39.Rival

Editing/Standardisation: Medicine Melancholy
Original Translation: Medicine Melancholy

Iris

“…So you’re leaving next week… I’m going to miss you.”

“…Yes.”

The morning after we decided to leave the town, I spoke about it to Miranda-san, who was resting on the sofa. The lady who had been taking care of us since we started staying in this town had not been feeling well lately, and she had been sleeping more often… but she still agreed to teach me how to do a lot of things… The thought of saying farewell to her passed through my mind, and my chest tightened.

“Um…”

“Is there something you want to ask?”

“Yes! Well… I just want to make a simple lunchbox…”

Reiji-san and Saul-niisama left the house early in the morning, as they were going to be trained by the mercenaries. So I thought of what I could do… and this is what I came up with… but I’m worried about the auntie’s health, too.

“Oh… Why are you making such a long face? I’m feeling rather well today, so grab your apron and come to the kitchen with me.”

“Thank you!”

“Did you make this lunchbox?”

“Yes. Since Reiji-san and Saul-niisama are working so hard, I suppose I should do something to help…”

“Aww, that’s so cute, nya!”

“I-It’s nothing! And stop tickling me!”

Face pouting, I glared at Milly-san, who gave me a peck on the cheek.

I was walking along the street where many people come and go for lunch before noon, chatting in a good mood with Lenny-san, who was holding a large lunch basket in her hand, since I had to carry my staff around to walk, and Milly-san, who had finished her work and was taking a break.

Since the “Clarte Iris” was too conspicuous, and we weren’t going to a dangerous place, we decided to keep things as simple as possible.

My current attire was a simple one-piece dress and a cloak that looked a bit expensive but not too fancy.

“If you had told me, I could have been of some help.”

“I appreciate your concern. But while I’m still in this town, I…”

I wanted to leave behind as many memories as possible. I wonder if that was part of the reason I went out of my way to learn how to cook.

“…Understood. Iris-sama, you’re sad to say goodbye, aren’t you?”

“Yes… I find it strange myself, but I feel very much so…”

I could think of a few reasons. Perhaps, it’s because of the auntie who taught me so much…

“In any case, we should get going before lunch break’s over.”

“Mm, you’re right, that would be a shame after all the hard work I put in.”

I quickly dismissed my thoughts, which were about to take off in a strange direction, and walked quickly out of the town, toward where everyone was training.

I went to the training site outside the town, by the mercenaries’ camp, which was made from the remains of a forest logging site, just as Reiji-san and Zeltis-san were squaring off against each other. They were surrounded by the rest of the mercenaries, who had rested their weapons and were looking forward to the duel.

“Nii-sama!”

So as not to disrupt the duel between them, I moved over to Saul-niisama, who was sitting down to rest nearby.

“If it isn’t Iris. Thank you for escorting her here, Lenny-san.”

“No need to thank me, Saul-sama. This is just part of my job.”

“I… I see…”

Like me, Nii-sama wasn’t accustomed to receiving this kind of treatment… We noticed each other’s gaze and let out a chuckle.

“So, what brings you here… a lunchbox?”

“Yes, Miranda-san taught me how to make it… It’s still simple, though. Did I interrupt your training?”

“Actually, you came in just the right time. This is the last round before lunch break.”

I took a closer look at Reiji-san and Zeltis-san again.

The two men were sweating profusely from their foreheads, but still glared at each other and hardly moved.

The spectating mercenaries were also not moving an inch.

“These guys are basically equal to each other in strength… That’s why neither of them dares to make a bad move and expose an opening. And so they just stare at each other like that… uh oh, here we go.”

Immediately after Nii-sama finished, the two figures moved at a dizzying pace, their swords clashing against each other, before stopping at a good distance from the other’s sword reach.

“Amazing… I couldn’t see anything at all.”

“Same here… but looks like the other side’s winning.”

“You think so?”

“Good eyes. And it doesn’t seem like there are many in my company who realize that… Nice looking lunch you’ve got there, by the way.”

From behind me, a large hand gripped my head and stroked it. There’s only one person with such hands… Walter-san.

“…Captain. It took me so long to make up her hair, could you not mess it up?”

“Oops, sorry ‘bout that, Lenny… You too, milady.”

“I didn’t mind it that much… Besides…”

My gaze returned to the two people, who once again stared at each other while barely moving.

“If that’s what you’re concerned about, I suppose I could help. I trained Zeltis myself, but his basics were learnt when he was studying to become a knight, and thus more suited to fight human opponents. In contrast, I could tell that the boy with red hair has been fighting non-human opponents… in other words, monsters since day one.”

“That’s true…”

Back in the game, both Reiji-san and Saul-niisama weren’t big fans of PvP, and that extended to me, who accompanied them on their monster hunting, as well.

“If this was a contest of how many enemies they can take down, I’m sure your red-haired friend would be the victor. But oh well.”

At that moment, Reiji-san’s sword jumped up slightly, and Zeltis-san’s sword slid past it and thrust into his body… right above where his heart should be.

“That’s enough!”

Walter-san declared the end of the duel.

The two men, released from their extreme tension, started to wipe sweat from not only their foreheads but also their entire bodies like a waterfall, and they both fell into a heap.

“…Darn, I lost again! You’re strong, I have to admit.”

“No, your sword is more like something designed to be used against an opponent bigger than you… and it’s remarkable to see how well you’ve held your own.”

“Hell nah, a loss’s a loss. It’s 3 to 5 in your favor now. Next time, I won’t lose.”

“I’ll be your training partner anytime. I, too, find sparring with you a good experience, for which I am grateful.”

Just like that, they laughed and bumped their fists together.

I didn’t think these two were very close until yesterday. They somehow hit it off, and the way they laughed at each other like little boys made me giggle.

“Reiji-san! And you too, um, Zeltis-san. You both worked hard. Please take these towels.”

“Nice, thanks.”

“Many thanks to you, my princess.”

“Could you stop calling me that?”

Unlike Reiji-san, who accepted the towel like a normal person, Zeltis-san reverently accepted it by placing his hand on his chest and bowing.

Could he stop embarrassing me by pulling that kind of stunt already? It’s just a towel.

“My apologizes, allow me to correct myself… um, Miss Iris.”

“That’s better.”

While that name still sounded embarrassing, I’d rather hear it than “Princess”… so I just left it at that and gave up.

“And, uh… I’m sorry you had to see that side of me.”

“It’s not like that at all! When you two fought earlier… it was so cool!”

“Oh…”

“It’s my honor, then.”

When I excitedly told them what I thought of them, they looked embarrassed and wiped their sweat off their faces.

Calm down, me. I shouldn’t get carried away like that.

“I’ve also seen it all. That was a good match… Zeltis, did you improve your skills again?”

“Not really, I just found myself an opponent of equal strength and got a little overzealous. That, and I’ve been doing very well lately…”

While they were talking, his gaze turned toward me for a moment, and then he suddenly lost his facial expression and went back to his conversation with Walter-san… What was that for?

“And you, Reiji, right? You’ve fought well yourself… but there’s one thing I need to ask you, are you okay with that?”

“Hmm? Sure.”

“This concerns His Highness Saul as well. From watching you two’s movements, I have the impression that you two have yet to recognize your current abilities. It’s like… you could have done better, but you aren’t comfortable with your current selves… something like that.”

At those words, Reiji-san gulped.

“…I didn’t expect you to see through us that much.”

Those two were basically at their peak of power right before the reincarnation event. Compared to those days, things might be much more difficult for the two of them now that they were still growing up after the having their level reset post-reincarnation.

I didn’t really feel sluggish since I didn’t move my body around that much to begin with, but I did run out of magic more quickly than I used to back then…

“I’ll take that as a yes. Well, I’m not going to inquire further if it’s such an awkward topic for you. At any rate, I’ll see to a few things this afternoon. Now, let’s have lunch, since it looks like the lady here has prepared some food she wanted you boys to have.”

“Ah, yes! While I couldn’t make a meal for all of the mercenaries, I did cook more than usual for us to eat together… I’m not sure if it will suit everyone’s palate, though…”

“That’s still very thoughtful of you, and I’ll gladly enjoy the meal in your company. Let me call my sister over.”

With that, he bowed and went to look for Philias-san.

“Reiji-san, you’ve gotten along pretty well with that person, haven’t you?”

“Well, he isn’t exactly a bad guy, and…”

Reiji-san’s eyes looked at me awkwardly, but were quickly averted.

“…I definitely won’t lose to him.”

“Eh?”

“Nevermind, just forget it. I’m going to help Saul prepare for lunch.”

While a question mark was raised above my head, Reiji-san quickly spread the mattress as if in a panic and walked away toward Saul-niisama, who was setting the contents of the basket.

“Hahahaha, looks like you still have a long way to go, boy.”

I tilted my head at Walter-san, who was watching the situation with amusement.