Chapter 45.1

It was the day after Lloyd had told us about the Kingdom’s decision regarding the letters… I was about to give Bluerin his breakfast as usual . Suddenly, I heard a girl scream . I had a good guess of who it was and headed outside to take a look . I saw Rose carrying an unconscious Felm who was bearing a large rucksack on her back .

When I had done this before, I didn’t faint but… My thoughts were more or less the same as Felm’s . Looking at this situation from a third party perspective… it felt a bit odd . Nn? Rose was heading this way?

“Kyu . ”

“Wah . ”

Something with black fur and cute red eyes had abruptly landed on my shoulder . Aah, I see . Rose was searching for this fellow .

“Kururu, Leader is looking for you . ”

Looks like this little one was going to the forest with Felm and put on their dramatic ‘save me’ play . But this rabbit’s perception sense was quite useful… it was similar to a hate and love relationship .

Perhaps Kururu has become attached to me since it hopped onto my shoulder like this .

While I earnestly thought so, Kururu got off my shoulder with a pyon and stopped at Rose’s feet… The scene before me looked like a painting of a carnivore meeting a herbivore .

“Then, I won’t be returning for a while . Take care of things here while I’m gone . ”

“Yes! Do take care of yourself!”

Due to Rose’s glare, I ended up replying politely . Rose seemed a little suspicious about my behavior but she decided that it probably didn’t matter . Rose headed towards the gate along with Kururu .

It’s not like she was a bad person but… She’s just too scary .

“Guru…”

Bluerin was beating on my leg like he was saying ‘Hey, give me my breakfast already’ .

“You really are a glutton . Was this what you wanted?”

“Hahfuuh… Hahfuuh…”

Bluerin took fruit from my hand and started munching on it . Didn’t this little guy try to munch on my finger last time? I felt a bit of fear but it wasn’t anything too unexpected . The Blue Grizzly is an omnivore and they like to hunt their prey for food in their natural habitat .

“… . What should I do while Leader isn’t here?”

I thought about the upcoming journey while I fed Bluerin . Including today, there was still 15 days left before the departure . Normally, I would be training and it would be optimal to be at my best physical condition but… If I just do that, I wouldn’t get much results or changes .

Actually, I would be tempering my body just by going on this trip . If that was the case, was there anything important I could only do here right now?

Something I could only do here… Maybe studying?

But from the reading I did under Rose’s guidance, I should probably be okay . I thoroughly went through the readings and understood all if not most of the material .

Then, maybe some martial arts or sword training?

To begin with, I only had experience fighting with my bare hands and it was limited to punching and kicking . I doubt I could learn anything decent within 15 days . But since there was nothing to lose from trying, I’ll take it into consideration .

“Other than that… There’s also my healing magic . ”

I could only heal wounds and fatigue at the moment so I didn’t have a deep understanding of healing magic but maybe I should take this opportunity to do so even though Rose was absent .

Fortunately, there was another amazing healer in this country besides Rose .

“For the time being, I’ll finish today’s training and take a look later . ”

“Gugu…”

“Nn? Ah sorry . My hands stopped . ”

While getting another fruit for Bluerin, I returned back to my thoughts .

Olga-san probably knew a lot and could teach me a thing or two . Well then, I’ll end today’s training earlier than usual and head towards the clinic .

*

“Inukami-sama, may I ask where you are going?”

“Nn? I just plan to head to the Rescue Squad’s lodgings . ”

I had quite a bit of free time today and planned to visit Usato-kun since I could finally take a breather . As I walked towards the castle’s gate, the guard called Ark-san called out to me .

“You’re going to Usato-sama’s place, right!?”

“Y-yeah . ”

I nodded to his passionate question as the other guard held down Ark-san and seemed to be troubled at their partner’s response .

Ark Girdle . He was one of the people placed here to watch over the castle gate and one of the knights under Sigris . He was someone capable of being promoted to a Captain with his own squad but he volunteered to be placed here instead . At least that’s what I’ve heard… He was a strange person .

Well, the rumors were probably true . If they weren’t, he wouldn’t have been selected to escort me when I went outside . Due to my carelessness, I dragged Usato-kun into a situation where the both of us went missing for a few days . Ark-san was searching for the two of us during this time and didn’t even sleep . Which was why I had a good idea of how honest and straight-forward this person was .

“If it’s Usato-sama, I just happen to see him walk towards the streets . ”

“Is that so?”

I see, then I should probably head towards there instead… But now it looked like I was only going out to try and meet Usato-kun . Well, not that it was necessarily wrong .

But before that, I want to ask about the Magic City, Luquis . I couldn’t help but feel excited about the thought of a magic academy in another world . Therefore, I had to calm down and repress these heated thoughts before asking .

“Ark-san, do you know anything about Luquis?”

“It’s difficult to say that it’s a good place but… I do think that Luquis is the best environment for the most talented magicians to study magic . ”

“…Which means that Ark-san…”

“I’m studying magic at Luquis at the moment . My only redeeming traits are with the sword and magic which is why I’m close to graduating!”

Ark-san gave a very natural and refreshing laugh as he said so . However, from what I knew and could see… Ark-san seemed strong . I heard that he could use fire magic and was quite skilled with the sword .

While I tilted my head to the side in wonder, another knight beside Ark-san folded their arms and nodded . They then proceeded to say,

“Even if you say you don’t have any other talents, you’re still pretty decent with archery and using a staff despite not being too familiar with them . Inukami-sama, if this person felt like it, they could aim for much higher and be part of some of the strongest knights under the King . ”

“Yes yes . Why aren’t you climbing the ranks? You should hurry up and promote . ”

“Y-you guys…”

“Nn? What do you mean by that?”

Ark-san grabbed his colleagues, opened the gate that had just closed and then threw them in . He seemed a little embarrassed as he saw my forced smile and scratched the helmet that he was wearing with his finger .

“I’m quite the clumsy person you know… I can’t protect more than one thing at a time . ”

“If that’s the case, why not just promote?”

If he promoted, he could just protect the King . Wasn’t that fine?

“No, the knights who protect the King would have to adapt themselves and focus on only protecting the King . Since I’m clumsy, that’s not something I’m capable of . That’s why I’m just protecting this place . ”

He said so as he looked towards the castle gate .

It looked solid and durable as it towered over the surroundings… It was something meant to stop intruders from entering .

“If I protect this place, no intruders will be able to enter . Which means that no one inside the castle will get hurt . It’ll be over if they go over the castle gate though!”

Ark-san was showing a bit of his playful side but I was thinking about something entirely different on the inside . It made me shudder .

He is in an academy, in other words . . he’s a student .

He has talent with both sword and magic .

His attribute for magic is fire .

Clumsy .

…H-he’s a main protagonist .