Chapter 557: Those Who Are Reluctant

We left the place after enjoying Canon’s destruction and resurrection several times (mainly me). Well, I somewhat feel sorry for him, so I will give he something later.

「Ah, if it ain’t Haruna-chan and Deris! Hey~, you two~!」

The moment I heard the Damaya dialect, I immediately took a battle stance. My body unconsciously misunderstood that Alezel appeared somewhere. However, the ones who actually appeared before us had nothing to do with Alezel.

「Hey, what’s wrong Deris? Why are you taking such a strange stance?」

「That’s right~. I heard you accomplished something amazing, but did that make you crazy?」

「…… No, it’s just a little misunderstanding.」

「Gan-san, Anita-san! I didn’t know you two were here!」

Yeah, it wasn’t Alezel who called out to us, but Gan-san and Anita of the 『Bristly Beard』. Since it’s a party at the royal castle, both of them are wearing formal attire that I’ve never seen before.

「When I received the invitation from the king, I thought it was a mistake.」

「I was really surprised to see my name on the invitation, y’know? I wondered how much this letter of invitation would sell for~」

「Anita, you will be arrested for disrespect…」

Also, even if you think about it, don’t say it inside the castle. Seriously, she only talks like a merchant, but she hasn’t grown at all as a merchant. No, I don’t want any more people like Alezel. Anita, I think you are best just the way you are!

「Gan-san, let me thank you again. Thank you very much for making the Doggan Staff!」

「Haha, it’s me who wants to thank you. I never thought that you could use that unruly weapon so well. It makes me happy as its maker.」

「Ehehe.」

「Oh, it’s unusual for Gan-san to be thanking someone. You’ve never thanked me before.」

「That’s natural. Deris, you didn’t use the staff I made when you fought the girls, right? Right?」

「Ugh, how did you know that!?」

「I would know if you didn’t show up for the staff maintenance! You’re a careful person, so there’s no way you won’t come for the maintenance if you’re going to use it!」

「Ugh….」

As expected of Gan-san, he completely saw through that I switched from the beloved black staff to the Bardock.

「By the way, Ojou-chan came properly. I had the time to do the maintenance thoroughly since you didn’t came.」

「Ehehe. It really fitted in my hand!」

「Anita, say something to Gan-san for me.」

「Deris, give it up. Boss has completely become Haru-chan’s fan. Actually, you lost at the point you relied on me.」

I couldn’t say anything at the reasonable opinion.

「Well, if you show me your new staff next time, I’ll let you off the hook for cheating on me with another staff.」

「That’s what you’re after, huh… Well, I don’t mind. I’ll be keeping Haru’s staff, so please do the maintenance together.」

「Oh? Ojou-chan, I heard that you are going back to your hometown, but are you not taking your staff with you?」

「Um, there are various circumstances for that. How should I put it….」

Haru is sending glances at me. She can’t explain it well, so she’s asking me to explain it for her.

「Haru’s hometown doesn’t allow weapons. A knife or a kitchen knife would be barely acceptable, but the Doggan Staff is completely unacceptable.」

「Ojou-chan’s hometown is strange, huh? If that’s the case, won’t it interfere with her adventurer activities?」

「Well, things are different there.」

「But, I’ll definitely come back! Next time, I will beat Shishō with Gan-san’s Doggan Staff! Until then, please take care of the Doggan Staff for me!」

「Oh, if that’s the case, there’s no way I won’t accept it. Don’t worry, I will give it to you in the best condition.」

「Boss is getting fired up. Well, I can understand that feeling!」

How strange. I’m supposed to be the one to take care of the Doggan staff. Why is everyone getting fired up to overthrow me?

Thus, we parted with them while I still couldn’t accept it.

「Hoho, Deris, you’re making a funny face there.」

An assassin, I mean, the receptionist Giorgia approached us with a happy look on his face.

「Well, I’m glad you’re enjoying yourself, Gramps Giorgia.」

「Idiot, how can I enjoy it? I don’t care about Deris, but I really hoped for Haruna-chan to stay in this country…. And the vice leader of the magic knight order too, why are so many good girls leaving this country…?」

Gramps Gior made a crying gesture. Hmm, it’s the same with Gan-san earlier, but when Haru comes, they are acting like this.

「G-Giorgia-san, you’re exaggerating. Don’t worry, Shishō will work hard for me!」

「Hey, don’t increase my workload.」

「That’s right, there’s no way someone like Deris can replace Haruna-chan…. Above all, there’s no healing! This is the consensus of the Adventurer Guild! Ii, Al, San, and Su say so! I think the rest of the staff thinks so too!」

「E-Ehehe. Is that so?」

「Haru, this is not the time to be embarrassed. This is the time to defend your master.」

Perhaps because it’s a time like this, everyone we meet is soft on Haru.

「Sigh, and it’s not just Haruna-chan. The girls of the 『Flame Cat』, who were active as a party of young and energetic adventurers, are also going back together. This old man is really sad.」

The Flame Cat―― oh, the classmates who followed Touko and went on to become adventurers, huh? I saw them a while ago.

「After all, they are from the same hometown as Haru, so it can’t be helped. Then, Gramps Gior, why don’t you go back to the field as the 『Sword Devil』 for the first time in a long time? If you move your body, you can get rid of some of your worries, you know?」

「Hmm, if Touko-chan joins the same party, I think that sounds good. If I’m not mistaken, she will stay in Adelheit, right?」

「…… She’s started to seriously wok as a maid in our mansion, so I don’t think she will have the time for that.」

「What the, you’re unfair, Deris! And when we were taking back Crocus last time, I couldn’t impress the girls!」

Oops, I think we’re getting into a troublesome pattern. Nothing is more unbearable than an old man’s tantrum. I think it’s time for us to leave.

「Then, Giorgia-san, I’ll go get another subjugation request next time!」

「I will wait until I die!」