Chapter 118 - Disqualified as a Hunter
The comicalization of "Slow Life of an A-Rank Adventurer" has been decided!
The first chapter of the comicalization has been released on Web Comic Action. Please check it out if you like.
"Are you off today?"
The next morning, Flora asked as she brought over some tea.
"Yeah, as expected, after what happened yesterday."
Normally, I would have planned to explore the mountain today as well, but since Lauren-san got injured, I'm taking the day off.
The injury itself was cleanly healed by Kurune's recovery magic, but this is a rest to care for his body. Apparently, he tried to go hunting so as not to worry Kyle, but Martha-san smacked him again and stopped him.
Yesterday he said he was sent off as if being kicked out of the house, but today it seems to have become the complete opposite.
I can easily imagine Lauren-san looking happy to be worried about, even while complaining.
While thinking about such things and drinking my tea, Flora, who was sitting in front of me, muttered worriedly.
"I wonder if Kyle-kun is okay?"
"I'm a bit worried too."
Lauren-san got injured while shielding him. The shock at that time must have been significant.
It would be one thing if he got injured himself after being hit by a monster's bloodlust, but for someone else, and a close person at that, to get injured because of it is a bigger shock than usual.
Lauren-san and Martha-san, who went home with him, were encouraging him, but I wonder.
It's entirely possible that the fear of monsters or Lauren-san's injury could become a trauma, making it impossible for him to enter the forest ever again. I've seen many guys like that during my adventurer days.
...As I thought, I'm worried.
Even though he's calm and mature, Kyle is still a twelve-year-old child.
He might be shut away in shock.
"Aldo-san, could you go check on him for a bit?"
"You're right. I don't know if there's anything I can do, but I'm worried, so I'll go check on him."
Even though I'm older, Kyle is my senior disciple. As a fellow hunter, I can't just leave him be.
Once that was decided, my plans for today were set.
I gulped down my tea, stood up, and got ready.
When I returned to the living room after finishing my preparations, Flora was holding a small package.
"Here, these are sandwiches I made with the leftovers from breakfast. Please take them to Kyle-kun."
"Thank you. I'm sure Kyle will be happy too."
"Actually, I wanted to go and encourage him too, but I've never fought a monster..."
"No, I'm sure Flora's feelings will get through to him."
Yesterday, Flora also looked after the depressed Kyle and stayed by his side.
I've experienced firsthand how grateful it is to have someone stay by your side when times are tough. So, Flora's feelings should surely reach Kyle as well.
"Well then, I'm off."
"Yes, have a safe trip."
◆
After being seen off by Flora, I had arrived at the square in the center of the village.
I've never entered Kyle's house, but in the process of carrying the prey we've hunted, I've been in front of his house many times, so I won't get lost.
Passing Elgis-san's house and walking a bit north, I arrived in front of Kyle's house.
I've been this far before, but thinking about visiting properly makes me a bit nervous.
After steadying my breath, I knocked on the door, and a cheerful reply of "Coming!" was heard as the door opened.
The one who came out was Fonda-san, Kyle's mother.
She has the same golden hair as Kyle, but her bright tone and rich expressions don't really resemble her son, Kyle.
I've never met him, but he must take after his father.
"Oh? Aldo-san, didn't you go hunting with Kyle today?"
I had been thinking such carefree thoughts, but at Fonda-san's confused words, I felt my body go cold.
"I'm going to the forest for a bit! Fonda-san, please wait here just in case!"
"I-I understand!"
Leaving Fonda-san's voice behind me, I ran back the way I came.
The only thing I could think of for him to go hunting at this timing was likely a revenge match against the Horned Rabbit.
If Kyle didn't have any psychological trauma, I was planning to have him try again sooner or later, but I never thought he'd go for a rematch the very next day. And alone at that.
I thought the calm Kyle wouldn't do something so rash, so it was unexpected.
Did the monster emitting bloodlust feel that terrifying to Kyle?
Or did his master Lauren-san's injury feel like a trauma?
In any case, in his current state, I absolutely can't let him go alone. If I don't bring Kyle back immediately, it might not end with just a major injury.
Seeing me running at full speed, the villagers around me gave me strange looks and called out, but I didn't have time to deal with them.
I dashed through the single road to the west past the square, going beyond Kurune's mansion and even my own house.
And just as I reached the forest beyond the flower field, a boy who looked like Kyle was standing there.
"Kyle!"
"...Aldo-san."
As I ran up while calling out, Kyle turned around with a somewhat relieved expression.
It was as if he was relieved that I had found him. That's what his face looked like.
Kyle's clothing wasn't his usual plain clothes, but the same ones he wore when heading out to hunt. He was even equipped with his bow and quiver.
"Were you trying to go kill the Horned Rabbit alone?"
"...Yes. But as soon as I got this far, yesterday's events came back to me and I couldn't move my feet forward."
When I asked frankly, Kyle confessed without trying to hide it.
As expected, yesterday's events had planted a deep trauma in Kyle's heart.
"I'm disqualified as a hunter if I can't even enter the forest, aren't I?"
If you can't enter the forest or mountains, you can't hunt prey.
Just as Kyle said, it was a fatal problem for a hunter.
But I couldn't think of any good words to comfort Kyle right now.
Even so, I desperately tried to think of something to say, but my brain and tongue wouldn't work properly, and the words wouldn't come out.
From the perspective of someone like me, who had no choice but to defeat monsters to survive, I couldn't run away even if I was afraid of them. Because quitting being an adventurer was equivalent to losing money and leading to death.
I could teach many methods and mindsets for defeating monsters, but I didn't know the way to stand back up from a wounded state.
If I had interacted with more people, I might have been able to think of at least one clever word or a way to face trauma at a time like this.
"...Fonda-san is worried, so let's head back home for now."
"Yes, I'm sorry for causing you trouble."
As a result, what came out of my mouth were just harmless words.
Despite having told Flora to leave it to me, I felt pathetic for not being able to encourage him well.