CH 72

[Awkward Dining Table]

After we finished shopping in the city and returned to the garrison, it was already dark, and Suzana was preparing meals.

Noelia seemed to be worried about my collapse from the beginning to end, so on the way back I explained to her that it was due to my personal problem or something like that.

However, it was hard to say that I was fainted because I remembered the abuses from Alfine, so I lied, saying that I was a little tired from traveling.

“Such a thing happened… Frick-sama, if you are tired, wouldn’t it be better for you to rest in the garrison for a while?”

Suzana who had took a seat after done preparing the meal, heard from Noelia that I had collapsed while shopping and make such a suggestion.

Noelia agreed with that and along with Suzana, suggests me to rest, but…

I’m sure ‘that’ won’t heal even if I take a rest.

That fainting is like an incident that thrusted before me the reality that I had not yet escaped from that curse, the curse that is Alfine who I thought I had escaped from by changing my own name and appearance.

It might be my punishment for trying to face Noelia in such an incomplete state…

As expected, I shouldn’t try to get deeply involved with women in the future, huh…

During the journey, it may be better for both of us if I keep a proper distance from Noelia and clarify our positions as master and disciple.

“No, I’ve already rested a bit, so I’m in a very good shape right now. Besides, that guy should be escaping soon, so I have to be ready to go to the sighting point of the Abyss Walker anytime. Thank you for today Noelia, Cinzia-sama. You saved me.”

I once again thank Noelia, who is looking depressed.

“A-are you really okay? I can use healing magic, but should I look for a doctor in the city of Inbahanes to check on you?”

“I’m really okay. I must be just getting tired from the various things happening recently. Look, my body is sturdy after all.”

I try to cheer up Noelia, who is looking at me anxiously, and give her a bright smile.

“I-I see. If Frick-sama says so…”

“Frick has said that he’s okay, so he must be okay. Rather than that, this thing keeps slipping off though.”

The bone bird of Cinzia-sama that is in my pocket gets out to the top of the table.

Looking at it, it is wearing a headgear made by stitched skins.

Because it is misaligned and wrinkled, I pull it to fix it.

“Ah-, put it on properly. Suzana, isn’t it a little too loose?”

“Skins are hard you know. Though I sewed it so that the seams are not visible.”

It seems that Susana who had been worried that the bone bird used by Cinzia would stand out sewed the skins while she was away.

It feels a little unnatural up close, but at a distance, I feel it does look like a bird.

“Cinzia-sama said she didn’t want to stand out either. That headgear looks great you know. It makes you look like a normal bird.”

“Somehow, I don’t think that Frick’s words are complimenting me… Well, fine. Let’s borrow Noelia’s shoulder.”

Having seen the skin headgear that covered her body on the table, Cinzia flaps briefly, and perches on Noelia’s shoulder.

“When you’re there, you do looks like Noelia’s familiar.”

“Actually, you can use me like a familiar you know. We can share our sight and hearing after all. Noelia, why don’t you send me to infiltrate into Frick’s sleeping bag while sharing our vision tonight?”

“Into Frick-sama’s sleeping bag!? N-n-no. S-s-s-such embarrassing thing! I haven’t prepared my heart yet!?”

“For me, exploration of Frick’s unexplored region is—wait, hey!?”

Since Cinzia who perched on Noelia’s shoulder began to talk about unnecessary things, I pinch her skin headgear.

“If you keep fooling around, I’ll dismantle you, you know.”

“Eh~, boring~.”

*Pop* Leaving behind only her headgear, Cinzia turns into a bone bird and fly around the room.

Although she acted together with us as our master of Employment magic, her freewheeling-ness sure is similar to that of Gawain-shishou.

I wonder if all first-class mages who created their own magic are all free-spirited like the two of them.

Seeing Cinzia flying at the ceiling of the room restlessly, I feel like letting out a sigh.

Well, but thanks to Cinzia, the heavy air has changed.

I’m a little grateful to Cinzia who acted freely without reading the atmosphere of the place.

“Let’s leave Cinzia-sama alone and eat for now. I kinda very hungry today.”

“You are right. Come to think of it, we did not manage to have a lunch earlier.”

“Ah, right. That’s why I’m so hungry.”

“Thanks to the vegetables shared by everyone in the garrison, I have prepared a lot of meals, please enjoy it to your heart’s content.”

When Suzana suggested them to me, my empty stomach started growling loudly, so I decided to eat the meals before me.