CH 12

……I said.

Would you like to live with me? Was I proposing? Looking back on it now, it’s so embarrassing….

Oh, no, I’m sure I said that in the heat of the moment, but I don’t regret it one bit.

I’ll just take care of the food for a month…and then it’s all over.

Well, but it can’t be helped…there’s no way I can say good-bye after a month, after seeing Nina like that.

The children’s reactions to my words were mixed.

“Eh?! … But that’s not it … Ah, no, I’m so happy, bu…but I’m kind of surprised at the suddenness of it…”

Fio…

“I…together…with?…Not only Nina and sister Aria, but also with me and Iska?”

Ratz didn’t seem to understand what was going on, so I patted him on the head and he laughed.

Ariamel was…

“Uh… all of us…? Um…really? Well, I see……… Um, I…I’ll do my best!”

…do what?

Nina…

“Father! You’ll always be with Nina.”

Saying that, she happily hugged me and rubbed my cheek.

Stella silently responded with a thumbs up. I don’t know what to do, I can’t quite grasp Stella’s character.

I think a good girl is a good girl… yeah.

But I’m glad they didn’t hate me… if they had, I think I would have been depressed in general.

There is even a possibility that I might never recover….

I calmed Nina down, who seemed anxious that I would be back soon, and walked around the town to report the accomplishment of the request to the guild and to look for a place to stay.

As for the property, I have to make it bigger than planned… I want a room for Iska and others (preferably one room for each person), a bath (essential), and a living room where everyone can eat and gather together.

A little tough?

No, I can manage with a party house of that size….

If it’s money, I’ll be able to do something about it, I have reserves…I’m down to one ball, but yeah.

While I was thinking about that, I arrived at the adventurer’s guild, so I went inside and lined up in Sasha’s line as usual.

After noon, the adventurer’s guild shows more hustle and bustle than in the early morning.

I think about today’s dinner and property while waiting for my turn. I still feel the stares from the people around me, but today’s dinner for Iska and the others is much more important than you guys.

“Oh, did you manage to buy Elder Orc Ears, Gray? Don’t tell me that you actually defeated it. It’s only been three days since then. Please tell me where I can buy Elder Orc ears, too.”

Just when I was almost ready to take my turn, I got tangled up with Ganzas. He really is a lazy guy, isn’t he? It seems that there are no members of the “Blood Axe” today, and Ganzas is alone.

Well, I already expected this to happen.

“I know you want my attention, but aren’t you guys going to take a job? If you’re afraid of killing goblins, there’s always medicinal herb gathering.”

“Hey… answer my question instead, where did you get your Elder Orc ears?”

Was that a question…?

Ganzas have been saying ear-ear for a while now, but even if you don’t have a request, you can receive the stipulated reward for defeating them (the amount is not very much), and the reason is because if it is the ear of an orc that you submit as evidence at that time, and you are not bound by that for individual requests like this one (any part is fine if you know where it is).

that’s why…

“I’m not taking the ears this time. No, it has ears too, so don’t worry.”

With that said, I threw the head of the elder orc from the magic bag to Ganzas.

Ganzas reflexively takes it, but immediately lets out a short hiss… and drops the head to the ground.

Ganzas stared at the Elder Orc’s head, which was twisted in pain and fear, his face turning pale. …You must be a veteran.

“Hey, hey… don’t drop it.  I took the whole head because you were going to make a fuss about it anyway.”

I slowly approach Ganzas.

“Hey, take a closer look, you haven’t killed an Elder Orc yet, have you?”

“No… stop…”

I pick up the head and bring it closer to Ganzas.

“Gray-san.”

Sasha called out to me from behind.

“Quickly report the accomplishment of your request, please.”

Oops… Before I knew it, it was my turn. Even though there are other people in line, maybe I played too much…

I gently placed the Elder Orc’s head on the counter.