Chapter 90: Episode 90 "Information gathering between Nagi and her sister maid. And the battle of Aine"
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It was the next evening when we left the cave and returned to our holiday home in Michelineira.
The journey back was peaceful and we didn't encounter any enemies.
I saw a few demons, but they were all lying flat in the distance.
Instead of approaching us, they seemed to be watching over us rather than approaching us.
I asked Rita, who was out scouting last night, if something happened, but she didn't answer.
I mean, the moment I spoke to her, she turned bright red and slumped down and said, "WTF! And I was running away from it.
...... After what happened yesterday, I can't force myself to ask.
But I'm pretty sure it's because of Rita. Maybe, just maybe.
It's a good thing that the enemy doesn't show up, because that's why we were able to return to the villa smoothly.
Maybe it's because we were forced to camp out after the quest, but by the time we arrived at the cottage, we were all exhausted.
We ate a meal we bought at a food stall and decided to sleep.
But before that...
Tomorrow, you will not work for 24 hours.
I said to everyone after we finished eating.
"I told you I'd be taking a vacation, but I haven't been able to rest at all.
So, tomorrow is a mandatory day off.
My guys are basically hard workers, so I need to force them to rest.
But that doesn't mean I have to.
I have a lot of things I need to do, like gather information.
Tomorrow I'm going to go around the city by myself and see what I can find out about the Countess and the Prince.
'At ......, but, Nagi-sama,'
You will not be allowed to argue with me. I invoke my master's authority.
...... ugh.
Cecil and everyone else looked like they wanted to say something.
But in order to establish "proper vacation" in this world, this was a non-negotiable.
What do you guys say?
「「「「「「...... yes! 」」」」」」
That's why 24 hours tomorrow was a "day not to work".
However, if you go out as a reward, ...... seems to be the exception to that rule.
I'm going to go out with you then. Nah-kun.
Aine and I are going to go out together.
I promised Rita and Aine that I would give them "time to spend with me" when we attacked "Foggy Valley".
I wanted to ask Rita what she wanted too, but she's still shy and won't come out of her room today.
...... She still seems to be concerned about what happened after she took a bath the night before last.
No, I remember it, too. I'm not going to forget about it.
"Rita, what do you want to do? Do you want to come with me?
'Wahhhh .................. not yet, Murry ......... ...
I knock on the door of my room and a faint voice comes back.
It can't be helped.
It's my day off, you know. I can't force them to do so.
That's why Aine was given priority in terms of remuneration - we decided to go out together.
Aine, you know that today is 'not a good day to work', right?
I know. This is Aine's reward.
'My plan is to go to the Adventurer's Guild and gather information, go around town and check out the best-selling products and stuff, and then I'm going to do the surrounding geography at .......
It's okay. Aine's just going with it.
I wonder if it's okay.
Even the Magic Sword Leggy is off today, and I, for one, am equipped with a spare shortsword.
''Aine, you don't have any of your previous workaholics left, do you? Do you need to work to get comfortable?
You're not the same as you think you are.
Saying that, Aine held the chest of her maid's uniform.
''It's a 'soul vacation' for Aine to be with Nah-kun.
...... first time hearing those words.
Just walking and talking with Nay-kun is enough to make Aine's soul feel at ease. That's why it's okay.
'Vacation of the soul'.
It's a nice term, but it's going to be abused by black companies.
'Give me a break,' 'You've done a soul vacation.
But Aine is smiling serenely.
I'm sure she is happy with the way she looks, so just make sure I don't make her work.
"Besides, spending a vacation with Nay-kun is a treat for everyone, right?
With that, Aine pointed across the hallway.
Well, whisper it.
The living room, the kitchen, the top of the stairs.
The figure that had been peeping around quickly disappeared.
Silver hair and green and pink hair. And a golden tail and red twin-tails.
It was only faintly visible.
'Don't worry about it.'
Aine whispers softly in my ear.
'Because today Aine will 'put it all on the line to not work. You will obey your master's orders.
Our first stop was the Adventurer's Guild in the resort town of Mishlila.
Since there are many people coming and going, it's a great place to gather information.
First, we order a drink at the bar and sit down.
Aine and I pretended to be discussing quests, listening closely to the voices around us.
'...... And yet, it's crowded.'
...... It's crowded. Surprise.
It's completely different from the last time I was here.
There's a line at reception, and there's a crowd of people in front of the quest board.
There's even less room to look at the posted quests.
Aine, is there anything you've noticed?
'This tea doesn't have enough time to steep. The leaves aren't fully opened.
Aine sipped on her cup and made a reluctant face.
I can't let Nay-kun drink this stuff. Aine's going to make a fresh pot of wine!
'It doesn't matter. I mean, it's a non-working day, right?
...... mmm.
Aine reluctantly sat back down as she started to get up.
'Anything else you've noticed?'
'A chance at full-time employment,' everyone says.
I knew that's where Aine was stuck, too.
They're all talking so loudly that I can hear them well.
On the quest board, the quests requested by the royal family are posted, and it seems that in addition to the usual rewards, it also says about being promoted to a regular soldier.
'His Highness Prince Kravis, the eighth prince, requested me to do this for him. Depending on the results, there is a possibility of being officially hired as a close guard.
"You could be a wizard in the royal household.
"Calling all who are willing to do so.
"Mass recruitment that may never happen again.
"Don't miss this opportunity!
...... I'm getting goosebumps because of my experience in the original world.
When I see these terms and conditions, I think 'fishy' without question. Especially from the words 'official employment', 'motivated' and 'may never again', a hint of doubt can be felt in the air.
But I wonder if it's different in this world.
Everyone's in a panic, and they're all inquiring about it from the guild.
''So you're saying that there's a quest to hire a bunch of adventurers at Prince Kravis's request.
The people around me are talking loudly, so I'm getting a lot of information just sitting here like this.
It's like everyone knows that the attack on 'Foggy Valley' has been cancelled.
Aine has her cup in her hand, nodding yes, yes.
'...... This is just something I hear on its own. It's not information gathering, it's a natural phenomenon.
Well, it's all right, isn't it?
Thud, thud, thud.
As we sipped our thin tea, we listened carefully to the voices that filled the guild.
According to what we've heard, the Valley of the Mist is thought to have collapsed naturally.
The Countess, who "happened to go to check on it," found it and told Prince Kravis about it.
But Prince Kravis was preparing another quest "as he knew it".
It's a quest that requires a large number of adventurers, and the guild is currently buzzing with adventurers who are looking for it.
I'd like a little more information, but I can't get anywhere near the quest board. The guild has its hands full.
If you're not busy...
Watto. Wachi.
osteomyelitis
Suddenly, something thin bumped against my leg.
'I'm sorry. Customer." "I was in the middle of cleaning. Customer.
Little girls were mopping the floor of the tavern.
They're only about my height, up to my chest, and they both have one mop.
They're dwarf girls.
Aine tells me.
I don't have a beard. I thought dwarves were supposed to have beards, even girls have beards, but apparently not in this world. They look like small, slightly bony demi-humans.
I've seen these girls somewhere: ...... I know.
They were the front-line slaves in Misty Valley.
They're not wearing collars anymore. They seem to be free of their master-slave contracts. Good.
Are you the new employees of ......?
It's Sula... or Leela.
The two dwarven girls answered together.
They were twins, or maybe they were twins, but their faces were very similar. The hair was in a ponytail on one side and a side tail on the other. The one with the slightly raised eyes was Sura and the one with sleepy eyes was Leela.
I was introduced to you by the sweet Countess, and I've decided to work here.
"Please, thank you for your help.
(with a) bang
Both dwarf girls bowed their heads at the same time.
I see.
If they were working for the Countess, they might have some information.
The area around the quest board was still very crowded.
The guild staff is scurrying about at the quest reception desk.
They'd be good to know what to do with them.
Excuse me, sir. May I have a word with these girls for a moment?
When the tavern waitress came around, I asked permission to speak with the dwarf girls. The tips were a silver coin each for the waitress and the dwarf girls.
''This girl just came to the guild, right? I don't think you know anything about it, do you?
It's customary in my hometown to talk to the guild staff before accepting quests. To get a feel for the atmosphere.
I made up a random story for now.
'It's just weird not to do these things. Okay?
The waitress gave me a funny look, but she allowed me to say, "For a short time.
'You guys served Countess Carmina, Lady Carmina. ......
I turned to the dwarven girls, Sura and Leela.
'That's a tough one. I've heard the Countess can be cruel.'
'No, it's not!'
The girls raised their voices in unison.
Carmina-sama has offered us a job and has even invested in this quest.
The Countess Carmina has changed for the better!
When I probed, I got an unexpected response.
That means the 'contract' I made with the countess seems to be working.
I'm sorry. I had heard some bad things about the Countess in the town I was in before.
This is not a lie.
The Countess's father, Count Rigilta, has treated Aine so badly.
'Lord Carmina has changed for the better, you mean ...... until now?
Until now, Lady Carmina has only been in a hurry, for the nobles have been fighting in support of the prince.
The dwarven girls began to speak in hushed tones.
The princes in this country have different status and fiefdoms after adulthood depending on how much they have achieved.
For this reason, each prince has a nobleman as his patron, and it is said that they provide various assistance to the prince. The nobles hope that the prince they support will improve his performance and receive a good fiefdom.
The reason why Prince Kravis aimed to capture the Valley of the Mist is also because of his achievements.
Countess Carmina is supporting the prince for the sake of her house.
She was impatient with her achievements for this reason, but now she's changed into a good person.
''Is the good Countess investing in this quest too? That would be a relief, wouldn't it?
It has been funded, but that is all, and the quest itself was sent out by the Prince.
Do you know what the quest is?
I saw it during the morning's sobriety, and it is a quest for justice.
The dwarven girls puffed out their chests, ahem.
'There was a group of demons gathered in a certain abandoned fort as an aid to get it back.
'Adventurers are needed!
So the old fort was taken by a demon .......
Since there's a demon king, it's not very safe. I knew it.
It's a very decent idea to get it back, though.
It's true that if you want to capture the fort, you need people, and I can see why adventurers who are able to slay demons would be called in.
It's surprisingly normal for the quests I've seen so far.
'So that's why it's 'mass recruitment' and 'regular employment available'.
First of all, you will fight the demons outside the fort, and the best ones will be hired there as regulars and enter the fort.
What about the other adventurers?
You are to assist in the extermination of demons outside, and only the regulars will be allowed to enter the fort.
...... Maybe Prince Charming is a very decent person?
If you just listen to the story, this quest makes sense.
In other words, adventurers who accept the quest will be assigned according to their abilities.
The best ones will be recruited as regular soldiers to capture the dangerous interior of the fort.
The lesser ones will assist in attacking the fort from the outside.
It's a fantasy world, so does that mean they can take away a discarded fort? There's a demon king on the other side of the ocean, and he's leading the demons in battle. It wouldn't be surprising if he sent an army over here.
''If you're a good adventurer, this is your chance to make a name for yourself.
Are you a good customer too?
The next thing I know, the dwarf girls, Leela and Sula, were looking at me with beady eyes.
'No, no,'
''Really? You look strong, though.
"How?
It's a hint...
If you were good, you'd be waiting in line.
In front of the quest board, there's still a crowd of people.
If it's a request from the 8th Prince Clavis soon, there's no doubt about the job's content, and if he's made a regular soldier or a wizard directly under him, his life will be stable.
Even if you don't get hired as a regular employee, you'll still have a career that says 'I participated in a quest commissioned by the royal family,' which will lead to another job.
No wonder people want to do it.
'...... Maybe I'm just being cynical.'
Or that you get goosebumps. It's the kind of thing you never want to do.
I know there's something about you that is very clear to me, so I'll explain it to you in a moment.
It is not yet known when the quest will begin.
The first step is to gather the adventurers up to the prescribed number of adventurers.
They will be detained for 14 days.
If they can't capture the fort, they will have to retreat and rethink their strategy.
The reward is 4,800 arsha.
For the duration of the quest, you will be provided with food, shelter and weapons.
It comes with recovery magic by the priests.
Wave your arms, spin your body around, and mix gestures to use magic...
The dwarf girl explained carefully.
'All right. Thank you. I'm sorry to have taken up so much of your time.
Aine, can I ask you one question?
Aine, who had been quietly listening to the conversation, called out to them.
''You know what, Leela, Sula. Is the guild master here an old man? Or is it a young man?
At Aine's question, the lid dwarf girl shook her head.
'He is a young man, sir, and a man.
Yeah. Thank you. It's my way of saying thank you.
With that, Aine handed the dwarven girls a copper coin.
''If you need anything else, please don't hesitate to call out to me.
The girls bowed their heads with a peck, and then went back to cleaning.
'Aine, what did you mean by that?'
I asked.
'When I was in The Commoner's Guild, I talked to my grandfather once,'
Aine took a thin cup of tea, frowned and put down her cup.
'I heard that the adventurer guild master of the retreat was an old man, a respectable man with ties to the royal family.
The royal family connection? Maybe it's because this is a retreat.
Yes. I've been doing things for the royals who come for retreats and things like that.
Metecal's 'Common People's Guild' and this town's guild had a connection. That's why Aine has information, and we were able to show her the materials from 'Valley of the Mist'.
'When Aine met that person, he said to me, 'If Aine was our child, the adventurer's guild here would be safe.'
If Aine was a child, the Adventurer's Guild would be safe.
That means it's not, and it's not safe now... so.
...... Does that mean you're worried about the second generation?
Aine nodded her head in response to my question.
I'm a nice guy, but he always wants to put on a good face for customers, adventurers and guild staff. No matter what they say to you, you say, 'Yes, I understand.'
There are people like that: ......
'When things get out of hand, he says he's sorry and throws the whole thing to his subordinates. Basically, he's a nice guy.
You're not the type of person to be a boss: ......
Of course, it was a long time ago. You don't know what it is now.
Looking around the guild, Aine sighed.
Even though she quit, she's a former apprentice guild master, so she's still concerned about the state of the guild.
''But even though the inside of the guild is in such a big mess, that person doesn't seem to be here.
...... I see.
We're not registered here.
We're not clients, we're not affiliated with them.
It doesn't give me any right to tell you what to do.
'I don't think the quest that the royal family officially asked for couldn't have been terrible: ......
Aine has a thud on her face.
This isn't good.
If I let you look like this in spite of the fact that it's my vacation, the master has failed.
I wasn't going to think about work today.
...... and now it's like this.
"Aine, come with me to see the bathing suit.
"...... a piece of swiss?
Aine looked up and looked at me curiously.
'You promised to go swimming during your vacation, right? Then you'll need a swimsuit, right?
But I'm sure Iris's father sent her a lot of bathing suits.
Yeah. It's true.
For some reason, after rescuing the lord from the golem, he gave Iris and Rafilia a dozen swimsuits for a dozen or so people.
''But that was to fit Iris and Rafilia's body shapes.
For Iris, Cecil and Reggie can also wear it.
For Rafilia, Rita can also manage to wear it.
But Aine is just about in between - in other words, they don't fit either.
The one for Iris is too small and the one for Rafilia has too many parts left over.
That's why I have to buy a separate swimsuit for Aine.
That's one of the reasons why I decided to accompany Aine.
While I was here, I found a shop that sells swimwear. So I thought I could buy a swimsuit for Aine while I was there.
...... You know what, Nay-kun?
When I finished explaining, Aine was staring at me from across the table.
Nah-kun, have you been observing your sister's body shape so intently?
........................... ........................... Ah.
No, because we're rebuilding, and we're taking a bath together.
Besides, Aine is surprisingly close to me.
'Well, I don't look at her that closely, okay?
But you do see enough to know the size, right?
...... Yeah. It's your master.
Yes, it's ...... good.
Aine laughed softly, holding the chest of her maid's dress.
Then, for some reason, she tilted her head back.
'Huh? Isn't it good? Is this the part where you get mad at 'Nah-kun's Echi'? Do I have to tell you not to look at your sister like that? But I'm glad Aine....... Huh, what's that?
Aine, who for some reason has sweat on her forehead, starts flailing around with her arms.
'Wait a minute. I need time. Aine will stay like this for a while. ......
Aine held her head and turned her face away from me.
When I looked to the side, I looked at the side - the quest board was starting to empty.
Everyone had finished looking at the content of the quests and gathered in front of the guild people.
I've heard from the dwarf girls, but it's better to check it out for myself.
'Aine, can I have a look at your stuff for a moment?'
It's fine. Aine is in a bit of a funk, so she needs this light tea to calm down. I want you to leave it for a while. ......
All right, I'll be right back. I'll be right back.
And with that, I got up from my seat.
I hope she's okay. Aine.
"...... I'm in trouble.
Aine let out a long sigh. Then she relaxed her body.
Her face suddenly turned red.
I was able to deceive myself earlier, but the timing of 'Nay-kun' getting up from his seat was the limit.
I shouldn't do it, I shouldn't do it. It's not good.
...... but Nane, you've been watching over Aine for a while now: ......
The moment I said it out loud, my heart skipped a beat.
What am I going to do? I wonder if I'm going to be okay. I'm not sure I'll be able to last until we return to the villa.
I'm going to go buy a swimsuit, even though Natsuko will see me in my swimsuit.
Nah-kun, you thought about Aine, but you can't not show her your swimsuit.
I don't know if I'll be able to keep it up. I don't want my face to turn red .......
...... It's okay. Aine is the big sister. Aine is my big sister, and Nah-kun is my little brother.
Telling herself that, Aine took a deep breath.
And then - she realized.
Before I knew it, I had to tell myself that - that I had to tell myself that.
When did I start to feel this way?
When Nah-kun and Rita-san engaged with each other, I heard their voices for a little while. ......
...... Aine thought there was no need to hurry up with that kind of ......
It's no good.
I guess I'm a big sister ...... disqualified.
Aine is also the "big sister" of the party, so she won't be an idiot.
You can't get away from the fact that it's more important to get everyone's support. You'll be able to put your own affairs on the back burner.
It's a good thing that you're not going to be able to get away with it.
Aine and all my fellow slaves are important to me.
I thought I was going to support everyone and ...... the last thing I wanted to do was .............
'............ Aine, when did you become so weak ......?'
If Letitia were here, I would have said.
'You're just finding out now? I wonder if he'll laugh at me.
Or maybe he'll pat me on the back and say, 'Oh, I'm so good!
I wish someone would listen to me. ......
But since Aine is everyone's "big sister"...
...... Huh?
I heard a noise on the chair that Nay-kun was sitting on.
The leather bag for storing sachets and other small items is moving.
I'm sure you'll be able to find a way to make it work.
No, no, no, no, it's going to fall down.
Aine picked up the bag. When you touch it, you will find a round object inside.
It's the "Tenryu's Egg".
By the way, Nee-kun, did you say that the egg seems to have taken a liking to you?
I'm sure she wanted to follow you, so she brought it with her.
Nah, she'll be home soon, so just be quiet!
When Aine murmured, the 'Heavenly Dragon's Egg' stopped moving as if she could understand the words.
I can see it through the bag. It's just a little bit warm. A reassuring warmth.
Tenryu is the ally of man and its wings are the protector of travelers.
They must have been a gentle dragon, Aine thinks.
Can you listen to .................. Aine's story?
Aine found herself pursing her lips against the leather bag and mumbling aloud.
I felt a faint shiver, like an egg nodding.
'Aine is Nay-kun's big sister. But there's Aine who wants something different.
When you put it into words, it becomes clearer.
For Aine, "Nah-kun" is like a master and a younger brother, someone who guides her and her friends.
She wants to be with him forever, no matter what form it takes.
Aine is Nay-kun's slave.
But what holds Aine together is not a contract, but her feelings for Natsuko.
It's warm, it's tender, it's pleasing...
It's getting bigger and bigger, and before you know it, it's going to be out of the 'sissy' box.
...... Aine never thought she was so extravagant.
I was the one who wanted to be Nah-kun's "big sister".
I'm sure you thought that was enough to make you happy.
...... Before I knew it, I thought it wasn't enough.
I can still pretend that I don't see it now. Tomorrow ...... the day after tomorrow, I don't know what the day after that will be anymore.
My chest is hot. I can't stop throbbing. What should I do... what should I do... but...
...... Still, I'm happier than if I didn't know how this feels.
A noisy, adventurer's guild tavern.
Pretend to hug your bags so that no one can see you.
You don't say it out loud, you just tell yourself.
'You'll live a lot longer than Aine and the others. Remember. I'll remember your master, who Aine loved so much. I'm going to ask you to go to ...... to find out about the slave who has such feelings for that person.
It's a noisy bar.
Even so, Nay-kun's footsteps are easily recognizable.
Very strange.
Aine immediately turned into a 'big sister' face and held out her bags to Nay-kun who came back.
More. You can't. This bag has important things in it.
Nah-kun's face is like, "Oh, shit.
See?
Nah-kun is smart, strong, and amazing, but he can be dangerous sometimes.
Or maybe he trusts his friends too much ......?
Yeah. You have to be sure of your "big sister".
"...... I feel like an egg... or something in the bag is beating... aine, what did you do?
When Naya-kun received the package, he looked at her curiously.
............ Aine was just watching.
This is true. I didn't say it out loud.
I'm glad to see you've returned to your side. I'm sure.
I don't think so.
Aine would be a 'hoo-hoo'
This is also true. When I come back after leaving Nah-kun, I'll start dancing.
I'm sure my feelings will overflow.
That's why we should try not to leave her.
I have to make sure that Aine can be Nah-kun's big sister.
Then I'm going to buy a swimsuit. Should I ask Nay-kun to choose one that suits her perfectly?
Holding her throbbing chest, Aine stands up.
I handed the bags to Nah-kun and took his free hand.
It's a "don't work day".
The "big sister" in Aine is also taking a little bit of a break. That's all.
Well, either way, I'm still happy.
So....
It's not fair that she's the only one who's nervous.
You have to choose the best swimsuit you can afford to wear to get your master excited.
It's a very good idea to have a good idea of what you want to do.
It's a very good idea to have a good time with them.
Please report us if you find any errors so we can fix it asap!
It was the next evening when we left the cave and returned to our holiday home in Michelineira.
The journey back was peaceful and we didn't encounter any enemies.
I saw a few demons, but they were all lying flat in the distance.
Instead of approaching us, they seemed to be watching over us rather than approaching us.
I asked Rita, who was out scouting last night, if something happened, but she didn't answer.
I mean, the moment I spoke to her, she turned bright red and slumped down and said, "WTF! And I was running away from it.
...... After what happened yesterday, I can't force myself to ask.
But I'm pretty sure it's because of Rita. Maybe, just maybe.
It's a good thing that the enemy doesn't show up, because that's why we were able to return to the villa smoothly.
Maybe it's because we were forced to camp out after the quest, but by the time we arrived at the cottage, we were all exhausted.
We ate a meal we bought at a food stall and decided to sleep.
But before that...
Tomorrow, you will not work for 24 hours.
I said to everyone after we finished eating.
"I told you I'd be taking a vacation, but I haven't been able to rest at all.
So, tomorrow is a mandatory day off.
My guys are basically hard workers, so I need to force them to rest.
But that doesn't mean I have to.
I have a lot of things I need to do, like gather information.
Tomorrow I'm going to go around the city by myself and see what I can find out about the Countess and the Prince.
'At ......, but, Nagi-sama,'
You will not be allowed to argue with me. I invoke my master's authority.
...... ugh.
Cecil and everyone else looked like they wanted to say something.
But in order to establish "proper vacation" in this world, this was a non-negotiable.
What do you guys say?
「「「「「「...... yes! 」」」」」」
That's why 24 hours tomorrow was a "day not to work".
However, if you go out as a reward, ...... seems to be the exception to that rule.
I'm going to go out with you then. Nah-kun.
Aine and I are going to go out together.
I promised Rita and Aine that I would give them "time to spend with me" when we attacked "Foggy Valley".
I wanted to ask Rita what she wanted too, but she's still shy and won't come out of her room today.
...... She still seems to be concerned about what happened after she took a bath the night before last.
No, I remember it, too. I'm not going to forget about it.
"Rita, what do you want to do? Do you want to come with me?
'Wahhhh .................. not yet, Murry ......... ...
I knock on the door of my room and a faint voice comes back.
It can't be helped.
It's my day off, you know. I can't force them to do so.
That's why Aine was given priority in terms of remuneration - we decided to go out together.
Aine, you know that today is 'not a good day to work', right?
I know. This is Aine's reward.
'My plan is to go to the Adventurer's Guild and gather information, go around town and check out the best-selling products and stuff, and then I'm going to do the surrounding geography at .......
It's okay. Aine's just going with it.
I wonder if it's okay.
Even the Magic Sword Leggy is off today, and I, for one, am equipped with a spare shortsword.
''Aine, you don't have any of your previous workaholics left, do you? Do you need to work to get comfortable?
You're not the same as you think you are.
Saying that, Aine held the chest of her maid's uniform.
''It's a 'soul vacation' for Aine to be with Nah-kun.
...... first time hearing those words.
Just walking and talking with Nay-kun is enough to make Aine's soul feel at ease. That's why it's okay.
'Vacation of the soul'.
It's a nice term, but it's going to be abused by black companies.
'Give me a break,' 'You've done a soul vacation.
But Aine is smiling serenely.
I'm sure she is happy with the way she looks, so just make sure I don't make her work.
"Besides, spending a vacation with Nay-kun is a treat for everyone, right?
With that, Aine pointed across the hallway.
Well, whisper it.
The living room, the kitchen, the top of the stairs.
The figure that had been peeping around quickly disappeared.
Silver hair and green and pink hair. And a golden tail and red twin-tails.
It was only faintly visible.
'Don't worry about it.'
Aine whispers softly in my ear.
'Because today Aine will 'put it all on the line to not work. You will obey your master's orders.
Our first stop was the Adventurer's Guild in the resort town of Mishlila.
Since there are many people coming and going, it's a great place to gather information.
First, we order a drink at the bar and sit down.
Aine and I pretended to be discussing quests, listening closely to the voices around us.
'...... And yet, it's crowded.'
...... It's crowded. Surprise.
It's completely different from the last time I was here.
There's a line at reception, and there's a crowd of people in front of the quest board.
There's even less room to look at the posted quests.
Aine, is there anything you've noticed?
'This tea doesn't have enough time to steep. The leaves aren't fully opened.
Aine sipped on her cup and made a reluctant face.
I can't let Nay-kun drink this stuff. Aine's going to make a fresh pot of wine!
'It doesn't matter. I mean, it's a non-working day, right?
...... mmm.
Aine reluctantly sat back down as she started to get up.
'Anything else you've noticed?'
'A chance at full-time employment,' everyone says.
I knew that's where Aine was stuck, too.
They're all talking so loudly that I can hear them well.
On the quest board, the quests requested by the royal family are posted, and it seems that in addition to the usual rewards, it also says about being promoted to a regular soldier.
'His Highness Prince Kravis, the eighth prince, requested me to do this for him. Depending on the results, there is a possibility of being officially hired as a close guard.
"You could be a wizard in the royal household.
"Calling all who are willing to do so.
"Mass recruitment that may never happen again.
"Don't miss this opportunity!
...... I'm getting goosebumps because of my experience in the original world.
When I see these terms and conditions, I think 'fishy' without question. Especially from the words 'official employment', 'motivated' and 'may never again', a hint of doubt can be felt in the air.
But I wonder if it's different in this world.
Everyone's in a panic, and they're all inquiring about it from the guild.
''So you're saying that there's a quest to hire a bunch of adventurers at Prince Kravis's request.
The people around me are talking loudly, so I'm getting a lot of information just sitting here like this.
It's like everyone knows that the attack on 'Foggy Valley' has been cancelled.
Aine has her cup in her hand, nodding yes, yes.
'...... This is just something I hear on its own. It's not information gathering, it's a natural phenomenon.
Well, it's all right, isn't it?
Thud, thud, thud.
As we sipped our thin tea, we listened carefully to the voices that filled the guild.
According to what we've heard, the Valley of the Mist is thought to have collapsed naturally.
The Countess, who "happened to go to check on it," found it and told Prince Kravis about it.
But Prince Kravis was preparing another quest "as he knew it".
It's a quest that requires a large number of adventurers, and the guild is currently buzzing with adventurers who are looking for it.
I'd like a little more information, but I can't get anywhere near the quest board. The guild has its hands full.
If you're not busy...
Watto. Wachi.
osteomyelitis
Suddenly, something thin bumped against my leg.
'I'm sorry. Customer." "I was in the middle of cleaning. Customer.
Little girls were mopping the floor of the tavern.
They're only about my height, up to my chest, and they both have one mop.
They're dwarf girls.
Aine tells me.
I don't have a beard. I thought dwarves were supposed to have beards, even girls have beards, but apparently not in this world. They look like small, slightly bony demi-humans.
I've seen these girls somewhere: ...... I know.
They were the front-line slaves in Misty Valley.
They're not wearing collars anymore. They seem to be free of their master-slave contracts. Good.
Are you the new employees of ......?
It's Sula... or Leela.
The two dwarven girls answered together.
They were twins, or maybe they were twins, but their faces were very similar. The hair was in a ponytail on one side and a side tail on the other. The one with the slightly raised eyes was Sura and the one with sleepy eyes was Leela.
I was introduced to you by the sweet Countess, and I've decided to work here.
"Please, thank you for your help.
(with a) bang
Both dwarf girls bowed their heads at the same time.
I see.
If they were working for the Countess, they might have some information.
The area around the quest board was still very crowded.
The guild staff is scurrying about at the quest reception desk.
They'd be good to know what to do with them.
Excuse me, sir. May I have a word with these girls for a moment?
When the tavern waitress came around, I asked permission to speak with the dwarf girls. The tips were a silver coin each for the waitress and the dwarf girls.
''This girl just came to the guild, right? I don't think you know anything about it, do you?
It's customary in my hometown to talk to the guild staff before accepting quests. To get a feel for the atmosphere.
I made up a random story for now.
'It's just weird not to do these things. Okay?
The waitress gave me a funny look, but she allowed me to say, "For a short time.
'You guys served Countess Carmina, Lady Carmina. ......
I turned to the dwarven girls, Sura and Leela.
'That's a tough one. I've heard the Countess can be cruel.'
'No, it's not!'
The girls raised their voices in unison.
Carmina-sama has offered us a job and has even invested in this quest.
The Countess Carmina has changed for the better!
When I probed, I got an unexpected response.
That means the 'contract' I made with the countess seems to be working.
I'm sorry. I had heard some bad things about the Countess in the town I was in before.
This is not a lie.
The Countess's father, Count Rigilta, has treated Aine so badly.
'Lord Carmina has changed for the better, you mean ...... until now?
Until now, Lady Carmina has only been in a hurry, for the nobles have been fighting in support of the prince.
The dwarven girls began to speak in hushed tones.
The princes in this country have different status and fiefdoms after adulthood depending on how much they have achieved.
For this reason, each prince has a nobleman as his patron, and it is said that they provide various assistance to the prince. The nobles hope that the prince they support will improve his performance and receive a good fiefdom.
The reason why Prince Kravis aimed to capture the Valley of the Mist is also because of his achievements.
Countess Carmina is supporting the prince for the sake of her house.
She was impatient with her achievements for this reason, but now she's changed into a good person.
''Is the good Countess investing in this quest too? That would be a relief, wouldn't it?
It has been funded, but that is all, and the quest itself was sent out by the Prince.
Do you know what the quest is?
I saw it during the morning's sobriety, and it is a quest for justice.
The dwarven girls puffed out their chests, ahem.
'There was a group of demons gathered in a certain abandoned fort as an aid to get it back.
'Adventurers are needed!
So the old fort was taken by a demon .......
Since there's a demon king, it's not very safe. I knew it.
It's a very decent idea to get it back, though.
It's true that if you want to capture the fort, you need people, and I can see why adventurers who are able to slay demons would be called in.
It's surprisingly normal for the quests I've seen so far.
'So that's why it's 'mass recruitment' and 'regular employment available'.
First of all, you will fight the demons outside the fort, and the best ones will be hired there as regulars and enter the fort.
What about the other adventurers?
You are to assist in the extermination of demons outside, and only the regulars will be allowed to enter the fort.
...... Maybe Prince Charming is a very decent person?
If you just listen to the story, this quest makes sense.
In other words, adventurers who accept the quest will be assigned according to their abilities.
The best ones will be recruited as regular soldiers to capture the dangerous interior of the fort.
The lesser ones will assist in attacking the fort from the outside.
It's a fantasy world, so does that mean they can take away a discarded fort? There's a demon king on the other side of the ocean, and he's leading the demons in battle. It wouldn't be surprising if he sent an army over here.
''If you're a good adventurer, this is your chance to make a name for yourself.
Are you a good customer too?
The next thing I know, the dwarf girls, Leela and Sula, were looking at me with beady eyes.
'No, no,'
''Really? You look strong, though.
"How?
It's a hint...
If you were good, you'd be waiting in line.
In front of the quest board, there's still a crowd of people.
If it's a request from the 8th Prince Clavis soon, there's no doubt about the job's content, and if he's made a regular soldier or a wizard directly under him, his life will be stable.
Even if you don't get hired as a regular employee, you'll still have a career that says 'I participated in a quest commissioned by the royal family,' which will lead to another job.
No wonder people want to do it.
'...... Maybe I'm just being cynical.'
Or that you get goosebumps. It's the kind of thing you never want to do.
I know there's something about you that is very clear to me, so I'll explain it to you in a moment.
It is not yet known when the quest will begin.
The first step is to gather the adventurers up to the prescribed number of adventurers.
They will be detained for 14 days.
If they can't capture the fort, they will have to retreat and rethink their strategy.
The reward is 4,800 arsha.
For the duration of the quest, you will be provided with food, shelter and weapons.
It comes with recovery magic by the priests.
Wave your arms, spin your body around, and mix gestures to use magic...
The dwarf girl explained carefully.
'All right. Thank you. I'm sorry to have taken up so much of your time.
Aine, can I ask you one question?
Aine, who had been quietly listening to the conversation, called out to them.
''You know what, Leela, Sula. Is the guild master here an old man? Or is it a young man?
At Aine's question, the lid dwarf girl shook her head.
'He is a young man, sir, and a man.
Yeah. Thank you. It's my way of saying thank you.
With that, Aine handed the dwarven girls a copper coin.
''If you need anything else, please don't hesitate to call out to me.
The girls bowed their heads with a peck, and then went back to cleaning.
'Aine, what did you mean by that?'
I asked.
'When I was in The Commoner's Guild, I talked to my grandfather once,'
Aine took a thin cup of tea, frowned and put down her cup.
'I heard that the adventurer guild master of the retreat was an old man, a respectable man with ties to the royal family.
The royal family connection? Maybe it's because this is a retreat.
Yes. I've been doing things for the royals who come for retreats and things like that.
Metecal's 'Common People's Guild' and this town's guild had a connection. That's why Aine has information, and we were able to show her the materials from 'Valley of the Mist'.
'When Aine met that person, he said to me, 'If Aine was our child, the adventurer's guild here would be safe.'
If Aine was a child, the Adventurer's Guild would be safe.
That means it's not, and it's not safe now... so.
...... Does that mean you're worried about the second generation?
Aine nodded her head in response to my question.
I'm a nice guy, but he always wants to put on a good face for customers, adventurers and guild staff. No matter what they say to you, you say, 'Yes, I understand.'
There are people like that: ......
'When things get out of hand, he says he's sorry and throws the whole thing to his subordinates. Basically, he's a nice guy.
You're not the type of person to be a boss: ......
Of course, it was a long time ago. You don't know what it is now.
Looking around the guild, Aine sighed.
Even though she quit, she's a former apprentice guild master, so she's still concerned about the state of the guild.
''But even though the inside of the guild is in such a big mess, that person doesn't seem to be here.
...... I see.
We're not registered here.
We're not clients, we're not affiliated with them.
It doesn't give me any right to tell you what to do.
'I don't think the quest that the royal family officially asked for couldn't have been terrible: ......
Aine has a thud on her face.
This isn't good.
If I let you look like this in spite of the fact that it's my vacation, the master has failed.
I wasn't going to think about work today.
...... and now it's like this.
"Aine, come with me to see the bathing suit.
"...... a piece of swiss?
Aine looked up and looked at me curiously.
'You promised to go swimming during your vacation, right? Then you'll need a swimsuit, right?
But I'm sure Iris's father sent her a lot of bathing suits.
Yeah. It's true.
For some reason, after rescuing the lord from the golem, he gave Iris and Rafilia a dozen swimsuits for a dozen or so people.
''But that was to fit Iris and Rafilia's body shapes.
For Iris, Cecil and Reggie can also wear it.
For Rafilia, Rita can also manage to wear it.
But Aine is just about in between - in other words, they don't fit either.
The one for Iris is too small and the one for Rafilia has too many parts left over.
That's why I have to buy a separate swimsuit for Aine.
That's one of the reasons why I decided to accompany Aine.
While I was here, I found a shop that sells swimwear. So I thought I could buy a swimsuit for Aine while I was there.
...... You know what, Nay-kun?
When I finished explaining, Aine was staring at me from across the table.
Nah-kun, have you been observing your sister's body shape so intently?
........................... ........................... Ah.
No, because we're rebuilding, and we're taking a bath together.
Besides, Aine is surprisingly close to me.
'Well, I don't look at her that closely, okay?
But you do see enough to know the size, right?
...... Yeah. It's your master.
Yes, it's ...... good.
Aine laughed softly, holding the chest of her maid's dress.
Then, for some reason, she tilted her head back.
'Huh? Isn't it good? Is this the part where you get mad at 'Nah-kun's Echi'? Do I have to tell you not to look at your sister like that? But I'm glad Aine....... Huh, what's that?
Aine, who for some reason has sweat on her forehead, starts flailing around with her arms.
'Wait a minute. I need time. Aine will stay like this for a while. ......
Aine held her head and turned her face away from me.
When I looked to the side, I looked at the side - the quest board was starting to empty.
Everyone had finished looking at the content of the quests and gathered in front of the guild people.
I've heard from the dwarf girls, but it's better to check it out for myself.
'Aine, can I have a look at your stuff for a moment?'
It's fine. Aine is in a bit of a funk, so she needs this light tea to calm down. I want you to leave it for a while. ......
All right, I'll be right back. I'll be right back.
And with that, I got up from my seat.
I hope she's okay. Aine.
"...... I'm in trouble.
Aine let out a long sigh. Then she relaxed her body.
Her face suddenly turned red.
I was able to deceive myself earlier, but the timing of 'Nay-kun' getting up from his seat was the limit.
I shouldn't do it, I shouldn't do it. It's not good.
...... but Nane, you've been watching over Aine for a while now: ......
The moment I said it out loud, my heart skipped a beat.
What am I going to do? I wonder if I'm going to be okay. I'm not sure I'll be able to last until we return to the villa.
I'm going to go buy a swimsuit, even though Natsuko will see me in my swimsuit.
Nah-kun, you thought about Aine, but you can't not show her your swimsuit.
I don't know if I'll be able to keep it up. I don't want my face to turn red .......
...... It's okay. Aine is the big sister. Aine is my big sister, and Nah-kun is my little brother.
Telling herself that, Aine took a deep breath.
And then - she realized.
Before I knew it, I had to tell myself that - that I had to tell myself that.
When did I start to feel this way?
When Nah-kun and Rita-san engaged with each other, I heard their voices for a little while. ......
...... Aine thought there was no need to hurry up with that kind of ......
It's no good.
I guess I'm a big sister ...... disqualified.
Aine is also the "big sister" of the party, so she won't be an idiot.
You can't get away from the fact that it's more important to get everyone's support. You'll be able to put your own affairs on the back burner.
It's a good thing that you're not going to be able to get away with it.
Aine and all my fellow slaves are important to me.
I thought I was going to support everyone and ...... the last thing I wanted to do was .............
'............ Aine, when did you become so weak ......?'
If Letitia were here, I would have said.
'You're just finding out now? I wonder if he'll laugh at me.
Or maybe he'll pat me on the back and say, 'Oh, I'm so good!
I wish someone would listen to me. ......
But since Aine is everyone's "big sister"...
...... Huh?
I heard a noise on the chair that Nay-kun was sitting on.
The leather bag for storing sachets and other small items is moving.
I'm sure you'll be able to find a way to make it work.
No, no, no, no, it's going to fall down.
Aine picked up the bag. When you touch it, you will find a round object inside.
It's the "Tenryu's Egg".
By the way, Nee-kun, did you say that the egg seems to have taken a liking to you?
I'm sure she wanted to follow you, so she brought it with her.
Nah, she'll be home soon, so just be quiet!
When Aine murmured, the 'Heavenly Dragon's Egg' stopped moving as if she could understand the words.
I can see it through the bag. It's just a little bit warm. A reassuring warmth.
Tenryu is the ally of man and its wings are the protector of travelers.
They must have been a gentle dragon, Aine thinks.
Can you listen to .................. Aine's story?
Aine found herself pursing her lips against the leather bag and mumbling aloud.
I felt a faint shiver, like an egg nodding.
'Aine is Nay-kun's big sister. But there's Aine who wants something different.
When you put it into words, it becomes clearer.
For Aine, "Nah-kun" is like a master and a younger brother, someone who guides her and her friends.
She wants to be with him forever, no matter what form it takes.
Aine is Nay-kun's slave.
But what holds Aine together is not a contract, but her feelings for Natsuko.
It's warm, it's tender, it's pleasing...
It's getting bigger and bigger, and before you know it, it's going to be out of the 'sissy' box.
...... Aine never thought she was so extravagant.
I was the one who wanted to be Nah-kun's "big sister".
I'm sure you thought that was enough to make you happy.
...... Before I knew it, I thought it wasn't enough.
I can still pretend that I don't see it now. Tomorrow ...... the day after tomorrow, I don't know what the day after that will be anymore.
My chest is hot. I can't stop throbbing. What should I do... what should I do... but...
...... Still, I'm happier than if I didn't know how this feels.
A noisy, adventurer's guild tavern.
Pretend to hug your bags so that no one can see you.
You don't say it out loud, you just tell yourself.
'You'll live a lot longer than Aine and the others. Remember. I'll remember your master, who Aine loved so much. I'm going to ask you to go to ...... to find out about the slave who has such feelings for that person.
It's a noisy bar.
Even so, Nay-kun's footsteps are easily recognizable.
Very strange.
Aine immediately turned into a 'big sister' face and held out her bags to Nay-kun who came back.
More. You can't. This bag has important things in it.
Nah-kun's face is like, "Oh, shit.
See?
Nah-kun is smart, strong, and amazing, but he can be dangerous sometimes.
Or maybe he trusts his friends too much ......?
Yeah. You have to be sure of your "big sister".
"...... I feel like an egg... or something in the bag is beating... aine, what did you do?
When Naya-kun received the package, he looked at her curiously.
............ Aine was just watching.
This is true. I didn't say it out loud.
I'm glad to see you've returned to your side. I'm sure.
I don't think so.
Aine would be a 'hoo-hoo'
This is also true. When I come back after leaving Nah-kun, I'll start dancing.
I'm sure my feelings will overflow.
That's why we should try not to leave her.
I have to make sure that Aine can be Nah-kun's big sister.
Then I'm going to buy a swimsuit. Should I ask Nay-kun to choose one that suits her perfectly?
Holding her throbbing chest, Aine stands up.
I handed the bags to Nah-kun and took his free hand.
It's a "don't work day".
The "big sister" in Aine is also taking a little bit of a break. That's all.
Well, either way, I'm still happy.
So....
It's not fair that she's the only one who's nervous.
You have to choose the best swimsuit you can afford to wear to get your master excited.
It's a very good idea to have a good idea of what you want to do.
It's a very good idea to have a good time with them.
It was the next evening when we left the cave and returned to our holiday home in Michelineira.The journey back was peaceful and we didn't encounter any enemies.I saw a few demons, but they were all lying flat in the distance.Instead of approaching us, they seemed to be watching over us rather than approaching us.I asked Rita, who was out scouting last night, if something happened, but she didn't answer.I mean, the moment I spoke to her, she turned bright red and slumped down and said, "WTF! And I was running away from it....... After what happened yesterday, I can't force myself to ask.But I'm pretty sure it's because of Rita. Maybe, just maybe.It's a good thing that the enemy doesn't show up, because that's why we were able to return to the villa smoothly.Maybe it's because we were forced to camp out after the quest, but by the time we arrived at the cottage, we were all exhausted.We ate a meal we bought at a food stall and decided to sleep.But before that...Tomorrow, you will not work for 24 hours.I said to everyone after we finished eating."I told you I'd be taking a vacation, but I haven't been able to rest at all.So, tomorrow is a mandatory day off.My guys are basically hard workers, so I need to force them to rest.But that doesn't mean I have to.I have a lot of things I need to do, like gather information.Tomorrow I'm going to go around the city by myself and see what I can find out about the Countess and the Prince.'At ......, but, Nagi-sama,'You will not be allowed to argue with me. I invoke my master's authority....... ugh.Cecil and everyone else looked like they wanted to say something.But in order to establish "proper vacation" in this world, this was a non-negotiable.What do you guys say?...... yes! That's why 24 hours tomorrow was a "day not to work".However, if you go out as a reward, ...... seems to be the exception to that rule.I'm going to go out with you then. Nah-kun.Aine and I are going to go out together.I promised Rita and Aine that I would give them "time to spend with me" when we attacked "Foggy Valley".I wanted to ask Rita what she wanted too, but she's still shy and won't come out of her room today....... She still seems to be concerned about what happened after she took a bath the night before last.No, I remember it, too. I'm not going to forget about it."Rita, what do you want to do?Do you want to come with me?'Wahhhh .................. not yet, Murry ......... ...I knock on the door of my room and a faint voice comes back.It can't be helped.It's my day off, you know. I can't force them to do so.That's why Aine was given priority in terms of remuneration - we decided to go out together.Aine, you know that today is 'not a good day to work', right?I know. This is Aine's reward.'My plan is to go to the Adventurer's Guild and gather information, go around town and check out the best-selling products and stuff, and then I'm going to do the surrounding geography at .......It's okay. Aine's just going with it.I wonder if it's okay.Even the Magic Sword Leggy is off today, and I, for one, am equipped with a spare shortsword.''Aine, you don't have any of your previous workaholics left, do you?Do you need to work to get comfortable?You're not the same as you think you are.Saying that, Aine held the chest of her maid's uniform.''It's a 'soul vacation' for Aine to be with Nah-kun....... first time hearing those words.Just walking and talking with Nay-kun is enough to make Aine's soul feel at ease. That's why it's okay.'Vacation of the soul'.It's a nice term, but it's going to be abused by black companies.'Give me a break,' 'You've done a soul vacation.But Aine is smiling serenely.I'm sure she is happy with the way she looks, so just make sure I don't make her work."Besides, spending a vacation with Nay-kun is a treat for everyone, right?With that, Aine pointed across the hallway.Well, whisper it.The living room, the kitchen, the top of the stairs.The figure that had been peeping around quickly disappeared.Silver hair and green and pink hair. And a golden tail and red twin-tails.It was only faintly visible.'Don't worry about it.'Aine whispers softly in my ear.'Because today Aine will 'put it all on the line to not work. You will obey your master's orders.Our first stop was the Adventurer's Guild in the resort town of Mishlila.Since there are many people coming and going, it's a great place to gather information.First, we order a drink at the bar and sit down.Aine and I pretended to be discussing quests, listening closely to the voices around us.'...... And yet, it's crowded.'...... It's crowded. Surprise.It's completely different from the last time I was here.There's a line at reception, and there's a crowd of people in front of the quest board.There's even less room to look at the posted quests.Aine, is there anything you've noticed?'This tea doesn't have enough time to steep. The leaves aren't fully opened.Aine sipped on her cup and made a reluctant face.I can't let Nay-kun drink this stuff. Aine's going to make a fresh pot of wine!'It doesn't matter. I mean, it's a non-working day, right?...... mmm.Aine reluctantly sat back down as she started to get up.'Anything else you've noticed?''A chance at full-time employment,' everyone says.I knew that's where Aine was stuck, too.They're all talking so loudly that I can hear them well.On the quest board, the quests requested by the royal family are posted, and it seems that in addition to the usual rewards, it also says about being promoted to a regular soldier.'His Highness Prince Kravis, the eighth prince, requested me to do this for him. Depending on the results, there is a possibility of being officially hired as a close guard."You could be a wizard in the royal household."Calling all who are willing to do so."Mass recruitment that may never happen again."Don't miss this opportunity!...... I'm getting goosebumps because of my experience in the original world.When I see these terms and conditions, I think 'fishy' without question. Especially from the words 'official employment', 'motivated' and 'may never again', a hint of doubt can be felt in the air.But I wonder if it's different in this world.Everyone's in a panic, and they're all inquiring about it from the guild.''So you're saying that there's a quest to hire a bunch of adventurers at Prince Kravis's request.The people around me are talking loudly, so I'm getting a lot of information just sitting here like this.It's like everyone knows that the attack on 'Foggy Valley' has been cancelled.Aine has her cup in her hand, nodding yes, yes.'...... This is just something I hear on its own. It's not information gathering, it's a natural phenomenon.Well, it's all right, isn't it?Thud, thud, thud.As we sipped our thin tea, we listened carefully to the voices that filled the guild.According to what we've heard, the Valley of the Mist is thought to have collapsed naturally.The Countess, who "happened to go to check on it," found it and told Prince Kravis about it.But Prince Kravis was preparing another quest "as he knew it".It's a quest that requires a large number of adventurers, and the guild is currently buzzing with adventurers who are looking for it.I'd like a little more information, but I can't get anywhere near the quest board. The guild has its hands full.If you're not busy...Watto. Wachi.osteomyelitisSuddenly, something thin bumped against my leg.'I'm sorry. Customer." "I was in the middle of cleaning. Customer.Little girls were mopping the floor of the tavern.They're only about my height, up to my chest, and they both have one mop.They're dwarf girls.Aine tells me.I don't have a beard. I thought dwarves were supposed to have beards, even girls have beards, but apparently not in this world. They look like small, slightly bony demi-humans.I've seen these girls somewhere: ...... I know.They were the front-line slaves in Misty Valley.They're not wearing collars anymore. They seem to be free of their master-slave contracts. Good.Are you the new employees of ......?It's Sula... or Leela.The two dwarven girls answered together.They were twins, or maybe they were twins, but their faces were very similar. The hair was in a ponytail on one side and a side tail on the other. The one with the slightly raised eyes was Sura and the one with sleepy eyes was Leela.I was introduced to you by the sweet Countess, and I've decided to work here."Please, thank you for your help.with a bangBoth dwarf girls bowed their heads at the same time.I see.If they were working for the Countess, they might have some information.The area around the quest board was still very crowded.The guild staff is scurrying about at the quest reception desk.They'd be good to know what to do with them.Excuse me, sir. May I have a word with these girls for a moment?When the tavern waitress came around, I asked permission to speak with the dwarf girls. The tips were a silver coin each for the waitress and the dwarf girls.''This girl just came to the guild, right?I don't think you know anything about it, do you?It's customary in my hometown to talk to the guild staff before accepting quests. To get a feel for the atmosphere.I made up a random story for now.'It's just weird not to do these things. Okay?The waitress gave me a funny look, but she allowed me to say, "For a short time.'You guys served Countess Carmina, Lady Carmina. ......I turned to the dwarven girls, Sura and Leela.'That's a tough one. I've heard the Countess can be cruel.''No, it's not!'The girls raised their voices in unison.Carmina-sama has offered us a job and has even invested in this quest.The Countess Carmina has changed for the better!When I probed, I got an unexpected response.That means the 'contract' I made with the countess seems to be working.I'm sorry. I had heard some bad things about the Countess in the town I was in before.This is not a lie.The Countess's father, Count Rigilta, has treated Aine so badly.'Lord Carmina has changed for the better, you mean ...... until now?Until now, Lady Carmina has only been in a hurry, for the nobles have been fighting in support of the prince.The dwarven girls began to speak in hushed tones.The princes in this country have different status and fiefdoms after adulthood depending on how much they have achieved.For this reason, each prince has a nobleman as his patron, and it is said that they provide various assistance to the prince. The nobles hope that the prince they support will improve his performance and receive a good fiefdom.The reason why Prince Kravis aimed to capture the Valley of the Mist is also because of his achievements.Countess Carmina is supporting the prince for the sake of her house.She was impatient with her achievements for this reason, but now she's changed into a good person.''Is the good Countess investing in this quest too?That would be a relief, wouldn't it?It has been funded, but that is all, and the quest itself was sent out by the Prince.Do you know what the quest is?I saw it during the morning's sobriety, and it is a quest for justice.The dwarven girls puffed out their chests, ahem.'There was a group of demons gathered in a certain abandoned fort as an aid to get it back.'Adventurers are needed!So the old fort was taken by a demon .......Since there's a demon king, it's not very safe. I knew it.It's a very decent idea to get it back, though.It's true that if you want to capture the fort, you need people, and I can see why adventurers who are able to slay demons would be called in.It's surprisingly normal for the quests I've seen so far.'So that's why it's 'mass recruitment' and 'regular employment available'.First of all, you will fight the demons outside the fort, and the best ones will be hired there as regulars and enter the fort.What about the other adventurers?You are to assist in the extermination of demons outside, and only the regulars will be allowed to enter the fort....... Maybe Prince Charming is a very decent person?If you just listen to the story, this quest makes sense.In other words, adventurers who accept the quest will be assigned according to their abilities.The best ones will be recruited as regular soldiers to capture the dangerous interior of the fort.The lesser ones will assist in attacking the fort from the outside.It's a fantasy world, so does that mean they can take away a discarded fort? There's a demon king on the other side of the ocean, and he's leading the demons in battle. It wouldn't be surprising if he sent an army over here.''If you're a good adventurer, this is your chance to make a name for yourself.Are you a good customer too?The next thing I know, the dwarf girls, Leela and Sula, were looking at me with beady eyes.'No, no,'''Really?You look strong, though."How?It's a hint...If you were good, you'd be waiting in line.In front of the quest board, there's still a crowd of people.If it's a request from the 8th Prince Clavis soon, there's no doubt about the job's content, and if he's made a regular soldier or a wizard directly under him, his life will be stable.Even if you don't get hired as a regular employee, you'll still have a career that says 'I participated in a quest commissioned by the royal family,' which will lead to another job.No wonder people want to do it.'...... Maybe I'm just being cynical.'Or that you get goosebumps. It's the kind of thing you never want to do.I know there's something about you that is very clear to me, so I'll explain it to you in a moment.It is not yet known when the quest will begin.The first step is to gather the adventurers up to the prescribed number of adventurers.They will be detained for 14 days.If they can't capture the fort, they will have to retreat and rethink their strategy.The reward is 4,800 arsha.For the duration of the quest, you will be provided with food, shelter and weapons.It comes with recovery magic by the priests.Wave your arms, spin your body around, and mix gestures to use magic...The dwarf girl explained carefully.'All right. Thank you. I'm sorry to have taken up so much of your time.Aine, can I ask you one question?Aine, who had been quietly listening to the conversation, called out to them.''You know what, Leela, Sula. Is the guild master here an old man?Or is it a young man?At Aine's question, the lid dwarf girl shook her head.'He is a young man, sir, and a man.Yeah. Thank you. It's my way of saying thank you.With that, Aine handed the dwarven girls a copper coin.''If you need anything else, please don't hesitate to call out to me.The girls bowed their heads with a peck, and then went back to cleaning.'Aine, what did you mean by that?'I asked.'When I was in The Commoner's Guild, I talked to my grandfather once,'Aine took a thin cup of tea, frowned and put down her cup.'I heard that the adventurer guild master of the retreat was an old man, a respectable man with ties to the royal family.The royal family connection?Maybe it's because this is a retreat.Yes. I've been doing things for the royals who come for retreats and things like that.Metecal's 'Common People's Guild' and this town's guild had a connection. That's why Aine has information, and we were able to show her the materials from 'Valley of the Mist'.'When Aine met that person, he said to me, 'If Aine was our child, the adventurer's guild here would be safe.'If Aine was a child, the Adventurer's Guild would be safe.That means it's not, and it's not safe now... so....... Does that mean you're worried about the second generation?Aine nodded her head in response to my question.I'm a nice guy, but he always wants to put on a good face for customers, adventurers and guild staff. No matter what they say to you, you say, 'Yes, I understand.'There are people like that: ......'When things get out of hand, he says he's sorry and throws the whole thing to his subordinates. Basically, he's a nice guy.You're not the type of person to be a boss: ......Of course, it was a long time ago. You don't know what it is now.Looking around the guild, Aine sighed.Even though she quit, she's a former apprentice guild master, so she's still concerned about the state of the guild.''But even though the inside of the guild is in such a big mess, that person doesn't seem to be here....... I see.We're not registered here.We're not clients, we're not affiliated with them.It doesn't give me any right to tell you what to do.'I don't think the quest that the royal family officially asked for couldn't have been terrible: ......Aine has a thud on her face.This isn't good.If I let you look like this in spite of the fact that it's my vacation, the master has failed.I wasn't going to think about work today....... and now it's like this."Aine, come with me to see the bathing suit."...... a piece of swiss?Aine looked up and looked at me curiously.'You promised to go swimming during your vacation, right? Then you'll need a swimsuit, right?But I'm sure Iris's father sent her a lot of bathing suits.Yeah. It's true.For some reason, after rescuing the lord from the golem, he gave Iris and Rafilia a dozen swimsuits for a dozen or so people.''But that was to fit Iris and Rafilia's body shapes.For Iris, Cecil and Reggie can also wear it.For Rafilia, Rita can also manage to wear it.But Aine is just about in between - in other words, they don't fit either.The one for Iris is too small and the one for Rafilia has too many parts left over.That's why I have to buy a separate swimsuit for Aine.That's one of the reasons why I decided to accompany Aine.While I was here, I found a shop that sells swimwear. So I thought I could buy a swimsuit for Aine while I was there....... You know what, Nay-kun?When I finished explaining, Aine was staring at me from across the table.Nah-kun, have you been observing your sister's body shape so intently?........................... ........................... Ah.No, because we're rebuilding, and we're taking a bath together.Besides, Aine is surprisingly close to me.'Well, I don't look at her that closely, okay?But you do see enough to know the size, right?...... Yeah. It's your master.Yes, it's ...... good.Aine laughed softly, holding the chest of her maid's dress.Then, for some reason, she tilted her head back.'Huh?Isn't it good?Is this the part where you get mad at 'Nah-kun's Echi'?Do I have to tell you not to look at your sister like that?But I'm glad Aine....... Huh, what's that?Aine, who for some reason has sweat on her forehead, starts flailing around with her arms.'Wait a minute. I need time. Aine will stay like this for a while. ......Aine held her head and turned her face away from me.When I looked to the side, I looked at the side - the quest board was starting to empty.Everyone had finished looking at the content of the quests and gathered in front of the guild people.I've heard from the dwarf girls, but it's better to check it out for myself.'Aine, can I have a look at your stuff for a moment?'It's fine. Aine is in a bit of a funk, so she needs this light tea to calm down. I want you to leave it for a while. ......All right, I'll be right back. I'll be right back.And with that, I got up from my seat.I hope she's okay. Aine."...... I'm in trouble.Aine let out a long sigh. Then she relaxed her body.Her face suddenly turned red.I was able to deceive myself earlier, but the timing of 'Nay-kun' getting up from his seat was the limit.I shouldn't do it, I shouldn't do it. It's not good....... but Nane, you've been watching over Aine for a while now: ......The moment I said it out loud, my heart skipped a beat.What am I going to do? I wonder if I'm going to be okay. I'm not sure I'll be able to last until we return to the villa.I'm going to go buy a swimsuit, even though Natsuko will see me in my swimsuit.Nah-kun, you thought about Aine, but you can't not show her your swimsuit.I don't know if I'll be able to keep it up. I don't want my face to turn red ............. It's okay. Aine is the big sister. Aine is my big sister, and Nah-kun is my little brother.Telling herself that, Aine took a deep breath.And then - she realized.Before I knew it, I had to tell myself that - that I had to tell myself that.When did I start to feel this way?When Nah-kun and Rita-san engaged with each other, I heard their voices for a little while. ............ Aine thought there was no need to hurry up with that kind of ......It's no good.I guess I'm a big sister ...... disqualified.Aine is also the "big sister" of the party, so she won't be an idiot.You can't get away from the fact that it's more important to get everyone's support. You'll be able to put your own affairs on the back burner.It's a good thing that you're not going to be able to get away with it.Aine and all my fellow slaves are important to me.I thought I was going to support everyone and ...... the last thing I wanted to do was .............'............ Aine, when did you become so weak ......?'If Letitia were here, I would have said.'You're just finding out now? I wonder if he'll laugh at me.Or maybe he'll pat me on the back and say, 'Oh, I'm so good!I wish someone would listen to me. ......But since Aine is everyone's "big sister"......... Huh?I heard a noise on the chair that Nay-kun was sitting on.The leather bag for storing sachets and other small items is moving.I'm sure you'll be able to find a way to make it work.No, no, no, no, it's going to fall down.Aine picked up the bag. When you touch it, you will find a round object inside.It's the "Tenryu's Egg".By the way, Nee-kun, did you say that the egg seems to have taken a liking to you?I'm sure she wanted to follow you, so she brought it with her.Nah, she'll be home soon, so just be quiet!When Aine murmured, the 'Heavenly Dragon's Egg' stopped moving as if she could understand the words.I can see it through the bag. It's just a little bit warm. A reassuring warmth.Tenryu is the ally of man and its wings are the protector of travelers.They must have been a gentle dragon, Aine thinks.Can you listen to .................. Aine's story?Aine found herself pursing her lips against the leather bag and mumbling aloud.I felt a faint shiver, like an egg nodding.'Aine is Nay-kun's big sister. But there's Aine who wants something different.When you put it into words, it becomes clearer.For Aine, "Nah-kun" is like a master and a younger brother, someone who guides her and her friends.She wants to be with him forever, no matter what form it takes.Aine is Nay-kun's slave.But what holds Aine together is not a contract, but her feelings for Natsuko.It's warm, it's tender, it's pleasing...It's getting bigger and bigger, and before you know it, it's going to be out of the 'sissy' box....... Aine never thought she was so extravagant.I was the one who wanted to be Nah-kun's "big sister".I'm sure you thought that was enough to make you happy....... Before I knew it, I thought it wasn't enough.I can still pretend that I don't see it now. Tomorrow ...... the day after tomorrow, I don't know what the day after that will be anymore.My chest is hot. I can't stop throbbing. What should I do... what should I do... but......... Still, I'm happier than if I didn't know how this feels.A noisy, adventurer's guild tavern.Pretend to hug your bags so that no one can see you.You don't say it out loud, you just tell yourself.'You'll live a lot longer than Aine and the others. Remember. I'll remember your master, who Aine loved so much. I'm going to ask you to go to ...... to find out about the slave who has such feelings for that person.It's a noisy bar.Even so, Nay-kun's footsteps are easily recognizable.Very strange.Aine immediately turned into a 'big sister' face and held out her bags to Nay-kun who came back.More. You can't. This bag has important things in it.Nah-kun's face is like, "Oh, shit.See?Nah-kun is smart, strong, and amazing, but he can be dangerous sometimes.Or maybe he trusts his friends too much ......?Yeah. You have to be sure of your "big sister"."...... I feel like an egg... or something in the bag is beating... aine, what did you do?When Naya-kun received the package, he looked at her curiously............. Aine was just watching.This is true. I didn't say it out loud.I'm glad to see you've returned to your side. I'm sure.I don't think so.Aine would be a 'hoo-hoo'This is also true. When I come back after leaving Nah-kun, I'll start dancing.I'm sure my feelings will overflow.That's why we should try not to leave her.I have to make sure that Aine can be Nah-kun's big sister.Then I'm going to buy a swimsuit. Should I ask Nay-kun to choose one that suits her perfectly?Holding her throbbing chest, Aine stands up.I handed the bags to Nah-kun and took his free hand.It's a "don't work day".The "big sister" in Aine is also taking a little bit of a break. That's all.Well, either way, I'm still happy.So....It's not fair that she's the only one who's nervous.You have to choose the best swimsuit you can afford to wear to get your master excited.It's a very good idea to have a good idea of what you want to do.It's a very good idea to have a good time with them.
