Chapter 125 - My Party??

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My head heavily tilted to the side and with blatant eyes rounded at these two's conversation: I thought about all that, and it only occurred to me now.

Straight out looking at them, I didn't do so much as to listen to them with care. My mind was elsewhere.

But it came to an end, finally. The one who'd been called Rahir did go away after the leader chased him away.

After a harsh day of work, Tapir did run away.

Leader was the one who sent him off.

–And Clumsy Babe was by my side again: sliding her two gentle hands below my armpits, I was to be propped up.

With Babe behind me, I casually slid my face to the side and met with hers, "Do you know them, big sis'?"

"Mm-hm, mm-hm."

Even with an awkward, tense, and worrying complexion, she tried not to alarm me and simply nodded.

She smiled so warmly; it chased all insecurities off of her face.

"Are … you okay, though, my little boy?"

Oh, and is she trying to get off me, now? "It's okay–I'm okay, thank you," stopping her with a similar smile to hers.

I understand she acts that way, though. I've been acting really weird from where she stands, just about a minute ago.

Worry not, big sis', you won't find out myself!–and I'll stay a bit more since the quest so requires it to be!

Ahem.

And she says she knew them. She did know them. They're the friends I helped, too.

–Oh, okay, and I simply asked for the sake of appearance, but the answer she gave me then only confirmed it further.

She knows them, and that's something to do with that one quest, hm.

I should be staying here and see, perhaps something will happen.

The leader cool guy spoke again:

"And it's the same for every one of you guys: this whole thing of today was a new … nah, totally new experience to us the little newbies, heh, heh, we worked hard; you all deserve a good afternoon of rest."

In the crowd of adventurers around us all, I couldn't make out that dude's silhouette anymore. Tapir was out of sight, he'd been sent to rest

And after having seen him off, Leader was now free again–he casually worked the short four meters that were between his group and him.

The rest of his group was with me. And walking, he simply stated his encouraging line, nodding to himself, "You guys seriously do deserve a good day of rest."

"And … so do you, leader."

"Yes, and so do I, Zogumo; so do I."

Mindful Slug then let him know that he was included in his own statement.

This was a mindful slug we got here.

He spoke as timidly and sluggishly as before, but he was to be understood.

And the usually (I didn't know her well at all, so it was hard to say) so chatty, funny, and cheerful Babe simply smiled and let her voice be heard to me, "And so do you, too, little one!"

I had time to think I was glad she isn't acting weird with me the way I was with her.

It'd have been problematic.

Her closeness of before hasn't vanished away–I can stay and not be unnatural about it. That's cool.

"And so do I, Zogumo; so do I." Leader smiled and at this point, I didn't count the times he nodded anymore; he nodded again with satisfaction.

He gave a few taps on Mindful's very tall and massive shoulder. Slug must've appreciated that since his timid plump and dry lips broke into a smile.

"Plus, we've made some good money … and err, though I suppose you still got some spare from before, right? Err, I'm just saying because I gave that one dumbass his share in advance. You know how he is, right? I don't want him to be too much of an annoyance."

And my clumsy babe chimed in on the conversation, at this point:

"Yes, Tai. That, and he most likely was completely penniless–he needs to eat right now that he rests well, yes."

"That's correct, yeah … such a spendthrift. Well, he's dumb, and that's that…"

And surprisingly, then, there was just a blank.

It wasn't an awkward blank, though. Just a necessary one. Everyone really was exhausted from this day of playing. And I could sense that.

Be it the sluggish Slug, still awkwardly smiling to himself in a kind of cute way, I'll have to say.

His long and large body, with the physical presence of at least three dudes, was covered in bruises all over, I noticed.

Some ends of his clothes were torn apart, with bits of rags here and there.

He seemed pretty tired to me.

His body was huge, chubby, chunky–but even with that, he only somehow managed to be giving off such a timid and weak presence.

Being only standing by, he seemed to be even more tired to me thanks to that.

Also, there was Babe, still behind my back, with her hands resting on my shoulders and neck.

She really hasn't taken away that closeness of hers; that's a bit surprising too. I like that sensation on my shoulders.

I said I'd stay, and it was as if she'd understood that, heh. The way she was keeping me under herself … or wait, maybe was she only using me as some kind of propping-up ladder of some kind?

Hm.

She was tired too.

Not as tired as Slug, though.

That, and Leader seemed just about a mixture of them both.

Not so ragged and worn out, but still kind of exhausted and dead … when he said, "You go to rest, too, Zogumo. I'll be handling the rest."

"Mm."

…

Then there was a blank again.

Maybe I should be the one chiming in on that conversation with some super cool topic in order to entertain them?

Nah. I'm better off only waiting and see what's to come.

From experience, waiting is best me. (That makes sense, yes).

They truly were tired, weren't they?

Even willing to stay and help his leader with what was needed, Slug had to take him up to the words, too. Just like Tapir did.

He gestured at Leader with his head as to say he'll be off. Turning then to the girl behind me, he did about the same gesture with his head.

And just as I thought he'd left, surprising me, his eyes went down from Babe's own to the monster's, and the little head bow was to be performed for me.

Excitedly, I hurried myself and slightly bowed back.

Only after that did the huge human left. Then again, his departure was as sluggish yet quick as he appeared.

I don't even think I saw him leave, to be honest.

And noticing someone else's eyes set on me, I automatically went and faced Leader, now.

He simply smiles.

And just as if it were natural, it got me meekly smiling, too, being slightly embarrassed by all this.

Doing the opposite of Slug's eyes before he left, his own went up and met with Babe's.

"And you, Leana, too, should be resting … okay?"

"Mm. First … I'll drop by the healing house and see how is you-know-who doing, and yes, I'll rest, mm-hm."

"That's…" when his eyes narrowed and a frown appeared on his face, "kind of you–thank you."

"Tai, it isn't your fault, you know."

Breathing in and out, "But … as the party leader, no, I should've known better. You know it doesn't–"

"–Kindly stop this, Tai. We all do our best. Don't blame yourself over what happened today."

"…"

"Okay?"

"Don't worry about me, Leana."

"Mm-hm. I worry, and you don't worry."

Oh?

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