episode_0027

“Thank you for your hard work today!”

“… You’ve worked hard.”

Finally, as night fell, the volunteer activity led by the priest came to an end.

Of course, it was just the end of another day.

Although Aileen felt dizzy at the thought of having to do volunteer work for two more days, receiving gratitude while volunteering made her feel good.

“Alan. Did you feel like this too?”

Certainly, Aileen knew she couldn’t put herself and Alan’s actions on the same level.

Alan’s actions stemmed from his guilt.

But… even so, wouldn’t receiving thanks for helping people somewhat fill Alan’s heart?

“I miss you.”

Aileen silently uttered words she couldn’t say out loud.

“There is still much I don’t know about you.”

The Alan who was active in the Hero Party and the current Alan.

Aileen didn’t entertain the pure thought that these two beings were perfectly alike.

However, they wouldn’t be completely different either.

In the end, Alan is Alan.

“…I want to know more.”

Reluctantly admitting it, Aileen had come to understand a bit of Alan’s heart by following the priest and doing volunteer work.

“Well then, let’s meet here at 7 a.m. tomorrow morning.”

“…So early?”

“We need to live diligently.”

“Ugh…”

Jenny began to sway as if she had been mentally attacked.

“Calm down.”

“Aileen…”

“…I’m sorry.”

“Huh?”

Jenny’s ears perked up as if hearing an apology for the first time in her life.

“What did you say?”

“…I said I’m sorry.”

“Why are you suddenly like this? They say people die when others suddenly change.”

…

Even though Jenny maintained a playful attitude even when someone was sincerely apologizing for once, Aileen calmly continued.

“Perhaps… because of my stubbornness in wanting to find Alan, you got involved too.”

…

Whether she sensed the serious atmosphere or not, Jenny erased her playfulness and looked at Aileen.

“Aileen. That’s not true.”

…

“We also want to catch that idiot Alan.”

“That’s right.”

Rebecca, who had been quietly listening to the two, nodded in agreement.

“But…”

“Sigh… Aileen, it might be hard for your naive self to understand, but we are looking for Alan for our own reasons.”

“That’s right. We have something important to do once we catch Alan.”

…?

For a moment, Aileen wondered if the two were lying to comfort her.

However, their eyes were incredibly serious.

“…Really?”

“Yes.”

“Yes.”

Both nodded simultaneously.

“…What exactly are they planning to do to Alan?”

Aileen couldn’t understand the reason, but she felt a slight shiver run through her body.

As if foreseeing an anxious future.

“…You won’t do anything too extreme, will you?”

…

…

Amidst this, seeing Aileen worry about Alan, the two exchanged glances and sighed.

“It’s really tough trying to convince these naive two.”

“Agreed.”

In an instant, the two silently agreed with each other through eye contact and looked at Aileen.

“Don’t worry. In fact… you might like it too.”

“That’s right. Don’t worry.”

…?

Though she couldn’t understand, since the two wouldn’t lie to her, Aileen simply nodded.

‘So they’ve agreed.’

‘Agreed.’

“Alright, let’s go rest now! We have to get up early tomorrow!”

“Yes. It would be good to go rest quickly.”

Still bewildered, Aileen was dragged to the inn by the two, each holding one of her arms.

‘???’

Perhaps Aileen needed Allen to uncover the conspiracy between the two.

In the end, she would find out once it was executed.

The journey of Allen and Lily towards the new town was nearing its end.

If they had walked normally, the trip would have taken longer, but Allen realized Lily’s lack of stamina and ended up carrying her, allowing them to increase their speed without burdening Lily.

“Mister, is it not heavy?”

“Not at all. I’m actually thinking I should feed you more.”

…”

Lily’s face stiffened as she remembered Allen’s cooking.

Knowing he lacked talent in cooking, Allen couldn’t buy food in town as it would surely spoil quickly.

Moreover, feeding a young child only dry rations was not good for growth.

Cooking was the only option left.

And what was even more terrifying was that due to Allen’s belief that even if he cooked, it wouldn’t taste good, Lily’s meals started to become increasingly strange.

Realizing the necessity of at least some seasoning after the previous failure, Allen combined various bizarre ingredients and improperly measured seasonings, resulting in an even more dreadful taste.

Yet Lily couldn’t bring herself to complain to Allen.

It wasn’t because of kindness or being in a subservient position.

In fact, it was because Allen’s cooking seemed effective, evident from Lily’s noticeably accelerated growth.

The girl-like qualities she had when they first met were gradually disappearing, maturing day by day.

‘… I want to grow up quickly too.’

According to imperial law, one becomes an adult at 19, so 18-year-old Lily was practically an adult already.

“Lily.”

“Yes!”

“We might arrive in the village around dinner time.”

“Wow!”

If they arrived in the evening instead of at night, Lily wouldn’t have to eat Allen’s cooking for dinner.

Excitedly forgetting her travel fatigue, Lily cheered.

“So… let’s eat dinner beforehand and then enter the village.”

“What?”

Thunk-

If this world were a comic book, a 100-ton weight would have fallen on Lily’s head at that moment.

Lily was greatly shocked by Allen’s statement.

“… Can’t we eat in the village?”

“But these ingredients will spoil if not eaten today.”

“… Okay.”

Being familiar with hunger, Lily understood the value of food.

She decided to endure just one more meal.

‘… I want to eat meat.’

But she couldn’t help but crave meat right before her eyes.

“Carrying all these bricks alone… Thank you!”

“… It’s okay.”

Once again, Irene blushed as she responded to the sincere gratitude from the residents for her efforts on behalf of the clergy.

“I may not have much to offer, but please accept this!”

“No, I didn’t do it expecting anything in return…”

“I’m just really grateful!”

Saying so, the man handed Irene a still warm loaf of bread.

“I apologize for only being able to offer this.”

“No… Thank you very much.”

“Haha! Gratitude is my job!”

The man finally bowed his head to Irene with a cheerful smile.

Perplexed, Irene didn’t know what to do, but the man paid no attention.

“Thank you very much for helping people like us…”

“What kind of person are you?”

“Well… dirty and smelly commoners.”

“You’re wrong.”

Irene shook her head firmly.

“You are people who live with your own strength without committing crimes even in difficult situations. You deserve respect.”

…

Did Irene, who looked noble like a nobleman, not expect to hear such words?

A tear ran down the man’s eye.

“Thank you… Your words are similar to hers.”

“… Hers?”

“Yes. I don’t know if it was a coincidence, but there was someone who said something similar just now.”

“Was it a mercenary named Irene by any chance?”

“I don’t know her full name… but at least I remember that she was very handsome.”

“I see.”

Very handsome.

With just that fact, Irene concluded that he was Allen.

At least, in Irene’s opinion, Allen was quite handsome.

“He shared relief supplies for us until the end… He left a few days ago.”

“As expected.”

Realizing her expectations were correct, Irene nodded contentedly.

The happiest fact was that before Irene spoke, Allen had said similar words to the man.

In Irene’s mind, this meant that Allen and her values were similar.

What are the chances that the same man would say the same thing to both of them among all these residents?

By this point, one could consider it fate.

“Is there anything else we can help with?”

“Huh? No… what you just did is more than enough…”

“Still, I will help further.”

Feeling greatly uplifted, Irene decided to work despite the man’s objections.