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Beast Tamer Who Got Kicked Out From the Hero’s Party Chapter 108

CHAPTER 108: KANADE’S……

After we left the store that gave us free fish we looked around a few other stores and bought all the ingredients that we were still missing.

All that was left for us to buy were the daily necessities and that would be it.

While we were walking around town we split the groceries between the two of us for the ease of carrying them around, and we walked at our own, leisurely pace.

「But what was that all about? About that other Cat Spirit Tribe member?」

As we walked around and took in the sights, I asked Kanade about the matter that was still bothering me the most.

According to what the owner of the shop earlier said, that other Cat Spirit Tribe member came to Horizon just recently.

I asked Kanade about it because I thought that she might know something about it, but……

「Hmm…… I’m sorry, but I know nothing about that.」

「Nothing at all?」

「Nothing. But why are you asking about that, Rein?」

「Well, it’s not like it’s confirmed information or anything like that, but apparently there is another Cat Spirit Tribe member that just came to town recently.」

「Really, nya? Oooh, I wonder if it’s someone I know? If so, I would really like to meet them.」

「Like I said, it’s not like it’s confirmed information or anything like that. It’s just the rumor I have heard from that shopkeeper just now.」

「……………」

「Hm? Kanade? What’s wrong?」

All of a sudden, Kanade stopped in her tracks, gazing into the distance while looking somewhat sad.

It was the kind of expression that you would never actually expect to see on Kanade’s face, since she was always so bright, cheerful and optimistic.

「Hmm, it’s just that…… Hearing that news actually reminded me of my home.」

Could it be that Kanade was feeling homesick all of a sudden?

That was certainly one lonely and melancholic look on her face.

If possible, I would like to do something for her that would make her cheer up. I really don’t like her making that kind of expression.

「Hey, Kanade. Over there, look.」

「Nyah? What is it?」

「Over there. They sell sweets there that are shaped like fish. Would you like to try some of them?」

「Sweets shaped like fish!?」

「Excuse me, can we get some?」

Before Kanade even had the time to make up her mind about it, I had already approached the stall and bought the sweets for her.

And once they were in my hands, I immediately gave them to Kanade.

「Alright, here you go.」

「Thank you very much, Rein! Now, let’s eat! Hamuh!」

Smiling brightly, Kanade started to eat the pastry without a moment of hesitation.

The batter used to make the pasty seemed to be extra crispy and made a loud and crisp sound the moment she bit through its texture.

「Mmmmmm~~~!!!」

「Do you like it so much?」

「Yeah!　It’s not like fish at all…… But it’s sweet and crispy, and this is as good as it gets, nyaaahhhh……~~~!!」

While she was saying that, the usual smile returned onto Kanade’s face.

After all, Kanade is better when she’s smiling like that, unconcerned with anything that is going on around her.

It was then that I realized that Kanade has been staring at me for a while now.

「……………」

「…… Kanade?」

「Thanks, Rein.」

「Huh? Thanks? For what?」

「You are always doing your best to make me smile, Rein. I’m really grateful for that, you know? I really am.」

「Ah, no, I didn’t actually do anything here that would be that praiseworthy……」

「Yes, yes you did. And you are doing a great job at it.」

「And you thought that now would be the best time to say that to me?」

「A-Anyways! I just wanted to say thank you for everything that you did for me! So accept the words of praise as obedient as you can, Rein.」

「Well, if you say so, then I will do just that.」

「Thank you, Rein♪.」

Kanade smiled in a way that would even put a clear blue sky to shame.

Inside of my mind, I also said words of gratitude for everything that Kanade did for me.

She doesn’t even know just how many times that radiant smile of hers managed to save me.

Whenever I was about to give up, Kanade’s smile gave me strength. to go on and push through.

And I am sure that from now on it will be the same…….

「…… Huh? …… Kanade?」

「Nyan?」

When I took my eyes off of her, Kanade was suddenly swallowed by the literal wave of people that washed across the street.

In the blink of an eye, Kanade’s figure faded away and I lost sight of her.

「Nya, nyaaahhh!? R-Rein!? REEEIIINNN~~~!?」

「Ahh! H-Hey! Kanade! I-I’m really sorry! Please, please get out of the way! Ugh…… It’s no use!」

Just like that, Kanade completely disappeared in the distance.

And I have lost her.

***

「…… I can’t find her anywhere.」

It’s been around half an hour or so since I got separated from Kanade.

I walked around the city for a while, but there was no sign of her anywhere I looked.

Either he has drifted very far away, or she has passed me at an inopportune time.

Either way, it was very bad luck that I could not meet up with her even after this long.

Well, even if she got lost, she will be able to join me back at home, I guess.

So, it was not that I was all that worried about her or anything like that, but……

We were still technically in the middle of our shopping spree, I guess…… But right now I was actually left on my own.

I’m not sure if I can carry the rest of the things we needed to buy by myself, but……

Oh well, I guess that I’m going to figure that out when the time comes for it.

It’s no use thinking about it too much right now.

「Well then, let’s go buy some daily necessities.」

I ultimately gave up on meeting up with Kanade and headed to the store I always used in the past couple of days.

It was while on my way to that shop that it happened.

「Hm?」

In the middle of the crowded street, I saw a pair of cat’s ears sticking above the crowd.

There was no doubt about it. That was certainly Kanade!

「Kanade!」

I hurriedly jumped into the crowd and said sorry to people as I moved forward through them.

Then I grabbed the cat-eared girl’s hand and……

「…… Myah?」

「…… Huh?」

When I grabbed that cat-eared girl by the hand, she looked back at me with surprise in her eyes.

She was a very beautiful girl.

She had a delicate face, like a princess from some sort of a fairy tale.

And yet, even though she was not Kanade at all, there was something in this girl that reminded me of her to a great extent.

And since I got the impression that she was somewhat young, does that mean that she was actually a year or two younger than Kanade was?

Her hair was short.

Her eyes were big and charming.

She also wore slightly revealing clothes, including stylish pants that exposed her belly button.

「Umm, and who might you be, Mister?」

「You…… You’re not Kanade?」

The girl was apparently that other Cat Spirit Tribe that was said to have arrived in town recently.

「Kanade?　Mister, did you just say Kanade? You did, didn’t you? Are you by any chance an acquaintance of Kanade-chan?」

「Huh? Umm, this is…… Well…… Yes, I suppose I am.」

「Really now! Oh my, oh my, oh my! I didn’t know that Kanade-chan actually had a human friend like that! I was really worried about her getting along with everyone when she left her hometown, but… She seems to be doing reasonably well with friends like you, Mister, isn’t she?」

「Umm, well……」

This person…… Who is she, anyways?

From the way she talked, it seems like she’s definitely an acquaintance of Kanade ……

Or maybe she was even a family member?

She seemed to know a whole lot about Kanade and……

More than anything else, it was the fact that her face looked strikingly similar.

It’s not exactly like Kanade’s, but she looked a lot like her.

「Umm, can I…… Can I ask you something?」

「Yes?　What is it?」

「Are you perhaps a member of Kanade’s family?　Like, a sister, perhaps?」

「Oh my, oh my! What a smooth talker you are, Mister!」

Smooth talker?

Was the thing I said just now some sort of a pick-up line that I had no knowledge of.

「In that case, please excuse me for answering a question with a question, but…… What about you, Mister? Who are you to Kanade?」

「My name is Rein Shroud. I’m Kanade’s companion at the current moment.」

「A companion?」

「Yes, since both Kanade and I work as Adventurers.」

「Oh my, oh my, I see, I see. So, she has decided to become an Adventurer, huh…… How is she doing so far?」

「Oh, yes, she’s doing really good. She has other friends and trusty companions, and we are all getting along really well. Kanade always has a smile on her face and her natural brightness and cheerfulness lifts everyone’s spirits.」

「Hmm, I see, I see, I see.」

The Cat Spirit Tribe girl nodded her head coyly, as if she was assessing something.

Could it be that I have spoken too much personal information to her?

But since that girl was apparently Kanade’s family, I don’t really think that this should have been a problem.

「Umm?」

「Yes? What is it?」

「If you wouldn’t mind, do you think you could tell me a little bit more about her?」

「Oh, yes, certainly. I don’t really mind. But I’m in the middle of shopping right now, so can we do this a little bit later? Also, I kind of got separated from Kanade, too……」

「Is she supposed to be nearby?」

「We were shopping together; and we got separated about half an hour ago in the crowd of people.」

「Yes, I certainly can. see that. She has always been pretty scatterbrained, so it’s not surprising at all. Most probably, she was thinking about food or something like that, and the result is as follows.」

「Hahaha…… Ah, oh yes, that’s right. If you don’t mind, would you like to come with me to my house? Standing outside and talking like that is not very hospitable…… And I’m sure that Kanade is going to come back home before long as well.」

「Thank you very much. Well then, I am going take you up on your kind offer.」

「I understand, Well then, please follow me……」

As I was about to show that girl a way to our home, I remembered that I hadn’t even asked her what her name was.

「By the way may I ask what’s your name?」

「Oh my, oh dear. I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to be such a jerk as to forget to introduce myself properly! My name is Suzu, and I am Kanade-chan’s……」

「……Mother!?」

Suddenly, I heard a familiar voice.

When I turned around, I saw Kanade…….looking at me with a surprised look on her face.

…… Umm, excuse me? What was that? I didn’t really catch that.

「Oh my, goodness gracious! If it isn’t Kanade-chan! I heard you two got separated, and I was so worried about you.」

「T-There’s no need for you to worry about me like that, Mother! I’m not a little kid anymore!　…… But, umm, huh? I mean…… What are you doing here, Mother……?」

Kanade mumbled under her nose.

The possibility of mishearing or auditory hallucination, would be infinitely unlikely here.

So that means that……

「Um…… Suzu-san, are you actually Kanade’s mother……?」

「Yes, that’s right. Thank you so much for taking care of my darling daughter.」

Suzu-san smiled and said something outrageous.