Chapter 72 - Words of Welcome
"...Leader, it really is Aldo, right?"
"...Kurune? Why are you here?"
Kurune and I both raised our voices in question while wearing expressions of surprise.
Kurune should be working as a magic teacher, which was her long-held wish, at the Magic Academy in the Kingdom of Abalonia.
She had said she would take a break and come visit Nordende, but isn't this too early?
It takes a month and a half to get here from the royal capital of Abalonia. Considering the round trip, a vacation of at least three months is necessary.
For a kingdom buzzing with the news of the Dragon Slayer, the Magic Academy and the kingdom shouldn't want to let go of Kurune, who is a member of the Dragon Slayer party...
Especially since the leader, myself, and Keel are already out of the country.
While I was wondering why Kurune was standing before me, Aisha, who was nearby, opened her mouth.
"...Is she an old flame?"
"Is that true!?"
Hearing Aisha's words, Flora raised a panicked voice and grabbed my arm.
"No, no, that's not it!"
When I hurriedly denied it, Flora's expression became one of profound relief.
"But hearing your conversation just now, she looks like an old flame who chased after Aldo?"
However, at Aisha's following line, Flora's face was once again tormented by anxiety.
Knitting her brows and looking up at me with teary eyes, she looked terribly uneasy.
"That's not—"
"N-N-N-No, it's not!"
Just as I was about to firmly deny it for Kurune's sake, a voice strongly denying it flew from Kurune's side.
I wonder why. While she's right, being denied that strongly is a bit of a shock. Well, I think there were zero elements to fall for in me during my adventurer days, so it's a natural reaction.
Feeling our surprised gazes gathering on her, Kurune cleared her throat and straightened her posture.
"Ahem. I am Kurune. I'm a companion who was in a party with Aldo over there during our adventurer days, and as you can see, I'm a mage."
"Ah, so you were Aldo-san's adventurer companion!"
Nodding at Kurune's words as she approached, Flora let out a voice of relief.
I'm glad she understands. There is absolutely no romantic relationship like Aisha suggested between Kurune and me.
"What did a mage come to do in a rural village like this?"
From the side, it sounded like a question that didn't welcome Kurune.
However, Aisha is also the eyes of the village to ensure no strange outsiders enter. They are harsh words, but they are necessary for the safety of the village.
Naturally, Kurune and I have traveled through many villages during our adventurer days, so we are aware of that.
Without getting indignant, she explained calmly.
"I heard that the leader... that Aldo was going to live in the village of Nordende. So, kind-hearted me came to tease... to see how he was doing."
In the royal capital overflowing with adventurers, "leader" would be fine, but in Nordende where there are almost no adventurers, that way of calling him is unnatural, so Kurune corrected herself.
I mean, she's clearly fully intending to tease me.
Flora and Aisha were giving wry smiles for some reason.
"May I ask your names?"
In that somewhat relaxed atmosphere, Kurune asked. Of course, I wasn't included in that. She already knew mine.
"I'm Aisha. I think you know since we met in the field earlier, but I'm the daughter of the grape farmer."
"I-I am Flora. I am the daughter of this village's chief."
Aisha gave a nonchalant self-introduction, and Flora bowed politely.
And then Aisha lightly elbowed the stomach of the Flora who had raised her head.
"...Your self-introduction is lacking."
"Eh?"
Not understanding the meaning of Aisha's words, Flora let out a dumbfounded voice.
Actually, I didn't know what was lacking in that introduction either.
While Flora tilted her head, Aisha let her gaze go back and forth between me and Flora.
And then, Flora seemed to realize some meaning, as her face turned red.
"A-Are you really going to say it?"
"Well, the people of this village might know, but people coming from outside don't, so say it."
Something the people of this village know, but people from outside don't? Was there anything else?
While Kurune and I tilted our heads, Flora turned back toward Kurune and opened her mouth.
"...Um, I am the village chief's daughter, and I will become Aldo-san's wife."
The moment I heard those words, I felt heat flare up in my face.
Come to think of it, the villagers know that Flora and I are a couple, but people coming from outside wouldn't know that.
Since all the villagers somehow knew before we even said anything, I feel like this is the first time we've said it ourselves. I know, I knew it, but because the person I'm introducing her to is a long-time acquaintance, it's incredibly embarrassing.
Hearing that I'm going to be a couple with such a cute woman, Kurune will definitely tease me. She'll think it's a lie.
"...I see. I saw how you two were earlier from a distance, so I thought that might be the case. Congratulations to you both."
"T-Thank you very much."
"Thanks."
Or so I thought, but Kurune surprisingly didn't start with skepticism.
I fully expected her to say something like "That's a lie, right!? Aldo getting married has to be a joke, right?" at first, but I suppose she can't say such things when it comes from Flora's own mouth.
To hide the embarrassment of having our interaction in the field seen and the happiness of receiving words of blessing, we gave a deep bow.
"Even so, for that Aldo to get married. I really can't believe it."
Kurune gave a wry smile while looking at Flora and me.
They are blunt words, but as someone who understands my past self, I think they are words I can empathize with.
"Was Aldo that unpopular?"
Knowing it was my sore spot, Aisha asked with a smirk.
"In the past, he was all about sword practice and quests; there was no room for women. Ah, but there were quite a few women who were concerned about Aldo, so he was popular. Especially Dra—"
Hey, idiot!
When I shot a glare at Kurune, she stopped mid-sentence as if realizing her mistake.
""Dra?""
"—They were attracted to his dry side!"
What a way to cover it up. That makes it sound like I was a cold guy in the past—well, that might not be entirely wrong. I was desperate just to survive back then.
"He certainly had a very scary atmosphere when he first came to the village."
"Ah, rather than dry... he did have an unapproachable atmosphere in the past. No, but I knew well that he was properly kind!"
Aisha and Flora muttered as if they were somewhat convinced.
Aisha saw me when I had no leeway after coming to this village, and Flora had met me nine years ago, so they probably knew.
It's intensely embarrassing to feel like my shameful past and moments are being shared.
"From that way of speaking, it sounds like Flora-san has met the old Aldo before...?"
"Ah, yes. I met Aldo-san here nine years ago."
"Nine years ago!? Hey, how old is Flora-san now? She looks very young compared to Aldo?"
A surprised Kurune asked while placing a hand on Flora's shoulder.
"Fueh!? Um, I'm eighteen now?"
"Which means you first met when she was nine!?"
When Flora answered timidly, Kurune turned her face sharply toward me.
"I know what you're thinking, but it's not like that, okay?"
I certainly wasn't in a romantic relationship or laying a hand on a nine-year-old Flora. No, as a result, I ended up falling in love and laying a hand on the grown-up Flora, but if I say anything unnecessary, I'll likely be attacked verbally, so I'll stay quiet.
Anyway, our relationship is wholesome.
If this continues, I think Kurune will start asking about how Flora and I met, so I'll try changing the subject to something I'm curious about.
"By the way, what happened to being a teacher at the Magic Academy? I don't think they'd let you take a long vacation so easily?"
Long vacation aside, I don't think the kingdom would want to let go of any more members of Black Silver.
When I asked that, Kurune made an obviously awkward face and scratched her cheek.
"...Ah, that. Can it wait for later? I'm tired from the journey."
You were talking so vibrantly just a moment ago. ...Suspicious.
"Nothing good ever happens when you scratch your cheek and make that expression. I'm curious, so just tell me already."
When I grabbed the arm of Kurune, who was about to wander off, she seemed to give up, let out a sigh, and said with a refreshed expression.
"I quit."
"Y-You quit!?"
I thought it was strange, but I never imagined she had quit being an academy teacher.
Taking the arm of Kurune, who wore a strangely refreshed expression, I moved a little away from Flora and Aisha.
"Y-You quit... are the people from the kingdom okay with that?"
"They weren't okay with it; they even sent pursuers. That's why it took me two and a half months to get here."
When I spoke with bated breath, Kurune answered looking somewhat displeased.
From Kurune's tone, it seems the pursuers were quite persistent.
Well, we were thoroughly taught techniques to shake off pursuers by Keel, after all. I intend for us to have more ability than your average knight or assassin.
Kurune can use magic, and she has backroads she learned during quests and people she can trust.
She has crossed into another country, so they won't be able to follow her so easily.
"Well, that's one thing, but wasn't becoming a teacher at the Magic Academy your dream?"
When the party disbanded, she had talked about it so passionately. About how amazing being a teacher at the Magic Academy was. What does it mean that she quit in less than half a year?
"T-That's, well, a lot happened, or rather, it was completely different from what I thought..."
When I directed a cold stare at her, Kurune looked away uncomfortably.
Well, the Magic Academy is a school where the children of nobles attend, after all. There were probably various things that were different from what she imagined or things that didn't go well.
"Well, let's talk about that later. Flora and Aisha are here now..."
Since I felt a somewhat lonely gaze from Flora, I tried to cut the conversation short for now. However, Kurune held me back.
"Ah, also, I was curious, but Aldo, have you not told Flora-san about being the Dragon Slayer?"
"...Yeah, that's right."
"Is that okay? She's someone precious to you, right?"
"It's because she's precious to me."
I answered while looking straight into Kurune's eyes.
Precisely because she is precious, I want to keep her away from such things.
Besides, if she learns about the Dragon Slayer, various information from my adventurer days might reach her ears.
To put it politely, I didn't only take on clean monster subjugations; I also handled requests like bandit extermination and escort missions that involved killing humans.
My reputation probably isn't just made of clean things, and I don't want Flora to know about that.
"...I see. Understood. Well then, let's go rest at Aldo's house. I've been thirsty for a while now—"
I don't know if Kurune was convinced, but she didn't seem to have the intention to argue or persuade me right now.
As if to say the serious talk was over, Kurune flipped her brown ponytail and started walking.
Come to think of it, I hadn't given Kurune proper words of welcome because of all the serious talk. Realizing that, I called out to Kurune.
"Kurune!"
"Wha—t?"
"Welcome to Nordende!"
At my words, Kurune showed a happy smile.