kscans

Chapter 125 - Like Family

Episode 92: Like Family

"I'm sorry."

I had come to Ooyama-san's workshop after hearing that the full set of equipment for Byakuren and the repairs for the Daisharinmaru were ready.

The moment I stepped into her workspace...

"One of the weapons made from your materials has gone missing."

The red-haired girl and the black-haired beauty bowed their heads deeply to me.

"Uh, um...?"

As I stood there confused, Busujima-san raised her head and began to explain.

"The other day, Shizuku-san and I went to a dungeon, and we ran into a 'train'."

"What, were you okay?!"

Erina-san's eyes widened, and she frantically scanned their bodies for any injuries.

This was no time to be standing around in a daze. I steeled myself. A 'train' was a very dangerous word to hear.

"Yes. Mokuren acted as our shield, so we weren't injured. We also had the egg-shaped magic tool you gave us before."

"To counter the charging horde, I had Mokuren throw the spear made from Yagawa's materials. That thinned their numbers enough for us to fight them off. But when we went back to where it happened, the spear was gone."

"...I don't quite understand the full situation yet, but what matters most is that you're both safe."

"She's right! Your lives are the most important thing! ...Hey. You're really, really sure you're not hurt anywhere?"

"Hey, don't cling to me. And stop trying to lift up my clothes!"

I averted my gaze from Erina-san, who was pawing all over Ooyama-san, and met Busujima-san's eyes.

"Could you tell me the situation from the beginning?"

"Yes."

"Hmph!"

"Ow-mph!"

As the self-proclaimed ninja received a fist to the head, Busujima-san began her story.

...To put it simply, it wasn't an accident, but a deliberate 'train' incident.

The previous day, the two of them had been in a Kobold dungeon, leveling up and collecting drop items, when three adventurers suddenly came running toward them.

Instead of Arcane Gear, they were wearing coveralls and ski masks, and they ran with a speed unbecoming of 'E-Rank adventurers.'

Confused but wary, the girls drew their weapons. The trio then suddenly threw a small bag, one that could fit in the palm of their hand, at them.

The contents were monster salt.

Mokuren blocked it with its shield in the nick of time, but the monsters that had been chasing the trio were now drawn to them.

They managed to fight defensively while dropping the salt and retreating. It was during this time that they had thrown the spear made from my materials to thin out the front lines.

They fought while fleeing and managed to annihilate the Kobolds, surviving without any harm.

However, Mokuren was moderately damaged. What's more, when they passed by the spot where they'd been caught in the train on their way to the exit, both the spear and the drop items from the monsters it had killed were gone. The small bag that had been thrown at them was gone too.

After that, they reached the exit, reported what happened to the SDF members, and returned to the store.

"That dungeon has a lot of adventurers coming and going, and since they couldn't identify their Arcane Gear, they said it would take time to identify the culprits..."

"I know you don't like the idea of equipment made from your materials being used by just anyone. I made sure to process it so that no curses or the like could be sent to you through it, but... somewhere out there, some stranger might be using that spear."

"No. This isn't your fault. The ones to blame are the people who started that train. You don't need to worry about the spear. It couldn't be helped."

"She's right! We need to find the culprits, beat them to a pulp, and then hand them over to the police!"

"No, finding and catching them is the police's job. Don't go sticking your nose in it, seriously."

"Aww."

It's not 'aww'. Why on earth would I want to get close to a bunch of attempted murderers? They're scary and dangerous. Also, I haven't heard someone say 'beat them to a pulp' in a long time.

Still, the Kobold dungeon... is that place cursed? Yamashita-san... was that his name? He and his group were being chased by monsters there before, too.

"I understand the situation. But did the group of culprits target you two specifically, or would anyone have done...? The level of danger from here on out changes depending on the answer."

"We don't know. But since similar incidents are happening in other dungeons, I think it's the latter..."

"They were probably after drop items, rather than targeting us specifically," Ooyama-san added with a sullen look.

"Like Erina said, if I find them, I won't let them get away with it. I'll smash their front teeth in...!"

"Haha..."

I was worried she might be feeling anxious after being exposed to someone's malice, but in her case, that seemed to be an unnecessary concern.

With that, I turned to look at Busujima-san.

"Um, are you okay, Busujima-san?"

"Yes, I'm fine. I'm healthy in both mind and body. ...No, I might be putting on a brave face."

She said, looking down at her own right hand.

It was trembling. She was trying to stop it by clenching her fist, but the shaking wouldn't stop. She wrapped her left arm around herself as if to hold her body still.

"It's embarrassing... but it seems the fear is hitting me now. Ahaha... I'm not looking very cool, am I?"

Busujima-san gave a bitter smile, her eyebrows knitted in a frown. I shook my head.

"It's only natural to be scared. It would be strange not to feel fear after someone tried to kill you. There's nothing to be embarrassed about."

"...Thank you."

"That's right, Ā-chan!"

"Kyaa?!"

Erina-san suddenly hugged Busujima-san, causing a small yelp to escape her lips.

Erina-san, seemingly unconcerned, smiled and patted Busujima-san's head.

"There, there. You did so well."

"...Honestly. I'm not a child anymore."

As Busujima-san said this with a wry smile, I felt a sense of relief to see that her hands were no longer trembling.

Ooyama-san, watching from the side, still had her usual grumpy expression, but I felt that her gaze was somehow softer.

And then, Erina-san's eyes turned to Ooyama-san.

"I'll give Shī-chan a big hug too!"

"Huh? No thanks."

"No arguments allowed! Ā-chan, Kyou-chan! It's the Triple Ninja Attack!"

"Not happening."

"Um, well then..."

"Hey, get away from me, you idiots!"

Watching the three of them horse around, I felt a smile naturally wanting to form on my lips.

—Squish.

—Fwump...

...But seeing the two well-endowed girls' soft chests change shape started to give me weird ideas, so I decided not to stare too hard.

Even I know that getting a 'biological reaction' here would be reading the room extremely poorly.

To distract myself, I turned my thoughts to a more serious matter. The word 'train' immediately reminded me of the incident where Yamashita-san almost died.

What was the status of that case now? I hadn't heard any follow-up reports on TV, but had they found the culprit?

I'd like to contact him and ask, but unfortunately, I don't have his phone number.

Would they connect me to Yamashita-san if I called the Walkers' office? ...I did save his life twice, so there might be a chance, right?

It was worth a try. I'd call later.

"Right! If you have any legal trouble, let me know! I'll ask my grandma or my dad to introduce you to a good lawyer! My dad's coming home soon, anyway!"

"Yeah. I'll take you up on that if it comes to it. Now get off me...!"

"Yes. Shizuku-san and I aren't very familiar with the law, so... perhaps you could let go now?"

Erina-san, finally peeled off by the two of them, returned with a pout.

"Hmph. You two are no fun."

"There, there..."

"Oh, and Kyou-chan!"

"Yes?"

Erina-san, who changed expressions and topics as easily as breathing, turned to me with a brilliant smile.

"My mom and dad are coming back to Japan in three days!"

"Ah, yeah. That's great, isn't it?"

"I want to introduce you to them, so I want you to come meet them with me!"

"...Excuse me?"

Meet them? Who? With whom?

Me? With Erina-san's parents? Why? Is there a need for an introduction? I don't think so.

"No, no, no. An outsider shouldn't intrude on a family reunion."

"You're not an outsider, Kyou-chan. You're an important friend! Besides, my grandma told me, 'Things have been getting dangerous lately, so you should introduce Kyouta-kun as a bodyguard. He's like family now, anyway.'"

What is Professor Arisugawa talking about? We've certainly been through life-and-death situations together many times, but 'like family' is an exaggeration. 'Comrade-in-arms' would be more appropriate.

Do foreigners have a different sense of these things than I do? Like, 'The party is brotherhood! The party is family!' or something.

"Uh, no... if you need someone who is both a companion and a suitable guard, wouldn't Mia-san fit the bill? If she's there, you don't really need me. We're not in a dungeon, after all."

She's also a companion who has braved dire situations with us. And above all, she's Erina-san's blood relative.

As a relative, she should be more suitable than me.

"Hmm... well, you see. My dad and Paisen's family are on slightly awkward terms. It's not like they hate each other, though."

"Ah..."

Come to think of it, I remember Aira-san saying something about them disliking her.

Thinking back now, could it be because of their mother's situation? That was certainly more than enough to cause domestic discord.

And if I remember correctly, Erina-san's father is the son of Professor Arisugawa's younger sister.

That would make him the brother-in-law of Aira and Mia's mother... it's a situation with nothing but ingredients for complication.

"Th-Then! Ooyama-san and Busujima-san are right here...!"

"No. Don't ask us to be bodyguards for her and her family. That's unreasonable."

"That's a bit too much responsibility for us, so... we'll have to decline this time."

"N-No. Not just as bodyguards, but as friends."

"Kyou-chan. Don't you think it's a little insensitive to ask Shī-chan and the others to do that right after they were attacked yesterday? They probably don't want to go out much right now."

"Ugh...! I'm sorry...!"

What a sound argument. There was no way to refute it.

As I stood there, unable to say a word, Erina-san looked up at me with an anxious expression.

"Did you not want to? Or do you already have plans that day?"

"No, it's not that..."

"Then you'll come?"

Her sparkling eyes were filled with anticipation.

As Erina-san inched closer, I averted my face and tried to think of a reason to refuse.

Because it would definitely be awkward. A friend, with their friend's family, at a long-awaited family reunion. And me, mixed in.

It was a situation where I would feel completely out of place. Someone with high social skills might be able to fit in, but I can confidently say that's impossible for me. The best I could do is blend into the background. I might even end up making Erina-san's family feel awkward too.

To be honest, I really don't want to go, but...

"Alright. I'll go with you."

"Yay! Thank you, Kyou-chan!"

Erina-san grabbed my hand and swung it back and forth. With a pout, I thought about the day itself.

I'll somehow manage a bland greeting as a 'party member and friend,' and then I'll do my utmost to erase my presence. I'll tell myself I am nitrogen.

...Just for now, I want to be a ninja too...! Not the kind Erina-san talks about, but a real one...!!

"This is going to be so much fun, Kyou-chan! The four of us will do lots of shopping and hang out!"

"Yeah..."

I'm so anxious...!!