Source
https://kakuyomu.jp/works/2912051601476634937
A week has passed since Alt first mentioned wanting to go on a trip.
But nothing has changed.
“I said it’d only be for a month,”
I said, resting my face on the cafeteria table, and Leona, sitting across from me, shook her head slightly.
“No way.”
Her answer was immediate.
“Why not?”
Leona looked away for a moment.
“……Because I’m worried.”
“I’m not a kid, you know?”
“I know.”
“Then I’ll be fine, right?”
“You won’t be fine.”
Saying that, she took a sip of her tea.
She seemed to be saying the conversation was over.
In the end, my attempt to persuade Leona failed.
I let out a deep sigh.
I headed straight for the courtyard.
Serena, who was tending to the flower beds, noticed me and smiled.
“Alt, good work today.”
“Thanks.”
Seeing that smile, I felt a glimmer of hope.
Maybe Serena would understand.
“Hey, Serena.”
“Yes?”
“About me wanting to go on a trip…”
“Oh, that topic, huh?”
Serena nodded gently.
“I think traveling itself is a good idea.”
“Oh!”
Finally, someone who understood me had appeared.
Just as I thought that—
“If I could come with you…”
“That’s not going to work.”
“I suppose not.”
Serena chuckled softly.
“Traveling alone is dangerous.”
“I’m pretty strong, you know.”
“I know.”
“Well then—”
“I’m still worried.”
Her expression was serious.
Failed to convince her.
That evening.
This time, I headed to Lilia’s lab.
As I entered the room, Lilia poked her head out from behind a mountain of books.
“What are you doing here?”
“About the trip.”
“Rejected.”
That was quick.
I hadn’t even said anything yet.
“At least hear me out.”
“You’re just going to say it’s fine because it’s only for a month, aren’t you?”
“That’s true, but—”
“Rejected.”
Lilia closed her book.
“Traveling alone is inefficient.”
“Here we go again.”
“You won’t have a bodyguard.”
“I don’t need one.”
“You won’t have a healer.”
“I don’t need one.”
“I’m not there either.”
“Huh? Did you say something?”
“Nothing.”
She definitely said something.
But before I could press her, I was kicked out.
Failed to persuade her.
And finally.
The training ground.
I suppose I should say it was as expected.
“Master—!”
Mia threw herself at me with all her might.
I caught her reflexively.
“I told you, I’m not your master.”
“Master!”
She’s not listening.
Same as always.
“Mia’s coming too!”
“No.”
“I don’t want to!”
“No.”
“I don’t want to!”
Persuasion failed.
That makes all four of them.
One week.
I really did my best for a whole week.
The result: a total defeat.
“This is a real headache…”
When I returned to the office, Emma was organizing documents.
“I told you so.”
“That they’d oppose it.”
“It was worse than I expected.”
“I figured as much.”
Emma gave a wry smile.
“But I’ve finished handing everything over.”
A month’s worth of work schedules.
Emergency response procedures.
Instructions for each department.
It’s all compiled here.
“You’re really going, aren’t you?”
“It’s only for a month.”
“Everyone’s going to be mad.”
“I’ll apologize when I get back.”
Emma looked like she wanted to say something.
But in the end, she just let out a small sigh.
The next day.
I headed to the Adventurers’ Guild headquarters to do a final check.
There, I spotted Fina, the receptionist I knew well.
“Alt-san!”
“It’s been a while.”
“You haven’t been here at all lately.”
“I’ve been swamped with work.”
Fina smiled.
She’s always been friendly and easy to talk to.
“By the way, I heard.”
“Hm?”
“I heard you’re taking a vacation?”
“Just for a month.”
“That sounds nice.”
Fina said enviously.
“I’m looking forward to souvenirs when you get back.”
“Got it.”
“It’s a promise, okay?”
“Of course.”
Just then.
“Alt.”
I turned around at the familiar voice.
Leona was standing there.
“Leona?”
“Who?”
It came out of nowhere.
“Who do you mean? Fina, of course.”
“Hmm.”
Leona looked at Fina.
For some reason, Fina looked a little flustered.
“What’s wrong?”
“Nothing.”
Even as she said that.
“…You just looked like you were having fun,”
She muttered that under her breath.
“We were just having a normal conversation.”
“Oh.”
She didn’t look convinced.
Fina hurriedly bowed her head.
“W-well, I have work to do!”
With that, she ran off as if fleeing.
“Why is she running away?”
“I don’t know.”
Leona looked away.
I don’t get it.
When I returned to the guild, Serena was waiting for me this time.
“Alt”
“Hm?”
“I heard you were chatting happily with a woman.”
“How do you know that?”
“Just by chance.”
There’s no way it was just by chance.
“She’s just an acquaintance.”
“Is that so?”
Serena smiled as if relieved.
But her next words were strange.
“Please let me know when you’re alone with a woman.”
“Why?”
“Because I’m worried.”
“About what?”
“All sorts of things.”
I don’t get it.
That night, Lilia approached me.
“That receptionist…”
“Fina?”
“So you remember her name,”
she said.
Then, from Mia:
“Don’t let anyone steal my master away!”
She threw her arms around me.
I really don’t get it.
Late that night.
The office was empty.
I walked over to my desk and pulled out a sheet of paper.
To everyone:
I’m going on a short trip.
Don’t worry.
I’ll be back in about a month.
I’ve finished handing over all my duties.
I’ve left the guild in good hands.
Let’s all have a meal together again when I get back.
Alto
I placed the letter on my desk.
It’s short.
But it should be enough.
I’ll be back in a month anyway.
No need to make a big deal out of it.
The next morning.
It was still dim outside.
I looked up at the empty guild headquarters.
The place the five of us built together.
A place filled with so many memories.
“I’m off.”
Muttering that, I set off.
My first solo journey in a long time.
My heart was beating a little faster.
A month will surely fly by.
With that thought in mind, I left the capital behind.
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