The Guild Master Whose Hobby Was Helping People Found Himself Surrounded by the Strongest, Overly Attached Members - 5-6

Chapter 5:The Cheerful Swordswoman’s Overbearing Love

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When I turned back toward the entrance of the room, there was—

“Excuuuse meeeeee!!”

Something golden came flying in with all its momentum. No, to be precise, it was a blonde beauty. She slid across the floor on the soles of her boots and, overshooting her landing, slammed her sword against the leg of the table with a loud clang.

“Whoa, oops—!”

With a strange shout, she landed. Just barely regaining her balance, she lifted her face while breathing hard. A golden ponytail swayed lightly, and bright red eyes suddenly turned toward me. And in that instant, her movements froze completely.

“…Nh!”

The right hand she had been swinging up stopped in midair, and her mouth opened and closed soundlessly. Her cheeks flushed red in the blink of an eye, her whole body going stiff as if all her energy had drained away.

“Ah, uh… Ma–Master! Th-the weather is nice today, huh!”

Her voice was full of energy, but the content was absolutely disastrous. I quietly glanced out the window once. From the dull gray sky, a steady rain was falling. Puddles dotted the ground.

On a day when everything was wet, I had to at least commend her courage for choosing the topic of the weather. But perhaps she realized it herself, because she choked back her words with a strained little grunt. Then, darting her eyes around the room, she locked onto a certain presence.

“M-Master, I see you got another cat-type Healing Golem! This makes three of them now!”

Where Sera was pointing, there really was a cat-type Healing Golem. A new model, fluffier than the last one.

“You can never have too many cats. Besides, they’ll fight when the time comes.”

The main effect was not physical, but mental healing. Though the product name was “Healing Golem,” its appearance and movements were hardly different from a real cat, down to its capricious nature—perfectly replicated.

On top of that, it would repel intruders. Truly a superb feline. Every household ought to have one.

“I-if it’s fighting you want, I’m here, aren’t I!?”

“That may be true, but… Sera, you’re an S-rank and still kind of a klutz, aren’t you?”

“Y-you called me a klutz!? Master, that’s so mean!”

She flailed her arms furiously in protest, which only polished her klutziness further. But I had my reasons for saying it.

“It’s because you’re always flustered when you’re in front of me.”

She was (apparently) an actual S-rank. And yet, in front of me she was all fidgety and ditzy. Well, it was also because I had never actually seen her fight before, but somehow, she just didn’t look strong.

“Th-that’s…”

“Indeed. If you break our equipment or furniture, it will ruin my… Precious time with Shin-sama or increase my cleaning duties, so you may leave at once if you wish.”

Lisette pressed down on Sera, who had been at a loss for words.

Wait, just now, what exactly were you trying to say?

“N-no, that’s not it! It’s just… I get nervous in front of Master…! If Master’s not around, I can fight properly!”

“…Hm. So in other words, if something happens, I just need to not be there.”

If we were ever threatened, that meant she could eliminate the enemy while I escaped. Specifically, for example, when my misuse of funds came to light. I could make good use of that.

“—Eh?”

Suddenly, Sera’s voice cracked as if she had been struck by some shock. Pulled from my thoughts, I looked at her. The large eyes that were usually so spirited had lost their light, and she staggered unsteadily toward me.

“Wh-why… Why would you say that…”

She normally bounced along with lively steps, but now she was like a puppet with its strings cut. Slowly, she reached her hand toward my shoulder.

“Hey… Master, what do you mean by… Not being there?”

Her voice was barely a whisper.

“I became strong to protect you, Master. I know you better than anyone else, and I’m the one who most wants to protect you. All of me belongs to you. For your sake, I can do anything.”

Her fingertips pressed harder. I felt the weight of her grip bearing down on my shoulder.

“So… So please, don’t disappear. What part of me isn’t good enough? From now on, even if you’re watching, I’ll be able to fight—”

Whoa. Okay, this is… This is getting pretty bad. 

It wasn’t like I had chosen the wrong thing to say, but with a small misreading of intent from her side… This was the result. I had to fix this somehow.

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Chapter 6:The Cheerful Swordswoman’s Overbearing Love 2

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“Um, that’s not what I meant, you know?”

“…If that’s not what you meant, then what did you mean?”

Sera was smiling, but her eyes were dead serious.

“If Sera can show her strength when I’m not watching, then, for example, if I’m being chased, I’d want you to cover the rear for me.”

“S=So by going away… You mean like that…?”

The fingers digging into my shoulder loosened.

“Yeah. I still haven’t seen Sera fight seriously, but the S-Rank certification is real, right? So at the very least, I trust you more than the cat.”

At those words, Sera’s shoulders gave a small twitch.

“…You trust… Me…?”

Her red eyes wavered, blinking once, then twice.

“I see! Master, you trust me…! Ehehe!”

Sera’s face lit up like a flower bursting into bloom. The dangerous glint that had been in her eyes just moments ago vanished as if it had never existed.

“I’ll really, really do my best so I can be useful to Master! This time, for sure! I’ll show you that you can rely on me without worry!”

She struck a pose, pumping her arm upward. Compared to the lifeless doll from a moment ago, she was like a completely different person.

“—Sera.”

A cold voice cut in. Lisette stepped half a step forward in front of me.

“I don’t mind if you lean on Shin-sama, but the burden of your attachment is not something to force onto others. One who drags down her master cannot be called a sword.”

I thought, “Look who’s talking,” but surprisingly, the words seemed to pierce Sera. Her shoulders trembled slightly.

But Sera wasn’t the kind of girl to back down. She bit her lip in frustration, exhaled once, then turned to face Lisette with as much spirit as she could muster.

“I don’t think what Lisette-san said is wrong, but…”

She clenched her fists tightly.

“But how long are you going to stay here? If your title in the guild is ‘maid,’ then shouldn’t you have other things to do? Like… Cleaning, or laundry, or, um…Making tea!”

It was obvious she wasn’t used to verbal sparring. Lisette, on the other hand, remained completely expressionless, not even a flicker of reaction.

“The tea has already been prepared and today’s cleaning is that person’s responsibility, not mine. My sole mission is to remain at Shin-sama’s side and resolve everything he desires.”

“E-everything…?!”

Sera faltered, and Lisette pressed on.

“Is there anyone else who can tell what has happened just from a single difference in Shin-sama’s footsteps?”

Sera couldn’t say a word.

“Is there?”

That decided it.

Seriously though, how the hell does Lisette even know the single difference in my footsteps?

“…Well then, if your conversation is finished, perhaps you should go on a quest? I, meanwhile, must relieve Shin-sama of the stiffness in his body.”

The instant those words reached Sera’s ears, her eyes changed color.

“—!? M-Master, is that true!? Th-that Lisette-san is…Relieving that part of you…?”

“She’s talking about my back. I have no idea what you’re misunderstanding… Not even a clue.”

Sera’s face flared bright red. Well, Lisette’s wording was at fault too, though.

“S-s-s-so that’s what it was! Your back! Then I’ll give you a massage too next time, so just call me anytime, okay?!”

As if all that tension and jealousy from before had been an illusion, her cheerful voice returned to the room.

“Alright! Today, one thousand practice swings at the training grounds! No—two thousand! I won’t let Lisette-san leave me behind!”

With that, Sera dashed out of the room. She forgot to close the door, and the Healing Golem trailed after her with a little “meow.”

“…Phew, somehow everything worked out for the best.”

Silence returned to the room once again. Lisette circled behind me as if nothing had happened and resumed massaging my shoulders. I could already feel my body getting much lighter.

“…She really is S-Rank, huh.”

It was hard to believe from that exchange, but Sera was supposed to be many times stronger than me.

“She did manage to find Shin-sama at the same time I did.” 

Lisette added, her voice laced with annoyance. She was right. Sera had tracked me down on her own and submitted her application to join at the exact same time as Lisette.

Lisette’s interview had come first, and after I’d already felt hopeless about dragging a terrifying being into my sanctuary, I remembered just giving in and approving Sera as well.

“That aside, why is Sera so fixated on Shin-sama? Certainly, I admit Shin-sama has a beautiful appearance, but her obsession is downright excessive, don’t you think?”

Compared to my previous life, my looks were better, sure—but still average. There was nothing about me that should have captivated a beauty like Sera. Which meant the reason narrowed itself down naturally, and in fact, I had already heard it directly from her lips.

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