Chapter 23 After the Festival
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
”…The food stalls… I didn’t get to eat anything…”
”…Grilled corn… shaved ice… meat skewers…”
Kazumi and I watch the food stalls being cleaned up. Thankfully, the monster attack was repelled without any injuries to the villagers.
”I guess it was good timing for the festival.”
I finally understood what my mom meant when she said that before we left the house, after she finished changing and took a breath.
Among the injured soldiers, the adventurers who were visiting for the ‘Dragon God Festival’ also stood out.
Mr. Rudolf, Ms. Giselle, and Martina were busy treating the injured at first, but soon…
”Everyone else, go to the hot springs! Those injuries will heal in 3 days!”
Saying that, my mom took her bath supplies and walked off to the hot springs.
”Should we go to the hot springs too?”
I invited Kazumi, who was watching the stall cleanup with a sad look.
”…Yakisoba… takoyaki… Frankfurt sausages…”
Hey, those don’t exist in this world, Ms. Kazumi. ──Right?
”Hot springs! Let’s go, let’s go!”
Martina, wearing a yukata and helping with the treatment, ran over, pulling Isaac and Roana along with her.
”Rena is going too. I’m really tired…”
”Alright, let’s all go together!”
We headed to the hot springs to relax our tired bodies.
* * *
”Lord, what did you want to talk about…?”
At the hot spring, Isaac stood stiffly behind my dad, who was soaking. It looked pretty funny with just a towel around his waist.
”Don’t just stand there, get in the water. You must be exhausted from the long journey and fighting monsters, right? Take your time to relax.”
When Isaac and I entered the hot spring from the changing room, we found many adventurers and my dad relaxing in the water. Isaac quietly sank into the hot spring.
”Ah… this really is… relaxing.”
”As I mentioned in the letter. Why not live in Razia Village?”
”About that… I have work in the royal capital…”
”Is your job to be used as a ‘shield’ by those troublesome veterans?”
”Well, that’s…”
Isaac looked down.
”Then there’s the ‘name borrowing.’ You can’t take on high-level requests by yourselves, so you have to rely on higher-ranked parties to do them. That should be against guild rules.”
My dad glared at Isaac. No wonder Isaac and Roana looked so worn out. They must have been pushing themselves too hard.
”How do you know that, Lord…?”
Isaac looked surprised.
”I heard it from a friend who’s active in the royal capital. ‘Adventurers from Razia Village seem to be taking too many risks lately’.”
After saying that, my dad glared at Isaac.
”I’m sorry… Please, just don’t take away our adventurer licenses. If you do, we won’t be able to make a living, and we won’t be able to send money back to the orphanage…”
Isaac bowed his head, holding back tears.
”Then you should live here. Considering Martina, the orphanage back home… and you all, that’s the best option.”
With that, my dad stood up.
”I can get you a cheap place to live. …If you plan to start a family, I can provide it for free. Think about it.”
My dad got out of the bath and walked to the changing room.
”Why… to that extent…”
”A policy for young families moving to this village has been decided. We will provide houses for free. And…”
My dad turned to look at Isaac.
”I don’t want to make Martina sad, who has taken a liking to this village and has been getting along with my son, Kazumi, and Rena. The path of an adventurer leads only to death if you act recklessly. Don’t waste your potential.”
He gently spoke to Isaac and then left. The soldiers and adventurers who had come to heal their wounds had already disappeared, leaving behind only Isaac, who was sobbing, and me, who could only watch.
* * *
”I’ll talk to Roana. If we have a base for work and don’t have to worry about Martina, we won’t have to take reckless risks like before. If we can get a house cheaply, moving to this village sounds appealing.”
A calm Isaac spoke to me.
”That sounds good. Plus, I’ve heard that the nearby dungeon has had its monster levels increased due to this ‘Dungeon Burst,’ so adventurers like you are needed in this village.”
”Thanks, Hiroya.”
”Maybe you should just be with Ms. Roana… I’ve heard Martina asking about various things.”
I nudged Isaac with my elbow.
”Hey!”
Isaac is 16 years old. In this world, people grow up fast, so he looks about 20, but he still feels much younger inside. His embarrassed face really shows he’s a younger guy.
”I’ll head up first.”
Saying that, I splash hot water on Isaac’s red face. Just to hide the traces of his tears. It’s a samurai’s kindness.
”Stop it!”
”It’s good to rub it on your scars. With the effects of the hot spring, they might disappear after a few visits. See you later!”
I hurried out of the hot spring.
* * *
Today, it was a rare bath time where I made Kazumi and the others wait.
”It is very enjoyable~.”
Rena is drinking coffee milk and looks like she’s loving it.
”Big Brother Hiroya, here!”
Martina handed me a cup of coffee milk.
”By the way, Ms. Roana, you hurt your leg, right? How was the hot spring?”
I talked to Roana, who seemed surprised by the taste of the coffee milk.
”It’s delicious… huh? Oh, right, my leg.”
She lifted the hem of her robe a bit to show me. The wound still looks painful.
”Before I got in the hot spring, I still felt numbness. But while soaking, the numbness went away. It’s amazing.”
”You should take it easy and enjoy the healing. You’re going to live in this village anyway, right?”
I shifted my gaze from Roana’s leg to Isaac, who had just come out of the hot spring, and gave a teasing smile.
”I-Isaac?”
Receiving my gaze, Isaac scratched his head, looking troubled. Eventually, he seemed to gather his courage and stood in front of Roana.
”Roana… will you marry me in this village…?”
””””Eh!!!””””
Surprised voices rose from Kazumi, Rena, and the soldiers and adventurers resting in the hot spring area.
I, Martina, and my dad were the only ones laughing at Isaac and Roana.
”Hey! Is that a proposal?”
”Are you showing off? Ugh! I’m so jealous!”
”Well, wait, the girl hasn’t answered yet.”
”There’s a chance she might say no.”
”Come on, let’s cheer them on!”
Amidst those voices, Roana’s answer was…
”…Yes…♡”
”Damn it! Go be happy!”
”Explode!”
”I wish I had someone too.”
”Marti! Marry me!”
”No, I’d like Kazumie.”
”Shut up, you lolicon.”
”W-Who do you like then?”
”…Ren-Ren.”
”Mr. Guard, there’s lolicon here!”
”It’s definitely Megumi! …That bikini armor…”
It seems our guard joined in too. When my dad shot a glare after hearing my mom’s name, everyone went quiet like someone poured water on them.
”Come to my mansion tomorrow for the details. Of course, just the two of you. Congratulations, Isaac, Roana.”
Saying that, my dad left the hot spring.
”It’s your fault for mentioning the madam’s bikini armor.”
”…But it was super s*xy…”
Anyway, even with all the noise, in the end, everyone celebrated together.
”Even though you two both like each other… I thought you wouldn’t be together because of what happened to me… I’m so glad… really…”
Crouching down, Martina cried out loud on my chest.
”It’s not your fault, Martina. We were just clumsy. I’m happy for you…”
Saying that, Kazumi, Rena, and I kept patting Martina’s head.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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