The Strongest Adventurers’ Mental Caretaker ~ Somehow I Ended Up Involved with Every Beautiful Girl in the Hero’s Party ~ If You Have Time to Fight Over Me, Please Go Save the World - 2

Chapter 2: The Hero Wants to Be Healed

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“Recovery potions. Give me every single one you have.”

Saying this, the hero Freya slammed a bag filled with a large sum of money onto the counter.

“Hey, Freya! Do not take your frustration out on the shopkeeper all of a sudden and cause trouble. Running out of our potion stockpile was due to your own mismanagement.”

From behind, the silver knight Aeris raised a reproachful voice.

“Hah? Consumption increased because you take way too many hits on the front line! Position yourself better!”

“What did you say?! That is because your orders are slow! Besides, Luminara’s offensive magic covers too wide an area, so even I get caught up in it!”

“…Quiet. …My calculations are perfect. …The one who gets caught up in it is the one at fault…”

What started inside the shop was a low-level blame game completely unworthy of an S-rank party. Every time they hurled insults at one another, the murderous intent emitting from them swelled, making the air inside the shop grow heavier.

(Wow, this is the absolute worst. Their teamwork has completely collapsed.)

I mentally held my head in my hands. It appeared that their psyches were thoroughly worn out. Considering that these young girls were burdened with the heavy responsibility of being a hero party representing the country and had to fight consecutive battle after consecutive battle for the nation’s sake, it was only natural.

An ordinary shopkeeper would have fled from this pressure alone. But inwardly, I was chuckling. My professional blood was screaming at me not to pass up the exquisite prey right in front of me.

“…Phew.”

I let out a soft sigh and observed the hero Freya from behind the counter.

Up close, it was plain to see. She was acting domineeringly, but deep within her eyes lay a shadow of profound fear and loneliness. Dark circles that could not be fully hidden by heavy makeup surfaced beneath her eyes, and the hand she placed on her sword trembled faintly.

(I see. To avoid being looked down upon just because she is a woman, she is desperately donning her armor as a hero and acting intimidating.)

If I remembered correctly, the hero Freya came from a noble background. There was no need to fear her just because she was a hero with special powers. I knew exactly how to handle women of noble status.

“Please wait just a moment. I will bring out the stock right away.”

I bowed respectfully, but instead of a potion, I pulled a steaming teacup from the shelf. It was a special herbal tea designed to relax the mind, the kind that was also used back in the brothels of the red-light district.

“Hero, please have this.”

“Hah? What is this? I asked for potions…”

“Think nothing of it. This is a small token of my gratitude to you, who routinely risks your life fighting for our country. I will not accept payment. Please wet your throat with this first.”

When I presented it with my finest smile, Freya’s brows knit together.

“…I refuse.”

She spoke coldly, waving her hand to reject the cup.

“I do not accept charity from the populace. Besides, it is useless to try and curry favor with me with something like that. I am the hero. I have no recollection of earning special treatment.”

Rejection. However, her voice carried a tinge of disdain, as if saying, “No doubt you are just flattering me because I am the hero, too, right?”

(I see. She is on the verge of being crushed under that heavy signboard of being a hero.)

In that case, I just had to take that signboard off her. I set the cup down and leaned over the counter. Then, intentionally casting aside my respectful mask as a clerk, I brought my face close to her ear with the expression of a man.

“Saving the world is all well and good, but…”

We were at such close proximity that our breaths brushed against each other. Caught off guard by the sudden action, Freya’s shoulders gave a small shudder.

“W-What…”

“Who is going to save you?”

“Eh…?”

Freya froze in her tracks. I continued to whisper sweetly and softly right into her ear.

“You do not have to act tough. There is no king or monster in this shop. …While you are here, before you are a hero, you are a single customer. No, you are just a woman named Freya.”

“—!”

I heard Freya gasp. I stared straight back into her eyes. There was no adoration for a hero in my gaze. There were only the eyes of a man who was concerned for the woman named Freya right in front of him.

She must have been wanting someone to say that to her all this time. Instead of “Hero,” she had been searching all along for someone who would look at her as a single woman named “Freya.” I could sense the tightly taut string snapping cleanly.

“…Ah…”

The piercing murderous intent vanished from Freya like mist. In its place, a flickering look emerged in her eyes, like a lost child looking for something to cling to.

“I-I see… …Well then, perhaps… I will have some.”

With a trembling hand, she reached out toward the teacup I had placed down. I also placed my hand down to support hers. In that split second, our fingertips brushed against each other.

“—!”

Freya’s fingers twitched away. However, she did not pull her hand back. Rather, as if seeking warmth, she intertwined her fingers with mine. Beyond the steam of the herbal tea, Freya looked up at me from beneath her lashes. The beast-like glint from moments ago had completely vanished. A thick, heavy dampness and a light resembling a hunter who had found their prey—or perhaps a woman who had found someone to depend on—began to harbor within those eyes.

(Oops. It looks like it worked a bit too well.)

I turned up the corners of my mouth and smiled brightly at my exquisite prey.

“I hope it suits your taste.”

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