Chapter 55 - v2c16 - Party’s House (1/2)

—Raust—

「Something we need to talk about?」

Narsena fixed her eyes on me with a serious expression.

Feeling intimidated by her gaze, I repeated her words.

My face stiffened from the bad feeling I couldn’t wipe.

But, Narsena continued without noticing my expression.

「P-Party’s house! Why don’t we buy a party’s house!」

「-!」

……And then, what she uttered next proved my premonition.

「W-We got a lot of money from last phoenix subjugation, after all. Moreover, see, our relationship advanced…… No, wait, that’s wrong! No, I don’t mean we’re not getting along, umm, err, how do I say this…… Bond! Yes, bond! I think it’s a good idea to strengthen the bond between party members!」

Narsena’s face turned redder as she spoke more quickly.

Almost half of what she said was unintelligible, but from her words alone, it told me enough how much Narsena wanted a party’s house.

If Narsena had a dog-like tail, it must be wagging like crazy now.

「U-Ummm………」

However, I couldn’t answer her request immediately.

From her attitude so far, I knew that Narsena had longed for a party’s house for a long time.

After all, Narsena had been making this proposal so many times before.

…But, the current me had no intention to buy a house.

No matter how much Narsena wanted.

To tell her that, despite the pain in my chest, I opened my mouth.

「That’s… isn’t it too early to buy a party’s house? L-Look, it would be better to save the money in case of an emergency…… Maybe…」

The words that came out from my mouth was too bad it hurt to even call it an excuse.

Even in this labyrinth city, I and Narsena who defeated the hydra and the phoenix had a considerable amount of money.

There was no point for us to make even more money.

Narsena obviously knew about this.

「…… Y-Yeah, you’re right, Onii-san. It’s important to be prepared…… It’s for the future, isn’t it?」

…However, as she also knew about that, she realized that I was unwilling and withdrew her request.

She was smiling with a different smile that I used to in an attempt to hide her depression

「Ahaha, I’ll take a walk to chill my head a bit..」

Narsena laughed, turned her back, and walked away.

I felt I could see a dispirited tail hanging behind Narsena, my chest hurt from the feeling of guilt.

Even so, I couldn’t chase after Narsena……

◇ ◆ ◇

—Narsena—

「Hahhh- As I thought, it’s not good.」

After telling Onii-san I would take a walk, I was walking in the city while feeling depressed.

I already knew that Onii-san wouldn’t approve of buying a party’s house.

Because no matter how many times I asked, he never agreed.

I’m not dull enough to not notice that Onii-san is reluctant to buy a party’s house.

「…It’s not because he hates me right?」

……Nevertheless, I often asked Onii-san to buy a party’s house because I felt anxious.

If Onii-san approved us buying a party’s house, that was the best proof that he didn’t hate me.

With that idea in mind, I asked Onii-san about party’s house again and again.

While knowing that troubled him.

「…I’m, a hopeless woman.」

I felt guilty from my own actions and muttered those words.

However, even so, I couldn’t restrain myself.

The reason was the change in Onii-san’s attitude toward me.

Before, when I asked to get a party’s house, Onii-san didn’t directly refuse.

He did so like admonishing me, clearly still having a margin, emotionally.

…But, recently, he clearly couldn’t even afford to do so.

He was calm now, but the Onii-san from before would start to become restless whenever I mentioned party’s house.

On top of that, he would refuse to buy a party’s house with a firm attitude, there was also the time when he suggested we lived in a separate inn with his face red.

I somehow managed to make the talk about living in separate inn went nowhere.

But, I still couldn’t feel relieved.

After all, it was obvious that Onii-san’s attitude toward me had changed.

And I had no idea why.

That was why I couldn’t help but feel anxious.

Maybe, Onii-san hates me?

…Every time I thought so, I felt my heart tightening.

Every time I felt that feeling, I told myself there was no way Onii-san hated me when he treated me gently like this.

However, I still couldn’t wipe that anxiety.

Maybe…… Like that, my anxiety returned.

「Hahh~…」

I let out a small sigh from my anxiety.

At times like this, it would be better to consult this to someone.

However, out of everyone I currently knew, I couldn’t come up with someone who had a lot of experience in love.

「Hmm? But, I feel like I just met someone with a lot of love experience……」

Feeling that I had forgotten someone’s existence, I started to dig into my memory.

「My, my, Narsena. What are you doing here?」

「Hyaunn!」

It was then I was called from behind.