CH 46

Chapter 46 from “Miniature Garden Chemister part 2 – Miniature Garden”

I used the Door of the Miniature Garden, which I exchanged for points, to connect the house to the store I purchased in the city.

For that reason, I had to go and pick up the luggage I left at the inn and take them away…or so I thought as I headed to the inn with Ikuru.

We were supposed to go to our respective rooms, and I’d go to Ikuru’s room after I was done cleaning up, probably because I’d need more time to get ready.

So how did this happen?

“……”

“……”

A slightly heavy atmosphere washed over my room.

“Um…what’s going on, all of a sudden?”

The person who came into my room still hadn’t said a word…I tried calling out to Takuto-san nervously. Although he is a very handsome man with a well-groomed face, his image is not very good. He might be a rather runaway type of character, but I’d only ever seen him when he was angry.

He came to visit me within a few minutes of me coming into my room. I felt like the timing was a little too good, but I didn’t mind. I invited him in to see if he wanted to talk to me about something, but five minutes had already passed without anyone talking about anything in particular. The atmosphere made it a bit hard to breathe.

“I mean…’

“?”

“…I’m sorry. Hinami-san saved my life, yet I said some terrible things.”

“What?”

In the midst of the silence, Takuto-san opened his mouth and gave an apology. I was a little surprised, but when I hurriedly replied, “It’s fine, don’t worry about it,” Takuto-san seemed relieved and gave me a smile.

I thought he was a runaway type of character, but…is he a tsundere? Hana had once mysteriously said, “I want a tsundere butler!” but I didn’t understand it at the time.

“…Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.”

Takuto-san’s hair that was splayed out, twitched and softened, and the slightly tense atmosphere dissipated as if it had been a lie. Could it be that he was just annoyed back then, and this was Takuto-san’s true nature?

“I thought I had finally become an adventurer, but…I’m so weak. I’m really not cool, am I?I’m an elf and yet my magic and swordsmanship are so weak.”

“That’s not true, everyone is weak at first. Even I’m only level 3…and I’m afraid of slimes.”

“…Haha, you’re afraid of slimes? That’s even worse than me!”

“It’s okay. I’ll just run away when I’m scared!”

Huh! When I announced my plans to run away, Takuto-san laughed at me. It couldn’t be helped that I was afraid of monsters, because there we’re no such enemies back in Japan. Even if there were, wouldn’t they just be stray dogs? If I saw a scary-looking dog, though, I’d run away in a heartbeat! No, rather, most people would be like that.

“Did you always want to be an adventurer, Takuto-san?”

“Hmm. Well, I’ve always wanted to be strong. Despite her appearances, Miruru was actually very strong.”

Ah, come to think of it, Miruru-san was an adventurer. She tried to hide it at first, but Ikuru saw through it. To have her adventurer card showing from her pocket, the strong Miruru-san also seemed a bit ditzy, which was kind of cute.

I countered with an “I see,” and then, Takuto-san spoke up.

“Yeah. It’s like Miruru thinks she’s hiding it from me, but I’ve already found out. I don’t know if it’s because I’m weak, but I’m still somewhat smart.”

“Miruru-san…she certainly doesn’t seem to be very good at hiding things.”

“Right? Well, but the other guys didn’t notice. I’ve known her since we were kids and we’ve been together forever, so I noticed it rather quickly.”

“I see.”

I thought it was nice that they seemed to be close, but when I asked, “Are you lovers?” he blushed slightly and replied with, “It’s not like that.” I don’t know about Miruru-san, but Takuto seems to like Miruru.

I was a little jealous because I had never been in a relationship or in love before, but I hoped it would work out well for them.

“Isn’t it good? I think you be a good match, though.”

“What are you talking about? Besides, Miruru’s from a family that has ruled the village for generations, so someone as weak as me wouldn’t be any good.”

“Huh…”

“Don’t look at me like that. Besides, I’ll become stronger, so it’s not a problem.”

I wonder, if this type of thing is  unique to a fantasy world? Does this world not allow for much free love? Come to think of it, Thia-chan also seems to have a fiancé. I’m not sure if it’s because of a status difference. It’s kind of sad, and if I were to fall in love like that, I have no idea what I would do.

“Look, change your face back.”

“…Eh?”

Apparently I was thinking about it so much that I had about 120% of an apology on my face. Takuto-san called out to me again saying, “Don’t worry about it.” I don’t know what it is, but I don’t think I have a pattern of trying to be cautious and not succeeding and being cautious in reverse.

Even though I was worried, when I answered, “Okay!,” He said “Oh!” With a smile.

“And slime…the next one won’t be my enemy!”

“Oh! I like your enthusiasm!”

“Of course! Besides, I’ve studied all of the slime’s attack patterns, defense patterns, attack moves, and intervals, so there’s no way I can lose now! The slime interval is 1 meter in radius, but the actual attack motion doesn’t start until it’s 30 centimeters away. So I calculated the distance of just under 30cm and can swing my sword from there. The first hit from a slime takes 3.5 seconds. So, if I deal damage in 3 seconds and evade backwards, the slime won’t attack me!After the slime is attacked, it goes into defense, but then it won’t attack until it gets 10cm away from Me. So, if I launch one attack, pull back quickly, and launch a second one right away, I can take it down! Isn’t it perfect?”

“Well, uh…yeah. That’s amazingly perfect!”

“Yeah!”

I’m sorry, but I didn’t quite understand that.

But there was no way I could say I didn’t understand in front of the smiling Takuto-san. I had no choice, so I smiled back and said it was perfect. Yeah, he seemed satisfied, so I’m sure it’s fine!

But it’s also hard to take down a slime. If I tried to fight one alone, how much should I attack it? If it’s the cheat-like bow that God gave me, it would only take one blow, but if I wanted to fight with a sword, it wasn’t going to be possible anymore.

“Takuto-san, you’re quite the strategist, aren’t you?”

“Hmm? Well, yeah…I mean, it’s a big deal that I can’t beat it otherwise.”

“Ah…I’m sorry.”

“Don’t worry about it. Well, I’ll get stronger soon enough!”

“Yes. Let’s do our best as fellow adventurers!”

When I said, “Let’s fight!” He was surprised and replied  “What? You’re an adventurer!?”

That’s right, I was far from adventurous. When I told Takuto-san that I registered in the moment because I wanted an ID, he readily accepted is as ‘a common pattern.’

But I’d also have to think about what I was going to do as an adventurer…maybe. Because I was also going to go look for Letisreel…yeah, I’ll think about it another time.

“Oh, speaking of which, were you planning to take the beginner’s course?”

“Oh, I’m taking it! Could it be that Hinami-san is too!?”

“Yes! I’m signing up for the classroom session in three days.”

“Oh! Even our schedules are the same!”

Oh, what a strange situation. However, I was slightly wondering if it really was a coincidence, since Miruru-san said he would have him take a beginner’s course. Still, I’m a little glad to have Takuto-san there, because I’m not comfortable being alone. The main reason is that I’ve realized that he’s not a scary person anymore.

“Miruru says she won’t take it. My practical skills are good, but I’m glad I won’t be alone in the classroom lectures.”

“Haha, I’m relieved that I’ll have Takuto-san there too. I’m scared, so I won’t really be learning any practical skills, just classroom lecutres, but I’ll be counting on you.”

“Same here. I’m super good at classroom lectures, so if you need anything, feel free to ask me.”

Apparently, Takuto-san is only aiming for practical skills. Indeed, after the slime analysis I heard earlier, I don’t need he needs to take a beginner’s course on knowledge as far as I’m concerned. I’m sure that Miruru-san told him to take them and he just couldn’t refuse. When I think about it, a smiling scene with the two of them comes to my mind and makes me feel a bit happy.

Knock knock!

“Hinami-sama, it’s late. What’s wrong?”

“Oh, Ikuru! I’m sorry.”

Suddenly, the sound of knocking and Ikuru’s question entered my ears.

That’s right, I was planning to get everything ready and go to Ikuru’s room, but I completely forgot about that while talking with Takuto-san. I immediately open the door and invite Ikuru in, and he looks suspiciously at Takuto-san who is there.

“Well then, I’m sorry I stayed so long.”

“Oh, it’s okay. I’m sorry, I never got a chance to say my name properly. I’m Hinami Kusunoki, it was nice to meet you.”

“Oh. I’m Takuto Millefeuille…I’ll see you later, Hinami.”

“Yeah, I’ll see you later~”

I almost squealed at such a delicious sounding name, but that’s a secret, okay? (*** T/N: Millefeuille is a french pastry dessert)

Takuto-san left the room, slipping past Ikuru without paying any attention to him at all. Oh, is he in ‘tsun’ mode for Ikuru?

Immediately, Ikuru asked me, “What were you doing?” and I told him that he had apologized for the other day and thanked me by coming to see me. Although Ikuru was a little surprised, he ended with a “hmm.” Apparently, he doesn’t seem to be very interested in Takuto-san.

“So you aren’t ready to go yet?”

“Oh, that’s right. Takuto-san came barely a minute after I came, so…sorry, I’ll be ready soon.”

As I hurriedly began to pack my bags, Ikuru said, “It’s okay to take your time.” He already had all his belongings put together, though it was only one backpack. He sat down near the bed on the floor and began to relax.

“I mean, even though he lost to the slime, he doesn’t seem to have learned his lesson.”

“Oh…it’s seems that he’s been contemplating the slime’s moves, and said that he’ll definitely win the next time.”

“…It’s hopeless if he can’t beat a slime without considering things to that extent.”

“He’s working hard so I’m sure he’ll be fine. Besides, he’ll also be joining me at the upcoming beginner’s class.”

At this rate, Ikuru was going to keep ragging on Takuto-san, so I quietly followed up with him.

“Well, if you’re ready to go, then shall we?”

“Yeah!”

I finish packing my luggage and leave the room as it is. It was only for a short time, but thank you room!

We greeted the innkeeper auntie and then left the inn.

Once we get back home, the three of us will have to prepare for the shop’s grand opening!