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Chapter 428: Shock Therapy?

「By the way, I’m gonna be away for sometime because of work. Dean and Chris too. 」
Retze dealt the cards while saying that.

「Ash-sama also. 」
Ash too, so that meant Butler too, huh.

「Where are you going? 」
「Ah. So the commission I refused fell you on guys, huh. 」
Dinosso and my voices overlapped at the same time.

「Can’t tell you the specifics, but it’s probably the same job offered to the boss. Some big shot kinda pushed this commission through the guild. 」
Retze seemed like he was about to sigh.

「It appears that due to Wolf King Valmour’s refusal to accept the mission, it was passed on to us. 」
Butler’s tone didn’t change, but I could sense his impatience.

「I’m not gonna accept any commission that’ll require me to be away from my family. Besides, Canum’s Adventurer’s Guild ain’t powerful enough to force me. 」

「Ugh, they could’ve just asked Fortress City’s Amadeo to go. 」
Seems like this bigshot tried reaching out to skilled gold and silver-ranked adventurers after Dinosso rejected them.

「The Fortress City stands out too much, so they probably wanted to avoid that. The fact that they’re doing this semi-compulsory doesn’t sit well with me, but the compensation itself isn’t bad. Besides, once they complete this mission safely, the value and reputation of Dean and Chris, who just got raised to Gold-ranks, will rise. 」
Retze shrugged, but I can tell how uneasy he was.

Retze and Butler requested that I make them some preserved food that they can bring with them. Since other folks will be with them, it’s typically jerky or dried mushrooms.

***
The day I handed out the foods I prepared, Retze and the others showed me the magic circles they prepared for this adventure ー some that give warmth, some that spout drinking water ー they even bought manastones.

Retze prepared these magic circles that he doesn’t normally bring ーthat must mean he’s preparing for worst scenarios, although it’s probably more about the mission taking longer than planned or they having a hard time getting supplies. Another possibility is that they’ll be constantly on the move so they won’t have any time to hunt.

I really hope that they’ll be safe. Wish I knew where they’re going so that I can go first and ask the spirits to keep an eye on them.

They’re bringing Ivy-chan and Ash has her bracelet…

I haven’t seen the deities so far; we always seem to miss each other. I wanted to meet them so I can ask how my 【Teleport】works.

Just when I wanted to see them, they didn’t show up. I can sense their presence, but we keep missing each other. It’s gonna rain more often as winter approaches, so I won’t be able to visit the fields as frequently as I do, and it’ll be on an irregular basis.

「Oh well, we’re gonna bump into each other sooner or later, I guess. 」
I held Riche between my feet and rubbed him all over to my heart’s content.

We were sitting in front of the fireplace. I stared at the fire while stroking Riche. We’ve been playing tug-of-war and fetch indoors just earlier and now we’re taking a break.

My days have moments of lull like this, but it’s okay, Riche’s cuteness soothes me.

Alright, since it’s raining both in Canum and where my 『House』is and everybody is busy too, so let’s just go the island. When I arrived, the sun’s rays were so bright and strong that everyone was walking in the shade. The memory of when Soleil looked at me strangely after I told her that everyone in Canum purposely goes outside when the weather’s great to bask in the sun is still fresh in my mind.

「OH…!!」
I was casually wandering around the Island when I came across a guard-san whose expression looked flabbergasted.

….uh, guard-san?

「Please, I humbly request to be taken under your command, Ny-sama! 」
He promptly went down on one knee and bowed his head.

Uh, he’s kinda behaving like a totally different person, but right, he’s that Custard Coronet ー I mean Bartolone guy. What is he doing here? And ‘under my command’, he says? He wants to work here on my island? He’s not implying he wants to be a citizen, is he?

「I am currently temporarily assigned to the guards and am assisting in their duties with Soleil-sama’s permission! 」
Ack, Soleil, why the heck did you take this Pain-In-the-Neck Uncle in, huh!?

「I, Bartolone, am profoundly in awe of your unparalleled skill, Ny-sama! I have rendered my apologies to the Changelings and have been graciously granted their forgiveness. I do not seek the esteemed position of swordsmanship instructor. I earnestly beseech you to allow me to start anew as a humble member of the guard. Please, I implore you! 」

Bartolone lowered his head even more.

Soleil, you weren’t able to kick this guy out? Or is it because his title of swordmaster is kinda useful? Which one is it?

「… 」
I was confused at Soleil’s intention, so I unwittingly remained silent.

Since Soleil, who values Faramir greatly, gave the green light, then even if he’s a pain, we can make him work here, I guess. Besides, I’m not always on the island.

「MiLord, welcome back. 」
And Auro popped out of nowhere ー again.

Right, I just remembered that I should ask Hauron to teach me how to conceal my mana.

「Bartolone-dono has been training the soldiers these past few days, and he also gets along well with the islanders. 」
Auro immediately told me what I wanted to know.

「…If Auro and the others are okay with you, then fine. Ah, but I’m gonna kick you out if you mess up the good vibes here, alright. 」
「Yes sir! Thank you very much! Thank you too, Auro-dono. 」

Bartolone raised his head and his face split into a wide grin as he faced Auro-dono. He was so gloomy back then, but now he’s so bright. Is this his true personality?

It’s much better than when he was so dour, but a middle-aged guy with sparkling eyes and wide-toothed grin seems just as weird.

Seems like this island gained another oddball.