The Matter of My Party Members Being Aware of My Desire to Be Banished - Chapter 18

“———Let’s make this the meeting spot.”

After leaving the royal capital’s Adventurer’s Guild, I followed Shion, who proceeded without hesitation…

And we arrived at a fountain square. As expected of the royal capital, even the fountain was grand, and the plaza was huge. It’s definitely the perfect spot for a meeting place.

Now then, it’s time for free activity…

“Rest easy, Rokuto. I don’t intend to make you spend a lot of money or do anything awful.”

“That’s right~. I think it’s only going to be good for both Rokkun and us~”

“We will all be happy~”

They all emitted a vibe like, don’t worry, we’re not going to do anything strange! But no, that’s actually scarier, right!? What on earth are they going to ask me to do? My stomach is twisting with anxiety!!

“For the allowance to use in the royal capital, you’ll be getting it from Rokuto. Okay, Rokuto, please take care of it.”

“O-okay… ‘Release’.”

Following Shion’s instruction, I take out four pouches from my storage. Of course, they’re filled with coins.

As a rule in our party, when shopping in different towns, we work on an allowance system. The reason being, without an allowance, we’d spend too much.

“First up, Honoka. Don’t waste it all, okay?”

“Yay~! I won’t waste it~. It’s all going to satisfy my stomach after all!”

Yep, I figured out that all of Honoka’s allowance for the royal capital will be spent on food.

“Here you go, Marn-san.”

“Thank you very much~. I’ll be investing the entire amount into magical tomes~”

She said it outright!! Well, everyone has their own way to spend, and since it’s an allowance, there’s a limit, so it should be fine.

For the record, the usual culprits of wasteful spending are Honoka and Marn-san.

“Here you go, Shion.”

“Thanks. I think I’ll use it on hot springs and beauty products.”

Shion would likely spend it in a calculated manner.

“Lastly, me… I’ll look around and buy something if I find anything I want.”

Maybe something in the royal capital will catch my eye.

“We can all do as we please now… is what I’d like to say, but”

“Hmm?”

Shion stopped mid-sentence. Then, he glanced around.

“As you can see, the royal capital is very large. The streets have a similar feel, so you might get lost along the way.”

Hmm, indeed.

“So———how about we go around in pairs of two? It would be more reassuring than getting lost alone, right?”

“I’m fine with that~”

“I have no objections~”

Honoka and Marn-san responded quickly.

Well, I agree too. Plus, everyone said they wanted to buy something, and if my “Storage” can be of use, I would love for them to use it.

“I’m good with it too. So, how should we pair up?”

If we go by the obvious choice, it would be me with Shion, and Honoka with Marn-san in male-female pairs.

“Hmm, let me think…”

Shion looked at us. Then, for some reason, he also glanced behind us and seemed to ponder for a moment.

“Shion?”

“… Yeah, how about for today, Marn and I pair up, and Honoka pairs up with Rokuto?”

An unexpected mixed-gender pairing.

“Well, if Shion says so, I’m fine with it.”

I thought Honoka and Marn-san would immediately agree as before…

“Are you okay with that, Shi-chan?”

“Ara, that’s unexpected~”

Both looked somewhat surprised. Why, though? …Ah.

“Rokuto… Remember this for later, okay? You’ll do anything I say, right?”

He seemed angry just a while ago! Of course, he’d choose to pair up with me first and make me do whatever he says.

When I nervously look at Shion…

“Yeah, it’s fine.”

Shion was smiling gently.

“Then I’ll enjoy it without holding back.”

Honoka came by my side. Marn went to Shion’s.

Now we were split into pairs for today.

“Let’s set the gathering time for 16:00. That big clock tower can be seen from anywhere, so time management should be fine.”

Following Shion’s gaze, there was a huge clock installed on a tower much taller than the surrounding buildings. It’s pointing at 9:00 now.

“Well then, sorry for the long talk. Now you have free time, so please enjoy yourselves.”

“Honoka-san and Rokuto-san, please have fun. And later, let us hear your experiences.”

Exchanging experiences seems to be a good idea.

“Enjoy yourselves too~!”

As Shion and Marn-san’s figures fade into the distance… I turn to Honoka and open my mouth.

“Well now, Honoka. There’s a little suggestion I have.”

“Suggestion? Ah, I won’t accept any take-backs on doing whatever I say, okay?”

I’m met with her piercing gaze.

“No, I’ll properly do that…”

I brought it up myself, after all.

“I’m glad. So what’s the suggestion? Something I can do?”

“It’s more like something you can do on your own first. I was thinking you could go ahead and enjoy some food by yourself.”

“Eh?”

“Don’t worry. I’ll come to pick you up properly…”

“———Does Rokkun not want to be with me?”

Suddenly, Honoka’s atmosphere shifted.

“Is it no good for me to be by Rokkun’s side? …Why?”

Tightly. The edge of my clothes is modestly grasped. She looks up at me with an unusually insecure gaze.

Why is she so… Ah.

“No, sorry! I didn’t explain properly! I’m planning to find us a place to stay. But I didn’t want to drag you along with that, you know? So I thought it might be okay for you to go ahead and enjoy some food…”

Somewhat hurriedly, I finish speaking and look to Honoka’s face.

Shion had suggested pairs precisely because there was a chance of getting lost… If I said something like that without fully explaining, of course, she’d be worried!

“Is that so… That’s a relief.”

Honoka seemed relieved to have heard the reason. But still, she’s worrying too much, isn’t she?

“I don’t mind at all. So I’ll follow you, Rokkun.”

“Are you sure?”

“Of course. Besides, I get to be with Rokkun until 16:00, so I’m not bothered by that~”

She had a point. It seems I was the one who was worrying too much.

“Then let’s get going.”

Honoka’s mood lifts and her steps become lighter.

“Hey hey. Don’t run off too far. We have to stick together, or we’ll get lost~”

Wait, a man and woman going around together… is this what they call a ‘date’?

“Yeah. I’ll stick with you. Let’s enjoy a lot of food together~”

Honoka sports her usual carefree, radiant smile.

No, no. That can’t be right. I’m still just a porter after all, and my powers haven’t even awakened yet.

◆◆

“I thought for sure Shion-san would be the first one to have a date with Rokuto-san~”

Marn says with a smile, addressing Shion at her side.

“I would have preferred to be first myself. You two probably felt a bit of remorse for the excessive teasing, and were thinking of letting me go first, right?”

“Ufufu~. You might be right~”

Marn’s smile alone makes her breasts sway.

“Well, the reason I chose this pairing, I think you’ll understand it soon enough.”

Shion looks back.

“…Rokuto’s not here, so brace yourself.”

TL note: Finally, I’ve caught up with the raws! From now on, updates will follow the author’s schedule.