Chapter 381 : Delica’s Training Arc Begins
After killing time at Pamella’s house for a while, I went back to the bar to check on the two.
When I approached the VIP seat, I saw Delica smiling so satisfiedly, but on the contrary, Gauche oji-san slumped his shoulders. His face looked so pale, as if he were a criminal who was going to face a death sentence soon.
「Delica, are you done talking with him?」(Mark)
「Yeah! Thank you, Mark!」(Delica)
「No problem.」(Mark)
Judging from Delica’s smile, it seems that she has successfully secured her dad’s full cooperation. I feel happy that our plan went smoothly, but at the same time, I still feel guilty for deceiving Gauche oji-san. I approached him and bowed to him.
「Umm… Gauche oji-san, I’m very soー」(Mark)
However, before I finished apologizing, he extended his arm toward me and showed his palm.
「Mark-kun, it’s alright. I understand. You did it for Delica.」(Gauche)
Seems like Gauche oji-san is no longer mad at me.
「Yeah, it’s all on me. You don’t need to feel guilty about it, Mark」(Delica)
「That’s right. It’s all on her. How dare she deceive her own dad like this.」(Gauche)
「It’s because you would never talk to Mom if I didn’t do this!」(Delica)
「Ugh… A, anyway, I’ll talk to your mom, so you should keep your promise and keep a secret about what happened tonight. Got it?」(Gauche)
「I promise.」(Delica)
「Good… Well then, Mark-kun, we’re going home now. I’ll be facing the ‘demon queen’ waiting in our house. Wish me luck.」(Gauche)
「U, un. Good luck.」(Mark)
「Thanks again for tonight. See you tomorrow, Mark!」(Delica)
After I replied to Delica with a nod, they both left the Iris Bar.
Demon queen, huh…? I’ve rarely seen Delica’s mom, but it seems that she’s a scary housewife.
I bet the hierarchy in Delica’s house looks something like this: Delica’s mom > Delica > Yuuri > Gauche, with Gauche being at the bottommost.
The next day, I heard from Delica that she somehow managed to persuade her mom with the help of her dad. After a long battle against the demon queen, I mean Delica’s mom, they managed to make her admit defeat. Delica’s mom then decided to give Delica permission to take the guard exam and train in the forest.
Delica said her dad was lucky that he only got away with several bruises on his face after talking back to her mom. Well, I didn’t consider it as lucky, though…
If only talking back to his wife resulted in bruises on his face, I wonder what would happen to him if his wife learned that he was drinking with young hostesses in the Iris Bar that night.
I was thinking of taking him to Iris Bar, as an apology this time, but I guess it’s too dangerous for him to visit that bar again, at least for now.
Anyway, thanks to her brave dad, Delica’s training arc had finally begun. Whenever she didn’t have any work shifts at my family’s inn, she would spend her time training in the forest.
At first, Gauche accompanied her hunting goblins and kobolds, but as time passed, Delica started hunting those monsters in the forest by herself.
ーーーーー
A few weeks had passed since Delica started training in the forest, and the exam to become a guard was getting closer and closer.
Currently, I’m eating lunch in the corner of the kitchen with Diadora. She is eating the cabbage I gave her by carefully peeling the leaves off and putting them into her mouth one by one, trying to enjoy her meal as long as possible.
「*Munch munch* …Mark, have you noticed…? Delica smells different lately…」(Diadora)
「What?」(Mark)
Suddenly, Diadora asked me a weird question as she watched Delica, who was serving customers in the dining hall.
As a matter of course, I don’t sniff at people like a dog or like a certain perverted angel, so I don’t notice it at all.
「She smells really nice…」(Diadora)
「Really? Did she change her soap or something?」(Mark)
「No… It’s not soap… She smells like forest lately…」(Diadora)
「Forest? Ah, it’s probably because she has been training in the forest these past few weeks.」(Mark)
「I see… The smell reminds me of my home… It makes me want to go to the forest…」(Diadora)
「Well, feel free if you want to go. I won’t stop you.」(Mark)
I have made a contract with her, but it doesn’t mean that I’m her master or anything like that. I have no intention of stopping her from doing whatever she wants as long as it doesn’t harm other people.
「Thank you, Mark… But…」(Diadora)
As she thanked me, she stopped eating her cabbage and looked down for some reason.
Her expressionless face told me nothing, but somehow I could tell what she felt, and it was… fear.
「There are… Goblins and kobolds in that forest… So many of them…」(Diadora)
「Are you afraid of them?」(Mark)
「Un… Whenever I came out of the ground… they always attacked me… So scary…」(Diadora)
「Really? But you could attack them back by manipulating surrounding trees, right? Besides, they are weak monsters. You could win easily.」(Mark)
「Weak…? Yeah… They may be weak… but… scary… So scary that I couldn’t even fight back…」(Diadora)
「Uhh… I see…」(Mark)
Looks like she has a phobia of goblins and kobolds.
Well, they’re weak, but to be fair, they do look scary, so I kinda understand her feelings.
「You’re afraid of them, but you still want to go to that forest?」(Mark)
「Yes… I have a favorite place… in that forest… A beautiful place… I want to visit it once again…」(Diadora)
「Your favorite place? What kind of place is it?」(Mark)
「An open area with a beautiful pond…」(Diadora)
「Pond…? Hold on… Do Segilia Grasses grow there?」(Mark)
「Segilia Grass… Yes… There are a lot of them…」(Diadora)
「I knew it. I think I know that place.」(Mark)
That’s right. It’s been a long time, but I’ve been there before.
Back then, I went on a rescue mission to save Jack, who was lost in that forest. I went with Nicola and Luck, an adventurer who was also Jack’s big brother. (chapter 37-40)
After we successfully found Jack, Luck took me to that place, and as Diadora said, it was indeed a beautiful place. Not only that, that place was also full of mana, and as proof, there were so many Segilia Grasses growing there.
Spirits love places that are filled with mana, and that’s probably why Diadora likes that place.
「Onii-chan, why don’t you take Diadora-chan there?」(Nicola)
Suddenly, Nicola came into the kitchen while holding a plate of omelet rice. She then sat next to me and started eating her lunch.
「Nicola… You’re so considerate… I’m so happy…」(Diadora)
「Hehe~ I’m thoughtful toward cute girls~!」(Nicola)
「Say, Mark… Will you take me there…?」(Diadora)
「Hmm, I don’t mind, but I have to ask Mom first.」(Mark)
I’ve fought so many strong monsters, so goblins and kobolds are nothing to me. I’m pretty sure Mom will let me go, but as a good son, I still have to ask her.
「Ara~ I’ve heard everything. Mark, you have my permission~」(Mom)
However, just when I thought of asking her, the person herself came into the kitchen while holding a pile of dirty dishes with both hands. As she talked to me with a smile, she put the dishes in the sink.
The kitchen really is not a place to talk in private…
「So I can go?」(Mark)
「Of course~ You took Diadora from the street, so you are the one responsible for her. You should take her for a walk once in a while.」(Mom)
She was talking as if Diadora were a stray dog I took home or something, but she has a point.
「Alright then. Diadora, you heard her. I’ll take you to the forest.」(Mark)
「Yaayy… I’m so happy…」(Diadora)
She raised her hands as she said that. Her gesture showed that she was happy, but her expressionless face showed a different thing. It felt so weird…
「Oh, right~!」(Mom)
Suddenly, Mom clapped her hands as if she had just come up with a good idea.
「Since you’re going to the forest, why don’t you accompany Delica on her training? You can teach her something while taking Diadora for a walk in the forest~」(Mom)
「That’s a good idea.」(Mark)
「Delica has been working really hard lately, so I will ask your dad to make you special lunch boxes~! You can eat together in the forest~」(Mom)
Mom talks as if we were going on a picnic, but I agree with her. Delica has been pushing herself too hard lately, so I think she needs a picnic sometimes.
「Papa’s special lunch box!? Mama, can I go with them~?」(Nicola)
「Fufu, of course, but you should listen to your brother, okay?」(Mom)
「Un!」(Nicola)
Nicola replied to Mom with her bright smile and continued eating her omelet.
『So, you’re coming too, huh? I thought you would prefer to stay and take a nap all day.』(Mark)
『No, no, no. As your sister and your assistant. It’s my duty to go with you.』(Nicola)
『You said that, but your real motive is to eat Dad’s special lunch box, right?』(Mark)
『Khu khu khu. Of course! It’s Papa’s special lunch! It’s not something you get to eat very often!』(Nicola)
『Right.』(Mark)
Seems like for Nicola, a mere afternoon nap still can’t beat Dad’s delicious special dish.
After I finished my lunch, I told Delica about this, and as expected, she didn’t mind that we accompanied her on her next training.
Thus, our plan to go to the forest for a picnic/training has been decided.
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