And so, the next morning.
“Sorry to keep you waiting.”
As I waited at the entrance of Griffo’s house, Mitera arrived with a smile. I waved lightly in response.
We faced each other, and the first words out of both our mouths were, “That’s not exactly date attire!” Neither Mitera nor I looked any different from usual.
We both laughed.
Well, it’s not like I have a lot of clothes to choose from. Even if I did own “date-like clothes,” I’d still have dressed the same way today.
I’m pretty sure Mitera feels the same.
“Shall we go?”
“Yes. Oh, wait just a moment. Before we do…”
Huh?
Mitera turned back to the empty doorway, calling out with a smile.
“You’re free to interfere, but don’t inconvenience anyone else!”
Naturally, there was no response. I tilted my head in confusion.
“Interfere?”
“Nothing. Come on, let’s go.”
◆◇◆
Just after Isto and Mitera left—
Two figures emerged from the shadows at the bottom of the stairs.
“…Guess we were busted. Fiole, maybe we should give up?”
“Don’t be so quick to lose heart, Almoa.”
“I just don’t think I can win against her.”
“Trust me, I feel the same, but we can’t back down now. It’s a date, a date! Aren’t you curious?”
“Well, yes…”
“Then we have no choice! Luckily, we got permission to interfere, so let’s follow them without bothering anyone else!”
“…Should I call you naïve and well-behaved, or should I fear Mitera’s teaching skills?”
And with that, Fiole and Almoa slipped out of the mansion, following Isto and Mitera.
◆◇◆
It was another nice day—cool breeze and clear skies.
There was no major festival or rare show, just the usual calm of Wigarlus.
Mitera and I strolled leisurely through the town, making small talk.
The familiar hustle and bustle was a comforting background noise.
After the busy days in Barba, I knew the value of just “walking through town.”
But still, it would be a waste to just stroll around.
I timed it right and led Mitera to our destination.
“Wow…”
Mitera covered her mouth in surprise.
We had come to a street lined with eateries for laborers. At night, it’s crowded with people seeking drinks, but during the day, it takes on a different vibe, offering street food perfect for a quick snack on the go.
Mitera gave me a mischievous look.
“Not exactly a place to take a lady, is it?”
“I’ll treat you to everything.”
“Deal.”
See? I know Elpida’s biggest foodie.
And with the delicious smells around, I was getting hungry too.
Mitera and I walked from stall to stall.
This area is full of lively and generous people.
Mitera, despite her refined appearance, enjoyed the lively atmosphere and even laughed off the stall owners’ crude jokes.
Well, it makes sense—she’s the front desk receptionist at an adventurers’ guild, after all.
“Oh! It’s the handsome hero and his lovely companion!”
…It was at one of the stalls selling steak skewers.
The burly stall owner’s words made me tilt my head.
“Hero?”
“Aw, don’t act coy. The word’s out. You two solved a big incident in Minnigel, didn’t you?”
The stall owner gestured grandly.
“The handsome man who cut down ferocious monsters that even seasoned adventurers couldn’t touch! And his beautiful secretary, the pride of Wigarlus!”
Mitera chuckled at being called a “beautiful secretary.”
“You two are famous! Those snooty guild types and adventurers might not care, but the folks around here are rooting for you. Hearing that a man once downed by hardship rose again—it lifts people’s spirits!”
“Hardship… So even that story’s gotten around?”
“A while back, some Barba folks bragged, ‘We got rid of that loser!’ Everyone here knew Mitera worked at that guild, so naturally, they heard what happened afterward too.”
As usual, Mitera’s reputation was widespread. Thinking back, every stall we’d visited so far knew her.
The stall owner even gave us a little extra steak, and we left with a hearty laugh.
“Fufufu.”
Mitera took a bite of the tender steak, laughing softly. I thought it was just because she enjoyed the food, but apparently not.
“Isto, your reputation is spreading steadily.”
“Honestly, I’m not so thrilled about it.”
Since it was Mitera, I spoke openly.
My ideal is my mentor at the orphanage in Elpida who raised me. That person never wanted much, only happiness for Mitera, me, and the children.
That’s how I want to be, too.
When I said that, Mitera shrugged.
“You’re already a mentor in your own right. And the high regard from those around you isn’t something to take lightly. Look, Sigurd has even given permission for you to establish a guild. Good rumors are a strength.”
“…”
“Isto?”
The next morning…
“Sorry to keep you waiting.”
While I waited at the front entrance of Griffon’s house, Mitera arrived with a smile. I greeted her with a slight wave.
When we faced each other, the first words we both spoke were, “Not exactly date attire!”
Neither Mitera nor I were dressed any differently from our usual clothes. We both laughed.
Well, it’s also true that we don’t have much choice in our wardrobes, but even if I did have “date clothes,” I’d still be dressed like I am today. I’m pretty sure Mitera feels the same way.
“Shall we go?”
“Yes. Oh, wait a moment—before we go.”
What’s going on?
Mitera turned around with a smile, calling out to the empty entranceway.
“Feel free to tag along, but don’t cause any trouble for everyone else!”
Of course, there was no reply. I tilted my head in confusion.
“Tag along?”
“It’s nothing. Let’s go.”
Right after Isto and Mitera set out, two shadows emerged from behind the staircase.
“…She knew we were there. Fiole, why don’t we give up?”
“Come on, Almoa. Don’t lose heart so quickly.”
“It’s just… I feel like I can’t win against her.”
“I agree, but that doesn’t mean we should give up. It’s a date! Aren’t you curious?”
“Well, I guess…”
“Then we have no choice but to follow them! Fortunately, we were given permission to tag along, so we’ll make sure not to cause trouble for anyone else!”
“Should I admire how straightforward you are, or should I be afraid of Mitera’s influence on you? It’s a dilemma.”
Trailing after Isto and Mitera, Fiole and Almoa left the mansion.
The weather is lovely today, with a cool breeze.
There’s no big festival or unusual attraction going on; it’s just an ordinary day in Wigalus.
Mitera and I walked leisurely through the town, chatting about nothing in particular. The lively, everyday sounds around us were oddly comforting.
After the busyness in Barba, I know how valuable “just walking around town” time can be.
Of course, just wandering around aimlessly would be a waste. When the time felt right, I led Mitera to our destination.
“Wow…!”
Mitera covered her mouth in awe.
We’d arrived at a street lined with pubs frequented by laborers. It’s bustling at night when people come for drinks, but during the day, it has a different vibe, with plenty of street food options for those on their way to work or on a quick break.
Mitera gave me a mischievous smile.
“Doesn’t seem like a place for a lady to be escorted to, though.”
“I’m paying for everything.”
“Score!”
See? I know you’re the biggest eater in all of Elpida.
The delicious smells wafting through the air were making me hungry, too.
Mitera and I wandered around the street stalls together.
The folks around here are lively and generous. Although Mitera looks like a refined young lady at first glance, she can enjoy this kind of energetic atmosphere. She even laughed at the occasional crude jokes from the stall owners.
Well, if she couldn’t handle that, she wouldn’t make it as the front desk receptionist at an adventurer’s guild full of rough types.
“Hey! Looks like we’ve got ourselves a visit from the town’s famed hero and beauty!”
It was at a stall selling steak skewers. The muscular vendor’s words made me tilt my head.
“Hero?”
“Oh, don’t play dumb. Word’s out. You two solved that big case in the town of Mineger, didn’t you?”
The vendor gestured theatrically.
“A good-looking guy who cuts down fearsome monsters left and right, backed by Wigalus’s most beautiful secretary!”
Mitera chuckled at being called a “beautiful secretary.”
“You’re famous, you know? Don’t know about those high-and-mighty guild types or other adventurers, but the folks who hang out around here respect you. A guy who once fell hard got back on his feet—that’s the kind of story that gets people cheering.”
“A setback… That part of the story is spreading, too?”
“Some folks from Barba were bragging about it a while back, like, ‘We got rid of the useless one!’ And everyone here knows Miss Mitera works at that guild, so naturally, they heard how things turned out.”
Mitera is as well-known as ever. Now that I think about it, none of the stall vendors we visited so far had failed to recognize her.
After getting a little extra steak, we left the stall.
“Hehehe.”
As Mitera took a bite of the tender meat, she smiled. I thought maybe she was just enjoying the steak, but that didn’t seem to be the case.
“Your reputation is growing, Isto.”
“Honestly, it’s not that great for me.”
Since it was Mitera, I spoke openly.
My ideal is my mentor at the orphanage in Elpida, the person who raised me. They never asked for much, just wished for the happiness of us children, like Mitera and me. That’s what I want, too.
When I explained this to her, Mitera shrugged.
“You’re already much like a teacher yourself. Besides, having a good reputation isn’t a waste. Look, Sigurd even approved the guild establishment. A good reputation is a strength.”
“…”
“Isto?”
Mitera looked at me curiously when I stopped.
I looked straight at her.
“Regardless of what happens with the guild, I’ll keep protecting everyone. And it would mean a lot to me if you’d be there to support me. Regardless of what others think.”
“So, you’re saying you want me by your side?”
“Yes.”
“How strongly?”
Her eyes were calm. I felt like she was testing me.
I repeated awkwardly.
“Very strongly. I need you, Mitera.”
A silence fell. The murmuring crowd flowed around us.
Mitera turned her back to me and nodded. “Hmm, I see… I see.”
I wondered if my words had really gotten through to her, and then I thought about how bold my statement actually sounded.
Just as I was about to say something—
“I-I-Istooooooo!”
“Isto!”
Suddenly, I was tackled from behind by familiar voices.
Ow… Fiole? Almoa?!
“Isto, Isto! What did you mean by that just now!? It sounded super meaningful!”
“Proposing in a place like this is the worst.”
“Hey!”
So they had followed us…
I pried Fiole and Almoa off me.
“Mitera is an essential part of the Elpida Orphanage. And just like you two, she’s family to me. Wanting her to stay close is only natural, right? Isn’t that right, Mitera?”
“Yes. I’m very happy, Isto. But there’s one little ‘tsk tsk’ thing here.”
…Huh?
Why did things suddenly take a strange turn?
Mitera was smiling as she looked back at me. She wasn’t angry, but her eyes… were intense.
“Now that you’ve fired me up, there’s no going halfway. I, Mitera Roll, am going to make Isto Rilos’s guild ‘Elpida’ a complete success.”
“Wait, what? That’s what you took from this?”
“My connections will be most useful in that area. From now on, I’ll be working at full force to help you. Be prepared, Isto.”
I’d never seen Mitera this fired up before. It was… inspiring.
But hold on.
If Mitera’s determined to go all out with the guild, there’s no way I can say “no” now, is there?
Almoa tugged on my sleeve.
“Today’s supposed to be a day off. Why are you motivating her to work?”
Good point.
