Chapter 172: You Won’t Send Me Home Yet?
The time was 7:00.
After a lively chat, Tetrin suddenly let out a small yawn.
It was rare for the fairy trees to make a sleepy gesture, so I stared at them in surprise.
When I blinked my eyes, they smiled at me wryly and said,
’For the first time in thousands of years, I got sleepy. No... that’s not right. It was so fun and I got carried away.’
"...From now on, I’ll call you often. I already taught the royal family how to call you."
’Nufu, I guess you know...’
"You won’t tell anyone who Tetrin trusts, right?"
I looked at Retia and Tia when I said that.
The two noticed my gaze, smiled, and nodded. Tetrin smiled satisfied as well.
Whether Tetrin trusted someone or not could be judged by whether they smiled or spoke to him while drinking.
Looking at how Tetrin had been smiling and talking to everyone present today, including King Adom, it was clear he trusted them quite a bit.
That was why I had taught Retia and Tia how to call the fairies.
’Very well. You didn’t solve my riddle today, but you’ll come again, right?’
"Yes, of course. I swear by Terto."
’Aha, full marks!’
Tetrin laughed happily, stood up, waved one hand at us while fluttering his wings, and entered the fairy tree.
The table that had become slightly lonely after everyone left was similar to the loneliness I had experienced in the game, so I smiled wryly.
To close the gathering, Roy and I stood up, and Retia and the others stood up and walked toward us.
...Karinal seemed to have relaxed from the tension.
At first Karinal had been quite tense, smiling but a bit stiff.
I thought she would be tense because she was with the royals, but that would just make her tense and tired.
I was wondering what to do when Tetrin came and talked to her; Felica had also been very considerate, and toward the end Karinal was genuinely laughing.
When I smiled at Karinal who had approached, Karinal tilted her head with a puzzled look.
"What’s wrong?"
"No, I thought it was nice that you could enjoy yourselves."
"It’s all thanks to everyone..."
Karinal looked down with her cheeks slightly flushed in embarrassment, and I tilted my head in wonder.
...Was the part where she was embarrassed related to today’s conversation?
Retia, Tia, and Felica all smiled wryly when they saw my reaction.
Tia looked at Karinal and smiled elegantly, saying,
"Karinal... Ah, please don’t kneel."
"Y-yes..."
"I’m appointing you as our royal guard knight. I’ll tell the minister to report to him first thing tomorrow."
"M-me...? Is that all right?"
"Kusu, of course. You saw Sharle and the others’ appearances, right?"
"...Ah."
Karinal looked behind me at Sharle and the others, and as if she had understood the meaning of the words, she stood stunned.
...Don’t make that face. It was Sharle who invited you, right?
When Felica saw Karinal’s reaction, she whispered something in her ear, and Karinal smiled slightly.
When I tilted my head wondering what Felica had whispered, Felica smiled wryly at me and said,
"It’s your fault for getting involved with Raide."
"Felica, that makes it sound like it’ll be tough if I get involved with you..."
’Fufufu, isn’t that at least partly true?"
"Muu..."
It was hard to deny something I couldn’t deny.
Karinal bowed in serious acceptance to Tia, and Retia and Tia smiled satisfied and nodded.
When I looked at Roy next to me, who was quiet, his eyes looked a bit sleepy, perhaps because he had drunk.
When I appealed to Felica with my eyes, she nodded at Roy with a troubled smile.
When I took a step toward the door leading into the garden as if returning home and bowing to Retia and Tia, I was lightly surprised when my left arm was hugged tightly.
When I turned my face to see who was hugging me, Sharle was smiling beautifully at me.
"Ah~ Sharle?"
"We finally reunited. I won’t send you home just yet? I already told Felica-sama to pass on a message to Nimi-sama, so please rest easy."
When I looked at Felica, she nodded with a smile, and Retia and Tia nodded as well.
Sharle had expected me to follow her home to talk, but...
Seeing my expression, Sharle smiled happily and slightly strengthened her hug.
"Today I’ll invite you to our place. Fufu, it’s almost forced, but..."
"No, but..."
"Then Raide-sama, see you tomorrow morning."
"Kukuku, good night, Raide-sama."
"Raide, are we meeting at the academy tomorrow?"
"Good night... Raide."
When I looked at Retia and Tia, they laughed happily while each calling out to me and began walking toward the door.
Roy looked at my face with a wry smile, exchanged a few words with me, and left with Felica.
When the sound of the door closing echoed softly in the garden, I smiled wryly at Sharle who was rubbing her cheek against my shoulder.
"Where did the shy fairy from back then go?"
’Fufu, the one in front of Raide-sama is right here. ...Was it a bother?"
"I don’t think it was a bother. I was just surprised because it was sudden."
"I knew it, fufufu."
When I saw Sharle smiling happily with narrowed eyes, it felt embarrassing and I looked away, then my right arm was hugged tightly and I was surprised again.
When I turned my face there, a wavy-haired light-blue-haired fairy with her hair reaching her shoulders was hugging me tightly while poking my right cheek with her finger and laughing happily.
When I realized it was the fairy I had helped in front of the Folia inn’s front, I remembered.
"I was saved at that time."
"Kusu, you noticed?"
"Because you’re the only one who poked my cheek... May I ask your name?"
"Nfufu, my name is Teine. Nice to meet you again, savior. I’m happy to see you."
"I’m happy to see you too."
Teine smiled happily, narrowed her eyes, and strengthened the hug like Sharle.
Although Teine gave off the atmosphere of an older sister, it was clear she was happy.
However... couldn’t you please stop pressing your melon-like chest against me?
Whether she knew my feelings or not, everyone was watching Sharle and Teine with pleasant expressions.
Actually, thinking calmly, Sharle and the others were too beautiful, and their robes had a bit of skin exposed, so it was hard to know where to look.
That, right, sometimes you could see...
Moreover, due to the unique nature of the Overworld, their chests were even larger.
If I stared at them any longer, they would hate me, so please be kind...
Sharle must have read my expression, leaned in close, and whispered in my ear.
"If it’s Raide-sama, you may look at us as much as you want, but?"
"Please be kind, really..."
When I answered with a troubled expression, Sharle and Teine laughed happily.