「Ah man… I sure cried a lot. It’s been so long since I last cried.」
As I passed through the “3rd Holy District”, my emotions finally settled down. When I took out my handkerchief from my pocket and wiped my eyes, I realized that I wiped the young lady’s tears with this… and emotions started swelling back up again. So I quickly put away the handkerchief.
When I entered “Block 4” using House Sillys’ crest,
「Zerry-san, you’re there, right?」
「Oops, have you already noticed? You were so bad, bocchan.」
The one who came out of the shadow of a building was Zerry, a gambling addict cat beastman who is also my travel companion.
It seems that Zerry-san was also keeping vigilant after everything that happened yesterday. She is not the kind of person who would take the trouble to watch over me 24/7. So I think it was exceptional only for today.
「Zerry-san is worse than me for peeping… What a bad habit you have. Rather, I’m surprised you were able to sneak into the 3rd Holy District.」
「That was a piece of cake. But of course, the 2nd Holy District is more dangerous, so I don’t sneak in there.」
「Dangerous security system?」
「I mean dangerous if you get caught. Sneaking in is easy.」
「…………」
Is the security system in this country that bad? Or is Zerry-san that amazing?
「What is it, bocchan?」Zerry-san asked, with a puzzled look.\n
…Hmm, I think it’s more plausible that the security system in this country is that bad.
「Are you thinking something rude about me right now?」
「Whenever I’m thinking about you, Zerry-san, it is mostly something rude.」
「Wha!? I am not going to ignore that! Even if you have a broken heart, bocchan!」
「H-Huh!? What broken heart!?」
「You know the one! It often appears in famous love stories where the passionate couples have to eventually part ways with each other due to different social statuses!」
「Haa… it is not like that. The young lady is like… I want her to grow up with love… freedom, without being hindered by anyone. I want to protect her… sublimely, quietly…」
「…………」
Why is Zerry-san looking at me like I said something strange!?
I guess it’s my fault for trying to pull a “Solitary Gourmet” in this world. [1. TL Note: Solitary Gourmet is a manga reference.]
「A-Ahem. That was just a joke. Anyway, it’s not like that between me and the young lady. And I’m sure we’ll meet again someday.」
「Is that so? Then, bocchan, why did you drive yourself into a corner like that?」
「How do you know that Zerry-san?」
「I’m sure you’re just running away because your black hair and black eyes have been exposed, right?」\n「…………」
Why do you know that?! A woman’s intuition?!
「…The situation is more risky than you think, Zerry-san. Duke Ebene sent about 100 of his own troops to seize me.」
「Gee, really? Then, isn’t it dangerous for me to be with you!?」
「Hmm, but if you went on your own, you’ll be forever stuck in debt, right?」
「Don’t worry about that! I will win for sure next time!」
The thought process of an addict. This person has turned into a complete waste.
Although I was exhausted, I briefly explained the events that took place today.
「Hmm, but bocchan…」
「Yes?」
「I’m really curious about this… If you were going to send the young lady back from the beginning, why did you even bring her away in the first place?」
「Ah, well, about that…」
「I actually feel sorry for the Earl, listening to all these.」
「Actually, I thought I had to make him go through a bitter experience at least once for his own sake, so…」
「Gee. Bocchan, you’re a demon…」\n\n4 large gold coins and 5 gold coins have the same value as 1 holy gold coin, so I had received a bit more than that.
The clothes I wore when I first arrived at the Holy Kingdom felt a bit smaller, but I still changed into them. I guess I should buy some new clothes soon.
I wore a cloak on top and shouldered my backpack. The dagger I got from the Border Earl has a flashy scabbard, so I kept it in my pocket.
「It feels like we’ve returned back to four years ago.」
As I said while leaving the inn, Zerry-san, squinting her eyes in response to the morning sun, turned around and smiled at me.
「What are you talking about? You’ve become a handsome man now, bocchan!」
「…Well then, please stop calling me “bocchan”?」
「But you will forever be bocchan to me~」
Zerry-san reached out her hand and stroked my head.
…Just you wait. I’ll grow taller than you someday.
「Then, bocchan. Are we leaving the Holy City right away?」
「Nope. I will surely get scolded if we leave like this.」
I smiled and told Zerry-san of our first destination.
The inn called “Silver Citrus”.
Silver Balance should still be sleeping at this time, but I felt that, even with smoke rising from here and there, a new day for the Holy Royal City of Kruvanyu was about to begin.