Side Story Secret Talk
This chapter starts with Hero's POV again
...No well, I did consider the possibility of her refusing.
I gotta tell her the downsides of joining my party to avoid her coming under the impression that everything is all swell.
Thinking back, Levia asked to join me on her own volition and Olivie felt indebted to us, so she readily accepted my proposal.
But I only treated these girls to a meal, and it's my thanks for saving me.
Guess people really don't like joining hero's party because of all the associated mess.
"We're not particularly against it. But our party already has a leader."
"You mentioned your hero's party only has two open slots left right? Then our leader and Hiyoko-chan are gonna be left out."
『Pipi.』
"We don't want to leave our current party, and our leader would not like it."
"...What if we persuade your leader to let you join ours?"
"I'm telling you even before that, we ourselves don't want to leave... Well, he's probably willing to let us go if we tell him we want to leave no matter what."
"But he'll definitely be torn out on the insides and we don't want to go separate ways to begin with."
Olivie gave that suggestion but the two girls still insisted against it.
These two must really like their leader.
And judging from what the blondie said, he must be quite a kind man if he's willing to accommodate the two's wishes even if it hurts him.
...Hmm, after hearing all that, I'd rather not force them to join us.
"...Is that right. It's a shame."
"Sorry, anything but that."
"...Excuse me, may I?"
Aina-san who had been keeping silent suddenly spoke just when the negotiation failed.
...Huh? She's smiling yet her eyes are dead serious? What's up?
"Sorry, I need to check on something with these two. Can I borrow them for a bit outside?"
"Eh? We can go with you--"
"Pleaaase, it's a girl's only secret talk."
"H-hey! Aina-san, no hugging! They're hitting me!"
"Neora, get over here you! Why are you grinning if you don't like it!"
"...Neora-san really loves woman's breasts, doesn't he... He could've asked me, no, nevermind..."
"Eh, what was that? Owowowowow!! Ear! Levia, don't pull my ear! It's gonna come off!"
"Later guys~."
Aina-san took the two girls with her.
Both Levia and Olivie always peel me away whenever Aina-san gets excessive with her skinship. Are they really helping me though?
My ear and arm are hurting from all the pulling! Ah but, something is hitting my arm whenever Olivie pulls me, no wait, she's putting too much strength I don't even have the time to think that, ouch ouch!
...I'll have Aina-san take care of the bill.
But I wonder what are they gonna talk about.
...She can't be pressuring them into joining me, can she.
<TLN: Catch the latest updates and edits at Sousetsuka .com >
~~~~~~~Alma's POV~~~~~~~~~
"Phew, that did it somehow."
The elf woman called Aina-san muttered as she gazed hero from outside the restaurant.
...Wonder what she's trying to talk with us without their presence.
"You girls are amazing. Normally, I'd have taken whatever measures necessary to ensure you join his party."
"...!"
"Oh, don't get so worked up now. I'm not trying to coerce you or anything. Ah, right, there's this thing I need to talk about, see?"
Aina-san's expression changed from all smile to serious and then she bowed for some reason.
"You have my thanks for saving Ivran-chan at Vinfitt. Almatina-san, Reinamiure-san. Allow me to extend my gratitude to the absent Soarer-san as well."
"...Eh."
Only Vinfitt's guildmaster and the townlord know about that, so how?
She slowly raised her head and faintly smiled before she spoke.
"H-how did you know about us?"
"Ivran-chan is my little sister, you see. She told me how much of a big help you girls were during the demon with ancient weapon incident at Vinfitt about two, three months ago."
"L-little swister!? Is that true!?"
Aina-san is the guildmaster's elder sister?
...Looking closer, her eyes do look like hers. She's an elf too, she's probably not lying.
"Did guildmaster tell you? The matter should be strictly confidential."
"Yes, my position afforded me this secret but officially everything was resolved by Soarer alone, so please rest assured. Of course I don't plan on divulging this matter to anyone either."
"Fuwaa... I had no idea guildmaster-san had an elder sister. You're even together with hero's party."
"Yup, it was Ivran-chan who asked me to help train the hero's group, see. 'You always show up when it doesn't matter, and nowhere to be seen during crucial times. Make yourself useful on this note at least, sis.' Oh my is this sweat coming out of my eyes, sniffle..."
...Thank goodness. I was worried if she was going to blackmail us into joining Hero's party.
"Speaking of which, where is Soarer-san now?"
"He's out cold after coming down with a carriage sickness from riding a beast carriage."
"He looked half dead while saying flying is nothing compared to beast carriage's shaking."
"Oh that's a shame. I wanted to personally thank him too... Hold it? We're here to register hero-kun and the girls at the Martial Art Tournament, is your party entering too?"
"Un. I would like to test how far my strength will take me."
"Victory seems uncertain though. That hero-san looks pretty strong."
That hero's base specs are probably several times higher than mine.
I believe the two girls next to her are around our level as well.
...Hikaru's leveling style was quite ridiculous. These people must have gone through a lot of risk as well.
"Will Soarer-san enter too?"
"Hikaru won't. He doesn't like to stand out, and his Job is unidentifiable to begin with."
"He should be at the spectator seat cheering for us. I think that's a good opportunity to go see him, don't you think?"
"Oh yes, I'll do just that. But looking for him among the audience will be a challenge..."
Aina-san whispered while smiling wryly.
Hikaru could use his Menu and find anyone right away, but the opposite isn't true after all.
"I suppose we'll see you again on tournament's day?"
"Sure will... Not to brag, but our kids are pretty strong, you know? Think of them as being several times stronger than their Levels suggest. Neora-kun especially."
"Guess otherworlders are all one of a kind huh... Uh, I guess it's obvious looking at Kajikawa-san."
"...But I will not lose. Hikaru is one thing, but I don't feel there's a hopeless gap between me and hero."
"Oh that's quite fine, you can see for yourself when you do fight him. Aah, I can't wait for the tourney... By the way, is Soarer-san really that strong?"
"He's just absurd. Like he's been getting stronger so fast, he'll be like a different person altogether in just one month."
"...Honestly, I don't believe we can win against him even if Reina, Hiyoko and I join forces..."
『Pipii!』
"I see. I'd love to let someone like that fight Neora-kun. It'll be a good lesson for Neora-kun who might believe he's OP or whatever after finishing his training."
"It's okay. I will win in the tournament."
"Ooh! That's unusually assertive of Alma-san!"
I am not conceited enough to believe I can win against anyone besides Hikaru.
But, I won't back down just because I'm up against the hero.
"Now then, we shouldn't let them wait too long. Why don't we call it off for now."
"We should. Thank you for the treat."
"Thank you."
"Ah, can I ask one more thing? Soarer-san is supposedly an otherworlder from the same land as the hero, what's his thoughts on the hero?"
"He never said anything about the topic."
"It doesn't look like he has any interest in the hero."
"O-oh okay... Guess I better shut up then..."
"Does Hero-san know about Kajikawa-san?"
"Umm, he mentioned about how there's someone who got thrown off into this world by accident, and that he would like to help him in any way he can if he came across the poor guy. But I probably should keep this to myself..."
Un. I don't think Hikaru needs help.
I sense strong power from the hero, but it's not quite at Hikaru's level.
As I was biding farewell to hero's party who was settling the bill, I noticed something.
After taking a good look of the red haired girl, Leviaria, her face felt like it overlapped with someone's.
Noticing my stare, she looked back at me dubiously.
"...What? Is there something stuck on my face?"
"......Fifraila?"
"!!?"
When I blurted the name of that red haired girl from Daijel because they looked alike, she jolted upright.
Judging from her reaction. She may be Fifraila's little sister or a relative. I wonder why is she together with the hero.
"W-w-w-w-w-why do you know Fira-ane? A-are you her friend? Please, I, I beg of you! Please don't tell Fira-ane! She'll get so mad if she finds out!"
Leviaria begged me with a pale face.
...She must have run away from home.
You should always consult with your family first before going independent. Or else they'll get worried sick.
...Though my parents are still such worrywarts even after giving their consent.
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