Chapter 36 - Fiminan, Day 2 (1/2)
“Then, we will be shopping today, so, for the rest of you, please stay quiet here.”
Aside from Alhart and Tedla, who would be accompanying Syltina, Milliane was the only one who nodded at what she said.
“……What happened to the others?”
“Ah, ummm, well, the Saintess would not leave the carriage, and Yuto-sama, Frackt-sama, and Mars-kun are over there……”
“I see. And? Until when will Kuro keep on sulking?”
Kuro sat on a tree not far away in cat form, wordlessly swinging his tail back and forth with a snap.
If Syltina laughed at him for pointing out that his bad mood could be sensed with just the atmosphere around him, then his tail swings with a snap once again.
“It can’t be helped, can it? We can’t all go together, because one escort has to keep an eye on her at all times, remember?”
“……”
“Besides, haven’t the townspeople seen Kuro’s face yesterday? There are enough people to go shopping, and the people have already seen Kuro’s face, so you won’t be able to walk in there in human form. If that’s the case, then, the only thing I can have you do is to watch over the people in here.”
“……”
“I’ll make sure to come back as early as I can, so I’m entrusting you with watching the Saintess. Also, make sure you make her eat breakfast. It seems she didn’t eat after what happened yesterday. If she collapses, then, I will be troubled.”
“……”
Syltina smiled again at Kreutz, who didn’t respond to her words no matter what and continued to swing his tail instead, and turned to Milliane who seemed to be uneasy about their exchange.
“He’s like that, but he will properly do what I ask him, so, Milliane-sama, I’m sorry, but can I entrust the 2 of you with the Saintess?”
“Ah, y-yes. Ummm, please take care!”
Responding to Milliane’s parting words with a wave, the three head for the Town of Fiminan.
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This is such a pain, Yuto thought as he kept a different face while in front of Akari, who was hugging her knees close to her chest and burying her face against it, without even making any slight movements.
It had been a little over an hour since Yuto came over to do something about Akari, who said that she did not want to leave the carriage.
During that time, Akari stayed silent, showing no reaction to the words of Yuto, Frackt, or Mars.
Get a grip, uneasily, the expression Yuto put on that seemed to say that he was indeed worried seemed to be faltering.
Well, letting out a small puff of breath as he wondered what to do with Akari, the carriage door opened and Kreutz appeared.
”Your breakfast is ready. Hurry up and eat.”
“……”
“Hey, are you listening?”
“…… Don’t need it.”
“Ha?”
“I don’t need it. I don’t have an appetite……”
Akari’s response causes a wrinkle to form between Kreutz’s eyebrows.
“I don’t care if you have an appetite or not, but Sylti told me to properly feed you breakfast.”
“Didn’t I say I didn’t need it?!? Get out!!! Don’t mind me!! Get out, all of you!!!”
“……”
“A-Akari, calm down…”
“Shut up! A-anyway, Yuto’s only kind to me because I’m the Saintess, right? Everyone only needs my power, so they don’t really care about me!”
“Akari……”
With a sudden burst of anger, Akari slaps away the outstretched hand intended to appease her.
Looking up after a long while, her face is warped in sadness, tears pooling in her eyes.
“That’s not true, Akari. For me, you and you alone are important. Even if Akari isn’t the Saintess or even if you don’t have any power, you are still important to me .”
“Lies, something like that……”
“Why?”
“I mean…”
“Hey, Akari. There’s nothing in it for me in accompanying you on this journey, you know?”
“Eh?”
“Unlike Akari and Syltina, I didn’t join because I would be rewarded if this journey ends safely. Neither did I receive a quest from the guild, nor was I asked by the King. Nonetheless, do you understand why I decided to go along with you?”
“……”
“That’s because you’re important to me. It’s because I want to protect you.”
“Yuto!!”
Embracing Yuto as if she were hanging on to him, Akari let out a small laugh.
“Akari! You are also precious to me, that’s why I’m with you!!!”
“I love you too, big sis!”