Chap 82: Are These Twins a Nuisance Again?

For a moment, everyone except Ceris and me exchanges glances in silence.

“Alright… this is getting tense again. Crow, as leader, could you say something?”

Ceris shrugs and dumps the question on me.

“Uh… it’s my turn now…?”

I really, really don’t want to.

The moment Ceris says my name, all eyes turn to me.

Even though I haven’t done a thing.

Honestly, I haven’t done anything.

Looking back, she carried me off in a princess carry, I overheard the conversation, and I only asked a couple questions.

I haven’t tripped any landmines or anything.

If there’s one thing I want to tell everyone… it’s this:

『I want to leave this guild.』

…That’s it.

But there’s no way I can say that in this heavy atmosphere.

I have to read the room.

Yeah, I’ll read it. That’s the right move here.

Otherwise, things will only get worse.

Besides, this is an urgent request personally from Zois-san, and it’s about the Elf Kingdom.

That’s intriguing.

If I’m going to leave the guild, I can wait until after this job is done.

An emergency comes first, after all.

Still…

――――――――――――

Not a single member of our guild speaks up, and nobody’s eyes leave me.

This feels way more urgent than any assignment to the Elf Kingdom…

Just as I’m about to force out a response—

“So this is how it’s going to play out, huh.”

“Just as expected~♪”

Two girls step into the guild house, cutting through the oppressive atmosphere no one expected them to breach.

They have very similar features.

And… everyone here knows who they are.

Because they’re members of the guild 【Red Rose】 led by Ceris.

“Going in person was definitely the right call. Long time no see, Crow-san.”

“Ah, yeah. Sierra… long time.”

I answer when she speaks.

Sierra’s a beautiful girl whose long hair is tied into a single braid—she’s the very image of a reliable secretary, serving as vice-leader of Red Rose.

And today there’s one more person…

“Crow-saaaan, long time no see~♪”

“Really long time, Ruela. How have you been?”

“Obviously great~ Crow-san, you’re still surrounded by such… dangerous energy~♪”

Sierra’s twin sister Ruela is here too.

Ruela’s fluffy twin-tails and the little fang that shows when she smiles are her trademarks. True to her look, she loves teasing people.

The dependable sister and the bratty sister.

These twins, polar opposites in appearance and personality, are the ones who support Ceris.

“Ceris-sama. How’s the negotiation going for the joint request with Devil’s Triumph Nightmare—aka taking Crow-san with us?”

“Looking at this situation, what do you think, Sierra? Ruela?”

“It’s exactly as if conversation itself is impossible right now.”

“Well, you and the devil folk are just the worst match, after all~♪”

Sierra exhales softly, and Ruela titter.

“But that said, I’m not budging. We absolutely are taking Crow on this mission.”

Ceris states firmly.

The room grows heavy again, but I tentatively open my mouth.

“Ceris, why do you want to bring me so badly?”

Is there some reason? Like you need my 【Creative Creation】 power?

“Because I want to go adventuring with Crow. Isn’t that reason enough?”

Ceris says with a soft smile.

Ah—now I get why she unwittingly charms everyone, and why Red Rose is all women.

“Se-Ceris-sama, how bold…!”

“Ahaha. Ceris-sama really~”

Sierra and Ruela, Ceris’s number-one fans, both blush slightly.

Meanwhile, I’m scared to look at the reactions of Devil’s Triumph Nightmare’s members.

“Hey, Crow… do you even know what races make up the Elf Kingdom?”

Zois-san cuts in with a sigh—and he called me by name.

Even though I’ve done nothing.

“Just so you know, it’s the Elf Kingdom.”

“That’s what Zois-san just explained, right? High Elves and Dark Elves. And it’s a major supplier of potion ingredients.”

“Yeah, but that’s not all the Elf Kingdom is known for.”

Wait, really?

“The gender ratio in the Elf Kingdom is one male to three hundred females.”

Oh? We’re in a reversed-chastity world?

“In other words… men are practically nonexistent. And both High Elves and Dark Elves share one thing—they hate men.”

“…Huh?”

That’s… bad.

I’m the one with the worst compatibility.

『Well, this time around, Crow, you’re probably staying behind.』

I see. So that’s why Zois-san said that earlier.

“You shouldn’t jump to conclusions, Guild Master. And the idea that Elves hate men is just a rumor… I think we won’t know the truth until we get there.”

Ceris says with a bright smile.

Then she turns back to us in Devil’s Triumph Nightmare.

“Everyone here just returned—this is sudden, I know. I’m not asking for an answer right now. Even though it’s urgent, we can leave tomorrow. So think it over today and tell me tomorrow. Besides Crow, who else will join us?”

So… I’m definitely going to the Elf Kingdom.

Even though I never said I’d go.

“Also, until you decide, Crow will stay with Red Rose.”

In the end, the heavy atmosphere doesn’t change.