Day 2.
When I woke up that morning, a major incident had occurred.
My sleeping companion was Chive, but Chive wasn't wearing a single thing.
Chive's sleepwear is that yellow tracksuit-like thing she always wears.
It even had a zipper, this tracksuit knockoff. And believe it or not, it's a Legendary.
A treasure Chive once found deep inside a certain dungeon.
It's something I'm intimately familiar with from my past life memories, but in this world it apparently qualifies as a Legendary.
Huh? It regulates body temperature to match the outside air... Isn't that something Riv would do?
So anyway. When I woke up in the morning, the thing had been pulled off — top and bottom — and she was stark naked.
Look, I've seen her naked plenty of times in the bath, so I'm used to it — No, no I'm not.
Even if she's flat-chested, scrawny, ribs showing, and has this weird body with a soft butt.
It's still a girl's naked body.
She was supposed to be wearing underwear, so why was she completely nude under the tracksuit?
And just when I figured it was some tasteless prank on Chive's part, it turned out to be nothing of the sort.
Because when Chive woke up and saw herself, she let out a very cute scream.
After that, Shiro woke up from the scream. Muniéka, who was already up and in the kitchen, came over.
To top it off, the witch who'd been enjoying her morning bath came out just as she was, and thus the major incident was born.
Well, the meeting that followed concluded without any particular upheaval or confusion.
I was surprised, though, that "evaluations of each branch's Delvers' Guild masters" was on the agenda.
By the way, the Delvers' Guild Hydrangea Branch Guild Master is Arance.
Collapsed from overwork, currently resting up. Good work out there.
And the one who'd been most active during this evaluation was Arveld.
The Witch, Kaede, and the Delvers' Knight Order Commander, Peony, all weighed in with their opinions.
But frustratingly, it felt like everything Arveld said was spot on.
And so the meeting came to an end.
I mean, it was a meeting, so that's to be expected, but still — felt kind of flat.
Not flashy, I guess you'd say. Lacking any real spectacle. It's a meeting, so that's only natural, but still.
Anyway, putting all that aside, Hydrangea is boiling over like a geyser.
This is the first time since I moved here that I've felt this kind of frenzy.
The main street is lined wall to wall with stalls, packed so tight there's not a single gap.
The crowds are so rowdy that the military police are shouting and hauling people away.
They're so understaffed that the military police have actually resorted to hiring delvers.
Even Bid seems to be out on patrol with a new recruit I haven't even met yet.
Also, on the main street, they've been running hero parades on a timed schedule.
They carry hero statues on special carts in a procession. Like a festival float, maybe?
Come to think of it, there are hero statues all over the city — but what exactly is a "hero"?
I've never really thought about it before, but I'm starting to wonder a little.
Stalls, huh. Being here, I don't feel any sense of festival at all.
Juuisshi
It's an honorary position, and I have a fair amount of freedom.
Maybe I could take a walk around after the exhibition match is over.
And today's exhibition match.
It's Axe versus Ensu.
I wonder what he's going to do, Axe.
He said something about punching the guy in one shot, but can he really pull that off?
That family is way too complicated to begin with.
Forget all that — food. I need food. But still...
Hmm. Muttering to myself, I make my way toward the restaurant district.
"Wof!"
I'm called out to halfway there, and when I turn around, it's Mineha.
"Mineha."
"'It's been a while' feels kind of weird to say, doesn't it."
"Yeah, it does."
Mineha had turned into a fairial. She circled my head once before settling down on my right shoulder. It had been a while since she'd done that, too.
"Mineha."
I call her name, and a fairial comes flying over. Oh — this one.
She'd noticed me too.
"Oh my, it's you. From that time."
So it really is her. The female fairial who got lost before.
During the meeting she was small and in the back, so I couldn't make out her face from where I was.
I gave a slight bow. Mineha asked casually.
"Mother. Do you know him?"
"Yes, he's the boy who kindly guided me when I got lost... but why is Mineha sitting on your shoulder?"
"Because it's my seat."
It's not really a seat, but whatever. Time to introduce myself.
"Nice to meet you. I'm Wof."
"You're... I see. So it's you. Nice to meet you. I'm Ruriha, Mineha's mother."
She smiled softly and with a little "up we go" plopped herself down on my left shoulder.
W-what is this situation. Even Mineha looked surprised.
Fairials on both shoulders.
One way or another, I'm always carrying Dagaa or Hiyaan or someone up there.
So I'd gotten used to the weight on my shoulders.
I wonder if Dagaa is all right. For now, I'd left her in Torquetam's care.
Well, that guy always manages somehow, and Torquetam already knows the place, so it should be fine.
"Mother...?"
"Fufufu. This is nice. So, Wof — where are you headed?"
"To eat. But Cidrel-tei Second is always packed, so I was thinking of somewhere else."
"You certainly wouldn't get a seat right now."
"Exactly. That's why I'm not sure what to do."
The restaurant district has all sorts of dining establishments.
I haven't tried any of the other places, but stepping into somewhere unfamiliar takes a certain amount of courage.
"How were you two planning to have your meal?"
"We'll eat in our room."
"In your room?"
"Yes. We have a personal chef with us."
As expected of the 'Fairy Queen.' A personal chef — first time I'd ever heard of that.
"Then why don't you join us, Wof?"
"Me too?"
"Mm-hm. Authentic fairial cuisine. You haven't tried it before, have you?"
"Oh, that does sound lovely."
Authentic fairial cuisine. I was interested.
"Well then, I'll take you up on your offer. I'd love to."
"Hehe, no need to be so formal. Your shoulder — it's nice and comfortable to sit on."
"Is that so?"
"...You remind me of my husband."
Wh— wait, Ruriha leaned her cheek against mine.
It was warm and soft. Her face pressed against my cheek.
"Mother...!?"
"You should try it too."
Luriha grinned mischievously. Ah, how very adult of her.
"Mother, stop it!"
Mineha's face turned bright red as she let her legs dangle.
What even is this. And so, with both of them riding on my shoulders, I headed back to the room.
It was on the way that we ran into a man wearing a hood, with a fairial perched on his shoulder.
I couldn't help but stop in my tracks.
"Air."
Mineha whispered.
The fairial called Air had fluffy, peach-pink side-tails and matching eyes.
She wore a blue dress. A thoroughly adorable girl.
"Mineha...?"
"It's been a while."
"Y-yes..."
"Air, you know her?"
"You see, the childhood friend I told you about before... she's supposed to be..."
"She's clearly a charming woman, no matter how you look at it."
"Fufu, I knew you'd think so."
"Lady Luriha! I-it's been so long!"
"Air. You look well. Zeeks too."
"Luriha. It's been a while."
"Zeeks?"
"If I recall... he was a First-Rank Delver, the"
"'Six-Attribute User,'"
"wasn't he?"
He had a full six attribute Relics in his possession.
When he noticed me, he waved.
"H-hey there."
That's when Air turned to look at me.
"Carrying Mineha and Lady Luriha on your shoulders... and who are you?"
"Nice to meet you. I'm Wof."
"Oh — you're that witch's apprentice, the nighttime 'Unconquerable King'!"
Wait, wait wait wait wait.
"I mean, I'm the witch's apprentice, sure, but I'm not the nighttime 'Unconquerable King'!"
King?! What's that even supposed to mean?! And nighttime?!
"Oh my, is that so? Or is it not?"
"Lady Luriha... that's not right."
"You really do get called all sorts of things, don't you."
"Tell me about it..."
Mineha rested her cheek on her hand, looking exasperated. The things people say about me — I really can't keep track anymore.
"Fuhahaha, now that's interesting."
"Sorry about that. So, um... you know each other? You two?"
"That's the thing, Ea. They seem to be living together."
"E-cohabiting... Mineha. You. Are you cohabiting?"
"You're living together, huh?"
"Y-yes."
"...I-see... yes."
Ea looked completely dumbfounded.
"Oh my, you two are partners too, aren't you?"
"We are, but—"
"When we camp in the dungeon, we take turns on watch, and at inns we get separate rooms."
"I've never shared a room with Ziegs."
"Right. Um, hey, Mineha."
"What?"
"...You've grown up, haven't you."
Ea said to Mineha, deeply moved.
Her expression looked complicated.
"Huh? I haven't."
"But you... it's... it's not like that?"
"Like what?"
Mineha tilted her head in bewilderment. I tilted mine too. Ziegs said nothing.
Then Ruriha laughed.
"Aire. I know what you're trying to say. Being innocent really is a sin, isn't it?"
"So you're not naturally airheaded?"
"You're such a know-it-all."
Having been needled, Aire's cheeks flushed a faint pink.
"It's only natural to know at least that much."
"What on earth are you talking about? Aire. Mother."
"It's nothing."
"It's fine, Mineha. You just stay the way you are."
"...Understood."
"By the way, Mineha. You're facing Ruriha in tomorrow's exhibition match, aren't you? Are you serious about that?"
"What? Of course I am."
"But dear... that OOPArt..."
"It's fine, Aire. There's nothing to worry about on that front."
"Ruriha? R-Really? If that's so, then... I suppose that's fine."
"Thank you for worrying about Mineha."
"I-I wasn't worried or anything."
"Were you worried about me?"
"No, I wasn't. Why would I be?"
"You're not very honest, are you?"
"You're so annoying. Well then, I'll be going now. Mineha. There's a match tomorrow, so I'll be watching."
"Air. Yeah. Thanks."
"I don't need your thanks or anything."
"Not very honest, are you?"
"Let's go. Zeeks. Come on, walk."
"Sure, sure. Ruriha. Well then, take care."
"Yes, Zeeks. Take care of Air for me, will you?"
"Of course."
Air and Zeeks strolled off unhurriedly.
I said to Mineha.
"Good friends, huh."
"Yeah. The not-honest part is a flaw in the jewel, though."
That was... I guess? I looked at Mineha.
What do you think?
After that, we headed to Ruriha and Mineha's room.
The dedicated chef was also a fairial. Their name was Sheffl.
The authentic fairial cuisine they immediately showed us was, honestly, a surprise.
It was curry. Spiced curry, at that. Ah, Ogikubo.
I'd been wanting to eat curry too, so I tried to whip something up.
But the crucial spices were missing. Cumin, turmeric, coriander, and the like.
I managed to put together something resembling curry by gathering spices I didn't have in my past-life memories.
As it turned out, it was actually on the menu at the Cider Pavilion. I knew it was reasonably popular, too.
But to me, it wasn't really curry, so I'd never ordered it once.
Mineha had ordered it a few times, but I wondered what she really thought of it.
What made me even happier was finding a spice curry with spinach on the menu.
Spinach spice curry had always been my favorite.
"...Is it good?"
"Yes! It's amazing!"
"Then how about I make it for you when we get back?"
"Really? Please do!"
"Calm down a little. What's the big deal? You liked it that much?"
"Yes! I've wanted to eat it for so long, I wanted it so, so badly, that's why it tastes so wonderful."
"...Shéfuru."
"Yes? What is it?"
"I... I'll do my best."
"Yes. Let's do our best together."
"Ufufu, how nice, Wof."
"Yes."
"There's still plenty left, so don't be shy—eat as much as you want."
"Y-yes."
Ah, but I'm getting pretty full by now.
I mean, I can't eat as much as a fairial. That's just not happening.
But when Ruriha tells you to keep going, what choice do you have but to do your best?
I did my best. I really, truly did my best.
And then I collapsed.