Chapter 94: Irons in the Fire (4)

“Y-Young Master?!”

Heidi, who had been sitting with us and was suddenly bowed to by Miki, was startled and immediately got down from her chair and approached Miki.

Despite Heidi's protests, Miki continued to speak with his head bowed.

“Surely, if we track down the corps commander Etian, we will be able to find out about my father's whereabouts.”

According to Sebastian, the two had disappeared together while fighting, so he must have judged that if they chased Etian, they would naturally get information about Johannes.

And Miki's guess was correct.

Because Johannes was now, beyond the Wall with Etian.

“My father is a strong person. He is not someone who can be easily defeated.”

This statement was also true.

Johannes was still alive.

“Thanks to all of you, I, Michael, was able to become a knight, not a failure. Of course, I am still a very lacking person, but… still, I can now proudly call myself a knight.”

Miki, who had finally raised his head, looked around at each of us with pleading eyes.

“So, I want to find my father with you all, and prove to him… that he was wrong!”

Then he bowed politely again, and Heidi, who saw this, seemed to have roughly read the atmosphere, and.

“Pl-Please! Please help Young Master Miki…!”

She said, bowing politely next to Miki.

At that, I first looked at the reactions of my companions one by one.

They all had faces that had already decided on the answer.

That's why they were looking around at each other, just like me.

Then, when my eyes met Ibi's, she gestured towards Miki with her chin.

‘You say it.’

Although she didn't voice it, her lips clearly formed those words.

Well, this was certainly the role of a ‘party leader’.

The expressions of the other companions, whom I had looked at once more for confirmation, were no different.

Thus, having obtained everyone's consent, I.

“Of course, Miki.”

Approached Miki, helped him up, and said.

“Let's find him for sure, and tell him to his face together that he was wrong.”

At that, Miki showed a moved expression and bowed his waist once more.

“…! Th-Thank you, everyone!”

Of course, we have to.

You were wrong, Johannes.

Miki will become a knight more outstanding than you, no, than any of the Irons.

I, will make him so.

--

Companion Quest

「Irons in the Fire 」

Track down the 5th Corps Commander Etian and find out about Johannes's whereabouts.

--

Heidi said it was fine for us to stay, but we came out to find a separate lodging.

Even though we had sleeping bags, it was still a bit of a nuisance for six people to take up the floor together.

However.

“You stay, kid.”

“What?”

Miki, who was about to leave with us, was pushed back into Heidi's house by Ibi.

“You're childhood friends, aren't you? There must be a lot to catch up on while you were away from home.”

Then she winked at someone.

“But…”

Miki looked as if he had no idea what she meant, but.

“Yeah. You sleep here tonight, Miki. Heidi must have been very surprised by today's events. You should take care of her. We can join up again tomorrow.”

“Ah, I see…!”

At my words, he nodded in agreement, as if he hadn't thought that far.

“Then, is it okay for me to stay here tonight, Heidi?”

“What…? Ah, I-I'm fine with it if you're okay with it, Young Master…”

At that, Heidi answered with a voice that was completely different from when she had invited us to stay, her voice gradually trailing off, and she nodded her head slightly.

Thus, leaving Miki at Heidi's house, we went out into the street again.

“Isn't it strange?”

“Huh? What is?”

“Earlier. Maybe it's because I saw him surrounded by real kids and playing with them? He seemed a bit, like an adult, unlike usual.”

Actually, he is an adult.

He's older than you.

But well, I thought the same.

Miki was definitely the ‘youngest’ in our party.

Of course, that was probably because this guy, who was actually the youngest in terms of age, had no sense of hierarchy, which made it feel even more so.

But the Miki in the burning mansion, and the Miki who was just trying to take care of Heidi, did seem a little different from the Miki who was with us.

“He might really become an adult today, though.”

Seeing Ibi, who muttered this and chuckled, it was clear that she was the one who looked more like a child.

“No, well, honestly, I don't think anything will happen. He's a kid. And there are even real kids.”

I repeat, he is an adult.

If nothing happens, it's not because he's a kid, but because Miki is a knight and a gentleman.

Of course, if the other side has some thoughts, the story might be a little different… but well, that's their problem.

“More than that, I'm proud of you. I didn't know you could care about others.”

“Huh? No, hey. Think about it. Would you be able to go for a drink in front of a guy whose house just burned down and whose father went missing? Are you trash?”

“So that was your real intention….”

No wonder I was proud of this girl.

“It’s the first day I’ve returned to the hometown I thought I’d never return to, so do you think I can stand not drinking, you f*cker?”

When did you ever drink for a reason?

I was about to say that, but at least I understood how she felt.

Even I, well, would want a drink.

“Isn't it dangerous to be alone in a crowded place?”

“Probably. So f*cking follow me quietly.”

“Am I forced to participate?”

“Hey, old man! You're coming too, right?”

Ibi shouted at Toric, who was striding ahead.

At that, Toric, who had turned to this side, hesitated for a moment, unlike usual when he would have answered “Sounds good.” immediately, and then.

“I… am fine for today.”

He made Ibi's jaw drop.

“Wh-What? A dwarf can refuse alcohol? …Are you really going on a diet?”

“Of course, I should do that, but… I’m also a little, conflicted today.”

“Why? Are there a lot of guys in the city who are trying to catch you too?”

“Are you really sure it's okay for you to go drinking…?”

It couldn't be helped that he was conflicted.

The taverns of this world are places where information gathers.

And in this city, there is the largest of the branches that the Kapers have set up all over the continent.

So, there were many Kapers.

Then where would they all go at this time?

Whether it was to gather information, or to forget a hard day's work.

Especially in popular taverns where a lot of people gathered, you could assume that there was at least one Kaper among them.

Toric, who knew this better than anyone because he was once a Kaper, was reluctant to go to a tavern in case he ran into one of them.

He must not be ready to reunite with his old comrades yet.

So today, it was better to give him time to sort out his feelings.

Because tomorrow, we were planning to go to the Kapers' branch, not just run into a Kaper by chance.

“Anyway. I'll be heading in for today.”

“Yeah, well. Then the nun… no, you don't drink. You go in too.”

“What? Ah, yes….”

Lily seemed to have been planning to do so from the beginning, but she seemed somewhat puzzled that the invitation was cut off midway.

“Got it? From now on, you don't drink in front of others.”

Well, Lily probably had no memory of how she had looked when she was drunk at Toric's house.

But since we had all seen it, I also fully agreed with Ibi's words.

“Especially in front of this guy. You’ll end up like that female dragon.”

“No. I won't. And what are you talking about.”

I did not fully agree.

“Uh… I-I’ll be careful……?”

Fortunately (?), Lily just tilted her head with an expression that said she had no idea what Ibi was talking about.

“What about the elf? You're going, right? I can't really trust this guy alone.”

Finally, when she asked Rine, Rine glanced at me and answered indifferently.

“If Mr. Yubin goes, I will follow.”

Thus, the three members who had formed the first ‘party’ after a long time, went to the tavern.

And there, we really did meet a few members of the cartel, and we broke their heads, both physically and mentally.

It was no big deal.

It was a daily occurrence in Tiaria.

***

The next day.

We first returned to Heidi's house and joined up with Miki.

“So, how was it, kid? Hmm, hmm?”

At Ibi's question, who was chuckling and nudging her shoulder with her elbow, Miki answered with a refreshing smile, with an expression that showed he completely didn't understand the intention of the question, “Ah, yes! It was nice to meet my friend after a long time!”.

There was a necklace around Miki's neck that he hadn't had before, and he said that Heidi had given it to him as a gift to wish him good luck and for him to return safely.

「Heidi's Necklace」.

Since I knew the true nature of that necklace, I could only say to cherish it.

“Yes!”

Well, even if I hadn't said anything, Miki would have surely done so on his own.

Thus, having resolved the most urgent event we would see in Tiaria, the fire at the Irons mansion.

“Toric.”

“Hmm? What is it?”

It was now time to resolve the next event.

“I'd like to meet your old comrades in Tiaria, could you perhaps guide me?”

At these words.

“──Aah!”

The first to react was Miki.

Miki, who had seemed strangely mature since yesterday, immediately returned to his usual, completely puppy-like self as soon as he heard my words.

So, it felt like a non-existent tail was wagging from side to side in front of my eyes.

“Th-That means!”

Miki began to stare at Toric.

It couldn't be helped.

Because going to meet Toric's old comrades meant going to meet the Kapers that Miki had admired since he was a child.

“…….”

Toric averted his gaze from Miki's sparkling blue eyes, as if he were burdened by them.

Nevertheless, as if he couldn't bring himself to refuse.

“…Alright.”

He finally let out a short sigh and answered.

“I’ll guide you.”

“Wow…!”

As if he could no longer avoid it.

Thus, the place where Toric, who had finally made up his mind, had brought us, was.

“……?”

“A Tiarian-style, seafood restaurant…?”

A restaurant.

“Th-This is the Kapers, Tiaria branch…?”

Miki looked up at the sign with a shrimp on it, as if he couldn't believe it.

“No, that can't be. It's just a restaurant.”

“Ah…! Y-You’re disguised as a restaurant! As expected! The Kapers are very cautious──”

Then, he clapped his hands as if he had realized the deep meaning of the Kapers and looked back at Toric.

“……What’s this?”

“──Huh?”

But that Toric was also looking up at the shrimp on the sign, with a blank expression as if it were the first time he had heard of it.