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426. Secret Meeting and Returning to Goza Village [3]

「Rodis, don’t get heated up. Calm down a bit.」

「Fuu… I apologize.」

Reprimanded by Tenshi-sama, Rodis-san obediently withdrew.

「Allen-sama, may I ask you a question too?」

「Yes, go ahead.」

「Please tell me what material things you would like to have.」

「Material things, hmm… It’s a bit difficult…」

I already have the Black Sword, and the Dark Robe is good enough for my armor.

In that case… hmm, this is an unexpectedly difficult question.

「If I have to say one thing… then I suppose a house of my own?」

「Oh, that’s a lovely thing. What kind of house would you like? Is it–」

「–Yeah, a house with two six-tatami mat rooms. If there’s a garden where I can practice swinging, then there is nothing more I can ask for.」

Someday I want to build a fine house in Orest and live there together with my mother. She’s already getting old. She would hit her physical limit soon living the harsh life in the countryside. I want to give her a comfortable life in the city before she hurts her body.

(The only problem is…the recent rapid rise in land prices.)

I have heard that the land prices in Orest have risen abnormally in recent times. In particular, the prime location near Ringuard Palace is said to be sold at an eye-popping price due to its extreme safety and convenience.

(I’m sure it would be difficult with just a Holy Knight’s salary.)

After graduating from the Thousand Blade Academy, I plan to work as a Holy Knight on weekdays and a part-time magic swordsman on weekends… I won’t know how much money I’ll make until I actually try it.

While I was thinking about my future plan, Tenshi-sama let out a somewhat dumbfounded voice.

「T-Two six tatami mat room……?」

「Yes… Am I asking for too much after all?」

「N-No… how should I put it, um… it would be nice if it came true… two 6 tatami mat rooms.」

「Thank you.」

As I expressed my gratitude, Tenshi-sama, Rodis-san, and the president gathered together.

「…It’s an extremely common working-class desire.」

「Umu, I never thought he would be wilted to this point… To be honest, this is beyond expectation. Since ancient times, it’s been said that “Great men have great fondness for the sensual pleasures”, but this is just…」

「Allen-kun has always been this kind of person. Except for the one point where he is “An unbelievably strong sword-swinging idiot”, he is otherwise terrifyingly ordinary.」

Tenshi-sama, Rodis-san, and the president began a secret conversation.

I feel like they’re saying something rude, but… I can’t just cut into the conversation when Tenshi-sama is there. Let’s just be quiet.

After that, they asked many more questions, such as “how you spend money”, “what type of women you like”, “what you want to achieve in life”, etc.

After all the questions were over, the three members of the royal faction gathered again and quietly began discussing something.

「…This man cannot be lured in with things.」Tenshi.

「He’s too philosophical at such a young age. Just how many times has this man’s soul reincarnated…」Rodis.

「I have stated this once before. Allen-kun is not the type to be “lured” by such things. What we should be more cautious of is someone important to Allen-kun being taken hostage and used as a bargaining chip.」President.

「It certainly seems so.」

「I also agree with my daughter’s thoughts. First, let’s identify Allen Rodore’s relatives and attach reliable guards to them.」

About a minute later, Tenshi-sama smiled as if their private conversation had been successfully concluded.

「Allen-sama, thank you for your cooperation today. Thanks to you, we have learned many things.」

「No, it is my honor to be of help.」

Anyway, the meeting concluded as such.

I went straight home without any detours.

■

March 30th, early morning.

On this day, with the new semester just around the corner, I returned to my hometown, Goza Village, for the first time in a while.

(Mom, how are you doing?)

If I remember correctly, the last time we met was… when I went to discuss whether to enroll at Thousand Blade Academy.

(Time sure flies fast. Does that mean we haven’t seen each other for over a year…?)

I didn’t mean to have this much of a gap. Every time I thought it’s about time to go home, a troublesome incident happened, and I ended up putting it off.

After washing my face and brushing my teeth, I changed into my usual uniform. I packed the manju bun as a souvenir.

「Shall we?」

「Yes!」

Ria nodded cheerfully in response.

I’m not returning home alone this time. Ria and Rose are coming with me.

A few days ago, the two of us were having lunch together as usual.

「–Hey Ria, can I have a minute?」

「What is it, Allen?」

「I’m thinking of going back to my hometown, Goza Village, soon… If it’s okay with you, why don’t you come with me?」

「I-Is it the thing which is known as『Greetings the Parents』!?」

「No, it’s not such a ceremonious thing. It’s just a simple visit. If you don’t like the countryside, I can just go by myself–」

「–I’m going! I’m going! I’m going!」

「O-Okay…」

I didn’t think she would be so enthusiastic.

「The time has finally come… The big event of a lifetime, Greeting the Parents! Phew… It’s going to be okay. Calm down. In preparation for this day, I have read many books and obtained the necessary information. Clean clothes, polite language and attitude, souvenirs of visiting etiquette… Alright, my mental simulation is perfect!」

Ria muttered something while clenching her fist tightly.

(She wanted to go to Goza Village that badly?)

Perhaps she is a true outdoor enthusiast.

「Oh, since we’re both going, I’m thinking of inviting Rose too… What do you think?」

The Cherin incident left her deeply traumatized.

By coming into contact with the magnificent nature of Goza Village, I hope that it will heal her even a little, or at least clear her mind a little.

Of course, I have no intention of forcing her. I’m just going to invite her normally.

「Eh… ah, yes, yeap… If you invite her, Rose will surely be happy… I think it’s a very good idea.」

For some reason, Ria voiced her agreement with a complicated expression.

When I invited Rose after that, I got a more favorable answer than I expected, so we decided to go to Goza Village as the usual trio.

The current time was 9:00 am.

「Hmm, the weather is nice today.」

「Yes, it’s a perfect day to go out.」

Ria and I headed to the front gate of Thousand Blade Academy, our meeting place, while being bathed in the pleasant spring breeze.

We saw Rose dozing off with a drowsy look on her face in front of the gate.

「Good morning, Rose.」

「Rose, it’s dangerous to sleep in an open place like this.」

「Mm, fuwaaa… mornin’…」

While rubbing her eyes, Rose gave her yawning greeting.

「Okay then, let’s stop by Paula-san’s dormitory first before going to Goza Village.」

「Yeap.」

「……Un.」

After leaving Orest, we went straight along the highway while having a little chat.

「Come to think of it… Paula-san is the person you were indebted to when you were in middle school, isn’t she? What kind of person is she?」Ria.

「I have heard once before that she was “extremely big”?」Rose.

「Hmm… Well, she’s a little scary when she gets angry, but she’s always very kind and extremely reliable. Also, she’s really big.」

After that, we crossed uninhabited fields, mountains, and walked through dense forests.

「N-Nee, Allen… is this really the road? Or rather, can this even be called a road…?」

「I have heard that it was a pretty rural village, but… this is going far beyond what I imagined…」

「Both of you are exaggerating. We’re not even halfway there yet.」

「「Huh!?」」

As we proceeded through a steep forest, we saw a two-story wooden dormitory in front of us.

「Okay, we’ve arrived. This is Paula-san’s dormitory.」

「Haa…haa… hey, wait a minute…」

「Fuu…fuu… this was quite an exercise…」

Ria and Rose were clearly exhausted, probably because they had been walking on a completely unpaved animal trail.

Well, walking on a rough road like this requires a sort of “getting used to it”. It may not be unreasonable for the two of them to become like this.

「Hmmm…. Even so, the air smells so fresh.」

「Yes, it smells like a forest.」

After taking several deep breaths to catch their breath, Ria and Rose expressed their thoughts.

Right after that, the savory aroma of garlic was carried through the pleasant spring breeze. It was probably fried rice.

「Let’s go then.」

「Yes.」

「Un.」

I knocked on the huge door that was the size of Paula-san… but there was no response. She is probably concentrating on cooking.

「–Excuse me.」

I opened the large door and entered the familiar dormitory.

I took off my shoes at the entrance, passed through the large hall, and headed to the kitchen.

Paula Garedzar.

She’s the dorm mother of the dormitory where I used to live. She is over two meters tall and has a powerful face. Her white apron over her black shirt was still the same. She always had her sleeves rolled up, and her upper arms that came into view… were four times as big as mine.

「Fufufufufu-n!」

She hummed as if she was singing a chorus while swinging her favorite frying pan heartily.

This scene, which I often saw when I was in middle school, gradually warmed my heart.

(…But, it’s strange… Isn’t she a little bigger than the last time I saw her?)

Perhaps it’s just my imagination… No, it’s not.

Her fist, which was holding her frying pan, was as big as a boulder, and her arm was so thick that it could be mistaken for a log.

Taking a quick look at her whole body, compared to the last time we met, she has grown a size larger.

……She is probably in her growth period.

「T-That’s not a… brown bear, is it?」

「W-What a size… To think that there is a person with a physique that matches my grandfather… and to think it’s a woman… I am shocked.」

Ria and Rose’s eyes widened in shock as they saw Paula-san for the first time.…… I know that feeling very well.