Chapter 18 (1/2)

TL: Rinkage

Edited by: tjelliott

Chapter 18: I went to the castle

“Err…..Who is that?” [Youki]

This incident happened a few days after both Cecilia and Happiness had proven that Clayman and Sophia-san are a lovey-dovey married couple.

As I adjusted my clothing to prepare myself for another day of accepting guild requests, I heard a knock at the door.

Wondering who it was, I went outside to find a soldier clad in metallic armour, wearing a headpiece, and carrying a sword hanging at his waist.

“You must be Youki-sama. Nice to meet you. I’m Kite, a knight from the Kingdom of Clariness, in the third division.”

“Haa, nice meeting you too.” [Youki]

I bowed my head in response to the soldier’s polite greeting. He might have introduced himself as Kite but, what business could a knight from the castle have with me?……Could Duke have done something wrong? That speculation seemed entirely plausible to me.

But, judging from the exchange with the soldier earlier, I might be the one he was looking for. It appeared that he had wanted me to come along to the castle.……Come to think of it, Cecilia did mention that I might be paying a visit to the castle the other day.

It didn’t seem as though I could refuse it. Might I possibly have done something wrong to be put into this situation? Since I couldn’t recall anything, and it would be bad to decline the request, I reluctantly went along with him when I was told that a carriage had arrived to pick me up.

“…..Nn?” [Youki]

Upon leaving the inn, I noticed a familiar looking carriage waiting there. That carriage belongs to the Aquarain family. In other words…….

“Youki-san.” [Cecilia]

Once I got into the carriage, Cecilia was inside just as expected.

And……

“Long time Captain~” [Sheik]

For some reason, Sheik was inside the carriage too. Where did the dark atmosphere around him the other day disappeared to? He had bounced back to his former cheerful self that I knew once again. Celia-san deserved the credit for this. I’m glad he was back to his old self again.

“Captain~ Vice-Captain~ Hetare1 Captain~” [Sheik]

…….Actually, it might have been better for him to remain gloomy for a little longer. He became even more irritating the moment he got back on his feet. Even though the s.p.a.ce inside the carriage was tight, he climbed atop my head and started riding on me, frolicking around with an innocent looking smile.

“Hey, stop riding on my head!” [Youki]

“Don’t want to. Isn’t it fine since it’s comfortable up here~” [Sheik]

“There’s no way that’s possible! Hurry up and get down.” [Youki]

Cecilia appeared to be watching over us warmly as Sheik continued on with his childish antics, despite the complicated expression I was making on my face.

Could you please do something about Sheik instead? While we were having such exchange among ourselves, the carriage slowly departed to the castle.

*rattle rattle* I gazed at the scenery of the Imperial Capital which I was already familiar with through the window from the shaking carriage.

In the end, Sheik never budged.

Regardless of what I said to him, he remained obstinate and refused to get down so I had given up on persuading him.

I guess it’s fine. This scenario felt really nostalgic to me too.

He should be getting down once we reached Clariness Castle, I supposed. Speaking of which…….

“By the way, why was I summoned to the castle? Along with Sheik.” [Youki]

I pointed at Sheik atop my head. I had no recollection of being called over to the castle at all. It was the same in Sheik’s case too. Based on the conversation we had before we parted previously, Cecilia might have known something so I requested the explanation from her.

“Yes, I guess I should clarify it.” [Cecilia]

Cecilia nodded and began the explanation.

“Youki-san, the three of us went to Dagaz Village the last time, am I right?” [Cecilia]

“Yeah we did.” [Youki]

That incident was still fresh in my memory so I couldn’t have possibly forgotten about it.

“I remembered it clearly that only the elderly people came to me for the treatment at that time.” [Youki]

The ones who went over to Cecilia were mainly love-struck men while Sheik’s place was flooded with women with hearts in their eyes.

Come to think of it, there were quite a number of foolish villagers who were looking at Cecilia with erotic desire and made a pa.s.s at her, so I hid myself and casted magic on them as retribution. I kept that a secret from Cecilia and the village mayor. Since the bandits attacked the village on the same day I delivered the retribution, the unsettling feeling inside me disappeared and restored my peace of mind.

“A-Ahaha, I guess something like that did happen too. However—” [Cecilia]

“Come to think of it, Dagaz village was where we met Tiel-chan and that idiot Goyle too right?” [Sheik]

Sheik who was riding on my head suddenly cut into the conversation.

“What do you mean by idiot Goyle?” [Youki]

Gai would be angry if he were to hear this.……..No, I think Tiel-chan would be angrier.

“That’s because he is an idiot~” [Sheik]

Ahaha~ He suddenly burst into laughter. He might have recalled the incident that happened when Gai had dozed off in the ruins. Could you please not laugh when you’re riding on someone’s head?

“Certainly if anyone were to hear that story, they would feel the same way too….” [Youki]

Tiel-chan didn’t know of the episode that led Gai to becoming the village’s guardian deity. Although, even if she were to find out, I have a feeling that she would end up misinterpreting it and draw the wrong conclusion. “As expected of Guardian Deity-sama. He wasn’t able to go back because he had been protecting the village up till now.”

The impression I got when I first met her was that she was an intellectual literary girl who, has been in poor health yet has a calm state of mind in everything.

However, she would be uncontrollable once she starts talking about Gai or when they are together. That is something that we need to be careful of.