Chapter 288: …Did You Say Always?

On the way to Rude Tavern I talked with Adom-dono about various things.

First, my question whether he had not brought guards. Adom-dono grinned and pointed his thumb at Sanai-san following behind.

That Sanai-san had asked Erika and was enjoying the sweets she bought along the way, mogu mogu, looking delicious.

The fact he had not brought anyone but Sanai-san almost made me hold my head.

I had often heard talk of them sneaking dates in the capital, so I thought fairies were guarding around them.

It was different from what I expected so I had a tired look. Hurlin came up and told me that when they sneak dates it is basically only Sanai-san.

...Is that not just Sanai-san wanting to enjoy it too?

I muttered that in my heart and looked at Sanai-san following behind. She waved one hand again, furi furi.

Next I threw the question of what the queens were doing today. Adom-dono laughed out happily. "It is a secret." Hearing that I truly wanted to hold my head.

If this reaches the queens’ ears it is the kind where you get summoned like a set piece.

No no, spare me... When I looked at Adom-dono sideways with those eyes he patted my shoulder hard. "Same crime, right?" and laughed happily.

...Not good. I have started wanting to trouble this old man terribly.

The two queens’ pressure is a bit much for the body, and more than that... I can expect getting scolded by my lovers after. I hate that.

As an aside Galt-dono walked silent with a tired face until we reached Rude Tavern.

According to Adom-dono, when he gets too tired he does not open his mouth except in front of his wife or at a drinking seat... sorry about that.

When Rude Tavern’s building came into view I saw three people standing on the street in front, lit by streetlamps.

With only streetlamp light I could not tell who. I tilted my head and came up.

Then Elysia, and behind her Hiero and Pafa, were standing waiting. I smiled with a troubled face, came close, and spoke.

"I am back, Elysia. Sorry it was sudden. Is Nimi inside the tavern?"

"Welcome back, Raide-san. Fufu. Not at all. Do not mind. Yes. She is cooking inside. Together with Micon-san and Scon-san."

"Welcome back, Raide! You only do unexpected things, truly!"

"Raide, welcome back. We waited."

"Well. Is this my fault this time?"

I smiled wryly and rubbed the back of my neck with one hand. The three of them laughed as if they found it funny.

Elysia turned her face from me to Adom-dono and Galt-dono behind, gave a small instant curtsy, smiled, and spoke.

"It has been a while, Adom-sama, Galt-sama. It seems you ’helped’ with ’various’ things. Thank you."

"Good that you look well too, Elysia-dono. I did nothing on that matter. All I did was order Galt to have the country ’help’... right?"

"Yes. There is nothing for Elysia-dono to worry over. Those people ’aided’ the country and destroyed themselves on their own. Without funds they could not move on ’various’ things, and if they moved for the country and destroyed themselves that would have been their wish too."

Just because you cannot say it clearly, could you stop conversations like women probing each other’s bellies?

There is something creepy and scary, and at the same time I thought I cannot talk this roundabout.

I rubbed the back of my neck with one hand and smiled wryly. The three of them looked at my face. Adom-dono smiled wryly. Galt-dono looked fed up.

Elysia put on a calm smile and quietly came close and leaned in.

I showed Adom-dono and Galt-dono into the tavern and glanced at Hiero and Pafa. They were talking with Hilbyid about something.

Well. Erika is beside them so it will not become anything odd. They are laughing happily, right?

When we entered the tavern Micon and Scon peeked from the kitchen, found me, put on full smiles, and came up.

I smiled at the two who came up, put one hand on each head, stroked them gently, and let out a small breath of relief.

Good that they look well. When I told them I bought sweets they thanked me with smiles.

...Un. Good smiles. I think it any number of times. Women look better smiling.

I suddenly thought I smelled drink... imagination?

Adom-dono who followed behind looked over the shop happily. Galt-dono gave off the air that he wanted to drink.

I asked the twins to show the two of them to seats, excused myself to the two of them, and went into the kitchen.

In the kitchen Nimi in her familiar apron was stirring a pot. When she noticed I had come in she smiled overflowing with maternity.

I came up beside Nimi and held her gently. She put out the fire and held me back.

"I am back, Nimi. Sorry for making you work on the regular day off."

"Welcome back, Raide-san. Fufu. It is fine. Rather I am only glad. Please keep the two of them company, Raide-san."

"Aah. Understood. It helps."

I kissed only touching Nimi, who tilted her head a little and smiled, then went back to the floor.

Micon and Scon seemed a little tense with Adom-dono and Galt-dono. Their movements were a bit stiff and a faint tension came through.

In fact Adom-dono seemed to be taking care, and Galt-dono smiled even with a tired face.

...Those two, one way or another being kind is sly.

I came up to rescue the twins and took over as company.

About an hour had passed since we started drinking.

On the four-seat table were Nimi’s special stew, salad, stir-fried vegetables, and my steak.

Hilbyid had already drunk quite a bit so I had the twins show him to Nifa Inn’s guest room.

He said he was fine, but with his face that red I worry...

At that time I handed Micon and Scon the sweets I bought as souvenirs. They were glad enough to cling to me. I was relieved.

Adom-dono seeing me being clung to spoke to Galt-dono enjoying drink beside him. "My daughters used to..."

...Are Relia and Tia keeping their distance, perhaps?

The question flickered in my head but it looked like it would not stop so I did not put it in my mouth on purpose.

Nimi and Elysia, and Erika, were at the same table as Hurlin and Sanai-san enjoying drink.

Hiero and Pafa were getting more drink and such. The two of them brought more without us saying anything... too capable?

"Raide. I will not say do not give opinions, but do you not have a proposal a little smaller in scale. Because of you there are many cases where I and my subordinates lack sleep."

"...Is it not fine if it proceeds slowly?"

"Things like this, you have to move quickly. You understand that too."

"No, well... yes."

"Kuhahaha! Galt is grumbling! Kukku kku! That work-human is beaten! Fuhahahaha!"

I sipped drink little by little and listened to Galt-dono’s grumbling, I do not know how many times now.

Every time he heard it Adom-dono drank as if downing it and laughed out happily.

...Good that they look happy. Truly.

Adom-dono picked at Nimi’s cooking and said it was delicious. Having a lover’s cooking praised lifted my mood.

Suddenly Hiero stood, showed movement like teleporting, and appeared at once holding empty glasses in both hands.

I tilted my head looking at Hiero. She noticed my gaze, clearly made a this-is-bad face, then immediately smiled with a troubled face.

No no. Very suspicious... is this something I must not press?

Unable to bear my gaze, maybe, Hiero smiled as if giving up and whispered something to Nimi.

Nnn? Does Nimi know too? ...No. If she prepared food and drink of course she would know...

Nimi who was whispered to laughed a little happily, glanced at me, then whispered back to Hiero.

"Raide, listen. Galt, after getting tonic from your lovers, spent three days on a honeymoon, kuhahahaha!"

"Adom is wanted every night too! I can only spend time together on days off!"

"Did you not refuse because working together with Galt mixes public and private!"

"That and this are different!"

"Ah~ stiff! Galt has always been too stiff in the head! You can work together from now, right!? I will gladly permit it! Already because of someone it is hard with only Galt!"

"...Could you not suddenly turn the spear this way?"

I know it is hard to understand a drunk person’s thoughts, but do not suddenly throw the talk this way... I get startled.

What even happened that in a little time it became talk of wives...

True, both of their faces were getting red. I could tell they were getting drunk.

I smiled wryly, went along with Adom-dono and Galt-dono’s talk, and glanced at Hiero. She had a mischievous-child smile.

...A terribly bad feeling.

Hiero turned her face to the second floor as if leading my gaze. I turned the pulled gaze to the second floor... and coughed.

"Gofu!"

"Oi oi, Raide. Are you already drunk? Galt, maybe Raide is unexpectedly weak to drink?"

"Adom, that is not it. I am the one this guy always looks after. I can say it is different."

"...Wait, Galt. Did you say always? I have not been invited!?"

"You cannot easily invite a king!?"

"You invited him today!?"

I was so startled I did not even feel like stopping the two of them arguing in front of me. I took a cloth from my Magic Bag, wiped my mouth, and looked at the second floor again.

There the two queens and Karimarl-san in adventurer clothes smiled, grinning happily, and waved one hand modestly, furi furi.

Beside them a fairy with the same wings as Sanai-san looked at my face and laughed happily.

Aaaaaah! I should have noticed! If the king has an exclusive guard, the queens have exclusive guards the same way!

I want to treat it as not seen, but I saw it so I cannot.

Not knowing that feeling of mine the two in front of me were talking about love for their wives like Galt-dono that other time.

"I tell my wives love properly!? Sometimes..."

"Sometimes!? Adom, sometimes? What do you do not saying it every day!"

"Hoo~! Then Galt tells them, right!?"

"If it is sometimes..."

"See~~~! You cannot talk about others either!"

"If I can I say it every day!"

"Me too!"

"Ah~. Adom-dono, Galt-dono?"

"What!?"

"What!?"

At my words the two of them jerked their faces toward me and answered in one voice. I smiled at their reaction with a troubled face and turned to the second floor.

Adom-dono and Galt-dono looked at the second floor with red faces, doubtful, leaked "A’..." and froze.

The queens watching that pointed, laughed out happily. Karimarl-san hid her mouth but shook with laughter.

That is, please tell the people themselves your love... they are here.