Chapter 66…
Greed Arc
Hiroyuki and the Others Return!
The village of Slow was in an uproar.
The guild was short on hands, so Yuki had rented an inn room to look after the wounded Hiroyuki while listening to his story.
“An abnormal Melpig, you said?”
“…Yeah.”
Hiroyuki’s condition was so bad that it was a miracle he was even alive.
“Luka Oba-san…”
“…Luka Oba-san?”
“Ah! It’s nothing! Anyway, we Gold-ranked adventurers have done all we can, so let’s just relax, okay? The guild gave us Shikuranbo rations! They’re red, sweet, and really tasty!”
“…Sounds like cherries.”
“Yes! Say ah~!”
“…”
“Ah! Don’t ignore me~”
The Crystal Dragon had appeared—but with Hiroyuki unable to move, there was nothing he could do.
“…”
“Hellooo? Can you hear me~?”
“…”
“Huh? Is he really asleep?”
“…”
In truth, Hiroyuki was half-dozing, already slipping into a dream.
“…”
“…”
Yuki went quiet too, and soon soft, faint snores began to rise from Hiroyuki’s direction.
“…”
“…Just a little…”
Yuki leaned closer toward Hiroyuki’s sleeping face.
And then—
“HIROYUKI! Are you alright!?”
The door burst open with a bang.
“Hyah!?”
Letting out a strange squeak, Yuki quickly straightened herself up.
“Hiroyuki! Are you dead!?”
“…You’re noisy, Ryuto.”
The one barging in without reading the room was the Hero, Ryuto.
Beside him stood a young girl about Yuki’s age, with striking red eyes and long, lustrous white hair that reached all the way down to her lower back.
Noticing Hiroyuki’s gaze, the girl gave a graceful bow and said—
“Nice to meet you! I’m Ryuto’s wife!”
“Wha—!?”
“…Congratulations, Ryuto.”
“Congratulations.”
“Don’t you two start teasing me! She’s not my wife! She’s Miya, my party member!”
“…Oh, so not your wife.”
“Of course not! I’m devoted to Aoi-san! Anyway, that’s not important right now!”
At those words—‘devoted to Aoi’—the girl beside him looked a little conflicted.
“…Ryuto, that’s not something you shout so loudly.”
“Huh? Why not? Anyway, Hiroyuki—who’s this girl?”
“…My party member, Yuki.”
“You’re the Hero Ryuto, right? Nice to meet you!”
“Nice to meet you too! …Wait, how did you know that?”
“Eh? Ah! Well, um… I’m, uh, sort of… Hiroyuki’s, um…”
“…Yuki was assigned from Castle Greed to assist and look after me.”
“Ah, I see! Then she already knows our situation!”
“Hmmmmmmmm?”
“W-what is it, Miya-san?”
Miya seemed a little suspicious, but didn’t press further.
“Anyway, Hiroyuki! Are you okay? I came running the moment I heard you got taken down!”
“…I don’t remember us being that close.”
“Still the same as ever! Well, if you can still joke, then you’re fine enough… Leave the rest to me.”
“…Leave what?”
“I’ll take down the Crystal Dragon.”
“…”
“Don’t worry. I won’t let the bastard who did this to you live. Once I’m ready, I’ll head out.”
“…N-no, I—”
Hiroyuki tried to tell him it wasn’t the Crystal Dragon that injured him, but Ryuto wasn’t listening at all.
“You don’t have to say another word! This is what a man’s supposed to do!”
“Ryuto, the guild said we’re allowed special permission for the Crystal Dragon subjugation mission—c’mon, let’s go.”
“See? It’s settled! I’ll avenge you!”
And with that, the two of them rushed off to fight the Crystal Dragon…
“They’re gone now…”
“…That guy’s like a typhoon.”
