Chapter 32: Reunion and worries?

  A few days ter after we returned to the base to rest and prepare for the next step.

  ?

  "Ah, Regulus, Liese. Welcome back."

  ?

  "Yo..."

  ?

  "Rion-san, I'm back."

  ?

  Regulus and Liese have returned from their short-term boot camp in Bartle Vilge.

  It had been a while since I st saw them, and Regulus in particur, was looking very tired, his shoulders were slumped. Before they'd set out he'd seemed really looking forward to it, but had it really been that exhausting? However, Liese seemed normal in comparison - if only a little troubled by Regulus's condition - I wonder if there's that much of a difference in the two's combat abilities.

  I invited them to the cafeteria to let them rest for a while and hear their impressions, and I offer them juice.

  ?

  “Rion-san’s juice is the best after all.”

  ?

  "Really? Thank you."

  ?

  Well, not only is the soil better here than in Bartle Vilge, but the environment is better overall, and we also have the blessing of the earth god. I wonder if it will make that much of a difference?

  However... Regulus, who would normally be saying "It's delicious, it's delicious!" and asking for more, is being awfully quiet this time. He is sipping it little by little... But he keeps his head down and his brows furrowed the whole time. Liese also said it was delicious, so is not like I made a mistake while making the juice. And It's not like his tastes have changed drastically in such a short amount of time, so what could be the cause?

  I silently pointed at Regulus and asked Liese with my eyes, "What's this?" Liese looked a little hesitant before telling me.

  ?

  "Umm, I think it was two days ago. We had a bit of trouble, or should I say, we got attacked one-sidedly..."

  ?

  According to Liese's story, the details were as follows.

  Regulus had become quite strong (he's more than strong enough compared to me in pure melee combat), but there are always stronger people in the world. In fact, Liese (and Ryza-san) are perhaps just too strong considering they grew up in Grosso, a vilge with fewer monsters in the surroundings. But Bartle Vilge was a tougher region than Grosso Vilge, and was a vilge of warriors, so there were surely a fair number of strong people there. That's what he had anticipated when he asked for the boot camp.

  So then. A boy about Regulus' age from Bartle, a vilge with many strong people, said the following.

  ?

  "Why is a weakling like you with the Miko-sama? If you can do it, then so can I?"

  ?

  Though Regulus loved to fight, he was not particurly quick to pick a fight with someone. Still, those words irritated him, and he decided to duel.

  And the result was... He lost. It may have been a close call, but that doesn't change the fact that he had lost.

  ?

  "... Why am I so weak..."

  ?

  Regulus, who had been quiet, muttered to himself. He clenched his hand tightly, making the wooden cup creak loudly.

  Suddenly, he seemed to rex, as the sound stopped, and he drooped his head and rested his forehead on the table.

  ?

  “Like he said, I think it would be better if we switch pces…”

  ?

  It was muffled and hard to hear, but that whining reached my ears.

  I let out a sigh, and Regulus' shoulders jumped a little. Oops, had he mistakenly thought I was annoyed?

  As Regulus still y face down, I told him my honest feelings.

  ?

  "Regulus, strength is certainly important."

  ?

  If you're not strong, you'll die fighting monsters.

  My fingertips feel a little cold as I remember the events that had happened in the vilge just a few days ago.

  I can't help but think that it would be better not to bring them on my journey if they're going to die.

  ... But at the same time, I have a selfish and horrible fear that their dead bodies might be seen as material.

  If the gap in strength between them and the monsters grows and I feel that it's really no good, I'll probably stop taking them with me, but I'll leave that aside for now.

  ?

  "But there's one more thing that's more important to me."

  ?

  "...?"

  ?

  "That's being able to trust someone."

  ?

  Regulus slowly raised his head. Liese blinked and prepared to listen.

  ?

  "To be honest, I don't trust other people that much. The number of people living in our base hasn't increased no matter how much time passes, has it?"

  ?

  The base isn't particurly rge, and we're running it with the current number of people, but we have enough manpower to do it. Although I've taken all the defensive measures I can, I'm a little scared to leave the house just in case. With Zephyr, Fin's life will most likely be fine, but there's no telling when the crops and facilities will be damaged.

  Besides, the more materials we have, the better. With manpower, we could expand our fields and other things. If I were to recruit residents, I'm sure there would be quite a few people who would want to move here, and it's not a case of being conceited.

  But it's not that easy to do that.

  ?

  "Regulus, and of course Liese, can be trusted. I thought it would be fine to entrust my back to them, that's a big part of it."

  ?

  Both of them are very honest. They're not the type to keep secrets or plot evil.

  The reason Regulus doesn't notice Liese's feelings isn't because she's hiding them, he's simply insensitive... It could also be because she didn't tell him clearly and directly... But yeah, do your best.

  Also, it's great that he doesn't just rely on me, but always makes an effort to try to help me.

  ?

  "Are you dissatisfied then?"

  ?

  "Huh, I don't have any compints... But..."

  ?

  He scratched his head in embarrassment, averting his eyes and mumbling. Looks like he wants to say something.

  ?

  "... You know, you've had plenty of time to spend with us, and if you have time with him, you might as well accept him, right?"

  ?

  "At the very least, the moment he insulted my friend, that possibility is gone."

  ?

  If I hadn't known, there might have been a possibility, but now I know.

  Didn’t that boy think Regulus would report him to me (that sounds bad) and that I wouldn’t have any negative feelings about him?

  I'm a Miko who is consumed with selfish desires after all, so it's not just combat abilities that matter, but likes and dislikes as well, hehehe...

  ?

  "In fact, I feel like I want to punish him for upsetting Regulus so much."

  ?

  Just as I was trying to think up a pn in my head about what to do, Liese raised her hand and spoke up.

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  "Oh, I already did that."

  ?

  "... Huh?"

  ?

  Apparently, right after Regulus was defeated, Liese challenged him to a fight and beat him to a pulp.

  It's possible that his stamina was worn down from the fight with Regulus, but Liese was also fatigued from training, so the conditions weren't all that unfair.

  The odds were so overwhelming that her opponent was unable to do a thing, and she even ended up uttering the lines, "If you can't beat someone like me, then you still have a long way to go." to him.

  ... Liese, you're a scary child...

  ?

  "... That's one of the reasons why I'm feeling down..."

  ?

  "Oh, is that so?!"

  ?

  Regulus let out a dry chuckle, with bnk eyes.

  He'd always known Liese was stronger, but it seemed Regulus wanted to get revenge himself if possible... Well, yeah, I'm sure you'll be able to do it someday. Stay strong.

  ?

  "Well, leaving that aside, did the training pay off for you two?"

  ?

  "Yeah. We have learned a lot, we're probably a little stronger now."

  ?

  "Yeah, me too. Tigar-san and the other executives were way stronger than Mom."

  ?

  I see, that's a reassuring thing to say.

  Regulus doesn't seem to be harboring any ill feelings other than this incident, so it might be a good idea to have the two of them attend a boot camp regurly.