Chapter 37
When we left the Adventurers' Guild, it was already completely dark outside.
Lights spilled from the shops lining the street as people came and went in search of dinner.
"Allen-san."
Felicia, walking beside me, called out.
"Yes?"
"Would you like to have dinner somewhere before we go back?"
"Sounds good."
We'd only just returned to Belgrant.
We could eat at the inn, but since we had the chance, I'd like to eat out for the first time in a while.
"Besides, I want to celebrate today."
"Celebrate becoming B-Rank?"
"That's part of it, but there's something more important."
"Something else?"
Felicia smiled a little.
"That we both made it back safely."
"...I see."
I had no objections to that.
"Let's celebrate properly."
"Yes."
When we'd left for the battlefield, there had been no guarantee either of us would return safely.
Imperial soldiers.
Cavalry.
Lahn Bridge.
And the Twin Sword Saints.
Just being able to walk through Belgrant together like this was reason enough to celebrate.
"What would you like to eat?"
"Meat."
"That was quick."
"We had a lot of food that would keep for a long time on the battlefield, remember? I want some freshly grilled meat."
"Then let's do that."
We walked down the main street and entered a place we'd seen several times before.
It seemed to serve meat dishes and alcohol. The moment we opened the door, we were met by the smell of grilled meat and spices.
"Welco—"
"Allen!"
A loud voice rang out before the server could finish.
"Huh?"
I looked toward the back of the restaurant.
"Oh..."
Four people were gathered around a large table.
Claude-san.
Bork-san.
Lydia-san.
Cecil-san.
The four members of the Silver Wolf.
Plates of meat and bread, along with several wooden tankards, covered the table.
"Claude-san and the others."
"You guys came, too!"
Bork-san raised his hand high.
"Perfect timing. Come over here!"
"No, we're going to have dinner by ourselves—"
"There's room!"
He wasn't listening.
I looked at Felicia.
"What should we do?"
"...Do you think he'd let us refuse?"
"I don't think so, either."
In the end, we joined the same table.
"I hear you two were promoted to B-Rank?"
Lydia-san asked.
"It was decided just now."
"B-Rank at fifteen and sixteen, huh?"
Bork-san looked at us, tankard in hand.
"What was I doing at that age, I wonder?"
"Probably not much different from now."
Lydia-san said.
"That's not true!"
"Were you carrying a shield?"
"I was."
"Then it's the same."
"That's a pretty sloppy comparison!"
Laughter rose around the table.
The atmosphere was completely different from when we'd been on the battlefield.
Claude-san's expression was softer than usual, too.
Bork-san was even louder than usual.
Lydia-san was laughing a lot, and even Cecil-san's cheeks were a little flushed.
"It's kind of..."
"What is?"
Claude-san looked at me.
"It's completely different from the battlefield."
"Of course it is."
Claude-san laughed.
"You can't drink and make a racket on the battlefield."
"True."
"Today's work is over. Let me drink when I get the chance."
Claude-san lifted his tankard.
"Want a drink, Allen?"
"No, I'll pass."
"What about you, Felicia?"
"I'll have fruit juice, too."
"You two are so serious."
"Claude, don't encourage them."
Cecil-san said with a slightly exasperated look.
"I was joking."
A little later, the server brought over our food.
Thick slices of grilled meat.
Hot soup.
Freshly baked bread.
"It looks delicious..."
Felicia's eyes lit up.
"I can't believe that's the same person who was just surprised about becoming B-Rank."
Bork-san laughed.
"Food is important."
"You got that right! Eat your fill!"
We ordered food as well, and joined in the Silver Wolf's drinking party.
◇
"Come to think of it..."
After a while, Claude-san set down his tankard.
"When we first met, I never expected things would turn out like this."
"When we first met?"
"Yeah. The first time we met at the Adventurers' Guild."
"Oh, that time."
I remembered.
"Back then, I just thought there were two strangely well-dressed rookies."
"Well-dressed rookies?"
"You both looked too well brought up to be adventurers."
"We'd only just become adventurers."
"Then you started diving into dungeons right away, and before I knew it, you'd passed the tenth floor and reached C-Rank."
"It happened fast."
Felicia said.
"Fast doesn't even begin to describe it."
Lydia-san cut in.
"You're not normal."
"People have been telling me that a lot lately."
"You should probably start realizing that by now."
Claude-san continued with a laugh.
"After that, you came to the war, brought down Lahn Bridge, and finally even defeated a Sword Saint."
"I didn't do it alone."
"I know. But you were the one who defeated him, too."
"............"
"Honestly, I didn't think you'd make it this far."
There was nothing unpleasant in the way Claude-san said it.
If anything, he seemed to be enjoying himself.
"I'm looking forward to seeing how far you two go from here."
"How far...?"
"I don't know, either."
Claude-san laughed.
"That's why I'm looking forward to it."
His words made me feel a little embarrassed.
"You're A-Rank, Claude-san."
"I'm me."
At that, Claude-san's expression changed slightly.
"That's right. Allen."
"Yes?"
"I have a favor to ask."
"What is it?"
"Share."
I looked at Claude-san.
"Remove me from it."
"...Are you sure?"
"Yeah."
Felicia looked at Claude-san, too.
"But you've gotten stronger thanks to it."
"That's exactly why."
Claude-san looked down at his hand.
"If I hadn't had Share this time, I might not have been able to beat that Sword Saint."
"............"
"Thanks to it, I was able to fight an Imperial Sword Saint."
Claude-san looked at me.
"It helped me. I'm truly grateful."
"It was nothing."
"But fighting him made me realize something."
His slightly tipsy expression turned a little more serious.
"I can still get stronger."
"Claude-san..."
"If I reached that place with Allen's help, then next time I want to get as close as I can through my own strength."
Bork-san laughed.
"You're strangely serious about things like that."
"Shut up."
"But that's just like Claude."
Cecil-san said.
I thought about it for a moment, then nodded.
"All right."
I opened Membership.
【Membership Rank: Gold】
【Shared Members】
【Felicia Roth】
【Claude】
I focused on Claude-san.
【Remove Claude from Share?】
"Remove."
【Share has been removed】
【Shared Members: 1】
【Felicia Roth】
The display changed.
At that moment, Claude-san rolled his shoulders.
"Oh..."
"What's wrong?"
"My body's gotten heavier."
"Is it that different?"
"Yeah. I feel a step slower and heavier than before."
"Are you all right?"
"Yeah."
Claude-san smiled.
"This is fine."
I checked my own stats, too.
The portion I'd been sharing with Claude-san had returned to me.
【Strength: 926】
【Endurance: 918】
【Agility: 1,409】
【Magic: 179】
I was still sharing with Felicia.
With the portion I'd shared with Claude-san returned, my stats were higher than they'd been during the war.
"It's back."
"The portion you were giving me?"
"Yes."
"Then I'll be even stronger than I am now by the next time we team up."
"I'm looking forward to it."
"You said it."
"Yes."
Claude-san laughed.
Just then.
"Allen-saaan."
"...Yes?"
A strangely drawn-out voice came from beside me.
I turned around.
It was Felicia.
"What's wrong?"
"Allen-san, you know..."
"Yes."
"You push yourself too hard."
"...That's sudden."
Felicia's cheeks were red.
Her eyes were a little moist, too.
"Felicia-san?"
"Yes?"
"What have you been drinking?"
"Fruit juice."
I looked at her hand.
The cup that had held the red drink was almost empty.
Lydia-san, seated across from us, looked at the cup.
"Huh? Isn't that the fruit wine I ordered?"
"What?"
I looked at the table.
Two drinks of similar color sat side by side.
One was fruit juice.
The other was fruit wine.
"Felicia-san."
"Yes?"
"You got them mixed up."
"Mixed up what?"
"The drinks."
"............"
Felicia looked at her cup.
"...This is alcohol?"
"Probably."
"You drank all of that in one go?"
Lydia-san asked.
"It was delicious."
"Well, no wonder it's gone to your head..."
"I didn't notice at all."
"I can tell just by looking at you."
"What can you tell?"
Felicia turned to me.
"Allen-san."
"Yes."
"Please rely on me more."
"I do rely on you."
"Not enough."
"It's not enough?"
"Not enough."
She scooted her chair closer.
"You're close."
"Don't run away."
"I'm not running away."
"You always rush ahead."
"Yes."
"And you always fight strong enemies."
"Yes."
"And you do dangerous things."
"...Yes."
"You can't manage without me, can you?"
"Well..."
I thought about it for a moment.
"That would be a problem."
"See?"
Felicia smiled, looking satisfied.
Claude-san and the others were watching us.
"What is it?"
"Nothing."
Claude-san covered his mouth.
"It's nothing."
"There's definitely something going on, isn't there?"
"Allen."
Bork-san patted me on the shoulder.
"Good luck."
"With what?"
"Everything."
"I don't know what you mean when you say that."
"I suppose not."
For some reason, even Lydia-san was laughing.
"Allen-saaan."
Felicia grabbed my sleeve.
"What is it this time?"
"Am I useful to you?"
"Of course you are."
"Really?"
"Yes."
"How useful?"
"How useful...?"
"A lot?"
"A lot."
"Then praise me more."
"Now?"
"Now."
I was at a loss.
"Your magic is accurate, and when you fought the Sword Saint—"
"That's not what I mean."
"Huh?"
"...Please pat my head."
Felicia stared at me.
"What? What are you saying?"
Claude and the others were grinning.
"Just do it, Allen."
"Even if you say that—"
Felicia leaned her head toward me while still sitting in her chair.
"All right, just a little."
I gently patted Felicia's head.
"While you do it, say, 'Felicia, you did a great job.'"
"O-Okay!"
As I stroked her head again, I managed to squeeze out the words.
"Felicia, you did a great job."
Felicia blushed and smiled.
"Ehehe, thanks, Allen."
She suddenly dropped the honorifics?
"I love adventuring with you, Allen."
She meant that she loved adventuring together, right?
"I do, too."
"Really?"
"Yes. I'm glad I got to team up with you, Felicia-san."
"Ehehe."
Felicia smiled happily.
For some reason, Claude-san pressed a hand to his forehead.
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing."
Lydia-san was trying to hold back her laughter.
"You should probably give her some water."
"I'll do that."
I asked the server for water.
"Felicia-san, here's some water."
"I can still drink more."
"You don't need to drink any more."
"You're so mean."
"Whose fault is that?"
I handed her the water.
Felicia drank it obediently.
A little while later, she rested her head on my shoulder.
"Felicia-san?"
"............"
"Did you fall asleep?"
"............"
"That was fast."
Bork-san laughed.
"She's completely out."
Lydia-san leaned over to look, too.
I let out a small sigh.
"We'll head back to the inn now."
"That's probably for the best."
Claude-san said.
"Sorry for leaving in the middle of things."
"Don't worry about it."
I stood up and supported Felicia.
"Should we wake her?"
"No."
Cecil-san shook her head.
"I think it'd be better to let her sleep like that."
"All right."
I turned around.
I carried Felicia on my back.
She was lighter than I'd expected.
"We'll be off, then."
"All right."
Claude-san raised a hand.
"See you at the Adventurers' Guild."
"Yes."
"Next time we meet, I'll be stronger than I am now, too."
"I'll make sure I'm stronger, too."
"Yeah. I'm looking forward to it."
Claude-san smiled.
◇
I walked through Belgrant at night.
I could hear Felicia breathing softly behind me.
"You're completely asleep."
There was no reply.
We'd entrusted our backs to each other countless times on the battlefield.
She'd helped me with her magic.
She'd worried about my injuries.
And now I was carrying her.
"How could she mistake fruit wine for fruit juice...?"
There was, of course, no reply.
"Will she remember this tomorrow?"
I had a feeling she probably wouldn't.
After a while, the sign for the Silver Wheat Inn came into view.
When I went inside, the innkeeper looked at us.
"Oh, what happened?"
"She seems to have mistaken her drink and ended up drinking alcohol."
"Oh my."
The innkeeper looked at Felicia on my back.
"She's completely asleep."
"Yes. I want to take her to her room, but I don't know where the key is."
"All right. I'll come with you and help you get her settled."
"Thank you."
The innkeeper unlocked the room, and we went inside together.
I gently laid Felicia down on the bed.
"Mm..."
She let out a little sound, but didn't open her eyes.
The innkeeper took off her shoes and covered her with a blanket.
"That should do it."
"Thank you."
"She'll wake up in the morning. Just leave some water for her."
"Understood."
I placed a pitcher of water and a cup on the table.
"Well, good night."
I was just about to leave the room when—
"...Allen."
I heard a small voice.
I turned around.
Felicia's eyes were still closed.
"Did you wake up?"
"............"
"Felicia-san?"
There was no answer.
Apparently, it had been sleep-talking.
Then her lips moved once more.
"...Don't leave me behind."
"............"
I wondered what she was dreaming about.
"I won't leave you behind."
Even after I answered, Felicia didn't reply.
She continued breathing quietly in her sleep.
I left the room with the innkeeper.
I returned to my room and closed the door.
"Phew..."
It had been a while since I'd been in my room.
The familiar bed.
The desk.
The walls.
On the battlefield, I'd gone to sleep every night thinking the enemy might come at any moment.
I might have been called out without warning, too.
I'd kept my sword within reach.
But tonight was different.
Tomorrow, I wouldn't be fighting people.
I'd be going into a dungeon as an adventurer.
I set my new adventurer card on the desk.
【Adventurer Rank: B】
When I became an adventurer, I was F-Rank.
Now I was B-Rank.
Starting tomorrow, I could go to places I hadn't been able to enter before.
New floors.
New monsters.
Jobs I hadn't seen yet.
The more I thought about it, the more excited I became.
"Starting tomorrow, I'm an adventurer again."
It had been a while since I'd been in a dungeon.
Tomorrow, I'd enjoy myself to the fullest.
Total P Acquired = 32,935P