SIAW Vol. 1 Chapter 19 Part 2
The next day, we went to the village gates early and watched the trading company group leave.
“Once you’re back in Ronda, please come see us at the company, Tenma.”
Caron repeated the invitation over and over.
“Why don’t you come with us? Camping out to train only the two of you…anyway, don’t put yourself in danger, you hear? If Tenma’s around, you’ll probably be alright, though.”
Gust invited us to go back to Ronda together with them.
“We should be there two days from now, see you then!”
So I replied and waved goodbye. By the way, Sasha’s family, Jeet, Zlatan and the elder too had come to see them off.
Once the horse carriages were out of sight, I turned towards the elder.
“I’ll go hunting guinea fowls until noon. If possible, I plan to catch enough so that every villager can have at least one skewer to eat, so could you please make the necessary preparations? After lunch, we’ll leave too.”
I went hunting on my own this time. The previous day, I told Misha that I would go alone, so she could say her goodbyes to the villagers.
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(POV: Misha)
After Caron’s party left the village, Tenma went hunting by himself.
He said that he wanted to catch enough guinea fowls for all the village to eat, but I was worried if it really was possible to catch so many. Tenma could probably pull it off, though.
I hadn’t had enough time to talk at length with Sasha since I came back from the town, so I took the chance now.
“Thank you for everything, sis.”
“Your dream will finally come true…isn’t that great? Did Tenma squeeze your tail already?”
“Hm? No, he didn’t.”
When I said that, Sasha thought for a moment, then replied.
“…I see…he’s a kind boy, after all…it’s a shame.”
Would it have been better if he touched my tail?
“Say, Misha, what do you think of Tenma?”
“He’s a mystery. But he’s really strong, so I couldn’t ask for a better adventuring partner!”
“I see…so for you, Tenma was a convenient way to become an adventurer?”
Eh? What do you mean by that, sis?
If you put it like that, it sounds like I’m a bad guy…
I didn’t know what to say, and after a pause Sasha continued.
“…I heard that Tenma defeated a rank C adventurer. Which means that he’s at least strong enough to be rank C himself. In that case, I think that it might be easier for him to act solo, rather than take you along on adventuring work with him.”
Are you serious, sis!?
“Why is Tenma taking me with him, then?”
“…I thought that it was because he liked you, but if he didn’t even touch your tail, he might have been pressured by everyone telling him he should take you together, because of the strategy I came up with…maybe?”
Eh!? No, it can’t be! He just felt pressured…?
“Misha, do you like Tenma?”
L-Like!?
I never even thought about it. I did think that it would be better to marry him than any man from the village. I was okay with letting him touch my tail to become an adventurer, but I wasn’t sure if I liked him…
“I-I…I don’t know.”
“I see….I think he could surely make you happy, but…”
After all Sasha said, thinking about Tenma made my tail tense up…but…
“Listen, Misha. You don’t have to force yourself to start liking him, but at this rate, once you become a first rate adventurer he might leave your side.”
“W-Why!?”
“He refused at first, didn’t he? Tenma is kind, so he probably just accepted to help you become an adventurer.”
“Noo…”
“I mean, he likes Beastmen, but he didn’t touch your tail, right?”
“Aak…!”
I never thought about it that way. I thought that since I was older, it was better for him if I was around…
But now…
“So I want you to do your best, so you can become a suitable partner for Tenma. If you really want to be with him forever, you have to put in effort to win over his heart. You also have to think about his feelings more, okay?”
“Okay!!”
I didn’t think I could ever catch up with him, but I had to do my best so I didn’t drag him down!
But…honestly, I still didn’t know anything about romance…
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(POV: Tenma)
In the end, I managed to catch more than twenty guinea fowls. I returned to the village at about eleven, and when I took out fifteen of them the villagers reacted with glee.
I was glad it was really possible for all villagers to have fowl to eat at lunch.
I said my final goodbyes and headed to the gates, where the whole village gathered to see us off.
I gave one final hug to Mei, sad to part.
“If you didn’t come to this village, Tenma, we would have been facing a crisis about now. We wouldn’t have enough food or firewood, and no one from the city could come…on behalf of the village, thank you very much! You are welcome back anytime. We’ll throw a feast when you do!!”
So said the elder, and here and there, villagers expressed their agreement.
It was then my turn to reply.
“I am really glad the village I ended up in after losing my way was this one. I will be in Ronda for a while, so before I leave it I will definitely visit the village again. Thank you for everything!”
“Take care!!!”
The villagers saw us off, with smiles on their faces.