Chapter 26: The Old Man Confesses to the Guild Master

“Now then… all members of the Knight Order, please come to the back. I will need to hear a full account of this incident.”

“N-No… b-but… we’re on guard duty for the Saint-sama…”

“It’s quite alright. Alicia-san will be coming as well, of course… right? Alicia-san?”

“What?! …Hmph… I suppose it can’t be helped. This is partly my responsibility, after all… though I wanted to speak more with Sensei.”

“Besides, Alicia-san, it seems I must ask you a few things about the new adventurers registered to this guild… the Celesties.”

“Oh? Ah, as for those girls… I administered punishment after getting permission from Mira-san.”

“…Mira… you will come as well.”

“Y-Yes… Mother.”

With that, Emma-san led the two of them and the members of the Knight Order and strode toward the back room.

Things seemed to come to a conclusion with the force of a tidal wave.

It was like there was no part for me to play at all.

Amazing… Emma-san really is a dependable Guild Master.

As I watched Emma-san’s retreating back with admiration, she suddenly spun on her heel.

And then she rushed over to me…

Whoa… she’s getting really close…

“Um… Shuzou-san, about tomorrow night… did you hear from Mira about the dinner at my home?”

“Uh… yes… I did…”

“I see… Shuzou-san… I’m sorry to have to tell you like this. I am a single woman, living alone with my daughter. For a woman like me to invite a man like you, Shuzou-san, for a night-time meal…

I’m sure you understand the meaning of such a thing. It has been ten years since I first met you, Shuzou. And all this time, you… well… um… you haven’t said anything, so… I know it is truly shameless for a woman to be the one to do this, but…”

Emma-san hesitantly looked away.

Then, after a brief pause, she looked at me as if seeking an answer.

“So… Shuzou-san… um… your reply is…”

The decisive Emma-san from moments ago was completely different from the woman standing before me now.

For some reason, she looked incredibly nervous.

My prediction was right.

There’s no doubt about it. I’m going to be fired at her house tomorrow.

And Emma-san, while being very capable at her job, is also a good person.

As she said, it’s been about ten years since we met.

Even if it’s an unwelcome association for her, it’s still a considerable amount of time.

That’s why she must be finding it so painful to give me the final ultimatum… to lay me off…

Honestly… what am I doing?

I’m a middle-aged old man… Get a grip, you’re a man, aren’t you?

How can I cause any more trouble for Emma-san, a woman who has looked after me for so long?

“Yes… It’s alright. I fully understand your feelings, Emma-san.”

I said clearly, having steeled my resolve.

Instantly, Emma-san’s face visibly brightened.

“Is that so! Oh, I’m so glad. Well… of course I thought I understood how you felt, Shuzou-san. But… with that vixen… I-I mean… with Alicia-san showing up so suddenly… I was worried…”

Seeing Emma-san this happy gave me mixed feelings, to be honest.

Basically… it means she thought I was going to make a fuss…

What’s more, from the way she was talking, it seems she thought I was going to ask Alicia-san to help me sort things out.

I see… so that’s part of why Mira-san was being so sharp with Alicia-san.

Well… in my pathetic state, I actually was thinking of relying on the authority of the Saint… Alicia-san… to convince Emma-san, so their concerns were spot on…

But, since I’m this close to getting the axe, I have to be ready for it…

“Um! Emma-san, please don’t worry. I’m not that kind of unfaithful man! I don’t have any kind of deep relationship with Alicia-san to begin with.”

My desire to look cool one last time won out, and I reflexively placed my hands on Emma-san’s shoulders.

When I realized what I’d done, our faces were already inches apart, partly because we had been standing so close to begin with.

“…Shuzou-san… I’m… so happy. To think you feel that way about me…”

Then, Emma-san looked up at me, bringing her beautiful face closer still.

Huh…? Emma-san, what are you—

GONK

Suddenly, a very loud noise came from behind me.

Startled, I whipped around.

There was a large hole in the guild’s wall.

The guild building is made of brick.

For that wall to be destroyed… what in the world just happened?

Then, I saw Alicia-san standing right next to the hole.

Dust was trickling from her hand…

Wait… no way… did Alicia-san do this?

With her bare hands…?

Beside her, all the members of the Knight Order had gone pale.

“Oh my… my sincerest apologies. It seems… my hand slipped.”

Alicia-san said with a perfectly cool expression.

I mean, Alicia-san is a Saint… no, a Healer, right?

I thought this during the scuffle with the Knight Order, too, but she really seems more like a physical fighter…

“…Mother… everyone is waiting. Also… Alicia-san, you’ll be compensating us for the repairs to this wall later.”

Mira-san said, a look of exasperation on her face.

“Yes, of course. The Holy Church will take full responsibility for the payment. More importantly… Emma-san, didn’t you say you would speak with Mikami-sensei later? I won’t allow you to steal a march on me like you did five years ago. I’m not a child like I was back then…”

“…You’re right. Well… fine. I have confirmed Shuzou-san’s feelings, after all. Alicia-san… I will be sure to thoroughly teach you your place later.”

Emma-san turned to face Alicia-san and spoke coldly.

Her side profile had changed completely from a moment ago, now as blank as a Noh mask.

“Well then… Shuzou-san, I’ll see you later. I’m looking forward to our dinner tomorrow.”

With those words, Emma-san disappeared once more behind the door.

Left alone in the guild hall, I let out a deep sigh.

I guess that settles that… right?

Well, at least I managed to avoid becoming a wanted man.

Still, so many things have happened since this morning.

But… in the end, my situation hasn’t improved at all.

I came to the guild to find a job in the first place, and instead I got tangled up with the Knight Order and wasted a ton of time.

Alright then… guess I’ll check out the plaza.