A Troublesome Job

“Haa… Jonah, sorry to keep you waiting.”

It was Titancia, entering the shop with a sigh.

Her expression barely changed, but the exhaustion was obvious.

“Oh my, this boy’s an acquaintance of yours?”

“Mm. An acquaintance.”

Exchanging a few words with the proprietress, Titancia sat beside Jonah.

“Um… did something happen?”

“Hm? …Jonah saw through me.”

She lowered her gaze as she said it.

“Let me guess—another troublesome job shoved on you by the Guild?”

“Correct, Madam.”

Titancia nodded and pointed at the wooden tankard full of beer the proprietress set down like it was routine.

Judging by the proprietress’s tone, this wasn’t the first time Titancia had been stuck with such tasks.

“I was tasked to deliver an item to the Central Mutual Aid Association in the capital. The reward is five times usual.”

“Ohh… now that’s suspicious.”

“Yeah. …I’m absolutely getting dragged into something messy.”

Titancia answered flatly and drooped her shoulders.

Still, it seemed refusing wasn’t an option for her.

“But you’re taking it alone again, aren’t you?”

“That’s the plan.”

“Sigh… seriously, hire a guard or two already. You’re always being targeted by weird folks…”

“I move easier alone. Having escorts is more of a hindrance.”

Titancia dismissed the proprietress’s exasperation without hesitation.

Jonah, listening beside them, was caught by the phrase “targeted by weird folks.”

“U-um, Titancia…”

“Hm? …Right, I still need to take Jonah to the Elf village…”

Jonah’s concern was completely misinterpreted, and she lowered her head apologetically.

Of course Jonah wanted to visit the Elf village soon, but he didn’t want to burden her.

So—

“Um, if you’d just tell me where the Elf village is, I can handle the rest alone. So please don’t worry about me.”

He gave Titancia his brightest smile.

He thought this would let her focus on her work without worrying about him.

But it backfired.

“…Mm. In that case, I’ll postpone the job and prioritize Jonah.”

“Ehh!?”

Titancia nodded firmly.

She’d apparently been completely won over by earnest little Jonah.

Meanwhile, Jonah, who never expected this outcome, yelped in panic.

“H-hey now! If you ignore a Guild job like that, you’ll never get work in this country again!”

“I don’t mind. Abandoning Jonah would be the sin. Besides, the Elf village is in the Lost Forest north of the capital—Jonah could never get through alone.”

The proprietress tried to talk her down, but Titancia wouldn’t budge.

Jonah held his head in distress.

Then—

“Th-then how about this—travel separately to the capital, meet up there, then go to the Elf village together?”

It was a desperate-sounding suggestion, but the proprietress offered it anyway.

It would indeed let Titancia complete her job and accompany Jonah afterward.

“I’m for it! That way you can still take the job, Titancia!”

“See? The boy says so.”

Jonah raised both hands in agreement, and the proprietress clapped his hands.

“Well? Even the boy says so. So you should—”

“No. That would mean sending Jonah to the capital alone.”

“Oh for heaven’s sake…”

Stubborn as ever, Titancia refused to concede.

The proprietress sighed in disbelief.

“I-it’s okay! I’m used to traveling alone!”

“Well said, boy! And don’t worry—it’s only a three-day carriage ride to the capital Minga. Let the kid have his say.”

“Mmm…”

Pressed by both of them, Titancia pouted.

“…Are you really okay?”

“Yes! Really!”

Jonah answered firmly as Titancia kept checking his face for hesitation.

Apparently she, too, was extremely overprotective.

“…Fine. Then we’ll meet in the capital.”

“Yes!”

Jonah replied cheerfully, relieved she’d finally agreed.

“Still… this is rare. You usually don’t care about people, yet you treat this boy awfully special.”

“Of course. And—”

“…?”

Titancia stared fixedly at him. Jonah tilted his head.

“Mm. Yup. He’s cute.”

“W-w-wah!?”

She hugged him suddenly, making Jonah squeak.

Her chest wasn’t as full as Aurora’s or Priscilla’s, but it was still undeniably soft.

Blushing furiously, Jonah flailed in embarrassment.

“Yes yes, I get it. You’ve taken a liking to the boy.”

“Mm.”

Titancia nodded with certainty as the proprietress sighed.

Watching Titancia and the flailing Jonah, the proprietress smiled wryly… but with a faint, lonely expression.