Chapter 149
New Patreon goal: 7 Days (chapters) of Nigotta Hitomi no Lilianne.
When the goal is reached, I will dedicate an entire week's schedule to Nigotta Hitomi no Lilianne.
Appearing connections.
While Claude and others were awaiting the slave trader, Felice's group who was at standby at the carriage was eating.
"Al, eat veggies too!" (Gai)
"I will eat them later." (Albert)
"You are saying that, but you have never eaten them!" (Gai)
"Ah, there you go, everyone. We have plenty so don't be reserved. Gray-kun's group too, eat up." (Felice)
"Can call me Gray… please. " (Gray)
"Thank you very much for saving us." (Nick)
"We would have gotten sold if it were only us." (El)
"At worst, death… ham, ham……… grat.i.tude." (Rona)
"Rona! Express your grat.i.tude before eating, okay!?" (Gray)
"You have to thank for the food properly." (Nick)
"And don't talk while eating!" (El)
"Gulp… but I am starving. And this is yummy." (Rona)
"""Ugh…""" (Gray, El, Nick)
~~ Guu~
The three who scolded Rona who was eating before they noticed put their faces closer to Gai's special-made sandwiches, causing their stomachs to rumble and their faces turn red.
"Now, now, eat up as well, you three. Yahar-san and others too, do have some." (Felice)
"Yes, thank you very much. I wanted to express my grat.i.tude for saving us, you even helped us recover our store's goods." (Yahar)
"It was just a coincidence, though. We wouldn't know if we didn't accept baggage-carrying request yesterday." (Felice)
"Yes, it was truly a blessing in disguise. Nevertheless, this is really delicious, isn't it?" (Yahar)
"The food was made by Gai." (Felice)
"Desserts were made by Feli, though." (Albert)
"Umm, this may be shameless of me, but can we take this home with us… please?" (Gray)
"You don't have to force yourself to speak respectfully, Gray. We are currently adventurers, just like you." (Albert)
"Err… then, won't you share the food with us?" (Gray)
"You really don't have to hold back to eat here, though." (Felice)
"That's not it, I would like my mother, little brothers, and little sisters try it as well." (Gray)
"You said you guys were from an orphanage, right?" (Albert)
"Yeah. We had food every day in the past, but recently…" (Gray)
"We are the oldest in the orphanage, so we decided to work in order to buy food." (Nick)
"But, there weren't any places that would employ children like us." (El)
"That's why we became adventurers." (Rona)
"You say you are the oldest, but how old are you guys? Me
"I am 18." (Gai)
"I am 12, Nick and El are 11, Rona is 10. We have become adventurers just recently and still are E-ranks." (Gray)
"Do you not have weapons?" (Albert)
"We'd rather food than weapons, after all." (Gray)
"Besides, we don't know how to use them." (Nick)
"We thought we didn't have a need for weapons since we were E-ranks." (El)
"Didn't end well." (Rona)
(I wished to become an adventurer on my own, and everyone helped me. But, these children did not wish to become adventurers. Despite that, they are desperately doing their best for their family.)
While Felice who heard about the situation of Gray's group was thinking just how blessed her environment is, Yahar who was eating inquired.
"You have a Sister in the orphanage, no? In that case, it would make the orphanage a country's orphanage and you should be receiving monetary support." (Yahar)
"Monetary support? Come to think of it, Mother did say that it was thanks to His Majesty that we could eat proper meals in the past." (Gray)
"The other day, I heard Mother saying that the Priest…-sama did not have any money." (Gray)
"If Sister is your Mother, wouldn't be the Priest like your father?" (Felice)
"That fellow is not our Father." (El)
"Absolutely not." (Rona)
While feeling uneasy about El's and Rona's displeased reply to Felice's question, Yahar continued talking.
"I did not hear anything about monetary support being canceled." (Yahar)
"Eh? Then why did that guy say that there was no money?" (Gray)
"That's… " (Yahar)
"""That priest is suspicious.""" (Albert, Felice, Gai)
"… Indeed." (Yahar)
""""!?"""" (Gray, Nick, El, Rona)
"What, did something happen?" (Meison)
Hearing Yahar's faltering words, Felice, Albert, and Gai's words overlapped.
When Gray and the other three opened their eyes wide in shock, Meison peeked his face at the entrance.
"Meison-san? What's the matter?" (Felice)
"I heard from Claude about the Chimera so I came. Rather than that, what about a priest?" (Meison)
"Actually~~" (Felice)
When Felice explained the situation, Meison frowned.
"As Yahar-dono said, the monetary support system is still ongoing. The priest certainly is suspicious, but the money should have been in the custody of the Feudal Lord. It might be the Feudal Lord. Or perhaps, both of them. It would be better to report this to Claude." (Meison)
"Then, shall I go tell him?" (Gai)
"Not right now. He's in the midst of capturing the slave trader. Olivia will come to notify us when they are done." (Meison)
Meison did not know what Claude had in plan for the bandits, so he decided to wait for the notification by the carriages.
Rona who had received a shock because of the matter with the priest reacted to Olivia's name.
Her eyes were seemingly sparkling.
"Olivia… -san, the person in black?" (Rona)
"Person in black? Ah, yeah. Correct. She's the person who came to notify us that help is on the way." (Felice)
"That person had no presence and scent. Amazing." (Rona)
"You are interested in Olivia, Rona?" (Felice)
"Yeah." (Rona)
"Rona is sensitive to presences and scent. Both Rona and I are Beastmen who so finding those who hide their presence is our strong point, but she is not possible. I think Olivisan is incredible despite being a human." (Gray)
"Yeah." (Rona)
"That reminds me, Feli got startled each time Olivia suddenly appeared in the past." (Albert)
"Indeed. Even you and I can't notice her without magical power detection." (Gai)
"Thank you very much for your generous praises. However, I find it unfortunate that I can't witness Felice-sama's adorable expression when startled." (Olivia)
""Certainly."" (Albert & Gai)
"I am not adorable! There's no need to be startled anymore, I now feel that it's given for Olivia to be by my side, it makes me feel at ease… anyhow, there's no need to get startled since it's Olivia, right?" (Felice)
"Felice-sama…" (Olivia)
Gray and others stared with their mouths open at Oliva whose cheeks dyed pink from being deeply moved.
"""… Wha, you are here!?""" (Albert, Felice, Gai)