Chapter 8 – Friendship

“Grandfather!”

While I was talking with Kennel, Ashley and Beryne came out of the Guild together.

“Ashley-sama…! You mustn’t run like that…!”

As Ashley came trotting toward us, Kennel instinctively rose slightly and made a gesture as if to stop her with his hand. He didn’t seem to notice Beryne standing beside her.

This was probably how the two of them had been getting along until now. If this was their everyday interaction, it was indeed somewhat overprotective.

“No, Grandfather. I’m feeling very well right now. Actually, Theodore-sama—”

Ashley began telling Kennel about the Circulating Ki technique I had taught her.

“What…? Is that true?”

“Well, yes. But it’s only temporary.”

“Even so. I rarely get to see Ashley-sama looking this well. I must express my gratitude.”

I had done that for my own satisfaction, not out of kindness. So I gave an ambiguous response.

“Ah, Theo-kun.”

Lucian had returned too. …Somehow a crowd was gathering.

Forestbird was sociable, so even if they came before Kennel, they wouldn’t damage the impression of adventurers.

“Are we about to depart?”

“No, sorry about this. Actually, everyone’s weapon and armor maintenance isn’t finished yet.”

“Is it because of the Killer Ants?”

“That’s right. Somehow the clasps are all loose, and apparently the blades need sharpening too… It might not be ready until tomorrow.”

…They must have really put their weapons through a lot during the fight with the ants. Since the ants had hard exoskeletons, fighting them tended to damage weapons. What about formic acid? If they weren’t higher species, I didn’t think we needed to worry about it.

Anyway, since these were things they entrusted their lives to, they had to be familiar with them. It wasn’t something that could be solved by simply buying replacements.

“Then I guess we need to find an inn.”

“In that case, why don’t you stay at my house?”

Ashley asked, but…

I didn’t know how to respond.

“Is that not acceptable?”

“…It’s not that, it’s just that there’s no reason for me to impose like that.”

“Reason?”

Ashley tilted her head curiously. If it were Beryne, she would understand things like debts and favors, and that I placed importance on such things. But with Ashley, since she didn’t engage in that kind of bargaining, it was actually harder to deal with.

No… That’s not it. I should probably admit it already.

I was projecting various things onto Ashley’s circumstances. If her parents had died five years ago, I wondered if the reason was the same as Mother’s.

That’s why I wanted to support her to some extent, setting aside calculations of profit and loss or debts and favors.

Precisely because of that. I found myself wanting to get deeply involved in this and that. If only I had my current power five years ago—to that extent of wishing for the impossible, I was filled with nothing but regrets about Mother.

As compensation for that, should I be specially kind only to Ashley? …That’s pointless.

I don’t have the kindness to go around helping anyone and everyone like Mother did, and that approach has no end. That’s why I want to act only after securing motivations I can accept.

Basically, Ashley… shouldn’t have any reason to empathize with me to that extent. It seems she’s come to trust me strangely because I restored her physical condition, but even taking that into account, her offer of lodging was probably just out of simple kindness.

“May I add my request as well?”

“…Just so you know, I plan to depart early tomorrow.”

“…I understand that.”

Kennel nodded, though he looked disappointed.

“Theodore-sama.”

Called by Ashley, I turned to face her. Ashley looked slightly embarrassed as she said this.

“It’s just that I… well. I want to become friends with Theodore-sama.”

“Eh?”

Hearing that, I paused for a moment.

Friends?

Come to think of it… I haven’t had anyone I could call that until now.

In the Count’s territory, there was no time for such things. With Byron and Daryl keeping watch, no one would approach me.

I trust Grace, but she’s more like an older sister than a friend. Plus she usually maintains her position as a servant.

Ashley was waiting for my response. I took a deep breath before answering.

“…Understood, Ashley-sama. Let’s be friends.”

So… well, why not. It’s fine to have someone I treat a little differently from others. Somehow… I’ve been alone and all.

“I’m glad…”

“I’m going to Termwills, though. I’ll write letters and such.”

“Yes. I’ll write too.”

“Staying one night at a friend’s house is pretty normal, right?”

“Yes.”

Hmm. Teaching her the incantation for basic healing magic… that’s normal between friends, right? I know Ashley has talent. I don’t think I can teach her everything before departure anyway, so I’ll leave her some notes on introductory magical power manipulation techniques and incantations.

While we were settling our conversation, Kennel and Beryne were talking nearby.

“Lord Kennel. Actually, I have a good idea.”

Beryne spoke to Kennel with a cheerful business smile. Kennel sighed with genuine distaste.

“What is it, you vixen?”

Even being called that, Beryne remained completely unfazed.

“This time, the reason Lord Kennel’s surveillance didn’t reach Oslo was because you were single-handedly managing Ashley-sama’s nursing, education, your work as steward, plus territory management and practical affairs, correct?”

“Hmm…”

“So, I have a proposal. —May I have your ear for a moment?”

“Hmm…”

She whispered something into Kennel’s ear, but the moment he heard Beryne’s words, his face turned red with anger.

“No, no. I’d like you to hear me out until the end—”

But Beryne showed no sign of panic whatsoever and whispered something else. At that, Kennel’s complexion immediately returned to normal.

…Hmm. I wonder what killer argument she used. Throughout this, Beryne maintained her smile the entire time. I already knew this, but… she’s quite cunning.

“How about it? I can introduce you to a reliable doctor too. And you see. You must be the one who knows best that you can’t handle everything in your current situation. What’s important for nobles is connections. Compared to the current situation, that would be more beneficial for Ashley-sama’s future, I believe. And then—”

Kennel cut off her rapid-fire persuasion with his hand.

“I understand! I understand! I’ll discuss it with Ashley-sama later! Is that acceptable!? Even I think about the future, you know!”

“Of course. Since I’ve come here as help too, I’ll cooperate with all my might, despite my limited abilities.”

Beryne’s smile seemed to be that of someone confident of victory.

“Really, everyone’s the same.”

“Well then, we’ll go look for an inn.”

“No, you come too. Vixen. You too.”

Stopping Lucian who was about to leave, Kennel said.

When I looked at Beryne, she shrugged her shoulders.

“I judged it would be better for you two to see adventurers with your own eyes and make your own judgments. I suggested that to Lord Kennel too. In that regard, the Forestbird members are trustworthy and sociable.”

…Whether Forestbird was appropriate as a sample was another matter. But since there aren’t actually that many people who would tarnish the Adventurer Guild’s reputation, it might just balance out in Kennel’s mind.

“By the way, what did you say to Kennel-san?”

“Hmm. I think it would be more interesting if I kept it secret. If it’s you, Theodore-san, you’ll understand eventually.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“I’m not plotting anything bad, you know? My creed is that while I devise strategies, I don’t commit evil deeds.”

…What in the world is going on?

Regardless of Beryne’s true intentions. One way or another, I had made my first “friend” in this world.