I Got Fired as a Hero Today - Vol.2 Chapter 41: Impromptu Party Part 2
“Arata-san, are you perhaps staying over?”
Minfa was confused.
“Well, I would like to take a short nap.”
Arata has the skill [All-Nighter], so he can move around all night, but that’s just because he’s resistant to sleepiness; his physical stamina is a separate issue.
To relieve fatigue, rest is necessary.
Minfa is, of course, tired.
Arata took out the [Barrier] scroll and set up a barrier around the tent.
If it’s just cooking for himself, the monsters won’t notice and come near.
He built a fire, boiled water, and drank coffee.
“Bitter…”
Minfa stuck out her tongue. It seems she doesn’t like black.
“We don’t have sugar or milk.”
“It’s fine. I’ll get used to it.”
“Well, there’s no need to get used to it, but…”
“No, I’ll get used to it!”
Minfa declared strongly, but she was surprised by it herself.
Since Minfa is a member of the [Grasslands’ Dawn Brigade], it is taboo for her to go on a quest with Arata. However, Minfa was strangely concerned about Arata.
The tent is small and designed for one person. However, since he chose a larger one-person tent to accommodate his gear, it can fit two people if the gear is taken out.
“Excuse me for intruding.”
Minfa entered with slightly flushed cheeks. She was aware of it.
They lie down together. The Minfa, illuminated by the lantern, is a stunningly beautiful girl.
Arata casually suggested to Minfa to take a break, but isn’t he doing something outrageous? And he realized it too late.
However, he can’t have Minfa working all night. That said, Arata wanted to rest as well. If she didn’t like it, she would have shown some sign of it, and he could think about it then.
However, Minfa said nothing about it.
“I was really scared when Kyouki was bothering me. No one helped me at that time. Even my childhood friend, Lloyd, was completely unreliable…”
Arata thought that Lloyd must be that slender man.
“Honestly, it would have been great if Lloyd had helped, but I didn’t expect much.”
Minfa said with a disappointed expression.
“Is Lloyd your boyfriend?”
“Eh? No, no, it’s not like that! …But, yes, there was a time when I thought it might be nice if that happened. Lloyd and I are from the same village, and we came out together. Lloyd invited me to become an adventurer…”
Minfa lowered her eyes and then stared intently at Arata. She had some feelings for Lloyd, and he could somewhat understand that. But whether they missed their chance to become lovers or if their relationship changed as they lived as adventurers, Arata didn’t know.
“D-do you have a partner, Arata-san?”
“Partner? Why?”
“No, I just asked out of curiosity.”
“I see. Well, I don’t usually say this, but I’m currently going through a breakup.”
“Eh?! Is that so?”
Minfa suddenly sat up and peered into Arata’s face.
Because it was a small space, Minfa’s face felt quite close.
“I had been dating a woman named Kotoko for about two years, but last week she was taken by a man named Atsushi. She told me she wanted to break up.”
“Oh, is that so… I asked something strange, didn’t I?”
“Well, it’s already over, so there’s no helping it.”
“That’s true, isn’t it? But Arata-san…”
Minfa peered into Arata’s face.
“What is it?”
“Talking about your ex-girlfriend in front of such a cute girl is a no-go, you know?”
“Is that so?”
“That’s right.”
“I see.”
“Yes.”
Minfa made a light-hearted remark, but deep down, she felt conflicted.
She thought that Arata became an adventurer after breaking up with his girlfriend, Kotoko.
Arata is strong enough to defeat a man-eating wolf on his own.
Originally, such a man would be a top-notch catch in this world, and women wouldn’t leave him.
Otherwise, she thought that he had no discernment when it came to women like Kotoko.
However, at this time, Minfa does not know that Arata is a summoned person from another world.
Of course, in any world, men who are capable at their jobs and earn well are popular.
◆◆◆
In the morning, Arata and Minfa returned to the Adventurers’ Guild.
This morning, Izumi welcomed him. He missed Sarah.
“Welcome back.”
Izumi, who worked all night and is sleepy, greets with a smile. She is favorable towards Arata.
“I’m home!”
Izumi completed the settlement procedures yesterday as well.
“That will be five hundred sixty Rigil.”
Izumi was taken aback by the amount of the reward.
As a gathering quest, the income is extraordinary, and it also comes with material rewards from four man-eating wolves. Even with a six-member party, she can’t imagine achieving such results. The abnormality made her hands tremble involuntarily.
“Thank you. I’m going to borrow the shower.”
“Pl-please, go ahead.”
Since it was paid, he paid the fee from the guild card.
Arata went to the rest area within the guild.
“It’s not just because Sarah has her eye on him, but Arata-san is a solid asset.”
Izumi rubbed her own butt and stared.
“Is this his type… No, no, he’s the guy my kouhai likes, so that’s definitely a no.”
And, she muttered to herself.
“Thank you for today. But are you sure it’s okay? Halving the reward. Since you were the one who defeated the man-eating wolf all by yourself, shouldn’t that reward just go to you?”
They leave the guild and walk partway down the main street together.
“Well, we were also taught how to dismantle monsters.”
“Really? I’ve learned about wild plants too, so I’m actually the one who has gained quite a bit from this!”
“Really?”
“That’s right!”
Minfa didn’t seem convinced.
As Arata, he was able to acquire the skill [Dismantle], and it was worth more than money. He also leveled it up to 10.
“At this rate, what was the point of me following Arata-san?”
Originally, she joined forces to help Arata, who had been saved by Kyouki, but it ended up being more like being carried on his back.
“Because it was fun, it’s all good.”
“Huh? You had fun… that means…”
“Well then, here.”
The adventurer’s inn and the knight’s quarters part ways here.
“Oh, Arata-san, that’s the knight’s dormitory? The inn is over here.”
“No, I’m staying at the knight’s dormitory.”
“Huh? What do you mean?”
“Oh, I see…”
Arata thought for a moment and then said, “It’s fine, I guess.”
“I’m a summoner from another world. I was summoned as a hero in this country. That’s how it is. Well then.”
Arata walked off briskly.
She was dazed for a while, but then Minfa’s scream echoed, “Huhhhhhh?!”.
◆◆◆
“Minfa, where have you been? I’ve been looking for you.”
Lloyd confronted Minfa, who had returned to the inn completely exhausted.
“Lloyd… I’m sorry, I’m tired. Can we talk later?”
“Ah, ah…”
Lloyd showed confusion at Minfa’s unusually cold attitude. Having grown up as childhood friends, Lloyd felt that something had changed in Minfa.
Minfa heads straight to her rented room.
Lloyd looked up at Minfa as she climbed the stairs to return to her room, overwhelmed by an indescribable sense of unease.
And then, he thought that it was related to the slender man from yesterday.
It was an ominous feeling, but he thought it was probably true.