Nia and Shia and Serulis and the Room

Nia’s eyes shone brightly as she was accepted as an apprentice.

She was probably excited about her new life as an Adventurer.

As a veteran, I decided to give her some advice.

“Nia. The occupation of an Adventurer is a dangerous one.”

“I will keep that in mind!”

Nia replied cheerfully, showing just how little she understood.

However, that was usually the case. You had to face actual danger in order to understand it.

It was like that for me and it must have been the same for Shia.

No amount of advice would have much meaning until then.

Still, I felt I had to say it.

“You’re life is more important than anything. It’s important to run when necessary.”

“Understood!”

“And you must listen to everything that Shia tells you.”

“Understood!”

I was worried. She was only eight. That was so young.

Maybe it was according to the beastkin tribe’s custom. But it was scary.

“Did you also become an Adventurer at eight, Shia?”

“That is correct.”

“Were you always paired with your father?”

“I did pair with him, but most of the time, I was in a party.”

“…I see…”

Shia then turned to Serulis and bowed.

“Wha-what is it, Shia?”

“I now have to take care of my younger sister. I will not be able to go on quests with you like before.”

Shia and Serulis had become quite close.

And they had been adventuring together.

When it came to experience on the field, there was a large gap between Shia and Serulis.

However, in terms of ability as warriors, they were mostly the same. They were a good team.

Serulis heard Shia’s words and her face darkened.

“Are you saying that I’d get in your way?”

“No. That’s not it.”

“So, because you’re taking care of Nia, you can’t take care of me anymore…”

“No, that’s not what I meant. If I take Nia, we will mostly just be hunting demon rats and goblins.”

“And what’s wrong with that?”

“Serulis, you have to keep raising your rank as an Adventurer. You can’t afford to waste your time with us.”

Serulis looked at Shia seriously.

“If you think I’m just going to slow you two down, just say it.”

“I promise you, that’s not the case.”

“Really?”

“Really.”

With this, Serulis finally smiled.

“I don’t mind, then. All three of us can go, can’t we? You said yourself that you were in a party at first?”

“That’s true… But you know that we’ll mostly be hunting demon rats?”

“I don’t mind.”

“But…that would be a waste. You broke the record of being the fastest person to rise to Rank-E in ten years…”

“Shia. Don’t underestimate me. I am not interested in those records.”

“But…”

“I want to become stronger.”

And then Serulis looked at me.

“Just look at Mister Locke. He’s only an F-Ranker but he’s so strong.”

“Well, Mister Locke is…special…fraud…I mean…yes.”

I was actually S-Rank, so it was fraud.

“In any case, if it won’t inconvenience you, I would like to join you two.”

“…If we can go adventuring with you, that would actually make me very happy.”

“Miss Serulis, thank you.”

Shia and Nia bowed.

“Let me know if there is anything that I can do. I will help with the demon rats and goblins if you need it.”

“Oh, no. We wouldn’t ask you, Mister Locke, to do something so insignificant as that.”

“I wouldn’t mind, as long as I wasn’t busy with something else. Don’t be so modest.”

“…Thank you. Well, maybe will call you for help sometime then.”

And then Shia said to Nia,

“Nia. Is this all of your belongings?”

“Yes, sister.”

“Then we will go to the inn. We must hurry, or they will be out of rooms.”

“Yes, let’s hurry.”

I stopped Shia just then.

“Well, wait. Milka is making dinner now. You should eat with us.”

“But…”

“And you don’t have to go to an inn, you can stay with us. We have extra rooms.”

“But, we can’t rely on your hospitality forever. I intend on getting a room quickly.”

Up until now, Shia had mostly stayed at inns.

And since Nia was here, she was thinking of borrowing a room.

“Don’t worry about that now. You should stay here as if it were your own house.

“But…”

“Or you could come to my house? We have empty rooms as well.”

“I couldn’t do that either.”

I could understand how Shia felt.

I had wanted to get out of Goran’s house as soon as possible as well.

“I think you should stay here until you find a new room, at least.”

“Groof-groof!”

“See, even Grulf wants you to stay.”

Grulf was running in a circle around Shia and Nia.

“Thank you. If you insist, we will accept your kind offer.”

“Mister Locke! Thank you!”

“Yes, stay as long as you like. Considering we have to protect Lord Gerberga and eventually, Philly, it would be good having you here, Shia.”

“That’s very kind of you to say… Thank you.”

Shia’s tail wagged slowly.