Adventurer's Guild Café: I Was Wrongfully Exiled by the Saint, So I Will Enjoy My Second Life with My Fluffy Friends - V 2.1 Chapter 2.6

In the end, the group heading to the gryphon consisted of me, Simon, Kiril, Gier, Rouge and the other female adventurers, and Gant and the male adventurers — a total of eleven people. Quite a large group.

Before heading to the dungeon, we decided to have a meeting at a café.

“We can’t let Kuna-chan be put in danger.”

Rouge said that and winked at me.

Everyone who had gathered had sparkling eyes, as if to say they were full of motivation.

According to Rouge, encountering rare monsters is also one of the real thrills of adventuring.

“Our request happened to finish early, so we came back and found this waiting.”

“It’s the will of the gods!”

“It’s time for the Protect Kuna-chan Squad to step in!”

…Why are Gant and the others so fired up, I wonder.

Gant, Malga, and Eduardo are regulars at Silver Ribbon.

They’re all A-rank adventurers, and their appearances are pretty… no, just a bit rugged.

But they’re all really good people. Having them come along is incredibly reassuring and makes me happy.

When I bowed my head and said, “Thank you,” a strong voice responded, “Leave it to us!”

As long as I’m with everyone, it’ll surely be alright.

Before I knew it, my anxiety had faded.

◆

“Hmm, I wonder if I need that too…”

I was packing my things into the backpack-type magic bag that Simon lent me, trying this and that. This thing is really amazing — the inside of the backpack is a different dimension.

When I peeked inside, there was about enough space for a whole warehouse. Simon had said I wouldn’t need that much luggage, but after all, I’d still need things like a change of clothes, towels, and blankets.

Right, right. Even though it’s called the hundredth floor of the labyrinth, it’s not like we’ll be walking all the way down.

Conveniently, it seems that on the ninety-eighth floor, there’s something called a “transfer magic formula,” and from the third floor of the labyrinth, you can jump straight there. Up to the third floor, even regular people can enter, and there are farms, shops, and facilities used by adventurers. So, it seems that’s why the transfer magic formula is set up on the relatively safe third floor.

“I’m glad I had holes made in the pants.”

I checked the easy-to-move-in pants I had bought before and felt relieved.

Ellen had recommended them, saying, “Just wearing skirts is boring,” and I bought them.

I’d already checked that they were easy to move in and durable, so with these, I should be able to move around to some extent.

“Ruu~!”

While I was sitting by the bag folding clothes, Lulu came running over happily with something in her mouth.

“? What is it?”

“Ruuu!”

Looking closely, Lulu had a brush in her mouth. The one used for brushing her fur.

“Not now. Later, okay?”

“Roon.”

Lulu shook her head side to side, as if saying “No,” with the brush still in her mouth.

“?”

What’s going on?

As I watched, wondering, Lulu forcefully shoved the brush into the backpack.

“Ah! No, Lulu!”

“Ruu.”

“We’re not taking the brush…”

“Ruu!”

“Because we don’t need it, right?”

Lulu wouldn’t listen at all. She insisted strongly, saying, We’re taking it! so I was left wondering what to do.

Originally, I had planned for Lulu and Pipi and the others to stay home.

“Listen, I want you and the others to wait at home.”

“!”

“Pipi too. How about eating delicious food at Ruri’s place?”

“Ruuuuu!”

Lulu got angry.

She seemed to be saying, I’m going with you!

Then, even the Mokomotts who had been dozing in the basket woke up and started making a fuss.

Pipi flapped her wings and pointed to herself and Lulu.

— We’re spirits, so we’ll be useful!

That’s what it seemed like they were saying.

“Come to think of it, you all originally lived in a dungeon, didn’t you?”

“Pii!”

The Mokomotts nodded desperately.

As I was wondering what to do, Lulu suddenly ran and leapt into the backpack.

Her pink tail got caught at the entrance, but that too slipped in and disappeared.

“Ah…”

“Ruu.”

“No, you can’t. Come out, Lulu.”

I reached into the backpack and tried to pull her out, but Lulu skillfully avoided me and wouldn’t come out.

“Lulu…”

“……”

Even when I called out, there was no response. Wondering what to do, I decided to tell Lulu how I truly felt.

“…Lulu, you know. On that hill where you evolved, I decided to change my cowardly self. Going to the dungeon is dangerous, and honestly, I’m really scared. But just like everyone protected me, this time, I want to protect all the people who are precious to me. And that includes you and Pipi and the others too.”

That’s exactly why I don’t want to deliberately take Lulu and the others to a dangerous place.

When I said that, Lulu peeked her face out from the backpack. She looked a little angry.

“Ru! Ruuu!”

Lulu tapped my hand with her small front paw. Then she pointed to herself.

— I feel the same way.

For a moment, it felt like that’s what Lulu said.

“Lulu, you feel the same way…?”

“Roon!”

Yes! Lulu nodded. Her eyes were very serious, as if she were really worried about me.

It was then that I finally realized. Just as I worry about Lulu and the others, Lulu and the others worry about me too.

“…I see. We made a promise, didn’t we?”

When Lulu was kidnapped, we promised we’d never leave each other behind again. That we’d always be together. That’s what we promised.

If I got hurt, or was in danger, in a place Lulu and the others didn’t know about… that would probably be something really sad for them. No — it definitely would be.

It’s different from before. Now, there are so many people who genuinely care about me…

“…Alright. I’m sorry for trying to leave you behind. Let’s go together.”

“!”

“But, you absolutely must not leave my side, okay? Stay with me the whole time.”

“Ruun!”

“Pii!”

Everyone happily bounced around. They were so cute that all the tension left my body.

The dungeon is a dangerous place. But if we all work together, maybe we’ll manage even if something happens.

“Also, we’re still getting ready, so hush for now, okay?”

When I said that, the fluffy ones nodded up and down.

Alright, let’s finish getting ready quickly.

Thinking that, I resumed my tasks.

“Mupii!”

The Mokomotts lined up vertically and, bucket-brigade style, carried loads of snacks and stuffed them into the backpack.

I-Is this really going to be okay…!?