I Got Reincarnated as the Villain and Saved the World, but After the Ending I Was Betrayed and Exiled. I Just Wanted a Peaceful Life in the Frontier, but for Some Reason My Former Companions Started Chasing Me with Yandere Eyes… - 22

Chapter 22: Farewell and a New Problem

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“We’ve successfully vanquished the demons. Peace should soon return to this land.”

“Master was amazing!! He was trading blows with the demons on equal footing—or better!”

“Indeed. If it hadn’t been for Gustav, we alone would not have been able to win.”

“Ahaha…”

After returning to the Adventurer’s Guild, we had Solomon and Amon disguised themselves and waiting in the carriage while we finished our report about repelling the demons.

But aren’t they praising me a little too much? Aisha-chan is looking at me with eyes full of skepticism.

“Well then, the land is peaceful again. Well, since Gustva-san is already here, maybe I should give Gustav-san another troublesome request.”

Letting out a breath of relief, I called out to Aisha-chan, who was rummaging through documents. I felt tense. I didn’t really want to say this, but I had to.

“Actually… I’ve decided to leave this town. I’ve found something I want to do.”

“I see. I’ll miss you… But you look brighter now. I’m really glad.”

Her eyes widened for a moment, then she smiled softly. After my exile, I had left my homeland, and I was wandering without any place to go when I met Aisha-chan. I was half-starved and on the verge of collapse when she kindly spoke to me. From there on, following her suggestion, I became an adventurer and spent my days in this town.

“If it weren’t for you, Aisha-chan, I wouldn’t be who I am today. Thank you, truly.”

“Don’t mind it. Sure, I was the one who reached out to you, but it was your own strength that let you stand on your feet.”

Her gentle words almost brought me to tears. 

No, that’s not true. 

Back then, when I was worn down and ready to give up on everything, she was the only one who spoke to me with kindness. I had thought I’d been keeping my distance, but realizing just how big a place she held in my heart actually surprised me and… It made me happy too.

“Fufu~ I’m an excellent receptionist, after all. I just thought it would be a waste to let a strong-looking man collapse in the street.”

“As expected of Aisha-chan, an A-rank class receptionist.”

“Yes, yes, thank you… In the end, we never did manage to have a single date though.”

“Well, I did listen to you vent over drinks at the tavern, but I guess that doesn’t count as a date…”

“Of course not. If you’re going to ask me out, take me to a fine restaurant, not the guild’s cheap tavern. I am an A-rank class receptionist, you know.”

My throat tightened at her lighthearted jab, and I replied in kind. Aisha-chan chuckled, then turned to the other two.

“Tia-chan, Elena-sama. Gustav-san is kind, and a little perverted, but he also hides his burdens when things get tough. Please make sure he doesn’t bottle things up on his own.”

“Yes! If Master looks like he’s bottling things up, I’ll use my cuteness to tempt him into telling the truth!!”

“Ah, yes… I will never make the same mistake again. You can rest easy.”

Tia answered brightly, while Elena nodded with oddly lifeless eyes. With tears brimming in her own eyes, Aisha-chan beckoned me closer one last time. When I leaned in, wondering what she wanted, I felt the sensation of soft lips against my cheek.

““What!?””

“Aisha-chan!?”

As I froze in shock, she gave me a mischievous smile.

“You were, to me, the best person ever… You’re as wonderful as an S-rank adventurer.”

“Enough of this, you wicked woman!! Gustav, let’s go at once!!”

“Yes… Aisha-san, thank you for everything.”

Even as I was dragged away by the two of them, I saw Aisha-chan waving through her tears, and I made a vow to myself.

When everything has settled down, I’ll come back to see her again.

With that decision in my heart, I boarded the carriage bound for my homeland.

“It seems the farewells are over. Shall we go?”

“Hahahaha! Let’s roll!! Tia!! Sit next to me! I’ve reserved a special seat just for you!!”

There sat a hooded girl hiding her face with a certain air of self-importance, and an overly energetic hooded driver… Yes. Those people were Solomon and Amon.

“To think I’d be going back there again…”

“Master, it’s fine! If anything hard happens, my cuteness will heal you!!”

“I’m here too!!”

Ignoring Amon’s call, Tia sat beside me and took my hand to reassure me. Meanwhile, Elena, for some reason, decided to sit down on my lap.

“Uh, what are you doing?”

“I’m making sure you don’t run off somewhere again…”

“Wrong! She’s just jealous because you and Aisha-san seemed so cozy just now.”

“Shut up!! I want to be spoiled by Gustav too! Got a problem with that!?”

“No problem at all. I’m jealous too, after all.”

“So this is a harem… Humans truly are shameless.”

As the two of them radiated a strange pressure, I tensed up. Solomon muttered something under her breath, but I was pretty sure she had jumped to the wrong conclusion. Still, from the outside, this must look like quite the scene.

★★

In the castle’s underground chamber—a secret, magically sealed room known only to the royal family and one other person. The figure within was cloaked entirely in darkness, making neither face nor build discernible.

“So… Solomon has returned, has he?”

Seeing the crystal react to a powerful surge of magic, the figure’s eyes widened, then curved into a grin.

“This location will do nicely… Cain may object, but I’ll make use of Henrietta.”

Casting a spell, the shadow reshaped itself into human form—the form of a man known in this country as Josef.

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