GalaxyTL
After our conversation, we left the training grounds. The people who were still there were looking at us curiously, but Schlie-san gracefully ignored them. So I activated my ultimate move, “I don’t understand because I’m a kid,” and pretended not to notice.
Schlie-san’s knowing smile seemed to say, “You know what’s going on, don’t you?” It was at that moment, I realized I couldn’t hide anything from him.
“Ah, Schlie, Meg-chan! You’re just in time! There’s something important we need to discuss! Top priority!”
As we arrived at the hall (that’s what they called it) where the guild reception was, Saura-san spotted us and hurried over, her emerald green hair swaying. Oh my, she’s adorable… I mean, not! With such a serious expression, just how important could this be? Schlie-san, who’d been holding my hand, instantly switched gears. A true professional.
“Top priority? Should we discuss it elsewhere?”
“No, here’s fine. So, you see, it’ll be getting dark soon, and Meg-chan…”
Saura-san began to speak with a solemn look on her face. She called my name, so I gulped and waited for her to continue. And then…
“Where are you sleeping tonight? Meg-chan, who do you want to sleep with!?”
I almost fell flat on my face. Eh? Is that… it? Me, who I sleep with, is a top priority? I glanced at Schlie-san, who was standing next to me, arms crossed, pondering with a serious expression, saying, “This is a matter of utmost importance that needs to be decided swiftly.” Huh? Why?
“Meg-chan is a responsible child, so eventually, we can prepare a room just for her. But it won’t be ready immediately… and to kick someone out, disinfect, and renovate a room takes time…”
Hold on, hold on, hold on! Disinfect and renovate!? First of all, there’s no need to kick anyone out! I’m just a random kid, nobody special. I do want to repay everyone by working eventually, but right now, I’m just a useless freeloader who can’t contribute anything. A place with a roof over my head would be nice, but I’d be eternally grateful even if you just let me sleep somewhere!
When I managed to convey this, with my childish vocabulary and clumsy speech, Saura-san, and even Schlie-san, widened their eyes and trembled as if in shock. What was going on!?
“Meg-chan… how were you raised? A child’s job is to be as spoiled and selfish as they can be…”
“I knew you were a considerate child, but I never imagined you’d be this reluctant to impose on others.”
They turned their backs to me and began whispering among themselves. Did I say something strange? Ah, but being overly reserved could also be offensive to the other party. That was a bad habit unique to Japanese people. A little restraint could be considered a virtue, but going overboard would just make the other person feel awkward. Besides, I was the equivalent of a three- or four-year-old human girl. It was normal for children to be spoiled. But… It’s been so long since I was last pampered; I didn’t know how to do it anymore. My ingrained corporate slave mentality, characterized by excessive restraint and an inability to refuse, was holding me back.
Ah, I see. I wasn’t just bad at being spoiled, I was afraid of it. I was terrified of being disliked or rejected. I thought I was mentally strong, I tried to be, but…
What the heck. What a coward I am. How small. I was forced to acknowledge how tiny I was, both physically and mentally.
…You think I was depressed? What a waste of time! I was actually relieved to have realized it.
And now that I had, I’d just embrace it. I was a child now, so I could just grow little by little. Even though I was a fully grown adult by human standards, I was an elf now! I had an incredibly long life ahead of me; there was no need to rush.
So, first, this problem at hand. Maybe I should try to… be a little spoiled?
“Um, um, if it’s okay… I-I want to be with… someone I met today.”
That was the best I could do. Please forgive my reserved tone. I looked at the two of them, wondering if this was okay. They both beamed at me, and then Saura-san stroked my head.
“…Thank you for trying. You’re so smart and well-behaved! You don’t have to push yourself. Just… be a little spoiled, little by little, okay?”
She could see right through me. Well, she’d lived far, far longer than me. I hadn’t asked her age, but it was obvious from the way she spoke.
That meant, in their eyes, I was truly still a child, and there was nothing wrong with learning from my elders; it was only natural.
Thinking about it that way, I felt a little better.
“So, the people you met today were Gil, Juma, Saura, Ludo, and myself…”
“Gil’s not here right now, so that leaves four… but Juma is, well…”
“Yes. Let’s remove him from the list.”
Saura-san and Schlie-san said in unison, firmly rejecting Juma as a caregiver. Yeah, I kinda understood. I was capable of taking care of myself, but there were things I didn’t know about this world. I wanted to be taught properly, at least at first. It wasn’t that Juma-kun was a bad person, but he’d probably just be like, “You do it like this!”
“…Say, Schlie? I’m a woman, so wouldn’t Meg-chan feel more comfortable with me?”
“…Oh my, she’s still just a child. It shouldn’t be a problem. Besides, I’m an elf too, so I don’t think there would be any discomfort, don’t you agree?”
“There are things girls don’t want men to know, you know? You don’t understand a woman’s heart! Even though she’s small, she’s still a girl. Aren’t you being a bit insensitive?”
“We’ve gotten quite close during training, and I’m her teacher, after all. Sleeping and eating together as teacher and student isn’t strange at all.”
“Oh, come on, even if you’re her teacher, you’re still a man! Are you going to say the same thing when she’s older?”
“What’s the point of thinking about the future now? We should be focusing on what to do tonight. You always try to change the subject, don’t you?”
Ooh, a battle of wits has commenced. But unlike the heated arguments with Juma-kun, this was a subtle power struggle, veiled with smiles. I’ll be frank. It was terrifying!
“Hmm? What are you talking about with those scary smiles?”
“!!”
Suddenly, a relaxed voice echoed from behind me. When did he… get here? I didn’t sense him at all. Was he hiding his presence, or was I just being oblivious?
When I looked at the other two, they both had their eyes widened slightly, so it seemed like it wasn’t just me.
“Hey, include me in the fun. You know, those scary faces are ruining those lovely faces of yours.”
“…Kei, would you mind not doing that? Suddenly appearing behind us without a sound.”
Kei? Wait? I’d heard that name recently… could it be…
“Sorry, sorry. You see, I heard we had a cute new member join Ortus while I was out. I couldn’t resist playing a little prank.”
Saying that, Kei-san turned his gaze towards me. His sidelong glance was incredibly sexy. So this handsome man was…
“You must be that adorable child I heard about? My, you’re truly precious. Nice to meet you, I’m Kei. Call me whatever you like.”
“Ahh! Stop flaunting your handsomeness at a child this young! …I was hoping it wouldn’t happen, but I guess it was inevitable.”
Saura-san slumped her shoulders dejectedly. There was no mistaking it. This was the rumored, most handsome man in the guild!
Taken aback by his unexpected appearance, my jaw dropped, and I was speechless for a while.