Chapter 194

Chapter 194

The Reason There Were No Slimes

「……we’re moving around with water ball wrapping us because it’s hot…….but I don’t always keep maintaining three balls of water」

As soon as I explain the cause of this misunderstanding was the water balls, Aleutia yelled in shock.

「Though I said that, it was only three water balls and it’s not that difficult isn’t it」

「No, it’s difficult to maintain your magic while doing other things. The consumption of magic power is also great and it also uses your mental energy」1

They don’t move in an especially showy manner, you only need to maintain it in a shape where they stick to Torr and Asmo’s bodies. I think it was easy because you only have to do that.

「Ah, haha. Alfried-sama magic control is really outstanding as ever」

Illya mutters while smiling wryly.

That’s because the easiest method to enrich your life is to use magic. I have also often practiced my magic control. It’s probably thanks to my diligent effort that it is useful to me now.

「That reminds me, why are Aleutia and the others in this forest?」

Tori said that it was about time to return to the royal capital after he was done discussing table tennis with Nord-tousan.

「You know that Toriela-san is going to return to the royal capital soon, right?」

「Un」

And that’s should be a reason for Tori’s escorts – members of the Silver Wind party – to prepare and follow him.

「Toriela-san wanted to study the slime pillow even while traveling, so he ask us to catch the slimes around the village of Koryatt」

While I’m having my doubts, Ilya showed me a large leather bag.

There were plenty of slimes inside that bag, but they were given food already so now they’re staying quiet and absorbed in digesting the food.

「Ehー, then, the reason we can’t find slimes after walking around today is due to Ilya and the others catching them already?」

「So Alfried-sama was also searching for slimes? Umm, I’m sorry. I think that’s because we have caught most of the slimes around here」

And when I tell her about why we were wandering aimlessly in the forest before, Ilya apologizes to us.

「The heck! No wonder there was not even a single slime around」

「That’s because the adventurers are overhunting」

「I, I’m sorry!」

「Eh, no, it’s fine」

「Guess it can’t be helped since it’s your job」

Torr and Asmo – who were forced to walk around for half a day with no result – were complaining, but then they simply forgave her after the cute and honest Ilya apologized.

Those two’s faces are turning red and they started using honorifics.

Well, though Ilya is an adventurer, she’s actually the young lady of an Earl’s house and a noble. Unlike the women of Koryatt village, she’s graceful, elegant, and above all, she’s kind.

It would be understandable for Torr and Asmo to flinch and forgive her.

They probably feel like complaining after being forced to walk for half a day but, those feelings vanished after Ilya apologized.

「Err, what to do now? I think we can accommodate you by giving you a few…..」

「I want three, but since Tori is nearby then I’ll just talk to him myself」

They would be inconvenienced and get in trouble if the slimes are not enough because she gave me slimes.

They’ve been gathering such an amount so I don’t think that will be a problem but this is just in case.

「Understood」

The members of Silver Wind party received this as a job so I’m going to complain about it to Tori when I get back.

「But, that’s really a strange thingー. Is this cool?」

「Uwaa, it’s really a water ball!」

「It’s cool, like being inside the river」

Perhaps Irvine and Mort were curious about it since they’re slapping the water ball twisting around Asmo with their hands *pashapasha*.

It’s somewhat surreal seeing the figures of those two thrusting their hands into the water ball coiling around Asmo and having fun like that.

「Al, please replace this water ball」

When I was looking at Asmo and the two of them, Torr approaches me and asks me to do that.

I guess it’s because Torr’s been rolling around on the ground after falling on his butt that his water ball has now become dirty.

Sand and grass are now mixed in the slowly flowing water ball, and it seems unpleasant to be surrounded by it.

「Reallyー, this chicken guy, can’t be helped」

「Who’s the chicken!」

「『Uwaaaaa!? A monster!? Al, Asmo, where are you!? Anyway, I’m outta here!』」

I exaggeratedly tried to recreate the chicken scene for Torr – who doesn’t realize it himself -, and Torr hastily grabbed me.

「Th, tha, I didn’t say something like that!」

「Aah, stop it! Don’t come closer! My beautiful water ball will get mixed with Torr’s dirty water ball!」

As expected, I will have to change my water ball if it gets dirty.

Please spare me from the sand and grass in my water ball. Even my clothes will get dirty.

「Then, you should stop telling lies!」

「Uwaaaaaaa!?」

Since Torr is chasing after me, I decided to recreate his chicken’s scream from before.

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「You, can you really stop it!?」

Then Torr’s face turns red as he shouts that.

Everyone’s laughter and his shout resounded inside the forest.

◆

After we returned to Koryatt village with the members of Silver Wind, I discussed with Tori for asking three slimes just as planned.

Since I can’t get any slimes because of Tori’s overhunting commission and considering that I have walked around everywhere for half a day, I thought about getting more but there’s no point in getting more slimes so I just decided to forgive him.

Because of that, after obtaining the slimes that we have been searching for, we arrived at the road that will lead us to our house.

The sun had dipped slightly, and it has already turned a little darker than during the day.

「……you’ll probably get scolded when you get home」

「I guess. But, I was able to happily play for the whole day today so my mom’s persistent lectures are nothing compared to that」

「Even if I were told to do some work, then I can endure it by recalling the fun times of playing today and the anticipation of what we will play again next time」

Even if I said something, the fact that a scolding is waiting for them doesn’t change, and it would certainly be depressing.

However, Torr and Asmo can still say all that with a beaming smile on their faces.

I’ve seen those two’s smiling expressions before somewhere.

That’s right, it was the expression of a corporate slave salaryman in my previous life, who lights up their memories and hobbies and uses them to weather their lives every day.

I wonder, when did these two come to have such strong expressions? It seemed like a lamentable growth that makes me happy as I’m by their side.

「「So that’s why, Al. Will you take us out again tomorrow?」」

「Err, I think that’s just delaying your problem for another time」

If anything, I think your problem will just multiply.

I learned about it the hard way in my previous life.

And yet, I guess it’s also a human’s weakness to repeat it again.

「It will be fine! You will also be able to spend your time happily tomorrow!」

「What’s wrong with you so suddenly!? Whether the future is bright or dark, it won’t change our current situation, right?」

「That’s not true! If the future is bright then it will be many times more fun right now, but if the future is dark then it will be many times more depressing right now! After all, you can say such consoling lines only because it was another person’s problem!」

Uwaaa, this guy is saying such an extreme thing.

Oh well, no matter how positive you are, there is a limit to how you can live your life.

Depressing events and reality are like poison that will slowly plague people’s hearts.

「……Al」

「What is it Asmo?」

When I look back to Asmo who had been silent, he looks as if he’s staring at a distant place and say,

「……I don’t want to go home」

He muttered words that really expresses his feelings.

Unlike Torr, it was a declaration to ask for help in order to get through a difficult situation. Regardless, if it were the company in my previous life, it would be an unacceptable decision.

It would be better for me to feign ignorance and keep silent but, that will be the worst thing I can do and the next worst thing to do after keeping silent.

At any rate, it was an act to escape being scolded and using another person as a shield. However, I also understand his current feelings to do so very well. Human is, a creature that occasionally wants to run away from something.

So I put my hand on Asmo’s shoulder – as he still has this faraway look on his face.

「………but, we still have to go home」