NOVEL NEXT Chapter 54 - Episode 054: Headhunter, Escorting the Little Girl to School
Episode 054: Headhunter, Escorting the Little Girl to School
Feeling that Cain and the others could handle things in a few days, Ack contacted the school and arranged for Tina to enroll a week later.
Today, before enrolling, Tina received her uniform for the first time.
It consisted of a short-sleeved white blouse with red accents and a black pleated skirt. She also carried a rectangular bag made of stiff brown leather on her back.
“It seems like that uniform is meant for Tina.”
“Is it cute?”
“Yeah, it’s really cute.”
“I’m glad.”
Whoooa, my daughter is so cuuuute!! Although he wanted to shout it out loud, Ack restrained himself and gently stroked Tina’s head. Tina shyly lifted the corners of her mouth in response.
Seeing her, Ack’s heart tightened even further, and he felt like he was about to burst with emotion. At the same time, seeing how much Tina had grown since they first met stirred a parental feeling in him, a mix of happiness and loneliness.
Ack made sure to firmly imprint Tina’s appearance today into his memory, never to forget it.
On the day of enrollment:
“Well then, I’ll leave it to you for a while.”
“Got it!!”
Today, only Cain and Iari were on duty at the shop.
The other two went to the adventurer’s guild to find requests. They had to go in the morning to secure good requests before they were all taken.
After finishing their shift at the shop, Cain and Iari would join Hale and Corti to complete the requests and then come back here again when it was time to pick up Tina.
Since it was early in the morning, there were no customers. Everyone had jobs, so regulars usually came in after lunch.
Probably, no one would come while Cain and the others were on duty.
There was no need to clean the shop with Shiln’s purification power, so Ack felt that it was enough to handle any customers and let the familiars take care of it if anyone came.
He felt it would be boring, but it would only be for about an hour. They would have to endure it.
“Kyuu.”
“I know. Go quickly.”
“Kuukuu.”
“Kuu.”
“KyuKyuu.”
“Hehe.”
Snow also left Rim and the others and climbed onto Tina’s shoulder, rubbing its head against her face.
Tina narrowed her eyes as if she were ticklish.
Seeing this scene, Ack covered his face with his hand and felt dizzy.
The simultaneous attack of the fluffy monster and the girl’s smile once again squeezed Ack’s heart.
They were tougher opponents than anyone he faced on the battlefield…
Ack took a deep breath, trying to calm his mind while recalling past battles.
“Is something wrong?”
“No, it’s nothing. I’ll be back.”
“I’ll be waiting.”
Suppressing Cain’s curious look, Ack left the shop in the care of Cain and Iari and went outside.
Tina waved her hand to Cain and Iari with her bright face, and Snow mimicked her gesture and followed her.
“Ugh.”
The cuteness of Tina and Snow grabbed their hearts, and it took them a few minutes to recover.
“Good morning. I’m Tina, starting school today.”
“Good morning. From here on, it’s just Tina-san, so please leave the rest to us.”
When they spoke to the guard standing at the entrance of the school, it seemed like the information had been passed, and they were immediately allowed inside.
“Please take care of her.”
“Can Snow come in too?”
“Yes, familiars are not allowed inside.”
Tina glanced at Snow for a moment and asked, but the guard shook his head decisively.
He was a man who had been guarding the school gate for many years.
The school was a place where children gathered. They couldn’t let strange people inside. His sense of justice to protect the children would not easily waver.
So Tina executed the strategy that Ack had taught her.
“Is it no good?”
“Ugh.”
It was a double puppy-eyed look from Tina and Snow.
The evil strategy was for Tina to hold Snow on her shoulder and both of them to plead with teary eyes. If Ack were subjected to this by the two, he would grant any wish.
It was manipulative. It was manipulative, but the overwhelming cuteness canceled out that manipulativeness, piercing the guard’s heart, and he pressed his armored chest area.
“No… I can’t…”
He almost nodded involuntarily, but his pride as a long-serving guard managed to hold him back.
“Right…”
“Ugh.”
The guard managed to squeeze out his words somehow, and Tina and Snow drooped their shoulders in disappointment.
Seeing their reaction, the guard felt guilty and his heart tightened, almost giving in to them again, but he reminded himself that this was the rule and managed to resist Tina and Snow’s temptation.
It was likely because he had served as a guard for a long time that he was able to resist their temptation. If it had been another guard, it might not have turned out another way.
Ack silently praised the guard’s mental strength.
“Well then, see you when you come back.”
“Yeah, got it.”
Ack received Snow back from Tina and he watched her as she entered the school with the guard, her back disappearing from view.
“Now then, Snow, let’s stick to the plan.”
“Kyuu!!”
Actually, it was expected that Snow couldn’t enter.
With no one else around, Ack exchanged glances with Snow and decided to execute the next plan.