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… - 70

Chapter 70: Phantom and Gustav

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“Master… Are you really sure it’s okay for us to leave the royal capital?”

“Yeah. It’s already been half a year since that battle, and Cain and Solomon are on good terms now. Things will run smoothly even without me. After all, I’m nothing more than a mere adventurer.”

I smiled to reassure Tia, who was worried. Of course, that wasn’t exactly a lie. Cain and Solomon seemed to get along better than I had expected, and their exchanges went smoothly even without me. Thanks to Elena, Ceres, and Henrietta each acting as a bridge for their factions, the demonfolk were gradually being accepted too.

“There are things I want to redo as Gustav and I’d like you to come with me, Tia. Will you come with me?”

“Yes!! If it’s for Master’s sake, I will gladly follow you anywhere!!”

Her beaming smile made me happy. Just how many times had I been saved by her presence? I really had lost count.

“Then, let’s go. To the town of beginnings.”

And with that, the carriage carrying Tia and me began to roll toward the town where it had all started.

“It feels nostalgic… When we first met, I never imagined I’d end up traveling with Master like this, let alone being involved in a kingdom-wide crisis.”

“That goes for me too. If nothing had happened, I had planned to remain as a mediocre level adventurer in that town forever.”

As she gazed out at the scenery beyond the carriage, Tia spoke with deep emotion. Certainly, I had never thought I’d be caught up in such major events again. In fact, I had no intention of ever joining a party again back then…

“Hmm, but I wonder… Elena-san or Ceres would have found you eventually, Master.”

“Ahh, that’s true…”

I gave a wry smile and admitted she had a point. In the end, whenever someone was in danger, I would use the Evil Eyes, which would have given Elena a chance to locate me with the magic she had developed. And if things had gone on that way, Ceres probably would have caught me too somehow.

“But, you know, I could say the same about you. Even if I hadn’t saved you, someone else would have.”

“That’s true. I am really cute, after all. Other people wouldn’t have left me alone. But…”

With a mischievous smile, Tia secretly took my hand so the others in the carriage wouldn’t notice.

“I’m glad it was Master who saved me. Because of you, I’m happy now.”

“You’re being quite forward, huh…”

Startled by the warmth of her hand and her leaning body, I swallowed reflexively.

“I’ve been holding back until now, you know. Because you promised me we’d wait until everything was over… And yet, I heard you almost spent the night with Ceres?”

“That was just how the situation turned out. I couldn’t help it…”

Tia looked at me with narrowed, reproachful eyes. True enough, when I explained it afterward, Elena and Henrietta had scolded me furiously. But seriously—how was I supposed to know that room in the church was meant for that kind of use? It was a church, for crying out loud…

“But since you invited only me on this trip, I’ll forgive you. Ufufu~ We might even look like lovers from the outside.”

She leaned in even closer with a teasing smile, and a faint sweet scent drifted toward me, making my thoughts go astray.

“But why go back there now? Don’t tell me you’re planning to woo Aisha-san…”

“No. I thought I’d go say farewell to Gustav.”

“Huh??”

Tia tilted her head in confusion, and I couldn’t blame her. After all, I was doing this out of pure self-satisfaction on my part…

“Oh, that’s right. Master, could you lend me your bag for a moment?”

“Huh? Sure, I guess. But what’s—”

With an oddly stern expression, Tia opened my bag and pulled out a rosary that shone with divine brilliance.

“Huh? I don’t remember putting something like that in there…”

“Geez, you really can’t let your guard down, can you!! Begone, evil spirit!!”

I watched as Tia hurled it with all her strength out the carriage window, and I had a bad feeling something troublesome was about to happen.

And then, before long, we returned to that familiar town… Though in truth, it had only been half a year since we left. Since I wasn’t wearing my mask anymore, people I knew looked at me with a certain awkwardness as we passed.

“Huh, Tia-chan? Which means… You must be Gustav!! Damn, you look good. Handsome guys can just go die already!!”

“Wait, you’re going to work as adventure in here again!? Then you should meet up with Abel! He’d be thrilled to see you!”

So my identity got blown in seconds…!?

Chatting with the people along the way, I made my way to the Adventurers’ Guild. For the surprise, I had Tia wait just a little behind me.

“Hello, Receptionist-san. I’d like to register as an adventurer in this town…”

“Of course, welcome. This town is just a small town in the countryside, but it’s a good town.  Could I have your name and adventurer’s card, please?”

“Ah, my name is Phantom Pail… The adventurer once known as Gustav.”

“What—!”

Aisha-chan’s eyes widened, and as tears welled up in them, she suddenly threw herself into my arms.

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