Chapter 17

“Mm… Morning already?”

The next morning, I got up from my battered bed.

When I looked out the window, it seemed to be cloudy today. It wasn’t as nice as the weather we’d usually been having.

“…Anyway, I wonder if that situation turned out all right?”

Miss Lilina had looked absolutely terrifying back then. Her expression and the pressure she gave off were something else…

But the details of that request had said that whoever accepted it would be expected to continue doing it regularly…

“…There’s no point worrying about it. I should just get ready for today.”

After stretching my body, I headed toward Miltia once again to take care of my daily needs.

For some reason, I had a bad feeling about today… but I hoped it was just my imagination.

As usual, I arrived at the guild before the morning sun had fully risen.

Normally, it wouldn’t have been open this early… but ever since Miss Lilina started coming in, the guild had begun opening at this hour, too.

Come to think of it, that woman had helped me out in so many ways.

Lately, her attitude toward me had softened a little… Or maybe not, considering what had happened yesterday.

W-Well, regardless of all that, I’d been indebted to Miss Lilina in one way or another. Maybe I should do something to thank her sometime.

With that thought in mind, I opened the door as I did every day.

“Why would you do something like that!? That’s outrageous! There’s no way I can agree to it!!”

“Really? But you said that I shouldn’t put up requests at the guild, didn’t you? Then I’ll just hire him directly.”

“That’s not what I meant! I said that because I wanted to prevent adventurers from leaving this city! That doesn’t mean you can approach them directly—”

—For the moment, I quietly closed the door.

Huh? What? Why were they arguing? And judging by what I’d seen, those two were Miss Lilina and Lady Marie, weren’t they?

…Could something have happened yesterday?

I decided to open the door again and take another look inside.

“What do you want? Peeking in on people? That’s quite a nasty hobby you have.”

“Whoa!?”

When I opened the door, Lady Marie was standing right in front of me, staring straight at me.

Just like yesterday, she had an intimidating presence and an atmosphere that made her difficult to approach… In that sense, she might have been a little like Miss Lilina.

“Come on. Let’s go.”

“Huh? Go where…?”

“Where else? You’re taking care of me today, just like usual.”

Hearing that, I immediately understood.

Ah… So I’d be going through that exhausting ordeal again today.

“Then could you wait a moment? I’ll go get today’s request first.”

“I don’t need it.”

“…Huh?”

“Didn’t you hear me? I said I don’t need it.”

“N-No, but…”

My livelihood depended on this work, so I couldn’t exactly agree to that…

“Ahhh, I suppose I have no choice. If you won’t agree, maybe I’ll just tell everyone what happened yesterday.”

“Huh? W-What happened yesterday…?”

For some reason, a cold sweat ran down my back…

“Let’s see. Maybe I should tell them about that. Rex Orkus is—! My obedient dog!”

“WAAAAH!!! Stop! Stop! Stop!! I understand!! I’ll do whatever you say, so please don’t tell them that!!”

I-If she said something like that, my reputation would be ruined!?

The people in town might start looking at me strangely… and I could end up losing all my work…

Perhaps she’d anticipated that reaction. Lady Marie put on a composed expression before speaking as though she had reluctantly given in.

“Well, if that’s what you want, I suppose I have no choice. Then I’m counting on you again today… Kuro♪”

“…W-Woof.”

Good grief… It looked like I’d be spending the entire day as Lady Marie’s plaything again.

Feeling a little dejected, I followed Lady Marie as she leisurely walked out of the guild.

“Mr. Rex!!”

Just then, I heard Miss Lilina’s voice.

When I turned around, I thought I saw her looking more desperate than I’d ever seen her before.

“D-Don’t accept it! Please come back, Mr. Rex!!”

“…Miss Lilina.”

…I’m sorry. I really couldn’t do that.

Because if I refused, all I could imagine was a future in which my reputation was completely ruined.

With that thought in mind, I forced a smile to reassure her.

“…Please don’t worry. I’ll be fine… I’ll definitely come back.”

—As long as this woman didn’t tell anyone what happened to me.

After silently praying that she wouldn’t, I followed Lady Marie.

“Mr. Rex!!!”

There was just one thing I couldn’t understand…

Why had Miss Lilina’s voice sounded as though she were on the verge of tears?

Even now, I couldn’t help wondering about it.

…Well, it probably had nothing to do with me. That was what I honestly thought.