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Appearing in the area, Aliceā¦ā¦ or rather, Hapti, without even saying her greetings, ignored the absentminded Lilia-san, and quickly set off with the three of us.
On the way to the Adventurerās Guild in the royal capital, Hapti-san cheerfully spoke while walking.
[ā¦ā¦Well then, let me introduce myself again. My name is Hapti. Iāve been asked by Phantasmal King-sama to be your escort this time. Well, it might only be for a short time, but I look forward to working with you. Thatās about it, I guess? If you want any more information about me, youāll have to pay for it from here on out.]
[H- Huhhā¦ā¦ Errr, Iām Miyama Kaito.]
[Iām Kusunoki Aoi. Errr, Iām in your care today.]
[Iām Yuzuki Hina. Iām in your care today.]
Upon Hapti-sanās urging, we introduced ourselves while walking.
[Kaito, Aoi, and Hina, yeah? Okay~~ Iāll remember it. Well, letās take it easy and not be too formal with each other. You can call me whatever you want.]
[Y- Yesā¦ā¦ Errr, we just departed without explaining anything to Lilia-sanā¦ā¦ Is that alright?]
[Unnn? No, itās not like Iām getting even a single bronze coin by explaining things to her anyway. Phantasmal King-sama commissioned me to escort you three, and explaining things to that noble isnāt part of my contract.]
Responding to Aoi-chan, who was concerned about the fact that Lilia-san and the others were left without any care, Hapti-san told her in a very matter-of-fact manner. From the conversation so far, I could tell that Hapti-san was very particular about money.
I thought Neun-san was being too much when she described her as a money-monger butā¦ā¦
As I was walking along, thinking about this and lightly chatting with the others, I heard the sound of something falling. Turning my gaze in that directionā¦ā¦
[ā¦ā¦Whaaā¦ā¦ Ahhā¦ā¦ H- Hapti?]
It was a timing that was too perfect to be a coincidence, but as I turned around, I found Neun-san looking at us.
I also saw Dr. Vier next to her and a shopping bag at Neun-sanās feet, which she may have dropped just now, so they must have been shopping together.
With a clearly shocked look that could be seen even through her armor, Neun-san ran up towards Hapti-sanā¦ā¦
[Hapti! Youāre Hapti, right!? For us to meet hereā¦ā¦]
[Eh? Whatās with this āperverted woman in armorā? Why the heck are you suddenly talking to me? I mean, for you to wear an outfit like that on the main street, ooze out incredible suspiciousness from your appearance, Iām doubting if this womanās even saneā¦ā¦]
The words Hapti-san said were so sharp that Neun-san fell to her knees from the mental damage. Neun-sanās outfit certainly is a bit conspicuous in the city, but she had circumstances that prevented her from showing her face, and to a certain extent, I think that it couldnāt be helped.
Neun-san seemed to have suffered a lot of mental damage, but she quickly got up and started talking to Hapti-san again.
[ā¦ā¦Itās me! Errrā¦ā¦ Ummmā¦ā¦ P- Please come with me for a moment!]
[Eh? Geez, why are you suddenlyā¦ā¦]
Neun-san tried to introduce herself as Kujou Hikari, but she realized that there were a lot of people here, so she pulled Hapti-sanās hand and dragged her towards an alley.
It was quite forceful, but for Neun-san, it was the first time in a thousand years that she had seen her friend again, so I could understand why she was shaken.]
[How should I say thisā¦ā¦ Iām sorry about Neun.]
[No, with the situation like that, it couldnāt be helped.]
After we and Dr. Vier who had been left behind exchanged glanced and wryly smiled, we then followed Neun-san and Hapti-san into the alley.
As we entered the alley, Dr. Vier snapped her fingers and a magic circle appeared at our feet, which spread out before disappearing from sight.
[ā¦ā¦Dr. Vier, that thing you did just now?]
[Ahh, itās Barrier Magic. Itās just a simple one to keep people out of a certain area.]
[Is that something I can also use?]
[Itās not that difficult to useā¦ā¦ Are you interested in Barrier Magic?]
[I was thinking that it would be useful if I could use it.]
Having met each other at my birthday party, Aoi-chan and Hina-chan also knew about Dr. Vier. As I listened to Dr. Vierās voice as she explained all sorts of things upon hearing Aoi-chanās interest in Barrier Magic, I turned my gaze forward and saw Hapti-san and Neun-san without her armor.
[See, itās me! Hikari!]
[Ahh~~ Itās been a while. Bye then.]
[Eeehhh!? W- Wait, we havenāt seen each other in a thousand years, so why is your reaction so weak!?]
[Iām in the middle of work right nowā¦ā¦]
[I have a lot of questions Iāve been wanting to ask after meeting you!]
[Ehh~~ I have a feeling that itās going to be troublesome, so Iāll pass~~]
While Neun-san looked desperate, Hapti-san seemed to be going at her own pace, trying to lightly brush away Neun-sanās words as she made her way towards usā¦ā¦ but at that moment, Neun-san let out a deep sigh and taking out a copper coin, she handed it to Hapti-san.
Thereupon, after stuffing that copper coin into her pocket, Hapti-san turned to me and apologetically put her hands together.
[Iām sorry! Can you wait for a moment?]
[Eh? Ah, yes. Itās alright.]
[Thanksā¦ā¦ Now then, well~~ Itās been a while, Hikari! Iāve missed you so much!]
Just like that, after notifying us of this matter, Hapti-san approached Neun-san in a friendly manner that made me wonder where the cold reception she had earlier went.
Looking as if sheās trying to endure snapping back at Hapti-sanās obvious shamelessness, a vein popped out of Neun-sanās forehead as she spoke.
[ā¦ā¦Seriously, youāre the same as usual. Good griefā¦ā¦ Well, alright. That aside, I have lots of things I wanted to ask you.]
[You did say that earlier. What is it?]
[First of all, why did you disappear without attending the Commemoration Ceremony after the Treaty of Friendship was signed? Laguna and Fors were worried about you.]
[Ehh~~ But attending ceremonies wonāt earn me a single R. Iām not interested.]
[ā¦ā¦I guess thatās just like you. Well, thatās alright then. That aside, whatās important hereā¦ā¦]
As she said this, Neun-san firmly grasped both of Hapti-sanās shoulders. What is thisā¦ā¦ Neun-san had a smile on her face, but I kinda feel like sheās insanely angry.
[ā¦ā¦It seems that as the Commemoration Ceremony was being held, āabout 10% of the money and goodsā from āeach countryās treasuriesā disappearedā¦ā¦ Youāre the culprit, right?]
[Oh my Goddess. Isnāt it too much for you to conclude that Iām the culprit without even verifying first? Even though Iām your party member, whom you had gone through joys and sorrows together, you are suspecting me?]
[Because we had been friends who had gone through joys and sorrows together for a long time, Laguna, me and Fors were in agreementā¦ā¦ that the culprit is definitely you.]
[We knew it!!! What the heck are you doing!? Did you know how awkward it was for the three of us when we were told about it? Fortunately, the people of each country were magnanimous enough to put that matter as āthinking of it as a reward for defeating the Demon Lordā, but in that situation, it wouldnāt have been strange if they deemed you as a wanted person, you know!!!?]
[ā¦ā¦I think that was a justifiable reward. After all, you see, I did my best to smash that Demon Lord.]
[The problem is you stealing that reward out of their pockets!]
Just as I was thinking that an unexpected truth of the past was unfolding, it seems like Hapti-san did something really outrageousā¦ā¦ Neun-san would obviously get mad at her. I could clearly understand now why sheās calling her a money-grubbing troublemaker.
Neun-san was trembling with anger, but after a little while, as if she knew Hapti-sanās character well, she just let out another big sigh.
[ā¦ā¦Haahhhā¦ā¦ Well, although there have been some problems, itās been forgiven already, and thereās no point in talking about something that happened a thousand years ago.]
[ā¦ā¦Is that what you wanted to ask me?]
[No, I did want to ask you that butā¦ā¦ Iām just about to ask the real question.]
[Unnn? You know, Hikariā¦ā¦ Your grip on my shoulders has been getting stronger and stronger since a while ago, and it really hurtsā¦ā¦]
Somehow, I can feel more anger from Neun-san than before, and the strength of her grip on Hapti-sanās shoulders actually seems to be increasing.
[ā¦ā¦Itās strange, isnāt it? I could still understand if it was just a letter I disposed of. Thereās a chance that I was planning on disposing of it, but completely forgot about it. Howeverā¦ā¦ for it to be āmy diaryā, donāt you think itās strange? Moreover, putting aside if it was my diary as a whole, isnāt it strange that several pages of my diary are being auctioned out there?]
Hearing those words, I remembered the auction at the Six Kings Festival. Indeed, now that she mentioned it, just for a few pages of a thousand-year-old diary to be coincidentally discoveredā¦ā¦ Moreover, for that incident to occur not just once or twice, but several times in the past, it certainly is strange.
[I mean, there was no way I could have just thrown my diary out there, and Iām sure I had properly stored it, but when I checked itā¦ā¦ A few of the diaries I used to write in back then have been replaced with blank ones!]
[Hyiiiiiihhh, l- letās calm downā¦ā¦ We can talk things out. Letās peacefully resolve mattersā¦ā¦]
[Yes, youāre right. Letās peacefully talkā¦ā¦ but the next time I hear that my diary is being sold at an auction, Iāll chop your head off.]
Apparently, Hapti-san was the one who stole Neun-sanās diary and sold it at the auction. No wonder Neun-san was so angry. Well, it seems like she was rational enough not to immediately draw her sword.
Neun-san then lectured Hapti-san for a while, but I guess being her former comrade made Neun-san treat her sweetlyā¦ā¦ for as if she knew there was nothing more she could say, she let out three big sighs and ended the discussion.
[ā¦ā¦The scolding ended? Then, letās go with the next topic. Here.]
Just like that, letting out a relieved sighā¦ā¦ Looking like she didnāt seem to have learned her lesson at all, Hapti-san smiled and taking out a huge burlap bag, she handed it to Neun-san.
[I hope you donāt look down on me. Iām fully aware of moral obligations and humane feelings, so Iām equally splitting the proceeds!]
[No, why the heck are you acting like youāre helping me earn? Iām the victim of your theft, and you just sold my property without my permissionā¦ā¦ Well, putting that asideā¦ā¦ Doesnāt this look a bit much? Itās hard to believe that selling close to a dozen pages would amount to this muchā¦ā¦]
[Ahh, thatās because half of the profits from āHikari Manjuuā are in there too.]
[So that was also youāre doing!!!]
ā¦ā¦I thought that they had already resolved the problem, but there are apparently more to it. How much mess did you make, Hapti-san?
[Iāve always thought it was strange! There are a few other products on the market, but most of them are called āHeroic āāā and perhaps out of consideration to me, doesnāt use my name, so I was thinking how strange it is that that item is directly using my nameā¦ā¦]
[Now, now, itās not like an itemās name is anything to fret about.]
[Thatās not the point! I had always been thinking of complaining to the developer of that product when I saw them!!! Listen here, okay!? That is not āmanjuuā, thatās a ādaifukuā! I will never acknowledge that thing that doesnāt use wheat flour as manjuu!!!]
[Eeehhhh, thatās what youāre angry at? Besides, I was just the one who designed it, so it couldnāt really be said that I was its developerā¦ā¦ However, was it not delicious?]
[ā¦ā¦The taste itself was wonderfully perfected. However, if I had to pick a personal preference, I would say that it would be better if it was a little less sweetā¦ā¦]
[Are you talking about wagashi? Youāre as particular as ever, Hikari~~]
Hmmm, I wonder what this isā¦ā¦ Before I knew it, the conversation had shifted to a normal one. Although the expression on Neun-sanās face was laced with dismay, it seems like she enjoys talking with Hapti-san.
Looking at them like that, I could somehow feel that they really are good friends, comrades who have traveled through joys and sorrows together.