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 3.24

“What’s wrong, Kuu-chan?”

The next day.

After getting plenty of rest, I figured it was about time I got back to work. So I returned to my usual shift at the café.

Today was pretty quiet—not many customers—so I was cleaning the floor since there wasn’t much else to do.

But… my mind kept drifting.

“Still feeling tired?”

“Sorry, I was just lost in thought…”

In the end, what Simon and the others had talked about yesterday was still stuck in my head.

“Something on your mind?”

Ruri asked gently, smiling with her usual soft demeanor.

…I really can’t compete with her. I gave a sheepish smile in return, and she reached out and patted my head.

“What’s wrong?”

When she asked, I ended up telling her about yesterday’s conversation. After listening, Ruri let out a thoughtful hum.

“Yeah… I get why that would bother you.”

It was one of those weird feelings—part of me wanted to know, but another part didn’t.

“Well, if Simon was reluctant to talk about it, then it’s probably not something that’s been confirmed yet.”

Ruri murmured softly.

“He’s not the type to spread information unless he’s sure about it. And I don’t think he’s hiding it out of any ill will toward you, Kuu-chan. That’s just not the kind of person he is.”

“Of course not.”

Yeah, I couldn’t imagine Simon doing something like that.

“Kiril too—he grumbles a lot and always ends up playing the bad guy because everyone dumps their complaints on him, but honestly, things would’ve fallen apart so many times without him.”

Yeah… that’s true. Kiril-san’s always looking out for me, even if he doesn’t say it outright.

“And Gier, well, that goes without saying. Everyone’s always acting with someone else in mind.”

Ruri smiled warmly.

“I am curious about what they were talking about… but if Simon and the others decided not to say anything, then maybe it’s better to wait a little longer.”

“…You’re right. If Simon won’t say anything yet, then maybe it’s just not the right time to ask.”

I don’t really want to hear too much about Albert-san, either… Just like Ruri said, maybe waiting a bit longer really is the best thing to do.

I’ll trust Simon and the others. I’m sure they wouldn’t let anything truly bad happen.

“Don’t make that face. No matter what happens, we’ll protect you!”

“Wah!”

Ruri hugged me tight with a *mugyuu* and started ruffling my hair.

“But seriously, Kuu-chan, you’ve got to stop pushing yourself too hard, okay? When I heard you got eaten by a cavefish, I was shocked!”

I couldn’t help but give a wry smile. After I got back, the story spread like wildfire. I had a feeling people were going to keep teasing me about napping in a fish’s stomach for a long time to come. Well… I kind of deserved it.

“I ran off on my own again, and even among cavefish, that one was especially scary… If Lili and the floofs hadn’t been there, I probably wouldn’t have made it out of that fish at all.”

When I said that, sounding a little down, Ruri gently cupped my cheeks in both hands and spoke.

“Running off alone like that—yeah, that’s definitely not okay. But you did rely on Lili, and that’s a good thing, don’t you think?”

“A good thing?”

“Sure! Lili, and Lulu, and the others—they’re your precious companions, right? And of course, so are we.”

I blinked at her in surprise, and Ruri poked my forehead with her finger.

“Just like you want to protect everyone, we want to protect you too, Kuu-chan. So please—believe in us. Rely on us.”

Ruri said that with a smile. Come to think of it, Gier told me something similar too.

Rely on others, huh…

As I looked at her smiling face, the words quietly slipped out of me.

“I just… I wanted to protect everyone. I wanted to change this weak version of myself and become strong enough to keep them safe. But in the end, I was the one being saved again. Is it really okay for me to be like this…?”

I have grown—I know I have. But my pace feels like a turtle’s, and sometimes I can’t help but wonder if it’s enough. Especially when I end up needing to be saved all over again.

Ruri tilted her head with a soft “Hmm?”

“There are all kinds of strength out there, I think. So, Kuu-chan… what kind of strength do you mean?”

“……”

When she put it that way, I found myself wondering—yeah, what is strength, really?

“…Ruri, what is strength?”

When I turned the question around, Ruri placed a finger to her lips and thought for a moment.

“That’s something you’ll have to figure out for yourself, Kuu-chan!”

But then she added, “Just remember this, okay?”

“If you ever cry out for help—I’ll come running. No matter what. Always, always. So don’t go off on your own anymore, okay?”

“…Okay.”

I nodded without hesitation, and she ruffled my hair, ears and all.

Warm… Her hand was so comforting.

I think I’ll keep reflecting a bit longer on what “strength” really means to me.

“Ruri, I made a new bond again today.”

Ever since I started working at the adventurers’ guild café, my life had been full of strange and wonderful things.

The silver ribbon of fate kept stretching out, connecting me with more and more people.

“I was a little scared, and I messed up here and there… but I’m glad I went.”

“I see. I hope you keep meeting all kinds of people, from here on too.”

“Yes!”

Just as the two of us were smiling at each other, we heard someone call out—“Heeey!”

It was Solaris-chan, her light-blue twin-tails bouncing as she ran up.

“Ruri! Kuna-oneechan! The dining hall’s ready!”

Ruri and I exchanged glances.

Today, we were having a celebration party at Hoozuki-tei, run by Dan’s older twin brother, Yan-san—to celebrate saving the griffon.

Believe it or not, Simon actually preserved the entire cavefish and carried it back to the surface!

“They’ve got cavefish tempura, sashimi… it all looks so delicious! But Lulu and the others might eat everything before we get there! Everyone’s saying they want Kuna-oneechan to come right away!”

Solaris beamed as she grabbed my hand.

Ruri untied her apron and took my other hand.

Being tugged along by both of them, I stepped outside the guild.

It was evening, and the sky was lit with a beautiful sunset stretching across the horizon. From the Hoozuki-tei next door, we could hear the voices of merry drunkards and lively music pouring out into the street.

“Kuu-chan, let’s go!”

“Yes!”

Without hesitation, we ran toward the source of those delicious smells.