The Case of the Washed-Up F-Rank Adventurer Who Maxed Out His Agility by Relying on His Worthless ‘Flee’ Skill and Accidentally Became the Strongest in the World. He Can’t, However, Escape from the Yandere Beauties. - Chapter 14
Chapter 14: The Old Man Is Out of Work
It’s already been ten years since then.
Mira-san… a young girl can become a woman.
The only thing that doesn’t change… or rather, is incapable of growth… is me, the perennial F-Rank.
…Basically, Mira-san is fed up.
With my very existence…
With me, the guy who leeches off the guild, begging her mom… Emma-san… for work every single day…
It’s only natural, when you think about it.
A shabbily-dressed Old Man comes begging for you to give him a job every day for ten years.
And on top of that, this Old Man is completely incompetent—a perennial F-Rank.
…And come to think of it, since I sometimes sleep outdoors like I did yesterday, the smell must be pretty awful.
There are even times when I’m still drunk.
Like right now…
For the guild staff who have to deal with me—Mira-san and Emma-san—it must be unbearable.
What’s more, Mira-san isn’t just some receptionist.
I hear she was trained in combat by her mother, the former A-Rank adventurer Emma-san, since she was a little girl.
And that Mira-san’s skill is said to rival Emma-san’s in her youth…
Emma-san herself even said something like that, half-jokingly.
In fact, at Mira-san’s request, I’ve actually gone into dungeons with her a few times in the past without Emma-san’s knowledge.
Her talent on those occasions undoubtedly showed flashes of a top-tier adventurer.
But that same Mira-san is very kind, and it’s not like we’re strangers.
That’s why she’s been able to put up with this situation until now.
But… I guess she’s finally reached her limit.
And so, the gentle Mira-san, her face flushed, revealed her anger and gave me a clear declaration.
Just how long do you plan on squatting in this guild… is what she’s asking.
How long are you going to keep troubling my mother… is what she’s saying.
If that’s the case… there’s nothing more I can do.
I have no choice but to solemnly accept this ultimatum from both Emma-san and Mira-san…
“…I understand. As a man and as an adventurer, I have a bare minimum of pride. I can’t cause any more trouble for the two people who have helped me so much. I will take responsibility for everything up to now.”
I say this to Mira-san.
To be honest, even though I said it, I have no way of taking responsibility.
I’ve done nothing to repay their kindness.
And now that I’m cornered, all I can do is ‘flee’ from this guild.
“…That’s not fair, Mikami-san… You always try to dodge the issue like that…. Sigh… But I guess it can’t be helped… It’s frustrating, but Mother’s feelings are stronger than mine…”
Mira-san turns away, a slightly sad look on her face.
Her profile is still red.
Of course it is.
Her years of anger probably aren’t so simple that I can smooth them over with a few convenient words.
And then, I notice something.
Mira-san’s large eyes are welling up, and a single tear is tracing a path down her cheek…
I can’t help but look away.
Have I really hurt Mira-san that much?
“…Hehe… but, well… I guess it’s fine. With this… Mikami-san will be living with Mother… and with me…. Once that happens, there will be plenty of chances… hehe…”
Suddenly, I hear Mira-san’s whisper near my ear.
When I look at Mira-san, she’s staring into the void, muttering something.
Am I imagining it, or is she smiling?
But that smile looks nothing like her usual, innocent cuteness.
“Um… Mira-san… are you okay?”
I can’t help but ask.
“Eh! Ah, I’m fine. I was just… thinking about various things for the future… hehe.”
Mira-san says with a happy laugh.
Mira-san is still acting strange.
But… for now, it seems her anger toward me has subsided.
I let out a silent sigh of relief.
Then, as if she doesn’t want to talk about it anymore, Mira-san changes the subject.
“Oh… that’s right. I’m sorry. It feels like… I’ve been doing all the talking. You’re here for work, aren’t you, Mikami-san? My apologies. As you can see, we’re basically closed for business today. It seems everyone wants to go see the Saint-sama.”
She gestures with one hand toward the guild lobby.
I look behind me.
It’s true, just as Mira-san said, not a single person has shown up at the guild for a while now.
Adventurers are, by nature, a lazy bunch.
Not many of them come to the guild this early in the morning.
Except for broke guys like me…
But even so, this is a little too weird.
Is this Saint really that popular…?
Or is everyone just tired from tonight’s emergency summons…?
“I’m surprised adventurers can be such trend-chasers. Well, I hear the Saint-sama is devastatingly beautiful, so maybe that’s their goal. And apparently she has an unusual background as a former adventurer. Still, everyone is so transparent, honestly…”
Mira-san says this with an exasperated look, spreading her hands in a “what can you do” gesture.
“…So… are there no quests?”
I can’t help but feel my spirits sink.
Being out of a job two days in a row is tough.
And on top of that, it looks like I won’t have any work at all from tomorrow onward…
I know it’s an irrational grudge, but I feel like I want to curse this Saint…
