive mood. So maybe they are moving under the surface to catch us.

It was convenient for the time being.

We were able to return to the city without any incident.

It should have been less than half a month, but after passing through the streets that seemed a little nostalgic, I first visited my childhood friend Rikan’s house. Rikan laughed at me after seeing me for a moment and invited us to his house. Really, it’s just a nuisance to Rikan. I can’t sleep with my legs turned.

When I took a sip of the tea brewed by Rikan, I felt that my body was losing power.

“Oh … I feel like I’m back.”

“Maruno, I like this tea.”

Rikan runs a tea shop. Maybe he took the trouble to choose his favorite flavor. As he enjoyed the familiar scent, Sumuno shouted “Hey” next to him.

“It’s delicious. This kind of tea I drank for the first time. Is this a flower or a fruit?”

“Yeah. It has dried fruits and a little spice in it. Um, was it Sumuno? I wish it tasted good … so I’ll go into Maruno’s main subject.”

At the same time, Rikan glared at me, and I casually turned my eyes away.

“……Okay”

“How many big fish are you catching! Let me explain a little! I really thought that my life would be shortened.”

“eh……”

I didn’t know what he was saying for a moment, and when I cracked my eyes, Rikan folds up and says, “You’ve decided to be with the captain. I love it!”

“I love it. What does it mean to catch it?”

“Huh? He was glaring at me the other day. That day, when I came to say hello because I brought Maruno.”

“a greeting……”

At that moment, the point was finally reached. When I was hugged and abducted, I think the leader was talking to Rikan.

“I’m sorry. I just suddenly left the store to you recently …”

“That’s not the point! Rather, I’m used to it, and it doesn’t take that much effort! Really, you’re just bad at it, and you should try to get involved every time!”

There was a big movement, and for some reason, Sumuno blew out next to me. why?

“Ahahaha! What is Maruno like?”

Upon hearing the words from Sumuno Rikan shook his head, “That’s right!”

“Hey, I’m just addicted to this kind of soberness, and I’m unaware of it, and I have few friends! I was told what you were about Maruno … I’m just a childhood friend. How many times have you had a hard time? I love my wife the most in the world. ”

What’s the story? By the way, Rikan’s wife is a very cute girl. For some reason, Sumuno shook his face when he was vacant.

“Well, I have a lot to guess. So, I finally dropped the knight captain.”

“Oh, that gaze was crazy … I felt like I was left behind in the snowstorm without warm clothes.”

Sumuno laughed again for some reason when he saw Rikan speak with a distant eye. What the hell is that? Rikan sometimes tells me that he doesn’t understand what it means, but I wondered if it was even Sumuno. I’ve been out of hand and drink tea. After all, it is delicious. Then, I wondered if Rikan had finally settled down, and exhaled a lot.

“Well, it was the captain who took Marno, so I left it alone, but the invasion of the neighboring country happened … So why did you come back here? Where is the captain?”

“That’s a little different … I’m being targeted right now.”

“Are you being targeted?”

Sumuno affirms to Rikan with his eyebrows.

“Seriously. As much as I have an escort.”

“Huh !? Who is targeting you?”

“I’m not sure yet, but maybe someone who doesn’t really like the relationship between me and the captain.”

“Ah … it’s likely. What the Wayley family and fiancée- isn’t there an article saying that the captain has a fiancée?”

“The captain said that the Wayleys decided on their own.”

“I see … So, I hear from Maruno what this is all about, but do you still want to be with the captain?”

The words bounced my heart.

I’m still scared to put it into words, but I have to tell Rikan who is serious about me.

“As long as the captain says he wants me, I want to be with him.”

Rikan smiled a little when he heard the words.

“Okay, then … I’ll finally do the public opinion manipulation.”

“Public opinion manipulation?”

“It’s a wife network. It’s Maruno who really loves the captain.”

“Hey …”

The wive’s network is scary.

With a smile on his face, Sumuno replied, “That’s okay.” Is it okay? I don’t want to look up again and walk around the city. After shaking his head, he turned his eyes to Rikan again.

“So, Rikan. I’m back home for the time being, but I can’t open the antiquarian bookstore for a while, so why don’t I ask everyone in the city to keep it a secret? I don’t want to get involved too much.”

“It’s okay … don’t you just do it? Because there are times when Maruno doesn’t know what to do, especially when it comes to the captain.”

“Yeah, I understand that Rikan’s understanding of me is terribly sharp.”

But it’s not wrong. I will do anything for the captain. When I laughed, I was struck by Sumuno from the side. It is becoming a daily occurrence.

“I’m glad that Sumuno seems to have common sense. I’m grateful for this one for the time being. If anything else happens, it will help as much as possible.”

“Thank you! I’m counting on you. Thank you again!”

Then Rikan and Sumuno shook hands firmly. I wonder why I felt like I was outside the mosquito net.