Chapter 47: Old Man Goes to the Capital

“Attend to you”… Where does a kid even learn words like that…

I made a mental quip, but Fel’s entrance changed the atmosphere in the room.

Apparently, their sense of self-restraint kicked in—the kind that says you shouldn’t fight in front of children.

Unintentionally, that seemed to ease the hostile tension flowing between them.

At the very least, the blatant glaring contest came to an end.

“Ahem…”

Alicia-san cleared her throat once and spoke as if to reset the conversation.

“Sensei, I apologize for the disturbance last night. …Actually, there was something I needed to tell you. That’s why I visited your room, but… it was a bit… um… a-anyway… regarding those black-robed individuals, we’ve determined the reason for their attack.”

According to Alicia-san’s explanation, it seems that certain nobles and clergy from a faction opposing the Cattleas family had arbitrarily misunderstood the situation, believing that “Emma of the Cattleas family is using Saint Alicia to scheme and increase her own family’s power.” As a result, some high-ranking clergy had independently dispatched those dangerous sisters called the “Shadow Needles.”

“Good grief…”

Emma-san let out a deep sigh with an expression like she’d bitten into something bitter.

“The entire reason I became an adventurer and ended up at this frontier guild was precisely to avoid getting tangled up in those tedious political power struggles in the capital… This is truly an enormous nuisance.”

Factions and power struggles, huh…

I suppose every world has those sorts of things…

But to me, it’s completely unrelated—talk from a world above the clouds…

As I listened to the conversation, I found myself once again sensing the unbridgeable gap in social status between Emma-san—a guild master from a prestigious noble family—and Alicia-san—a saint—and myself, a lowly F-rank adventurer.

That’s why I was only half-listening, thinking this had absolutely nothing to do with me…

But then Alicia-san said, “And so, I will now travel to the capital and personally explain the situation to the upper echelons of the church to clear up this ridiculous misunderstanding.”

After making that firm declaration, she turned toward me, her eyes moistening as she looked up at me with the complete opposite expression from before, speaking in a sweet, pleading tone.

“With that in mind, Mikami-sensei. I realize this is terribly presumptuous, but would you be willing to serve as my escort on the journey to the capital? One never knows what might happen, and having you with me would be incredibly reassuring.”

“Huh? Me? As Alicia-san’s escort?”

I let out an involuntarily foolish-sounding voice.

“No… I’d just be completely dead weight. You’d be better off asking someone stronger…”

Actually, come to think of it… does Alicia-san even need an escort right now…?

She’s someone who destroys guild walls with her bare hands…

That’s what I thought, but it seemed too rude to say out loud, so I kept it to myself.

“Wait just a moment, Alicia-san…”

Emma-san cut in sharply, interrupting my words.

“Someone of your caliber has no need for an escort at this point. Moreover, isn’t it completely improper to inconvenience Shuzou-san like this?”

“No, it’s necessary!”

Alicia-san didn’t back down an inch.

“Sensei is my benefactor! Due to this incident, Sensei suffered an unwarranted attack from the church and was put in danger, so it’s only natural that I, as the saint, take responsibility for protecting Sensei’s safety!”

“Wasn’t it supposed to be your escort? Besides, Shuzou-san doesn’t need an escort at all! In fact, being with you would be far more… dangerous in various ways!”

“Wh-what do you mean by that!”

“I shouldn’t have to spell it out… you understand, don’t you?”

After bickering for a while, the situation seemed to be reaching another impasse, but Emma-san let out a heavy sigh and stood there with her arms crossed, deep in thought.

Then, as if something had occurred to her, she raised her head.

“…Very well. If you insist that strongly. Indeed… it would be quite inappropriate for us to leave Shuzou-san embroiled in these foolish political machinations. I agree that going to the capital to clear his name is necessary. Furthermore, Shuzou-san’s companion should be someone of appropriate social standing. And, much as it pains me to admit, the position of saint is suitable. However… I have a condition. My daughter, Mira, will accompany you as well.”

“Huh?”

This time, both Alicia-san’s and my voices overlapped.

“As guild master, I cannot leave this city for an extended period. However, this matter also concerns the Cattleas family. I’ll send Mira to the capital as my representative to explain the circumstances to the nobles and clergy. Besides, Mira is nearly a full-fledged lady. This will be an excellent opportunity for her to study high society in the capital.”

Emma-san stated this in a consistently calm tone, though with an undertone of hidden meaning.

Mira-san, who was beside her, lit up at those words.

“Yes! Now I can go on an adventure with Mikami-san again, just like when I was a kid…”

Emma-san whispered something into Mira-san’s ear that I couldn’t hear.

Mira-san nodded enthusiastically.

I was completely unable to keep up with the situation and felt totally left behind.

Even so, the conversation barreled forward at breakneck speed.

Alicia-san spoke up.

“Then, strike while the iron is hot. Let’s depart tomorrow morning!”

Me, going to the capital…

By just going with the flow, this had gotten way too big way too fast.

Besides, clearing up misunderstandings or whatever—I’m just a drifter with no roots. Even if I died in a ditch somewhere, no one would care…

I scratched my head as I thought.

This is a real problem, though…

Right now, I don’t even have enough money for today’s inn.

There’s obviously no way I’d have travel funds to the capital.

…But wait.

If I’m with Alicia-san and Mira-san, I won’t have to worry about meals or lodging along the way, right…

Rather than awkwardly refusing here and going back to sleeping outdoors and scraping through sewers, honestly, going along might be overwhelmingly easier…

Such thoroughly impure and calculating thoughts reared their heads in my mind.

In the end, I just went with the atmosphere and gave an ambiguous nod.

The next morning, when I arrived at the designated town square, there was an absurdly splendid and enormous carriage waiting—the kind nobles use—adorned with what must have been the Cattleas family crest, an extravagantly ornate emblem.

Alicia-san and Mira-san, already prepared for travel, were there as well, both dressed in fashionable travel outfits a bit too stylish for an adventure.

And for some reason, naturally, Fel was also sitting there primly beside the carriage, waiting.

Apparently, she’d joined up at some point.

And so, I—a lowly F-rank adventurer—Alicia-san—a saint—Mira-san—a guild receptionist—and a mysterious beastfolk little girl—Fel—formed an utterly bizarre and unbalanced party that, to outside observers, made no sense whatsoever. We boarded the luxurious carriage and set off on the journey to the capital.

What on earth is going to become of my adventurer life…

Well, whatever happens, at least it’s way better than sleeping outdoors… probably…

Plus, I guess my termination has been postponed.

As I marveled a bit at the comfortable ride of the plush seats in the luxurious carriage, I gazed at the scenery outside while feeling a sense of foreboding about what lay ahead, watching Mira-san and Alicia-san already arguing with each other.