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Chapter 343: Pill Bugs, Again

「Bento okay, X-Stick okay, bag for harvest okay! 」
I checked the items that were lined up on the table.

We’re doing pokey-pokey today, so I felt more spirited than usual. Well, I guess shuttling the Earthkin back and forth right after strolling with Riche also did a good job of shaking any drowsiness left this morning.

Several Earthkin ended up staying overnight yesterday because of work, and those who returned back to the Northern Continent went home, but it’s more accurate to say that they went home to fetch the things they needed. And so, the Earthkin would probably stay in the tower until the castle is finished.

Ahh, at this rate, folks will complain that the『Fae’s Bough』isn’t the only noisy place at night, but even my tower.

「You’re so lively, huh… 」
Hauron seemed exhausted even before we set out.

「You’re going to the Magical Woods, though. 」
「He might look so flippant, but he is now way more careful than Dean and I when on the move. 」
Chris replied to Dinosso’s mumbling.

「…. 」
「…. 」
Dinosso shut up, while Butler’s eyes were unusually darting around.

「Would it be too late if we teach him how to fight now…? 」
「…I’m afraid it is. 」
The two continued chatting while averting their gazes.

Today’s members include the main character Hauron, Dinosso, Butler, Chris and Retze. Retze was a bit late. He was summoned by the Guild, so he had to go over there while it’s still morning.

Dean couldn’t come because he was seriously working.

I was about to invite Ash, I got told off by grinning Shiva and angry Tina. They gave me the grand advice of not inviting girls to play with pill bugs, so I missed my chance to invite her.

Ash seems to hate slugs rather than bugs, so if it’s pill bugs — ah, no, there’s a high chance of finding slugs when we turn the rocks over, so it’s right not to invite her.

「Ou, sorry I’m late. 」
Retze came only 5 minutes late despite giving advance notice that he would be very late.

In the first place, folks here don’t have watches or clocks. They rely on the ringing bells from the towers owned by the churches as well as the fief lords to roughly tell the time. 5 minutes don’t count as late in my opinion; it’s not like we’re gonna get left behind by a train or something, so it’s not a big deal.

We finally set off towards the forest.

Hauron’s 【Teleport】— was just a pretext; we used my 【Teleport】.

「Ooohh! Stepping into the forest in just a blink of an eye…!! So this is the legendary method of Grand Mage-dono!! 」
Chris’s eyes sparkled as he praised Hauron to the high heavens.

Oh, is this it? Can I do whatever I want if Hauron is beside me…?

「You’re thinking about something weird again, aren’t you? Your face says it all. 」
「So when he looks like a cat staring into empty space then that’s dangerous, is that it? 」
Hauron was asking for validation from Retze!

「Please stop teaching him strange things like that. 」
「It’s not even an instruction, it shows all over your face, you know. 」
No, it doesn’t, it doesn’t, I tell you.

「Knight-san, I didn’t do that 【Teleport】. Ah, but let’s see, if you’re gonna praise me like that, then I can take you for a spin to Es and enjoy a vacation there. 」
Hauron winked at Chris.

「Ooh, the land of palm trees and sun, Es! I;ve never been there before, but I heard stories about how grand and beautiful Es River, said to be the essence of that kingdom’s Guardian Deity, is! 」
Chris face split into a broad grin.

「Chris-sama probably noticed the meaning behind Hauron’s words, but it’s really like him not to pry any further. 」
Butler whispered to me.

Yup. He was normally excessively friendly to the point of being overbearingly stuffy, but he wouldn’t abruptly pry into somebody else’s secrets or step on their sore point. He would notice that something was wrong, and he would be on standby just in case the other person would need help.

I felt a bit guilty for avoiding him before because of my first impression of him.

「Well, let’s go do what we came here to do. 」
Dinosso declared.

「Oh, come to think of it, what’s the purpose of today’s excursion? I wasn’t told the details. 」
Everyone else averted their eyes all at the same time.

「Today’s main itinerary is to hunt pill bugs. 」
「Huh? 」
「We’re looking for pill bugs. 」
Hauron froze.

「Alright, let’s all separate, and if you find one go to Jean. 」
「Gotcha! 」
Chris answered when Dinosso announced the division of labor.

「Hey, wait! Don’t just gloss over it like that! Seriously, what’s going on!? 」
Hauron grabbed Dinosso’s clothes and stopped him by force.

「Please know that it is a matter of importance. 」
Butler smiled and deliberately bowed.

「That’s right, I also found inner peace after interacting with the pill bugs! 」
Chris looked like he was about to experience some sort of miraculous effect.

「What sort of cult is this!? 」
「What an honest-to-goodness realistic reaction, huh… 」
Retze said as Hauron shrieked.

「Hauron, you have to experience this once in your life. 」
Dinosso placed his hands on Hauron’s shoulders.,

「If it’s pill bugs then I already experienced poking them! Ah, but it’s already a hundred and twenty years ago! I already exterminated them back when I was still in Es, you know!! 」
Eh, Hauron, you already lived for that long!? Eh, exterminated!?

Seems like he’s far more dangerous than Shiva!