Chapter 67 Such Days Without Fighting (3) (2/2)
“If,”
“hm?”
“If fran said that she wanted to travel with us, will you take her along?”
“I wonder. If it’s her own will to do so, I’ll think about it.”
That said, even if it’s her own will, the journey from here onwards will be a matter of life and death. Unlike Imnesia, Elfreim is a land harsh to humans. Just because she got used to travelling a bit doesn’t mean that I can take her there so readily. And Abenelm is beyond the question.
Well, I don’t even plan on taking Mururu and the others to Abenelm either though. If possible, I just want to take Aya with me there.
“……..I see.”
“Don’t coerce her okay?”(renji)
“I won’t. I won’t even ask her to…….but.”
[But?]
“It’s nothing.”
Looks like she really does want to still travel with her. She’s still a young child. I understand the feeling of wanting to stay with a friend you finally made. But, this alone I cannot help. If she pushed her and got Ms Francesca injured, it’ll be Mururu who’d feel more hurt.
It’d be fortunate if it ended with just an injury in fact. Danger comes along with you when you’re travelling. From here onwards, monsters will only get stronger and stronger. Me, Feirona and Mururu will be busy protecting ourselves first. Even Aya can’t protect both Solnea and Ms Francesca at the same time. She’s specialised in using highly offensive magic spells after all, not protecting others. Now will Ms Francesca be able to protect herself when the time comes……..If you asked me that, I’ll hesitate in nodding.
“Don’t make such depressing face and let’s return. If you keep up that face, you’ll only make others worry more, right?”(renji)
“un.”
Putting my hand on her low hanging head, I lightly patted her. She didn’t resist and let me continue. Back when I did this to Aya and Souichi, they usually cheered up again.
“Renji, I want to eat that as well.”
“Yeah, sure. Now eat this and cheer up.”
Handing over the dried meat that I had half eaten, Mururu quickly munched it down.
When you’re hungry, your thought always go in the negative direction. Now though it’d be difficult to fill your stomach with just the emergency rations, it’d be great if she cheered up even a bit. It really messes with my own mood when she gets depressed as well. Maybe that’s because I’m too indulgent towards children though.
[It’s like you’re artificially feeding your kids.] (T/N: like how animals or humans teach young animals how to eat.)
“Now that’s just rude, Ermenhilde.”(renji)
“I’m not a kid.”
Even her reply to Eremnhilde’s insensitive words was lacking energy. This might be a serious.
.
.
.
Getting back to the inn, I saw a familiar looking carriage standing in front.
Confirming it with a side glance, I parted with Mururu and headed to the mens room but no one was there. Feirona was probably in the woman’s room playing chess with the girls. Thinking of that, I somehow felt a bit lonely. What is this feeling of alienation I’m getting?
“Say, Ermenhilde?”(renji)
[What, Renji?]
I spoke up to Ermenhilde as I sat down after throwing my mantle on my bed.
“Are you also sad at parting with Ms Francesca?”
[Well, I guess I do feel lonely but then again, not really either.]
“What is that supposed to mean?”
[……….Meaning that, I’ll be with you no matter what.]
“What an embarrassing statement.”
[Really?]
Calming down after removing my equipment, fuu, I leaked out a heavy sigh.
I’m not lonely. After getting to Elfreim, I’ll part with Mururu and Feirona as well after all. I have already resolved myself to say farewell to my comrades.
But, I also felt tired realizing that I had grown so accustomed to saying farewell to people that my emotions in the matter were nowhere near as strong as Mururu’s. I recalled when I parted from Utano-san back at the capital. Half a year, maybe a full year even. It might get even longer, maybe I might never come back alive. Yet, I easily said my farewells and left on the journey. I wonder what she feels about that. Maybe if I get the chance, I should ask her that. Well, I think I’ll just get humiliated if I ever asked her something like that though. I know that she shows no mercy at such times after all.
“Really, it’s heartening to have you with me.”(renji)
[fufu, I know right?]
“yeah.”
I don’t know how serious she was so I ended up smiling wryly. Maybe she said that just to cheer me up. Or maybe that was truly the will of Ermenhilde.
But, by talking like this, it’s true that my heart felt slightly lighter than before.
Getting back up from the bed, I stretched my body. It’s because I’m hungry that I’m thinking of such things. Just when I was thinking that, my door was knocked on.
“Come in, it’s open.”(renji)
“pardon the intrusion.”
Along with those words, honey coloured hair that I hadn’t seen in the past few days came into my view.
“Ms Francesca.”
“It’s been a while, Renji-sama.”
She wasn’t in her usual travelling clothes. Instead she was wearing high class elegant clothes.
“So? Did something happen?”(renji)
“Ah, no, I was just wondering how Mururu was so..”
[……….You two really do get along so well.]
“Eh?”
“It’s nothing. So, did you meet Mururu already?”
Stopping Ermenhilde from saying anything more than necessary again, I spoke up. It’ll only make this awkward between those two if Ms Francesca hears about it.
“Yes. Since I was in the other room till now.”(fran)
“I see. Oh right, why don’t you sit down first. No need to talk while standing.”
Offering her a seat, I also sat down on the opposite side of the table.
“Want something to drink?”(renji)
“I’m fine, thank you.”
I missed her formal way of talking as well. As she gave a wide smile, I smiled as well.
“It’s been a while. Have you been fine all this time?”(renji)
“fufu, looks like Renji-sama hasn’t changed much either.”
[Not really. Just now, he was moping around thinking of various things.]
“…….Is that so?”
“well, who knows.”
Hitting Ermenhilde over my pocket, I simply gave a shrug to her question. Seriously, Ermenhilde talks a bit too much.
“Oh right, so you taught Chess to Solnea it seems?”(fran)
“Yeah,so, can you play chess as well?”
“A bit, I was taught by a friend. Since my friend had a set in our dorms.”
“I see. If possible, play with Solnea once in a while. She seems to have taken quite a bit of interest in it lately.”
“So it seems. I played her a while ago, and only won barely.”
Barely, eh? Was that an indication of her skill, or was she just being humble. Going by her personality, it’s probably the latter.
And aftr talking of such things with her for a while, the door was knocked on again.
“Yes?”
“pardon the intr—–”
Before she could finish speaking, the door got opened. The one who knocked on the door was Aya it seems but it was Mururu who opened the door half way through her words.
Probably, she got curious of what we were talking about alone in my room. Well, it was probably different for Mururu though.
“Ah, wai…….Mururu. You’re supposed to let me finish…….”(aya)
“Renji doesn’t care.”(mururu)
“I do care. Open the door after the proper greetings Mururu.”(renji)
“…….you do?”(mururu)
[Do you really care?]
Ermenhilde, you have the same opinion as Mururu as well?
“What if I was changing clothes? Wouldn’t it be awkward?”(renji)
“But Fran is here right now……….”(mururu)
“I’m talking about when she’s not.”
“I don’t care really.”
“Then do so. If you’re an adult already, normally women don’t just walk into a man’s room so thoughtlessly.”
“…….is that so?”
“Eh, ah, yes…….I think?”(aya)
Why did she ask Aya there? Is it because she’s also a girl?
Also, the fact that you don’t mind such things is proof that you’re still a child Mururu. I’m worried that she’ll get tricked by some weird man later on.
Aya being herself, who knows what she was imagining as she was blushing. Seriously, what are you imagining? Realizing my gaze, she panicked and look here and there trying to avoid me and cleared her throat.
[What were you imagining?]
“uwaah!?!”
[……Why are you so surprised at my voice?]
As usual, this is so amusing. Offering both of them to sit as well, I moved to sit on my bed since there weren’t enough chairs. That means only Feirona and Solnea are in the other room. That room is bigger but I can’t just tell them to go away either. Thinking of shifting to that room if the talk paused for a while, ms Franesca brought up a different topic.
“Renji-sama, tomorrow night, do you have any prior appointment?”
“Nah, not really. Why?”
“My father, was hoping to invite both you and Aya-san to dinner.”
“me and Aya, eh?”
I looked towards Aya and she gave a nod. Since she also her senior at school, Aya didn’t seem to mind it much. Looking towards Mururu, she was talking with Ms Francesca happily. Seeing her, I guess it really can’t be helped I felt. That said, I don’t think I need to read too deeply into this.
“What about Feirona, Mururu and Solnea?”(renji)
“It’s fine. He has said to invite all of them as well.”(fran)
“Then, I accept that invitation.”
“Really?”
“Yeah, tomorrow you’ll get to eat to your heart’s content Mururu.”
“………..I don’t eat that much.”(mururu)
When I said that, Mururu replied sullenly. Her expression was so adorable that all three of us gave a smile. She seemed to mind that as she lightly hit Ms Francesca. While gently caressing her head, Ms Francesca seemed to be having fun as well. While looking at those two, I laughed and even Aya was smiling.
[It will get lonely I guess.]
At Ermenhilde words no one else reacted. Meaning those words came only to me.
“I guess so.”
That’s why, I also spoke truthfully.