ch41-ch60 · 048-ch48

Chapter 48: Surely You're Not Asking for Something Lewd, Right?

"You're late."

I look around, but only the black gal and Hiramatsu-san are at the counter.

Watanabe-san... is she not here?

"I sent Watanabe-san home."

I see.

So she's not here...

"What a pathetic look. And a pathetic face too, by the way."

What a harsh thing to say.

I can't deny it since I'm covered in orc blood and completely blue.

Lately, I've started thinking it's good that monster blood is blue.

If it were red, there'd be a huge commotion right now.

As for my face... what does it look like?

What expression am I wearing right now...?

Am I making a disappointed face because Watanabe-san isn't here, or a relieved face because I don't have to face her...?

"Go wash that pathetic face upstairs. I'll wait a bit longer for you. Then we'll get dinner. I'm hungry."

So it's a pathetic face.

It's pretty pathetic that I don't even understand my own emotions, so I guess that's right on the mark.

But she's been waiting for me without even eating dinner?

I can feel her strong determination not to let me get away.

"Please go eat by yourself. I have no intention of listening to whatever you have to say."

My head's cooled down, but I'd rather not be teased.

"Hmm. You know Watanabe-san injured her finger? I [Healed] it for her? Didn't I tell you my [Heal] is super expensive? Are you going to make Watanabe-san pay for it?"

Oh shoot.

I messed up.

I need to apologize... right?

"Besides, it's not that you'll listen to me, it's that I'll listen to what you have to say? But I think you'd better listen to what I have to say too? Watanabe-san was crying, you know."

"She was crying? Why?"

"That's what I want to hear from you? Anyway, if you don't hurry, she'll go home? I can just ask Watanabe-san tomorrow, so whatever."

Smooth talker.

She's waited this long—she has no intention of going home or letting me go home.

Anyway, shower... but I should leave my spear first.

I guess the black gal's window is fine...

"We don't really know either. When we came for our shift, Shiraishi-san and Watanabe-san were arguing about who should go home and who should stay. Watanabe-san said she'd wait, but she was forced to go home."

"I said I was hungry, but that was a lie. That woman ate three convenience store rice balls."

"That's right. Hiramatsu-san was sent to buy them."

"And she got mad at me because the fillings weren't to her taste. Seriously, what's her deal?"

"Hey, I told you to hurry up."

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"They call this oyakodon, but the meat is from bird monsters and the egg is from a regular chicken, right?"

"Regular oyakodon doesn't use eggs laid by the chicken that became the meat either, does it?"

Given the high price of her [Heal], I wondered what kind of fancy place she'd take me to...

Turned out to be a dungeon restaurant that serves monster meat.

...Didn't she just eat rice balls?

"Now that we're full, shall we talk?"

"Please."

I should hear about Watanabe-san.

"First, let me announce my position."

I didn't ask for that.

"I've decided to side with the poor high school boy rather than Watanabe-san, who won't tell me anything. Circle."

"Poor? Me?"

"Yes, you're easy to understand. You thought Watanabe-san liked you, but it turns out she's just nice to everyone? So you got embarrassed and ran away. Ah, youth."

That's pretty much right, but something about it pisses me off.

"Don't get mad, don't get mad. The problem is why Watanabe-san was crying, right?"

"Because... her finger hurt?"

"She's not a child. Besides, she started crying after I [Healed] her."

"Did she say anything?"

"That you're going to die. She suddenly started crying and I was shocked. So? What are you betting on the match? Surely you're not asking for something lewd, right?"

"Hmm hmm. And if you don't get your way, you'll kill yourself or something? Are you stupid? If she hates it that much, she wouldn't accept the match."

"Well, yeah. I only asked to confirm. So? What's the real situation?"

"My party member's birthday is in two months, and she just told me not to progress further until then. Also, don't do anything reckless."

"So as long as Watanabe-san keeps winning? That's it? Nothing else?"

"Nothing in particular, or rather, Watanabe-san doesn't gain anything from this. She just told me not to go further, helps me with various things, and worries about me. And then..."

I misunderstood...

"That's the thing. This has never happened before. I've never seen her do this. I've never even seen her warn other people. It's weird that she'd fight you just to stop you. And she was crying. Said she couldn't win anymore."