Chapter 51: Critical Situation

When Shion and Aria landed on the ground, they sensed a tense atmosphere. The four people surrounding Haku were all ready to attack at any moment, each with a different weapon.

Haku, on the other hand -- was even more hostile than the supposed assailants.

He bared his fangs and growled low like a beast, threatening them. It was the first time Shion had seen such high aggression, and it sent a chill down his spine. It was hard to imagine from the usually goofy Haku.

“Hey, guys, you gonna join us or what?”

A man around 30 years old, carrying a heavy-looking large sword, called out to Shion.

“I’m sorry, but Haku is one of us. I need you all to lower your weapons”

“…… What kind of man could make this monster as Familiar? You guys, let’s not do this”

The man who seemed to be the leader of the group lowered his greatsword and frowned at the fact that his companions did not follow him. He almost lost his temper for a moment, but when he realized the reason, he brought his sword back to his eyes.

“Sorry, bro, but I don’t think your Familiar will let us go that easily”

“Haku, what’s wrong?”

Shion asks Haku, who doesn’t seem to stop threatening them.

“If you don’t retract your previous statement, I won’t forgive you. I can deal with all of you right here and now”

“What did they say to you?”

‘They terribly insulted my companion. In unforgivably foul language’

Shion and Aria couldn’t decide whether the “companion” in this case referred to them or the monsters of the same kind. Even so, Aria intervenes and somehow tries to settle the situation.

One reason is that they believe that if a battle starts, both sides might not survive.

“I am Aria, the Water Hero. I don’t know what happened to you, but don’t attack. You guys are the , right? You’re the leader, Ghiad, aren’t you?”

“Oya? To have our name remembered by a Hero is quite an accomplishment for us”

He doesn’t seem particularly fearful, but Ghiad lowers his greatsword. There is a not-so-shallow sword wound on his forehead, exposed by his raised bangs, which he traces with his finger as he speaks.

“Hero-sama, you’ve got to do something about the bloodlust from your Familiar over there. I’m too scared to do anything about it”

“Haku? I don’t know what they told you, but let’s calm down first”

‘…’

There was no response, but the aggression was gone, which relieved Aria somewhat.

“I don’t want any trouble, so I’ll leave this matter to you, Hero-sama. We’ll be going to the Cave of Ten Path. I feel like I can actually conquer it now”

“You too, huh…”

“Oh? You’re going there too, Hero-sama? It’s a tough place, so if we ever cross path inside, we’ll be in your care”

Ghiad then asked for a handshake. Aria turned her face away from him and did not respond to this.

“It seems that the popular people don’t like me at all. Well, my life has always been like this, haha! Well, I guess it’s time for the hated to go”

The party walked in the direction of the cave. When the commotion finally calmed down, Shion stroked Haku, who was still slightly angry.

“I’ve never seen you so angry in my life”

‘…… I lost my temper. It’s not like me, is it?’

“You’ve been through a lot, huh?”

“At first, we were having a normal conversation, but then he suddenly slashed at me, and from then on he was full of provocations!”

It seems that they realize that he’s an intelligent monster, so they were trying to trick him. The first thing Shion did was to check Haku’s body, and he felt relieved when he confirmed that Haku was unharmed. He then asked Aria, who knew them, who they were.

“They’re a famous adventurer party in the Kingdom, an A-rank party, and all four of them are quite skilled. In particular, that greatsword user, Ghiad is a …… former mercenary who participated in the war and achieved high results. When I was a kid, they used to call him the mercenary who killed a thousand people”

“Well, he does seem bloodthirsty”

“Their party went inside the cave… what should we do now?”

Aria was troubled, wanting to avoid contact if possible. The next time they run into them in the cave, they may or may not attack them, depending on the situation. Shion made a comment that dispelled her concerns.

“There’s no need to think of it too much. I’m here, and I’m sure Haku will come along”

‘Yes! It’s a given that I’ll follow Shion-san, but I’m a little bit unfamiliar with the situation…’

“Sorry for telling this just now, but the truth is———”

When they told him they needed to get a breast enlargement medicine from a hermit who lived somewhere in the cave, Haku is trying hard not to laugh. It seems that he realized that the client wants a bigger breast to catch some attention from men.

“Kufufu, I don’t understand at all; how does getting bigger breasts can make you more popular”

Shion was inwardly relieved to see Haku smiling and laughing in his usual way.