Chapter 63: ☆Why I noticed...
I woke up around noon, washed my face, and had lunch at the tavern.
It seemed my body was still recovering from the exhaustion. Even though I was trying to manage my condition, I had been pushing myself too hard.
When Nimi saw my condition, she smiled gently and said, "I’m glad you’re safe."
I couldn’t look her in the eye. She always seemed to see right through me.
Even though the fatigue was gone, the burns on my legs hadn’t healed yet, so I wasn’t going to push it.
After hearing Chale’s story, I didn’t have to rush right away.
No matter what name appeared, the only thing I could do was train Roy and the students and support the events.
Of course, avoiding the misfortune or danger of the students was a given.
In the game, once the story ended, the tales of Roy and the others would conclude.
But in this world, even after the story ended, their stories would continue.
I thought that when danger was too high, they might overdo it, but basically I wanted them to overcome it while thinking for themselves.
While thinking that and drinking tea, I let out a relieved sigh when a voice called from behind.
I only turned my head and saw Roll standing there.
She was usually expressionless, but there was a slight sense of dejection.
Roll looked straight into my eyes and said in a calm voice,
"Instructor, I want to talk."
"...I understand. Right here?"
"Outside... while walking."
Roll shook her head quietly and pointed outside.
I smiled and nodded. I told Nimi I would step out for a moment.
When I stood up and walked out with Roll, she suggested we walk in the direction of the old Erika residence where the fire had occurred.
I nodded in agreement and started the walk with Roll walking beside me.
For the next five minutes, we walked in silence.
It wasn’t uncomfortable.
I only looked at Roll’s profile and she didn’t seem energetic.
I already knew she wanted to talk about the butler incident yesterday, but...
It was hard to say, and I could tell from her atmosphere.
While folding my arms and thinking whether I should ask, she began to speak in a calm voice.
"I noticed the butler’s danger. I’ll explain."
"...If it’s hard to say, it’s fine. I had wondered, but..."
"No. I’ll tell you. I used to watch him sometimes. The old Erika residence... the butler’s condition."
"...?"
Roll pointed to a side street. I nodded and walked there with her.
The side street was empty and occasionally used by adventurers for camping.
It wasn’t dirty — rather, it was clean.
It seemed there was an unspoken rule among adventurers that if they used it, they had to clean it.
That’s why the residents didn’t object and didn’t give them strange looks.
Probably because at the time when people started walking in the bright hours, they would pack up their tents and leave before anyone noticed.
"While I was hungry... I attacked an old gentleman."
As we walked the side street, Roll began to speak in short sentences.
Before I met her, adventurers had been rough.
In that period, Roll was so hungry she thought she might die.
When she reached that point, she didn’t care what method she used to get money.
She happened to walk by an old gentleman who seemed to have money and attacked him.
Yes, that old gentleman was the butler.
"I got a beating. I didn’t have enough strength."
Roll gave a faint wry smile and glanced at my face for a second.
She immediately looked forward again and pointed to a very dark side street.
That was where she attacked...
If she was hungry and lacked strength, that made sense.
When your stomach is empty, you can’t concentrate and your power is gone.
She had been beaten, but she hadn’t been handed over to the guards.
Instead, she had been worried over and given food and one gold coin.
With that single gold coin she survived and had become stable by the time she met me.
"I went back to return the money, but they refused. Instead, they told me, ’Live properly’..."
"...I see."
She probably had a conflict inside herself because of Elysia and Erika...
Even so, the butler had chosen loyalty.
Roll nodded at the butler’s words and they parted.
But she had been secretly watching the butler’s condition from time to time.
When I called her to the old Erika residence, she had actually been happy.
Finally she could return the favor, but the butler had chosen the Deus family instead of Erika.
Roll stopped walking and I stopped with her. She looked up at me with a serious expression and said,
"Adventurers never forget a debt. Instructor... I want to buy one White Talk from you."
"...A White Talk?"
I tilted my head and asked. Roll nodded and explained.
The butler couldn’t eat anything now, but he could drink.
But drinking only didn’t provide enough nutrition or help his wounds heal.
White Talk was famous for having high nutritional value... It seemed he wanted to have a friend make it into a drink.
I took one White Talk from my magic bag and handed it to Roll.
Then I smiled and said to Roll,
"Roll, order a steak for everyone on your own tab."
"...Instructor."
"Adventurers hate receiving free favors, right?"
"Mm."
Roll’s usually blank expression changed into a full, happy smile as she nodded.
I smiled at Roll’s happy face and nodded as well. We started walking back toward [Suzuya].
While chatting about trivial things on the way, we returned to the inn.
When I said goodbye to Roll in front of Erika’s house, she ran off somewhere.
I stood still watching the direction she had gone and saw that her speed was amazing.
Then the front door of Erika’s house opened and Minty poked her head out with a grin and said to me.
"Nishishi, Instructor~ Erika-chan is calling you~"
"...Is it okay if I come in?"
"Of course~"
At Minty’s words, she quickly popped her entire face inside and immediately pulled it back out, waving with one hand.
Giving a wry smile at Minty’s behavior, I entered Erika’s house.
Inside, Erika was sitting gracefully at the nearby round table drinking tea.
Erika smiled happily when she saw me and gestured to the seat opposite her.
I approached Erika with a wry smile. On the way, Satour, who was nearby, asked me with a troubled expression,
"Roll left?"
"Yeah, she was happy."
"Then you sold her the White Talk."
"No, I didn’t sell it."
After thanking Merinu, who had pulled out my chair, I sat down and answered.
I told her it was in exchange for a free steak, and Satour laughed.
Erika, who had apparently heard from Roll, smiled at my answer with an exasperated expression.
Minty was also laughing behind me.
"Instructor is such a pushover. Thank you."
"Thank you~"
"Really... but thank you."
"Please stop. It’s not that big of a deal."
I gave a wry smile and took a sip of the red tea Merinu had prepared.
...As expected, the red tea made by a professional is delicious.
Erika, arms crossed, smiled and said as if remembering something.
"Mother wants to thank you, so please come visit."
"...Are you sure?"
"Yes, she’s been quite energetic lately — walking with Merinu and such."
"I see..."
I let out a small breath of relief at Erika’s words.
Erika looked at me with slightly narrowed eyes and smiled happily.
Since that was the case, I stood up to visit Elysia.
Merinu said she would guide me, so I followed her up the stairs.
Erika called out to me from behind.
When I turned my head toward her, Erika stood up and said,
"Please take care of Mother."
"...Hm? Understood."
There was something in Erika’s tone that felt off, but I didn’t pay it much attention and smiled while nodding as I followed Merinu.
I probably understood that Erika wanted to say, "Please be careful with Mother’s health."
While ascending the stairs, I thought that way.
Raide had disappeared upstairs. Erika sat down at the table, took a sip of tea, and smiled.
Minty looked at Erika and laughed happily.
"Erika-chan, what do you think Instructor will do~?"
"It’s already decided."
"Well, everyone has the same plan... and the innkeeper is urging him to do it."
"Yes, she is."
At Satour’s words, Erika smiled awkwardly and took another sip of tea.
Erika thought the same as Nimi — if she was worried, just surround him with people and he wouldn’t be able to do anything.
