Return of the Former Hero

Chapter 182. Former Hero - Departing from Verde

Translator: Raizu

When we returned to Etna-san home, I explained the outline story to old man Rovu

He was more surprised that I could communicate with the unicorn than when I managed to catch Taruma.

Originally I was already treated well, but I feel that his attitude toward me has further improved to VIP treatment.

When I asked why, apparently Etna’s family seems to be a lineage that worships unicorns for generations and even now, they still worship unicorns.

Speaking of which, there was a coat of arms with something that looked like a unicorn at the entrance.

Aside from that, there seems to be an island where unicorns live a little offshore from Verde and he was in charge of managing that island and the forest inside of it.

By the way, when the unicorn dies, it seems to sink its horns into the lake in that forest.

I don’t know if it’s because of that, but somehow the lake has a recovery effect.

I wonder if it was good to ask for subjugation even though it is a clan that enshrines unicorns.

Well. Perhaps the reason is that. After all, Taruma is a stray unicorn… I think.

Well, let’s ignore the small details.

I was talking about doing what I could do.

And then the next morning…

My body was in good shape last night thanks to Sharon and Laurier’s generous healing.

No, that’s not all.

It is less exhausting than when I used the Sword of Gods’ Destruction (Ragnarok Blade) before.

When I used that thing, it was tiresome to move. Moreover, I needed to reserve enough power to traverse the forest after the battle.

I wonder if my total amount of magical power is increasing…?

I haven’t done any special training to increase the total amount of magical power though…

…Fumu.

Fu… Fufufu.

Somehow, I’m grinning.

After all, I’m happy to think that I’m getting stronger. I’m a boy after all.

Well, put that aside, I was with Taruma in the courtyard after lunch.

[This is [Yes] and this is a [No].]

『Fumu fumu.』

I was teaching Taruma like a school teacher in front of a wooden board with [Yes], [No], and many other words on it.

The reason for doing this is so that Taruma can communicate with humans other than me, thus I am teaching Taruma the language of this world.

Even after I returned to Aria, Taruma would be able to convey his intentions concretely using this board.

『Wait a minute. I’m taking note.』

Taruma said so and the tip of the long corner that was extending from his forehead was applied to the part of the letters engraved on the board.

[What are you doing?]

『Memo. I’m writing the characters that you use.』

Does a horse have habits to use character?

No, it might be rude for the horse.

As long as I have a language system that allows me to have conversations with my translation magic, it is true that there is also a character culture.

However, as good as it is, where are you writing the letters?

Looking at the area where Taruma touched with the tip of the corner, there was no particular change in the board.

It didn’t look like the letters were written or scraped.

[Nn~?]

『I’m writing with magical power so it’s invisible to humans. Humans who have a different wavelength of magical power won’t be able to see through it.』

Taruma told me that I was looking at the board intensely.

[Hee, so you can do that, huh.]

『Fufun. Am I amazing?』

Well, it’s not great. Yes.

Even if it’s amazing, it’s not something that you can say with an air of superiority.

[Have you finished yet?]

Laurier, who was playing with the soil next door, asked lightly.

Play with the soil.

[Are you okay?]

『Maybe.』

Maybe, you say.

Well, that’s good, I guess.

Taruma himself seems to understand not only my words but also the normal human words, that’s why since he already knew that, he would be able to do anything.

[Well then, do it well.]

『Yes. Somehow… You have been taking care of me.』

The unfriendly Taruma thanked me at the end.

After this, Taruma decided to go and live on the island of Unicorn, which is managed by old man Rovu.

It seems for Taruma, it is a good place to live on an island where there are the same species, and there is little interference from the outside.

[Then, shall we go say hello to old man Rovu before we go home?]

[Umu!]

When I said that, Laurier jumped on my back with a natural movement that seemed to indicate her special place.

[Oh, hey, Laurier. Do it after you’ve cleared your hands.]

[Ah, Sorry.]

While sticking to my back and clinging with her feet, she wiped off the soil on both hands.

In front of my face.

Are you serious?

For a moment, I thought I’d shake her off, but I put up with it.

Thank you for the soft touch that spreads on my back.

When I left Taruma in the courtyard and entered the mansion, I came across Etna.

[Ah, Etna-sa—…Huh?]

I tried to say hello, but as soon as she saw my face, Etna-san moved back away, turning around the corner and leaving.

Dang…

W-what happened? Did I do something wrong?

[By the way, you used to say that you would make Etna fall for you, but what did you do?]

Laurier was asking me while seeing the situation on my back.

Gununu.

[That… I don’t know… Rather, I didn’t do anything at all, you know?]

[Haha. It’s surprisingly not quite good even for Haruto. No, wasn’t it pretty good from the beginning?]

So noisy.

There are reasons that many things occurred coincidentally.

There are times when you can go quickly and there are times when it’s hard to go easily.

[…!]

To silence Laurier who speaks while blowing on my ears, I use my strength.

Specifically, I slipped my hand on the butt of the piggyback rider into the inside of her underwear.

Laurier did not raise any complaints.

[…Nn!]

If I rubbed her hips directly, I can feel the temperature of her breath rising around my ears.

Her hand that had been turned around my neck grabbed me tightly, it became stuck on me more strongly.

[Don’t do that in the hallway of someone’s house.]

Uwa, I was surprised.

Before I knew it, Sharon was standing by my side. Don’t do what exactly?

[Muu~…]

After I calmed down and stopped rubbing her ass, Laurier was a little dissatisfied for a moment.

[Ehehe, what’s that baggage, Sharon?]

When I turned to Sharon, Sharon was carrying a large suitcase.

It’s a fairly large suitcase. If there are about two people, it seems that it will fit perfectly.

[This? This is something that Rithina asked me to do.]

[For Rithina? Heh, what is it?]

[Secret~]

S-secret, you said?

[Eh, what is it? Please tell me.]

It makes me want to see it more when she says it to be a secret.

[Ah, it’s not good! Rithina told me not to show it to Haruto.]

[Huh? What’s that? I can’t help myself, but I want to see that.]

When I tried to reach out to the inside of her luggage, Sharon suddenly evaded me.

[Not good!]

Kuh.

[Hey Haruto. It’s not good to force it when other people say it’s not allowed.]

When Sharon was evaded casually several times, Laurier tightened my neck while saying so.

Gugugu.

[Okay, okay. Okay, don’t squeeze my neck!]

[Alright, alright.]

When I gave up, Laurier stroked my head.

Oh, it feels good to be stroked.

[I’m sorry. I’ll tell you when we return to Aria. Then I’ll load it in the luggage carriage.]

Sharon apologized briefly and went outside.

Will you tell me when we return to Aria?

I don’t know why it’s not good to say it now, but whatever.

After that, we greeted old man Rovu and we left the city of Verde.

Of course, Etna-san was with me, but this time when I met her, it was quite normal.

What was it that made you run away after seeing me earlier…?

[So, why are you there too?]

On the way back to Aria…

There is Shia and Chiyu-san inside our wagon.

I looked inside the carriage while holding the reins of the horse and I said what I had been wondering about.

[Umu. We’re planning to make our way back, but Shia-sama hasn’t recovered yet. I think it is better to take a rest in the carriage.]

Chiyu-san nodded with his arms crossed.

Amazingly, I saw her folded arms in her chest.

No, I don’t care about that.

[When you said that you were on your way home, but where did you come from anyway… More importantly, I was asking why you were riding in a carriage as a matter of course…?]

[Excuse me, Haruto-san. Just as I thought, we’re a nuisance, yes? Chiyu, Shia is already alright, so let’s go home by ourselves, alright?]

Shia apologized after she heard my words.

Gununu.

When you were told that way, I felt bad.

Although the other day we exchanged blows to the death, Shia, who doesn’t have her sword right now, is humble and cute.

[I apologize for getting inside in the moment of confusion. Shia-sama still can’t move satisfactorily. If possible, I want her to ride in the carriage.]

With that said, Chiyu-san bowed deeply towards me.

It is impossible to refuse such a polite request.

[O-okay, I don’t plan to get rid of both of you anyway…]

[Yes! Your understanding is better than I expected, Amagi Haruto.]

After I was permitted to ride, Chiyu-san’s facial expression became brighter.

For a moment, it caught me off-guard.

[Thank you very much.]

Shia expressed her gratitude continuously and I smiled back.

Well, as expected, I’m soft toward girls.

If they were an old man, I would throw them out.

[Etna-san. That’s why the wagon would get a little narrower for a while… Etna-san?]

[Fuee!? Ah…yes. Umm…yes, that’s right. I think it will become more lively.]

It doesn’t seem that she wasn’t listening, but it was unusual for Etna to be in a panic.

I thought that she was back to normal… but something was wrong.

[What happened?]

Sharon, who was watching the situation, whispered while looking at me while her eyes stared at me.

[I already told Laurier, but I didn’t do anything. I couldn’t do anything at all.]

[Hm… I wonder what happened?]

When I replied in a whisper, she unexpectedly believed me.

[If you have a chance, can you ask her, Sharon?]

[Me? Yeah, that’s right. I’ll try to ask her.]

I decided to ask Sharon about Etna-san’s situation.

[Haruto~… I’m hungry~…]

As I couldn’t wait for the timing when their talk had finished, Laurier, who was rumbling in a sloppy posture, opened her mouth.

[Oi oi, we just departed only a little while ago.]

It’s still early for lunch.

[Oh, if you want, I have something like this…?]

Chiyu took out a small package from her luggage.

When she opened the package, I didn’t know what it was from there, but I saw something like sweets.

[Oh! Um… Your name is Chiyu, right? You, you’re a good person.]

[No, if we’re allowed to ride the wagon, this much is reasonable.]

Chiyu handed the sweets to the excited Laurier.

Laurier is easy to feed.

[Delicious!]

Laurier, who received the sweets, shouted. It’s a simple impression that makes me want to add her reaction voice as SE.

[I’m glad that it suits your taste. Oh, there are still more so please have some, everyone.]

[Waa, thank you!]

[Oh, it’s delicious. Where did you buy these sweets, I wonder?]

Chiyu handed out the sweets while Sharon and Etna-san enjoyed the taste.

Is that delicious?

Moreover, where is my part? I also want to eat it, you know?

[Amagi Haruto.]

When I was worried that I would be the only one who’s being left out for a moment, Chiyu-san offered me some sweets as well. Hoo. I’m so glad.

[Here you go.]

When she said that, Chiyu-san presented the sweet to my mouth.

Eh?

[Do you not want to eat it?]

No, I want to eat it, but why are you presenting it to my mouth?

Oh, is it because I’m still holding the reins?

It’s okay to release one of my hands for a while, but… is that okay?

[Aah.]

When I opened my mouth, Chiyu fed me sweets.

Gulp.

Nn.

[Oh, it’s delicious.]

Is the texture like a cookie?

There is something like sweet cream inside, which is a good balance.

[I see! There are still plenty so feel free to eat more.]

Chiyu-san tried to stuff sweets into my mouth one after another, probably because she was happy and in a good mood. She is like an aunt, I think?

I don’t need that many…

My mouth was completely muffled.

[Haruto-san. Here is the water.]

Shia gave me water at a nice time. She is a caring young lady.

I was charmed by their strange coordinated play.

…As I expected, I am too easy.

I tried to receive the glass offered by Shia, but before that happened, the glass got closer to my mouth.

Eh, this one too?

I wondered if it’s too much, but I’m also reluctant to waste their good intentions.

I put my mouth on the cup that was being offered.

Then, surprisingly, she was dexterous and she tilted the cup pleasantly; I was able to drink water easier than I expected.

But, no matter how dexterous she was, we were on a running wagon.

The shaking the moment the wheels ran over a pebble or something suddenly struck me and Shea.

Gakin.

[Ah.]

[Bu!]

The moment Shia made a small voice, the water left in the cup hit my face.

[Aaa, I’m sorry. I will wipe it…]

[Haruto, are you alright?]

[Well, that’s terrible.]

[Ahahahaha!]

[Shia-sama, are you okay? Did you get wet somewhere?]

Seeing my misery, the girls raised their voices.

Etna-san, Shia, and Sharon who are worried about me. Laurier laughed innocently.

With Chiyu-san, who put a higher priority on Shia than me. It became extremely noisy. Good grief.

Well, but being surrounded by girls like this, just a little bit… No, it looks like it will be a pretty happy return trip. Ehe.