Chapter 159: Underling

My relationship with Serina had progressed.

That itself was fine, but the situation in which it happened was somewhat of a problem.

Our companions had been fighting at the time.

Of course, Serina and I had only let things go that far because everyone was protected inside the barrier, but still...

The moment Serina dispelled our barrier, the others noticed us and rushed over.

“Advanced Heal.”

Chiyu immediately cast healing magic on both Serina and me.

“Thanks.”

“Don’t just say thanks.”

Chiyu stepped up in front of me and lightly bumped her forehead against my chest.

It did not hurt at all, but her feelings came through painfully clearly.

“...Sorry. I made you worry.”

“I knew you were safe. But when So-kun jumped off Micron, I was scared.”

“Sorry.”

If our positions had been reversed, I would have hated seeing Chiyu put herself in danger at that moment too.

But someone had needed to go, or Tsutsui could not have been saved.

“Honestly! I’m glad you’re both okay, but don’t make us worry like that!”

Shouko was angry too, but her eyes were wet.

“...Serina, I want you to value yourself more than your belongings. Nobody would blame you if you dropped your tablet.”

Shion looked genuinely relieved, even as she gently scolded Serina.

“Being able to act for someone else is one of your strengths, Sousuke, but my heart nearly stopped...”

Minori was still unsettled as she pressed a hand to her chest and looked at me.

“As expected of Master. However, please do not overexert yourself.”

Roa’s usually immaculate maid outfit was splattered with mud.

Apparently, the moment the fighting ended, she had run all over the area looking for us.

“Everyone...”

I felt bad for making them anxious, but their concern also made me happy.

“But that was very like you, Kuno...”

Back in her human form, Mamonaka spoke with a faintly nostalgic expression.

“I’m sorry, both of you! This happened because I involved you in my suggestion in the first place...”

Ms. Luminous looked stricken with guilt.

“...Hey, aren’t you two standing kind of close?”

The atmosphere changed at Urume’s words.

“Huh? What are you talking about, Urume? There’s nothing strange about it.”

Serina had regained her usual hard-to-approach air.

But her arm was firmly linked through mine.

“Mm. Can’t hide it. Smells like So-kun and So-kun.”

Chiyu wore the expression of someone who understood everything.

“...Huh? Huh? Don’t tell me, inside the barrier?”

Shouko blinked in surprise.

“Given how Serina thinks, after being saved like that, I guess this was bound to happen.”

Shion looked as though she had reached some conclusion.

“...Normally, Sousuke would have dropped boulders outside the barrier or something to reduce the Afancs’ numbers. I thought it was strange that you were not doing that...”

Minori looked at me with a faintly reproachful expression.

“As expected of Master. To turn a desperate situation into an opportunity—what magnificent fortune you possess.”

Roa did not seem bothered in the least. If anything, she looked proud.

“E-Even Serina...?”

“...M-Ms. Luminous did not hear anything.”

Mamonaka sounded flustered, Ms. Luminous flushed bright red, and Urume looked somehow frustrated.

In an instant, everyone had figured out that something had changed between Serina and me.

“Sorry, everyone. This was my fault. You’re right. I should have fought alongside you.”

“That’s not it. I was the one who came onto you, so don’t blame Sousuke.”

“I’m not blaming anyone. Serina’s barrier was up, so you were safe. So-kun saved Serina, and nobody has the right to complain if he took a moment to recover.”

Not everyone necessarily shared Chiyu’s opinion, but none of our companions pressed the issue.

Though Shouko, for one, puffed out her cheeks in a sulk.

“By the way, where are that black dragon and that idiot boy?”

At Serina’s words, I realized I had been wondering the same thing.

Micron, who was so fond of me, should have flown straight at me the instant she saw me.

And Tsutsui, whom I had saved, should have been nearby too.

“Uh... Micron thinks Sousuke ended up in danger because of Tsutsui, so... she’s mad.”

Shouko pointed up at the sky.

When I looked, Micron was flying through the air in a roller-coaster-like path with something in her mouth.

Was that Tsutsui?

Faint cries like, “Aaaah!” and “Help meee!” drifted down from above.

“Microoon! Sousuke’s okay!”

When Shouko shouted toward the sky, Micron accelerated toward us at once.

As she approached, Tsutsui’s screams grew louder too.

Once she was close to the ground, Micron spat Tsutsui out and pounced on me.

“Good girl. Thanks for worrying about me.”

“Ugh...”

Tsutsui groaned on all fours.

“...Chiyu.”

“Reluctantly. ‘Calm.’ ‘Basic Heal.’”

A faint glow enveloped Tsutsui.

He slowly stood, looked all around at us, then spotted me.

He ran straight over.

The moment he reached me—

He dropped to his knees and pressed his forehead to the ground.

“Please let me call you Boss!”

“...Huh?”

“You saved me even though you had no reason to, and you’d risk your life without hesitation for your girl. I’ve never seen a guy as cool as you, Boss!”

Was this really the

[N O V E L I G H T]

same Tsutsui?

The Tsutsui who had fired his gun wildly during the first event without caring who got hit?

Serina, meanwhile, seemed pleased.

“My girl... He gets it.”

“I don’t really understand that kind of thing, but... if you’re grateful, then listen to what Ms. Luminous has to say.”

“Yes, sir!”

Still somewhat bewildered, Ms. Luminous explained the proposed trade.

“Whoa...! You’ll give me a place to live, clothes to wear, and food to eat? Boss, are you a god or something?”

“In exchange, you give us information. It’s a deal.”

“Please, I’d love that!”

Tsutsui bowed deeply.

A lot had happened, but we had accomplished our original purpose.

We had established a trade relationship.

“Then let’s head back to your base. This lake should be safe for a few days, but monsters will eventually spawn here again.”

“Sorry! I just ran without thinking and ended up here!”

Tsutsui probably had not been running toward any particular destination.

In the end, my relationship with Serina had changed for the better, so I did not feel angry at him.

I glanced at Shion.

Without speaking, she mouthed, He’s not lying.

For the moment, Tsutsui’s gratitude appeared genuine.

“That’s fine. More importantly, sorry, but I can’t return your handgun yet. I hope you understand.”

It was not that I suspected Tsutsui specifically.

I simply wanted to eliminate the risk.

“Of course! Also, I’m the only one who can fire that thing, so if anything happens, just let me know! I’ll blast away!”

...I see.

Not only did it have unlimited ammunition, but he had designed it so that no one else could use it if it was taken from him.

“In that case, I’ll count on you.”

With the conversation over, we prepared to move again.

“Oh, right. Serina, this.”

Mamonaka came over and handed Serina her tablet.

“...You picked it up.”

“Yeah. But the screen’s completely cracked. I was thinking, maybe Kuno could...”

“Yeah, give me a second.”

I stored the tablet in my Inventory, then placed it again in my hand.

The tablet returned to normal.

If parts themselves were missing, I could not restore them. But if it was merely scratched or broken apart, I could return it to its original state without issue.

“You can replace this if you drop it. Just make sure you don’t fall again, Serina.”

Serina accepted the tablet from me, her cheeks faintly flushed as she nodded.

Seeing her expression, many of the girls looked surprised.

“Mm. Starry-eyed.”

Only Chiyu muttered that with her usual blank face.

In any case, there was only one boy left with whom we needed to establish a trade relationship.