NOVEL NEXT Chapter 82 - Chapter 82: Dinner Party with the Caravan
Chapter 82: Dinner Party with the Caravan
When I consulted them about the village’s reconstruction, Menas and the others listened to me with a much more relaxed expression than before.
They might have already anticipated me talking about this.
However, when I mentioned the delay in supplies from the neighboring Canossa territory, there was a momentary expression of contemplation.
“I understand your story well. We will cooperate as much as possible. However, we’re not quite sure about the current situation ourselves, so we can’t guarantee how much we can fulfill your expectations…”
“That’s helpful. Of course, it’s fine within reasonable limits. If Menas and the others are at risk, I’d rather you pull out immediately.”
“Yes, of course.”
“To avoid catching the attention of the Sturmm Trading Company, we need to be a bit cautious in our movements…”
Menas readily agreed, but Gazat seemed a bit worried.
As I explained, I started feeling like I was asking for something unreasonable, and I began to feel sorry.
“Bonus-san. Since this is a story that benefits us as well, there’s no need to worry. It’s not in exchange for this, but I also have one request.”
“Y-yes?”
With that, Menas stood up and sat down right next to me.
Quite close…
There’s a slightly sweet scent, like roses.
Feeling a bit flustered by the subtle proximity, I strained to hear the quiet voice as Menas leaned in to speak.
“There might come a time when our caravan is in dire straits.”
“Huh?”
“At that time, please, Bonus-san. Please… help us. Especially Edda… she won’t be able to survive smartly on her own… Please.”
With that, Menas stared at me with those mysterious purple eyes.
While somewhat affected by the allure typical of mature women, I calmly considered what Menas was trying to say.
Of course, she’s not seducing me at this point.
Perhaps she’s discussing something she doesn’t want the caravan members to hear, or maybe she’s considering my secrecy.
Menas is likely assuming I’m talking about the hideout.
My association with her is the longest in this world.
And she’s smart, while I’m… not.
It’s almost certain that she’s aware of the hideout’s existence.
And when the time comes, she wants me to shelter them in the hideout… that’s what it seems like.
Her caravan’s business may be even more delicate and fragile than I thought.
Perhaps Menas already foresees a future where the caravan falls apart.
She herself seems to have accepted that future, but she probably wants to do something for her daughters alone.
In any case, my answer is already decided.
“Menas. There’s no need to ask so formally now. If anything happens, I’ll help you anytime. I think I’ve said this before, but I’m really glad I met Menas and the others first. Otherwise, I would have died a long time ago… I think I’ll never forget this feeling of gratitude, no matter what happens.”
Menas looked at me with a somewhat absent-minded expression, as if she wanted to say something but couldn’t quite find the words.
Suddenly, I noticed her hand elegantly placed on her knee, trembling slightly.
With a start, I looked back at Menas’ face and, for a moment, she seemed like a somewhat unreliable young girl.
Seeing her like that, she felt surprisingly similar to Edda.
“Menas?”
“Ah… Bonus-san, thank you very much.”
Saying that, she returned a nod to me, returning to her usual self.
Elegant, calm, and yet somehow relaxed, the face of the caravan’s leader.
But… in reality, she might be more anxious and lonely than I thought.
“Gugyau gugyau~!”
“It’s ready!”
“Oh, it seems the dishes are done. Let’s go, shall we?”
“Ohh, what a wonderful smell!”
While I was lost in thought, it seems the food was ready.
Somehow, it had become quite dark around us.
Enticed by the smell, some people were already gathering around the fire, eagerly eyeing the food.
Kuro and Mil were distributing large portions of meat they had carved.
“Now, let’s go, Bonus-san.”
“Yeah… the smell is particularly good today.”
Taking a large wooden plate from Kuro, it was loaded with chunks of meat dripping with succulent juices, along with a scent that violently stimulates the appetite.
Others who were doing some other tasks also gathered as if drawn by the scent.
“Let’s eat! It’s meat time!”
“Yeah, looks delicious~!”
“Wow, so tasty! It’s been a while since I had meat.”
“Everyone, dig in!”
“There’s plenty more to go around!”
“Yahoo!”
Suddenly, the atmosphere turned festive.
Under the evening sky, everyone was illuminated by the fire, happily chewing on the meat with satisfied expressions.
Jeda had somehow come over and was presenting a knife-pierced potato in front of me.
“These potatoes are quite delicious… Honestly, you hid something like this too!”
“You can find quite a variety of potatoes. Well, I’ll share them again sometime. Consult with Mil about the types and quantities.”
“Ah, that dwarf girl, huh… Got it!”
With that, Jeda seemed to have gone to negotiate with Mil.
Menas and Gazat, who had looked serious just earlier, were now enjoying their meal beside Edda.
Watching Menas like that made the previous demeanor seem like a lie.
I had thought that I could sense her anxieties, loneliness, and the pressure of leading the caravan from her slightly unfocused expression at that time.
But maybe that’s not the case…
As I gradually gained more companions, there seemed to be some similarities between us and Menas’ caravan.
Perhaps Menas, seeing something in my future that mirrors her experiences of anxiety, loneliness, and pressure, felt pity and reacted the way she did.
Of course, I don’t know the truth, but such thoughts suddenly crossed my mind.
It’s a bit scary, but…
“Bonus, don’t smile too much at Menas.”
“Shiro? No, it’s okay. While Menas is indeed attractive… well, not as much as Shiro.”
Shiro embraced me from behind.
Was I smiling…?
Well, I understand Menas’ feelings, but it’s a bit late now.
Certainly, if I were a bit younger, I might have been mentally pushed to resent various things.
But honestly, I feel like I’ve lived with much worse anxiety and loneliness before coming to this world, and above all, I’m quite old now.
“And I have Kuro and Shiro. Elizabeth, Gisella, Zamza, Mil, and… Kohaku too.”
“Nn~”
“Ngya~”
Kuro had somehow come over and sat down with Kohaku in his arms.
Unfortunately, I’m not as smartly behaved as Menas, nor am I relied upon by my companions as much.
Rather, I feel like I’m constantly relying on others.
Thinking about it, I might be feeling the same way towards my companions as Mil.
If I’m with these guys, we can all be idiots together.
As I get older, it becomes easier to behave wisely, and it becomes very difficult to stay foolish.
In that sense, I am much more blessed than Menas.
“Gyau gyau!”
“Oh, did you trim Kohaku’s nails?”
Kuro squeezed Kohaku’s hand and showed me the nails.
Then, Kohaku is taken into my arms and hugged by me.
For some reason, Kohaku rubbed her chin against my slightly grown beard.
It smells like Elizabeth’s milk.
I can’t believe she was born just yesterday.
She’s quite heavy, but at this time of the day when it’s getting a bit cold, it feels warm and comfortable to hold her.
“Hey… Can I hold her too?”
“Oh, Mil. Did you finish negotiating with Jeda?”
“I managed to get some rare spices!”
“That’s good. Here, have some.”
“Nna~”
One of the members of the caravan started playing music with something like a guitar, producing strangely exotic music.
For some reason, Jeda began to dance with a proud look on his face.
His movements were strangely smooth, giving a sense of mastery.
“Bonus. There’s not much, but feel free to have some.”
“Huh? Gazat, is this… sake? Can I have it?”
“Ah, yes, since I’ve received a lot today.”
Gazat said there wasn’t much, but there seemed to be about a liter.
Well, it might be little for onis…
“Huh, it tastes different from what I’ve had before.”
“It’s quite strong… but good.”
Gisella and Zamza, who were talking to the caravan members just before, were now passing around the sake they had just received.
These guys really like alcohol, huh…
Should I make rum with sugarcane for them?
“Bonus, would you like to… have some?”
“Oh, wait, Shiro, hold on—”
“Ahahaha! Look, look, Kuro’s moving so energetically!”
While I was being tangled up by Shiro, it seemed that Kuro had started to join the dance. She was adding her own twist to Jeda’s dance, and the members of the caravan were getting excited. Jeda, with a slightly frustrated expression, was trying to counter by adding new moves. It seems his body isn’t quite keeping up though…
“Hey… Bonus.”
“Mmm… I’m gonna dance a bit!”
Shiro tried to pour alcohol into my mouth.
To avoid exposing ourselves too much in front of Menas and the others, I decided to join in on Jeda’s mysterious dance.
“Gyau? Gyagyau~!”
“Hahaha, Bonus, you’re hilarious! Hahaha!”
“Hey, what’s that? Hahahaha!”
“Hahaha, w-what are you doing, Bonus? Hahahaha!”
I was dancing quite carelessly, but Kuro seemed to enjoy matching any move I made. Indeed, Kuro moved with an extraordinary agility…
While Gisella burst into laughter, even Menas was laughing heartily alongside Edda. Menas, who usually smiled gracefully, was rare to see with her mouth wide open laughing. She looked so much like Edda…
Edda had tears in her eyes and was almost hyperventilating.
It seems my dance was still too fast for them…
Edda might continue to be treated as the odd one out among them.