Chapter 17 (2/2)

Hapyneth nodded her head affirmatively.

“…Directly after…severe scolding.”

“Right…”

It must have happened just after she was dragged back from being discovered to have skipped out on work. Just from looking at the expression on Hapyneth’s face, it must have been a heavy scolding. It couldn’t have been revenge on Hapyneth for making Sophia-san late for her fun time with Clayman…no, no, Sophia-san isn’t that kind of person…right?

Without so much as a worry, Cecilia began to talk about the events from yesterday.

“Yesterday, after eating breakfast, I was putting together my report about Dagaz village, but I took a brief respite in the courtyard when…”

At the entrance to the courtyard, she caught Sophia-san scolding the ever-expressionless Hapyneth. Spotting Cecilia as she was pa.s.sing by, Hapyneth begged Cecilia with her eyes to save her. The kind Cecilia couldn’t bear to leave her like that, and stepped in to mitigate the situation.

“Sophia-san, I think it’s about time to forgive Hapyneth-chan…”

Hearing Cecilia’s voice, Sophia-san immediately bowed elegantly before her.

“I bid you good morning, my lady. However, because Hapyneth left in the middle of work to go visit Youki-sama, I must take special care so it does not happen again.”

Sophia-san declared sternly, and Cecilia was unable to say anything back. As Sophia-san carefully explained the situation to Cecilia, firmly crus.h.i.+ng her last ray of hope, Hapyneth was left in despair.

Thus, the reprimand continued…and, by chance, Cecilia also stayed. For both Hapyneth and Cecilia, the lecture seemed to last forever.

“Haah…I suppose that’s enough for today. Please take care not to do this again in the future.”

“…Yes.”

Hapyneth was left in fairly poor spirits, and Cecilia was keenly aware of how pitiful the girl was at the moment. It was her own fault; I don’t think there needed to be such a fuss over it.

“Now then, it simply won’t do to dawdle here any longer.”

“…Was there something going on today?”

Sophia-san appeared to be in a hurry for some reason, which made Cecilia ask what it could possibly be about.

“No, I simply meant to take today as a holiday…”

Thinking the maid must have been overworked since Cecilia brought Tiel-chan back with her, Cecilia quickly went to bow and apologize when,

“My lady, it is no fault of yours, please do not worry yourself over it…if anyone here is at fault then…”

She quickly glanced at Hapyneth. Doing so caused Hapyneth to curl up into a ball out of fear. She couldn’t handle the glare of a former Rank-A adventurer.

“Now, now, Hapyneth-chan is reflecting on her actions…”

Fearing another lecture, Cecilia attempted to pacify Sophia-san. Thanks to her persuasion, Sophia-san remembered she was in a hurry.

“I suppose you’re right. She, herself, has expressed remorse, and I must quickly be away to the Medical Clinic.”

“Medical Clinic?! Sophia-san, are you feeling unwell?!”

Cecilia was mistaken again, this time thinking that Sophia-san needed to go to the medical clinic because she was feeling under the weather, and in her confusion tried to figure out what was wrong. She had finally gotten a holiday to rest her weary body, but forced herself to come back to the mansion…were likely the thoughts running through Cecilia’s head.

“My lady, please calm yourself, I am in perfect health. I was only going to visit my husband.”

“…Your husband? My apologies, I misunderstood. But pray tell, what happened to your husband?”

“He suffered an injury that would take one month to fully recover from…”

She stated in her normal indifferent tone, not showing the slightest hint of anxiety. Cecilia was surprised, and exclaimed,

“H-how terrible?! What on earth caused such an injury?”

Cecilia understood from her mother that Sophia-san used to be an adventurer, as well as a duo in the guild with Clayman, eventually marrying him. All the more hearing that a former rank-A adventurer would suffer such a grievous wound, she couldn’t possibly imagine what happened.

Seeing Cecilia so worried, Sophia-san realized her choice of words caused the girl’s troubled expression, and set to a.s.suage her fears.

“Please excuse my poor choice of phrasing. Truthfully, you could say he was taking responsibility for his actions…”

“…What?”

At that, even the forgotten Hapyneth couldn’t help but also be dumbfounded with her mouth agape. If I’d been there, I likely would have reacted the same.

“Um…what do you mean by that?”

“…Explanation.”

After regaining her composure, Cecilia sought a proper explanation from Sophia-san’s cryptic comment. Even Hapyneth, who had been afraid to jump into the conversation until that point, desired to know the truth.

“As I must not delay further, I shall be brief: I spent our anniversary alone, and in my anger I wound up beating him violently.”

“That’s…”

“…Speechless.”

That would have been the perfect chance for a great comeback, yet neither of them pounced on the opportunity Sophia-san presented.

Hapyneth aside, to think that Cecilia would let it slip by…

“But, to think that he was late because he was searching for a present for me…It is very like my husband, I must say.”

Hearing that response, the two clearly saw Sophia-san chuckle a bit. In the end, Sophia-san left the two like that as she excused herself, skillfully turned away, and left the mansion still in her maid uniform.

“And that concludes what happened yesterday.”

“Ah man, they’re totally a lovey-dovey couple, aren’t they?”

What’s with that sudden affection?! Now I really wanted to know what would have happened if Clayman had actually bought her a present.

“Hapyneth, you haven’t run into Sophia-san yet today, have you?”

“…Encountered.”

“How was she?”

“…Terrified me.”

Taking care of Clayman, I thought she’d be in better spirits. Does that mean, Clayman did something again?

“…Smiling.”

“…”

Oh, so she was in good spirits. What terrified Hapyneth was just Sophia-san’s uncharacteristic smile. I kinda wanted to see it myself. And just as I thought that, I realized I still hadn’t heard what I’d come to desire to learn!

I still didn’t hear anything about their adventurer days! I’d already had enough of their lovey-dovey tales! I wanted the dirt on their crazy adventures they had together!

“Cecilia, do you have any stories from when Sophia-san was still an adventurer?”

“If you ask me so suddenly…oh, I do know one that my mother told me.”

“Tell me, tell me!”

I urged Cecilia on. Interesting story, here we come! Seeing me acting like an overexcited kid, Cecilia laughed to herself.

“All right, here’s what I heard.”

—

“…That’s enough, Cecilia.”

Looking outside, the day was almost over. After she started, Cecilia regaled me an episode of the “The Invincible Languorous Couple” without stopping to eat or drink anything…but…

“Why do all their stories eventually end so sweetly…”

“S-sorry.”

Looking forlorn, Cecilia apologized. I wasn’t really blaming her, she’s not the one at fault so there’s no need to apologize.

Hapyneth got bored halfway through and fell sound asleep on top of my bed.

“Seriously, what’s with those two…”

She told me a story of soon after Sophia-san and Clayman met.

It was fine that they formed a duo, but Sohpia-san seemed to have some reservations about it. Before partnering with Clayman, she’d formed parties with numerous other adventurers. However, Sophia-san very much went at her own pace, so she didn’t meld well with other adventurers.

It often ended up that the powerful Sophia-san would be unhurt, but her fellow party members would suffer grievous wounds. The other members would call out Sophia-san for choosing quests outside of their comfort zone, and eventually the parties would disband.

However, the lazy Clayman, for all his moaning and groaning, still managed to keep up on the quests Sophia-san selected.

Then, one day, about a month after their duo formed, sitting across from each other at a table in the Guild while eating…

“…If it’s that bothersome for you, why don’t we just disband the party?”

Thinking Clayman was forcing himself to keep up with her, Sophia-san proposed the break up the duo. Clayman gulped down his alcohol, then brought the gla.s.s to rest on the table as he looked Sophia-san dead in the eye.

“These quests are d.a.m.n annoying, it’s true, but being with you, Sophia, isn’t troublesome at all, so it’s impossible to break up.”

After that, the seeds of love began to sprout…’the h.e.l.l kind of story is this?!

Again, it was a tale of how the “The Invincible Languorous Couple” came to be.

Once, some brave rogues foolishly tried to hit on Sophia-san.

Sophia-san was sitting at the Guild’s bar while Clayman was taking care of some business elsewhere, when a drunk threesome came in. Of all the people they could have chosen to get involved with, they chose Sophia-san.

They hit on Sophia-san while laughing with vulgarity.

“Excuse me, but can I help you with something?”

She asked in her normal tone of voice. Unafraid, she dealt with the rogues without any resistance, causing them to falter. And that was when Clayman returned.

“Oh, they hitting on you? What a bother. Troubling isn’t it? Why don’cha come over here Sophia, we’ll go to another bar.”

That’s normally the part where you rescue the damsel in distress, so he gestured for Sophia-san to accompany him. Sophia-san slipped out between the rogues and went to Clayman’s side.

“If I must. Where shall we go?”

Of course, the rogues wouldn’t let them get away that easily, and cornered the two. However…

“Agh, what a drag, seriously, knock that s.h.i.+t off…”

He grabbed one of the rogues’ shoulders and forced him to sit, effectively stopping the fight before it started. I’m sure he thought it’d be too much ha.s.sle to actually fight them. A particularly persistent rogue got sent flying by a kick from Sophia-san.

A Guild employee just happened to witness the event, and seeing Clayman’s lethargic laziness and Sophia-san’s strength, together she dubbed them the “The Invincible Languorous Couple”. That’s how they wound up with the name of their duo.

That by itself would have made for an interesting story.

But, the actual ending of the story took place shortly after that incident, when they went to a different bar to go drinking again. Amidst their complaints about the rogues, Clayman said,

“Jeezus, what a bunch of aggravating a.s.sholes. Interrupting my precious time with Sophia…”

Yep, that’s what he said.

…Gaaaawwwwd.

d.a.m.n he was pretentious in the past. He probably thought he was the strongest there ever was. The Clayman of today had considerably matured into an adult. All hail the lazy a.s.sistant Guildmaster.

“Well, it’s time I take my leave. Hapyneth-chan, it’s time to wake up.”

Cecilia gently shook the sleeping Hapyneth awake.

“…Finished?”

Cecilia pulled the still-sleepy girl out of bed.

“Now then, if you’ll excuse me. …Also, Youki-san, perhaps you might be interested in going Clariness Castle?”

“Huh?”

“I said…perhaps. Well then.”

Without any explanation, Cecilia went back home.

Me, go to the castle?!

Not understanding a thing, several days pa.s.sed, and I really did end up going to the castle.

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