The Matter of My Party Members Being Aware of My Desire to Be Banished - Chapter 25

“We’re coming in. It looks like you really did rescue a girl.”

“Wow! She’s such a beautiful girl~”

We called Shion and Honoka to the inn via a magical communication device.

Upon entering the room, their gazes naturally fell on the blonde beauty who was fast asleep in the bed.

“Good, she seems to be resting for now~”

“Do we not know her name yet?”

Shion directed his gaze to Marn-san.

“Since she fell asleep before we could ask anything, we still know nothing about her.”

“I see. But she has golden hair, and considering this is the royal capital of Farnifal… It’s highly likely she’s of noble birth.”

“Is that so?”

Shion’s remark made me involuntarily look at the sleeping girl’s glossy golden hair.

“It’s said that humans with golden hair are those with a strong lineage of nobility or royalty. So, it’s about genetics. However, that’s more of a stereotype that all nobles have golden hair; it’s not absolute.”

“Wow.”

Shion sure knows a lot.

But indeed, nobles and royals do give off the impression of having golden hair. Somehow, golden hair seems to carry an air of elegance.

“By the way, Rokuto, do you think having golden hair matters?”

“Hmm? Of course not. Whether someone has golden hair or a different color is up to them. What’s important is whether the hair color suits them.”

I’ve always thought golden hair wouldn’t suit me, so I’ll remain with my black hair for life.

Besides, in this world, having black hair and eyes seems to be quite rare, and it’s better to remain special even if you’re just average in looks.

“So you think my current hair color suits me best?”

“Shion’s hair color would suit him no matter what. But I’m used to seeing him with his current navy-blue short cut, so I think it’s best as it is.”

“I see. Thank you.”

Shion smiled softly, looking pleased.

“Oh, oh.”

Somehow… I found it a little cute.

Just a slight blush makes him look cute… The fear of a handsome man…

“Rokkun is such a flirt~”

“Eh?”

Flirting is a privilege of the handsome, isn’t it?

Turning to Honoka who was saying something silly… For some reason, she was pouting with a glum look.

“Rokkun is as usual, huh?”

“Eh?”

Suddenly, Honoka closed the distance to nearly breathing range and leaned against my shoulder… narrowing her eyes and murmuring.

“Yesterday, you were all over me.”

“!”

Being whispered to, my heart skipped a beat.

Glancing reflexively at Honoka’s face… she was grinning with a mischievous smile.

“…Honoka?”

Even as I asked about her sudden behavior, I found myself feeling embarrassed and turned my face away.

“Heh. So you’re conscious of me~”

Faced with Honoka’s grinning smile, I found myself at a loss for words.

“Just like when we formed a party on a trial basis, it’s okay to put it on hold for now. But in the future, if you can see me as a woman, even just a little, nod to make me a member of your harem.”

I nodded at those words.

It would be strange not to be conscious. After all, I am a man…

“Hey, Rokkun. Are you conscious of me?”

Honoka asked again, as if she wouldn’t let it go.

“Is that so bad?”

“Not at all. In fact, it’s good. Hehe~”

Unable to retort any further against Honoka’s beaming smile, I remained silent.

“Oh… It seems to have had quite the effect.”

When I averted my gaze, Shion was looking at us with his hand on his chin.

Feeling even more embarrassed, I called out.

“Come on, let me go already!”

“Isn’t it fine~. Fufu.”

Trying to peel Honoka off forcefully, she instead wrapped her hands around my neck and held me tighter.

Wow, she’s really strong!? I, being more of a porter, can’t win against Honoka who’s a front-line attacker…

“Alright, everyone. Please be quiet, as we have someone sleeping here.”

Marn-san, placing her index finger to her lips, shushed us, and we immediately quieted down, nodding.

Released by Honoka, I took a moment to catch my breath.

“Ugh…”

“Oh, she’s waking up.”

We gathered around the bed.

The blonde beauty’s eyes slowly opened…

“Hmm… Huh? I was supposed to be in the royal capital…”

“Good morning. This is the inn where we’re staying.”

“…Eh? Oh, um…”

The blonde beauty suddenly sat up energetically.

However, unable to grasp the situation, her gaze darted around restlessly, and her delicate lips were pursed in anxiety.

Waking up surrounded by strangers in an unfamiliar place would naturally lead to such a reaction.

There’s someone perfect for this situation.

Marn-san immediately stepped in for support.

“We found you collapsed and took you under our care. Do you remember me?”

“Yes… I remember.”

The blonde beauty nodded.

Good. She doesn’t have amnesia.

“You are Marn-san. And that gentleman is the porter, right?”

“Correct.”

The term ‘porter’ seems memorable. My name is lost!

“He’s Rokuto-san. And these two are Honoka-san and Shion-san. They’re also members of our party.”

“Nice to meet you~”

“Pleased to meet you.”

Honoka waved cheerfully, and Shion smiled politely.

“Could you tell us your name next?”

Marn-san smiled, took her hand gently, and enveloped it in her own.

With that action, she… stopped trembling and spoke.

“My name is Yuni Alves.”

“Yuni-san, what a lovely name.”

“Thank you very much. And thank you for saving me when I collapsed.”

“Not at all~. But your underlying issue hasn’t been resolved yet, right?”

“…!”

Yuni-san visibly tensed up her shoulders.

Despite receiving Marn-san’s specialty heal, she still looked very troubled.

“Please tell us. We promise to help.”

Marn-san’s gripping hand tightened visibly.

Yuni-san looked at Marn-san… then at us.

We smiled broadly and nodded.

“…!”

Yuni-san, with tears welling up in the corners of her eyes, begged.

“Please… save my mother!”

She bowed deeply.

From there, we learned of the grave situation.

Yuni-san’s mother is currently afflicted with an unknown illness.

Because of the illness, she hasn’t been able to eat or sleep properly for over three months, leading to a bedridden life.

Despite consulting physicians, court magicians, and skilled healing mages from across the country… no one has been able to diagnose or treat the disease…

“In such a hopeless situation, a sense of resignation has started to spread among our family and household staff. And my mother herself… started saying no need to look any further, no need to try and cure her…”

Yuni-san bit her lower lip in frustration.

“But, my father and I cannot give up.”

Yuni-san’s clear statement brought silence to the room.

…Of course, they can’t give up. Their family member is still suffering from an unknown disease.

“…”

I silently looked at Marn-san’s face.

The only one here who might have a way to save Yuni-san’s mother is Marn-san.

On the flip side, if Marn-san refuses now, it would only lead to more despair…

But, there’s no need to worry.

“An unknown disease, you say… Could I possibly meet your mother? I’d like to see her condition with my own eyes.”

“Yes, of course…!”

“Thank you for your consent.”

Marn-san smiled without changing her expression.

This means… there might be a way to cure the so-called unknown disease.

We all sensed it…

Yuni-san let a single tear fall.

“…Thank you, truly… No matter where I went, everyone shook their heads with grim faces… But I couldn’t just give up and watch my mother weaken further. I didn’t want her to die… uh… uh-huh… hic…”

Her sobbing throat, sniffling lips, and the large tears rolling down her cheeks… seemed to release the anxiety Yuni-san had been suppressing.

“You’ve worked hard up to this point.”

“…Eh”

Marn-san pulled Yuni-san into an embrace, gently stroking her head.

Yuni-san’s emotions overflowed even more.

The quiet room was filled with cries.

“―――Both of you.”

Then, Shion quietly gestured for us to come over and suggested…

“Let’s move to the next room.”

Understanding Shion’s hint, we nodded and left the room as quietly as possible.

◆◆

“It’s good that there seems to be a way to cure Yuni-san’s mother’s illness.”

I spoke brightly.

However, the expressions on Shion and Honoka’s faces… were somehow somber, as if they were troubled.

“What’s wrong with you two? Marn-san took on the task. It’ll be okay.”

“Yes, I’m not worried about Marn. We’ll save Yuni-san’s mother. But… considering she’s a noble, and that she’s from the Alves family…”

“Hmm? What about that?”

“Nobility… an unknown disease… Ah, I see now.”

Honoka seemed to understand after hearing those words and nodded at Shion.

I was completely lost.

“What’s the issue? Is it that we shouldn’t involve ourselves with nobility? Or is there another reason for your hesitation?”

“As you can see, the royal capital of Farnifal is a wealthy nation. Everything from money to status to overnight riches exists here. But behind that, there’s human trafficking, bandits, and the darkness of the nobility… There’s a lot going on.”

Shion had mentioned that.

“But, we have to help if there’s a life we can save!”

Even though I’m just a porter and can’t do much right now… If the party members are hesitating about saving a life, I’ll speak up without hesitation to help.

“…You’re right. Just as Rokuto says. Sorry. It’s obvious that human lives come first.”

“I like that straightforward part of you, Rokkun. We can deal with what comes after as it happens.”

“That’s right. If it’s our party, we’ll be fine.”

“Yeah!”

Shion and Honoka’s faces cleared up as if they had overcome their doubts.

They sure are reliable party members!