GalaxyTL
“A joint meeting of Special-grade guilds?”
After being teased mercilessly by Dad, who’d been watching us with a cold gaze, as Gil-san and I were confirming our affection, we finally started eating. Even now, Dad’s still sulking. He told us, while eating, the reason why he’s going to Demon Castle. I feel awkward with the lukewarm gazes of everyone in the cafeteria, but Dad’s jealous gaze is also making me uncomfortable. Dad’s also important to me!
“That’s right. It’s a request from a High-grade guild. It progressed to the point where we decided to launch an event. And it wouldn’t be right to proceed without the consent of the other Special-grade guilds, so we decided to hold a meeting.”
“What kind of event?”
Dad’s explanations tend to be vague, so I wouldn’t be able to follow at all without Gil-san asking these questions. Gil-san must also be used to this, because he’s asking without any complaints. It’s true, I’m curious about what kind of event it is. As we were waiting for the answer, Dad, after chewing and swallowing the food in his mouth, grinned like a child.
“We’re holding a fighting tournament.”
““A fighting tournament?””
Gil-san and I unintentionally said the same thing. A fighting tournament… does that mean fighting? Um, with who? I had so many questions. Dad’s explanation continued.
“That’s right. We’ll select members from the three Special-grade guilds, and the High-grade guild that made the request, four guilds in total, and hold a fighting tournament. It’ll be a tournament format to determine who’s the strongest. Magic, physical combat, traps, anything goes. Individuals are good, but a team battle would also be good. And we need to think about the prizes too.”
Dad, talking excitedly, really does seem like a child. Or rather, I feel like he’s only thinking about the fun things and skipping over the important details. Come back!
“Putting aside the three Special-grade guilds, how will it work with a High-grade guild mixed in? Won’t there be a difference in ability?”
Gil-san then asked a new question. Ah, he’s right. It’ll be a problem if there’s too big a gap in skill, won’t it? As I was thinking about that, Dad waved his hand dismissively, saying it wouldn’t be a problem. He downed his drink in one gulp and then, looking pleased, opened his mouth.
“Because that High-grade guild is… Schutor.”
“Schutor…? Ah! Mara-san’s guild? Mara-san was the one who made the request?”
High-grade guild Schutor. They’re a new guild that’s quickly gaining recognition, there are even rumors that they’ll become a Special-grade guild within a hundred years. Well, it’s only natural. Because Schutor is… the former Special-grade guild, Nemo!
Special-grade guild Nemo, which had been involved with shady activities, was destroyed once, when the High Elf who led it, my grandfather Schelmelhorn, retired. It was because of me, but Ortus had been looking for an opportunity to destroy it, so it was bound to happen, you could say.
And at that time, someone thought it would be dangerous and a waste to let those capable members run free and formed a new guild. And that’s Martinelshiela-san, also known as Mara-san, Schelmelhorn’s older sister, another High Elf. In other words, you can imagine just how incredible she is at operating a guild.
“So I thought I’d invite Ash too. Knowing him, he’ll probably sulk if we don’t invite him, saying we’re excluding him from this fun event, and that’ll be a pain to deal with.”
Father-sama… no, well, I can imagine. He’s always complaining in his letters about how busy he is and how he can’t come visit often. He’ll definitely sulk. I’m sure of it.
“And also, I want to see how much Licht’s grown. …It’s about time.”
“About time?”
“No, it’s nothing. Anyway, I thought I’d better tell him before the joint meeting.”
Dad concluded by saying we’ll discuss the details of the joint meeting and the fighting tournament with the senior members when he gets back. Actually, shouldn’t you tell Saura-san first…? Dad said we can do it after he gets back from Demon Castle, but he’s not thinking at all about those who’ll have to make all the preparations in a hurry!
“Gil-san…”
“…Don’t worry, I’ve told Saura everything.”
“I always apologize for my dad…”
As expected of Gil-san, you understand. I unintentionally apologized as his daughter. Haa, I’m really glad I was able to hear about it now!!
—Suddenly, an image flashed in my head.
A scene of Gil-san and Licht fighting. Ah, this is… the dream I had before, I thought, remembering. I still couldn’t recall the details, but I’m sure it was a precognitive dream. And it clicked. I see, so it was about the fighting tournament. Then it’s not strange for Gil-san and Licht to be fighting. So they’re both going to participate. I’ll have to tell Licht, when we go to Demon Castle, to not use powerful magic! If he gets serious, the whole venue might be obliterated.
Just as I nodded, making that decision, a chill suddenly ran through me. I involuntarily shuddered. Huh? This happened before too, that chill. It was when I was with Saura-san. And just like then, I’m fine now, but two chills in a row… I start to wonder if maybe I’ve caught a cold. It should be fine, since it’s been a while.
“What’s wrong?”
Gil-san, noticing that I was rubbing my arms, asked me that, concerned. No, no. This always happens when the overprotective Gil-san sees me like this. It’s only natural.
“It’s nothing! It’s just… feels a bit cold…”
“…That’s no good. Take a bath and go to bed early. We’re going to Demon Castle tomorrow, right?”
That’s right, if I stubbornly insist that I’m fine, even though I’m fine right now, and then end up with a fever, I won’t be able to go to Demon Castle. Father-sama will probably make a huge fuss, and I won’t be able to warn Licht. I’ll be sad too!
“You were probably sleeping with your stomach exposed.”
“Th-That’s not true! Dad, don’t be mean!”
Just when I was thinking of being careful, dad interrupted my thoughts. I always sleep with my blanket on! My sleeping posture… I only fall out of bed sometimes, so it’s not that bad. Maybe I’ll tuck my shirt in tonight. It can’t be helped! Children are creatures that move around a lot in their sleep!
“Alright, alright. But… be careful, okay?”
“? Yeah, I’ll bundle up, even without you telling me.”
Dad, placing his hand on my head, said that with a wry smile. Somehow, it sounded like there was something else he wanted to say, but I’m probably just imagining it, right?
I was a bit concerned, but then Dad said, “See you here tomorrow morning,” and then left after clearing the table. Ah, I haven’t finished eating yet! I realized this with a start and hurriedly finished my dinner. Delicious!
Good morning! I finished eating immediately after that yesterday. Then after a short break, I headed to the bath with Gil-san, and after I got out, he walked me back to my room and I slept soundly. The men’s and women’s baths are separate, of course! It’s been my policy since I was a little girl. I’m a proper lady on the inside!
I’m now allowed to bathe on my own, but it was a busy time, so I bathed with the women at the reception desk. They all have such great bodies, so it was a bit emotionally damaging. It’s okay, I still have room to grow…!
“Oh, Meg, good morning. Did you sleep well?”
“Good morning, Dad! Yeah, I slept great!”
“You were sleeping with your stomach out…”
“I wasn’t! My stomach was tucked in!”
I was immediately teased by Dad when I went to the cafeteria for breakfast. He teases me every time. He hasn’t changed at all since the old days. Hmph.
“Gil, good morning too. …What’s wrong? Are you lonely because you haven’t seen Meg for a while?”
“N-No, of course not.”
After he was done teasing me, Dad started picking on Gil-san, who was sitting next to me. Geez.
“Dad, stop saying those things to Gil-san too! He’s an adult! He wouldn’t feel lonely just because I wasn’t around for a while. Right, Gil-san?”
“A-Well, um…”
I put a hand on my hip, pointed a finger at Dad, and protested. See, even Gil-san’s at a loss for words.
“Ahahaha! Meg, you’re the one who’s finishing him off!”
“Eh? Me? Why?”
And yet Dad suddenly burst out laughing, holding his stomach. Geez, what’s so funny! I looked up at Gil-san in confusion, and he looked away with a slight blush on his cheeks, then patted my head. Ah, what?
“Well, I’ll be sad to not see Gil-san for a while, but… is Gil-san even a little bit sad?”
Because I’m a crybaby. I’ve gotten so used to being spoiled that I feel lonely. Especially with Gil-san. But I wondered if even Gil-san might feel a bit lonely. I’d be happy if that was the case, I thought, and asked him that. Gil-san furrowed his brows, looking troubled, and closed his mouth. Ah, so it’s not like that after all? Sorry for asking something strange.
“…I do feel… a bit of that… emptiness.”
But then he gave this quiet reply! Emptiness. I see, so he does feel it, even just a little. Or maybe he’s just saying that because he feels sorry for me. Either way, I’m happy and chuckle to myself. I’m so simple-minded.
“…He’s so awkward, as always. Geez. Alright, we’re leaving right after breakfast.”
“Huh? What about Schlie-san?”
“He’ll meet up with us later. He’s going to finish something up and then follow us.”
Don’t tell me that’s because you suddenly decided to go and he’s scrambling to adjust his schedule…! I resolved to apologize to Schlie-san profusely when he joins us.