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 18
Chapter 18: The Old Man Gets Grilled by the Receptionist
Overwhelmed by Mira-san’s sheer intensity, I started to explain.
“N-No, there’s nothing going on! Alicia-san and I just used to be in a party together—”
As I said that…
“Hee hee… Alicia and Mikami-sensei have pledged our futures to one another!”
Alicia-san cut me off, making a completely outrageous claim with the utmost confidence.
“N-No… A-Alicia… san… what are you talking about—”
Of course, I have absolutely no memory of making such a promise to her.
No… wait a second.
I do seem to recall promising something to everyone in the Moon Maidens on our last day…
“That… can’t be… Mikami-san has been here the whole time… at this guild… I’ve been watching him all this time… There shouldn’t have been any vixens sniffing around him… except for Mother…”
Mira-san was looking down, muttering something under her breath.
Her behavior had been clearly off for a while now.
The kind, cheerful receptionist who never stopped smiling…
That was my image of Mira-san.
And yet… the Mira-san before me now seemed so dark…
“Hee hee… you’re… Emma-san’s daughter, Mira-san, aren’t you? I wonder if you remember me? We Moon Maidens were registered with this guild until five years ago, you know.”
Alicia-san said, smiling at Mira-san.
For some reason, her expression was defiant, almost provocative.
“…I remember now… Moon Maidens… Right… those vixens are back to… steal Mikami-san away again… I won’t let them… Never… Mikami-san will stay by my side forever…”
Mira-san was acting stranger and stranger.
Could it be that she isn’t feeling well?
Her voice has been awfully quiet this whole time, too.
“Um… Mira-san… are you okay?”
I couldn’t help but ask out of concern.
“No… Mira… you promised Mother… You have to control your feelings in front of Mikami-san… you have to act normal…”
She continued to mutter, her head bowed.
Then, as if to restrain herself, Mira-san gripped one of her arms tightly with her other hand.
After a moment of silence, she suddenly looked up.
“Yes! Of course, I’m okay, Mikami-san! Being cheerful is my only real talent, after all!”
She said.
A huge smile spread across her face, and her voice was bright.
This was the Mira-san I was used to seeing.
And yet, that adorable smile now seemed somehow unnatural.
Or is it just my imagination…?
Still smiling, Mira-san turned her head toward Alicia-san.
“You’re Alicia-sama… of the Moon Maidens, correct? Of course, I remember all of you. At the time… I was still just a child, but I was always at the guild with my mother.”
She said.
“Yes. And I remember you as well, Mira-san. You were always looking our way, weren’t you? Or rather… was it sensei you were looking at…? Hee hee…”
“…By the way, Alicia-sama, what brings you back to this city… I mean, to this guild, after all this time?”
“Why, to see Mikami-sensei, of course…,”
Alicia-san said, then turned to me and graced me with a radiant smile.
Then she drew closer and raised both her hands to my cheeks…
“A-Alicia-san… w-what are you…”
Just then, Mira-san rather forcefully inserted herself between me and Alicia-san.
“Pardon the intrusion, but Mikami-san is still an active adventurer and is quite busy. I don’t believe he has time to indulge in the games of someone who retired from adventuring to become a Saint.”
She said.
Mira-san kept a smile on her face the entire time, but there was an unmistakable edge to her words.
For whatever reason, she clearly did not like Alicia-san.
Then, Mira-san spun around to face me.
“Isn’t that right, Mikami-san?”
She directed the question to me.
I was at a loss for how to respond.
Of course, a guy who’s out of work like me couldn’t possibly be busy.
Well… I am about to go looking for work, so in a way, you could say I’m busy, but…
The atmosphere, however, made it extremely difficult to answer honestly.
“Well, I mean…”
As I was stammering,
“See? Mikami-san, those girls from yesterday are here… don’t you have a work meeting with them today? Right, everyone?”
Mira-san tossed the question to the members of Celesties.
They had been watching us from a distance the whole time, looking intensely curious.
They must be interested in the Saint… Alicia-san… who is the center of attention for the entire city.
And they seemed simply shocked that the Saint—Alicia-san—was an acquaintance of mine.
Well… that makes sense.
I’m the guy she knows, and even I’m still shocked.
But this… could this be a chance for me?
I’m an acquaintance of the Saint… Her prestige might raise their opinion of me a little.
If that happens… I might get work… I might be able to party with them again.
It’s a pathetic thought, like a fox borrowing the tiger’s might, but…
Frankly, I’m not in a position to be picky right now.
At this point, I have to use whatever I can.
I was indulging in that convenient fantasy, but…
“Umm… no… Our contract with that old… I mean, with Mikami-san, ended with yesterday’s job…”
“Yeah, we don’t have anything to talk about. Don’t want to, either…”
U-Ugh… Reality is as unforgiving as ever.
