Huff... huff...
When I open my eyes, the first thing I see is a plain-colored ceiling.
My head feels heavy, and I'm also experiencing intermittent pain in my abdomen, which is most likely due to a broken rib. I can't even roll over properly.
"Where...where am I...?"
Unable to turn over, I could only tilt my head and try to survey my surroundings.
On the right are the same old, commonplace Venetian blinds and plain-colored curtains that you're tired of seeing.
What's on the left?
"Ouch...it hurts..."
Even the slightest movement causes me to grimace in pain in my abdomen, and I'm certain that more than one bone is broken.
I adjusted my position slightly, and then I could roughly see what was on the left.
Only the plain wooden tables and chairs stood out.
Am I in a hotel?
But my last memory is clearly from...
Was it a nightmare?
Although I tried to think of it in the context of a dream, the broken bone made me give up on that idea; after all, that kind of unpleasant pain doesn't lie.
"Azure Crown"
After slightly elevating myself with pillows, I used healing magic to alleviate the pain a little. Although I couldn't set the bone myself, it was still a bit more comfortable.
"Yuna...why?"
With the pain gone and my mind calming down a bit, I could clearly remember that after I distanced myself from Nighodra, his so-called companions appeared and delivered the final blow.
However, I still can't accept that Nighold's companion is Yuna.
Although our relationship wasn't exactly great, it wasn't too strained after the Desert Dragon incident. At least, my impression of this guy, whom I considered a problem child, has changed somewhat.
Even so, she was the kind of person who would help Nighold traffic children.
I think it's impossible.
"Damn it! Is there really nothing we can do in the end?"
My mind is starting to be filled with negative emotions again, and honestly, I hate this version of myself.
With just a little thought, one can realize that they must have been rescued by someone again.
And who is this person?
Besides Yuna, would another person appear in a place like that?
But since that's the case...
Why would she collude with Nighold?
"It must be! It must be Nighold forced her to do it!"
Ultimately, I still can't believe that Yuna is the kind of person who would do such a thing.
Moreover, when he finally lost consciousness.
I can see... Yuna's expression.
That is.
Forced by circumstances, and driven by longing...
She desperately wants me to save her!
"That must be it!"
I can't be mistaken!
That expression! I might have had it too!
Therefore! I absolutely cannot be mistaken!
“Nighogd…!”
The whole room was filled with my angry roars!
That seemingly reliable man was actually a bastard who would do such a thing!
I hate myself for not discovering this sooner!
"We must! We must expose his ugly face!"
Although I didn't know what to do at that moment, I was very clear that this was definitely not the first time he had trafficked children, meaning that countless children had suffered at his hands.
It's important to understand that all the children he sold would ultimately face only one fate: being sold to slave owners at exorbitant prices. In other words, those children might spend their entire lives as slaves.
Such a thing!
This is truly unforgivable!
Anna too! And these children too!
Although I am not a so-called champion of justice, any adventurer in this situation would surely not sit idly by and wait to die!
~~~
Thus, our third operational meeting commenced.
As the sun was about to set, Lilith and Katya returned to the inn still drenched in sweat.
Honestly, these two guys go out and do things that make them sweat every day, but what do two girls do together that would make them sweat so much?
"Staring...that's suspicious..."
Could it be that Lilith does have some kind of unique fetish?
Similar to Leah?
—I like women!
"No, no, no..."
Katya is a year younger than me, so Lilith would never lay a hand on her.
"Hmm..."
It seems that when I was participating in the quest to hunt down the desert dragon, the two of them were always sleeping in the same room!
Add to that Lilith's carefree sleeping posture...
—Very likely!
"Katia... By the way, it's been a long time since I've seen you go out to take on quests. What were you doing with Lilith?"
Although Lilith claimed she was inquiring about Nighold's situation, she still found it very suspicious.
"Hmph! Lilith wants me to keep you from telling you!"
So Katya would answer while wringing out a towel to wipe her sweat.
"Uh... this guy... I knew it."
In short, Lilith and Katya's relationship seems to have become very good, and their little secrets have begun to emerge.
It's not exactly a bad thing. The reason he comes home drenched in sweat every day is probably because he's doing some kind of special training with Lilith.
Even Lilith, if she neglects her martial arts skills every day, she will eventually regress. After all, swordsmanship and martial arts are different from magic. Even if you reach a high level of proficiency, you still need to further strengthen your skills.
Even the Sword King-level Fisshill would get up early every day to practice swordsmanship, let alone Lilith, except for her half-baked father, whose sword was almost rusty but he was still unhurried.
After Lilith finishes showering, we'll head to a nearby tavern for dinner.
Although it is in "Robobia", the main dishes are seafood, thanks to the neighboring port country "Dororo".
It is said that once you cross this desert, you will see an "oasis," which is naturally the country of "Dororo," a nation primarily engaged in maritime trade.
Unlike Robebia, it was unexpectedly prosperous despite its small size, and was one of the few countries in the world that could be called an "empire".
Thanks to "Dororo", even in "Robobia", you can still eat shellfish the size of a fist.
"This is amazing! It's so delicious!"
Even after spending more than a month in Robbie, Katya still approached seafood with curiosity, stuffing her mouth full.
"ah……"
Unbeknownst to her, Katya seemed to have completely forgotten the aristocratic table manners of the Albad family. Although the patriarch always taught children some bad habits, he was a person who valued etiquette very much, except for himself.
First, use a knife to cut the food into small pieces, then use a fork to pick it up and put it in your mouth to chew slowly, and finally wipe your mouth with a napkin. In short, the image of Katya is no more.
"Katia... the way you eat makes you seem unruly."
A strange sense of guilt welled up inside me. Was I also a half-baked guy who led children astray, like a patriarch?
"...Who...would care...about that kind of thing..."
"Hey... at least swallow the food in your mouth before you speak."
However, Lilith, who goes out with her every day, also eats this way, so it's no wonder that Katya has gone astray.
While it wasn't so bad as to grab it with your hands and put it in your mouth, it certainly lacked any manners.
If the magistrate saw this scene, he would probably be so angry that his beard would stand on end.
"Ugh...this is such a headache..."
Yes, my mind is filled with images of Katya being a complete problem child when I sent her back to Albad's house.
"Lilith...you need to be mindful of your image in front of children..."
"Ah... Leon... what did you say..."
He's another guy who talks before swallowing his food, and he's completely absorbed in his own world, not even hearing what I'm saying.
"Hey... Leon, that's very rude of you to talk while eating."
Katya would pretend to give me that kind of advice.
"Hey... so you still remember the Albad family's table manners."
In other words, knowing full well that this is unruly, yet still behaving this way while eating, makes them a clear problem child.
After stuffing Katya's belly until it was round and full, they finally returned to the inn to begin their battle meeting.
Lilith was extremely reluctant, seemingly because she had exhausted herself and this amount of food was far from enough to satisfy her. Before leaving, she wanted to pack some seafood.
Considering that future expenses cannot be too high, fried rice naturally becomes the best choice. Although it will earn Lilith's eye roll, it will not be a problem to fill one's stomach.
"Lilith, tell me honestly, have you gone out to take on any commissions these past few days?"
"Uh... um... meow... Robbie's fried rice tastes completely different! Leon, do you want to try some!"
I knew it. Judging from Lilith's extremely unnatural expression, she definitely hadn't accepted any commissions. She was clearly penniless, yet she didn't care at all. Was it because of my existence as her ATM?
"Looks like... it's time to cut back on expenses and let Lilith experience what it's like to be broke."
"You're finally back! I was starving, meow~"
When I opened the door and saw "Julius" slumped on the table, I suddenly remembered.
—I forgot to bring dinner for Julius!
While at the tavern, I was so preoccupied with Katia's impolite dining manners that I completely forgot about this.
Stare~
"Ah...no, are you even taking away my last bit of fried rice?"
Luckily, I had packed a portion of fried rice to go, otherwise I really wouldn't have been able to get past Julius.
"Ah... Leon is a demon! It's because of the Demon Eye that he has completely transformed into a demon!"
"Okay, okay... I'll take you out for something delicious tomorrow as compensation, okay?"
"Looks like he hasn't been completely corrupted by the demonic power yet, long live Leon! I want steak tomorrow! And tortoise meat too!"
Seeing Lilith jumping for joy, I couldn't help but smile mischievously, even though it was to make up for not taking her out for a nice meal tomorrow.
but.
I didn't promise her anything specific about what we'd eat. Fried rice is certainly a delicious dish, and besides, Lilith herself just said it tasted good, so...
—It's you I choose! (Fried Rice Guy).
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