kscans

Chapter 259 - The Emereldas Mountain Range After a Long Time

The day after I heard about the investigation job, I spent the day preparing for my first adventure in a long time. The next day, I woke up early and gently shook Kaede-chan, who was sleeping next to me.

"Morning."

"...I’m sleepy."

What a lazy wife. I couldn’t really talk, but ever since Mia arrived, she had stopped doing anything at all. Well, she was cute, so it was fine.

Being the kind husband I was, I got out of bed without slapping her on the head, drank a TS Potion, and changed into Eleanor-san. Then, like magic, all my bedhead was gone.

I got dressed and left the room, heading for the living room. Arc and Mia were already there, and Arc was eating breakfast.

"Good morning. Where’s Lydia-chan?" I asked Arc as I took a seat.

"Sleeping. Where’s Kaede?"

"Sleeping. Mia, breakfast."

"Yes, right away."

Mia started preparing my breakfast.

"You have a lazy wife."

"So do you. Honestly… Her husband is waking up early to go to work, and she…"

Doesn’t she even think about waking up with me?

"Here you are…" Mia placed my breakfast on the table.

"Thanks. By the way, what’s with that look? Is there something you want to say?"

"No, nothing at all."

Liar. You look like you’re dying to say something.

"Spit it out."

"The day before yesterday, Kaede-sama said the exact same thing."

Oh. I guess we’re similar because we’re married.

"Mia, prepare the bath. There’s still time before Nanaka-san arrives, and I’ll get in after I eat."

"As you wish."

What a useful maid.

After that, I ate breakfast and took a bath. When I got out, I returned to my room and, careful not to wake the still-sleeping Kaede-chan, changed into my black robe. Then I went to the living room, where Nanapon had already arrived and was drinking coffee.

"Good morning."

"Yes, good morning. You weren’t late today." I returned her greeting and sat at the table. Mia placed a cup of coffee in front of me. Then she moved behind me and started combing my long blonde hair, gathering it into a ponytail.

"I’m not Yoshino-san, so I won’t be late. Anyway, a maid is so convenient. She does everything for you."

"She’s useful and a good kid. Her only flaw is that she snitches to Kaede-chan."

"Okita-san, you’re married now, and you’re still doing perverted things?"

It’s not perverted. It’s just love. Kaede-chan smells so good.

"Oh, be quiet. Have you gotten a boyfriend yet?"

"A boyfriend? Hmph…"

Has this girl’s dislike of men gotten worse? I heard she gets hit on a lot when she adventures with Yoshino-san. Did something happen?

"The opposite sex is great, you know. Kaede-chan smells so nice."

"You smell nice too, Eleanor-san."

"Thanks…"

I’ve been thinking this for a while, but this girl has some strong tendencies… The way she treats Okita-kun versus Eleanor-san is like Heaven and Earth.

"Eleanor-sama, it is almost time," Mia said. I looked at the clock and saw it was five minutes before our scheduled time. Nanapon and I finished our coffee and stood up.

"Arc."

"Yes, yes."

Arc, who had been sitting in front of the TV playing a game, stood up and came over.

"Eleanor-sama, here you are." Mia handed me two lunch boxes and an umbrella, which I put in my bag.

"Thanks. Well, please look after the house. And wake Kaede-chan up around ten."

"As you wish. Please be careful…"

"Mm. Arc, if you would."

"Here we go."

Arc held up his hand, and my vision instantly changed.

◆◇◆

Before me stretched a plain with no trees or grass. Several hundred meters ahead, a tall mountain range was visible.

The wind felt nice, but the sun was strong.

"So hot… Alright, call me when you’re done." Arc looked at the sun with a disgusted expression and immediately teleported back. I opened the parasol Mia had prepared for me.

"Oh, it’s that umbrella."

"Apparently, the sun is a woman’s mortal enemy."

Mia had said so yesterday, so I borrowed it from Kaede-chan.

"Indeed." Nanapon nodded and huddled close to me.

"You’re stifling."

"It’s fine, isn’t it?"

You Yuripon.

With Nanapon hiding behind me, I walked toward Claire and Harry, who were near the Gate.

"Yo. Back in the black robe today," Harry greeted me cheerfully.

"And you two are dressed the same as always."

This was my first time adventuring with them, but they were in their usual clothes, with no visible equipment.

"Have you heard of Jōzai Senjō?"

"Hmm…" I narrowed my eyes, then used the parasol to block Harry’s view. Then, I drew my sword from my hood.

"Hey, what the… whoa."

Harry moved the parasol, but the sight of my sword in front of him made him jump back a few steps in surprise.

"And you call that ‘always on the battlefield’?"

"Don’t erase your presence. Don’t hide your killing intent."

I wasn’t hiding anything. It was a joke, so I hadn’t put any killing intent into it in the first place.

"Stop fooling around in this blistering heat. Are you ready?" Claire asked.

"We’re ready. By the way, where are the SDF and the US military guys?"

"They’re up in the mountains investigating. We might run into them, but don’t do anything weird."

"That’s my line."

Don’t you do anything weird.

"I won’t. So, what’s with that little one?" Claire looked at Nanapon, who was hiding behind me.

"She’s a shy girl. She’s scared of you because you pointed a gun at me before."

"Even though I saved her?"

It was Claire who had rescued Nanapon when she was kidnapped.

"She’s basically a timid little rabbit."

"Hmm… Those sunglasses don’t suit you."

At Claire’s words, Nanapon ducked her head further. Nanapon was dressed in normal clothes, but she was wearing sunglasses as a disguise.

"Less of a rabbit and more of a turtle," Harry commented.

He might be right. She is clumsy.