Chapter 1 The Beginning, Shinji’s Joining
“Haahhh!!”
With a shout of spirit, a single slash. The black-haired swordsman’s blade decapitated the goblin. Surveying the surroundings, he saw that all the goblins lay defeated. He turned to face his companions waiting behind him.
“No sign of other monsters. Looks like the battle’s over,” said the young mage from behind the swordsman.
“Al-kun, good work. You’re not hurt, are you?” asked the priestess, his childhood friend, concerned for their leader, the swordsman.
“Hey, Al, hurry up and collect the parts!” said the female ranger, slinging her bow over her back and drawing a short sword from the sheath at her hip, already starting to process the goblin corpses.
“No injuries, thanks, Mee. I’ll get right on it! Go ahead and start, Renka! Shinji-san, sorry about this,” Al said.
“I understand. Leave the watch to me. Right, Fraeli?” the mage replied, addressing the palm-sized spirit perched on his shoulder. The delicate female spirit waved back lightly. Al, having adventured with them before, knew that despite her cute and seemingly unreliable appearance, she was thorough in scouting, so he felt reassured and dashed off.
And so, without any particular issues, this adventure came to an end.
The swordsman Alwin, the priestess Meelis, and the ranger Renka formed the three-person party <Running Wolves>, joined for this trial by the solo young mage Shinji. This was their third adventure together as a trial party.
“Well then, here’s to officially welcoming Shinji-san! Cheers!”
“Cheers!”
After the adventure, <Running Wolves> decided to ask Shinji to join them.
“I like that he doesn’t give me or Mee weird looks. Though, if I could be picky, I’d have preferred a girl,” Renka said.
“Give me a break! Three girls and one guy would be exhausting!”
“What did you say!? You’re saying being with us is tiring!?”
“Th-those two, calm down…”
Meelis tried to soothe the noisy pair. Shinji chuckled bitterly as he sipped his drink.
“The last party I was in broke up because the members suddenly decided to have a kid. I’m pretty cautious about romantic drama. It’s a celebration, but this came out of nowhere. If you’d consulted me beforehand, I wouldn’t have any complaints,” Shinji said, his gaze drifting off somewhere distant. Meelis murmured “a kid…” and blushed, looking down while stealing glances at Alwin from the corner of her eye. Renka, on the other hand, stared at Alwin with a skeptical look. Noticing their reactions, Shinji tilted his head, wondering, What’s this about?
“W-we won’t end up like that, so it’s fine! Right, Mee?”
“I-I don’t know!!”
Alwin’s hasty words made Meelis turn bright red and shout unusually loudly. Realizing the nature of their relationship from her reaction, Shinji apologized sincerely, saying, “That was an insensitive topic. I’m sorry,” and bowed his head. The two flustered and panicked in response.
“Those two don’t flirt during adventures. It’s only natural you wouldn’t know. But when they’re on a date, they’re so lovey-dovey~,” Renka chimed in.
“Oh? Do tell me more,” Shinji egged on mischievously.
“H-hey, Renka! How do you even know that!?”
“I just happened to see you in town the other day~”
“R-Renka-chan!!”
“No, really, it’s a good thing they keep their on-and-off switch clear. Though, that’s a story from another party I was in before…”
The lighthearted chatter began.
The four laughed and raised their voices. The conversation flowed endlessly, and the drinks kept coming.
(Ahh, this is the best! This is what being an adventurer is all about!)
Looking at his beloved Meelis, trusting in Renka, and welcoming the new, like-minded companion Shinji, Alwin felt immense happiness. He believed without a doubt that this would continue forever.
“Well then, see you tomorrow.”
“Yeah, at the guild. Sorry for being selfish and saying I don’t want to change inns.”
“No, please don’t worry about it. See you then.”
Alwin, Meelis, and Renka set off for home. Shinji had suggested they all stay at the same inn, but he was politely declined with apologetic looks. Turning back, he saw Shinji walking away from the tavern with steady steps.
“It’d be more convenient if we all stayed at the same inn~,” Renka mused.
“Now, now, Renka-chan. I can understand Shinji-san’s feelings. I wouldn’t want to change from my current inn either,” Meelis said.
“You like it there, don’t you, Mee? <The Resting Bough Inn>.”
“Yes. The service is great, and… there’s Lirica-chan, too.”
Lirica-chan, the two-year-old daughter of the innkeeping couple, was a favorite of Meelis, who made time on her days off to play with her. Recalling the heartwarming scenes, Alwin suddenly remembered the earlier conversation at the drinking session… and imagined a scene with himself as the husband, Meelis as the wife, and their daughter. He blushed alone. Sharp-eyed Renka wouldn’t miss that.
“Al, why are you turning red? Don’t tell me~ you’re fantasizing about you and Mee~”
“N-no, I just said it’s too early for that!!”
“Bulls-eye~ You pervert~♪”
As the two heated up, Meelis, walking behind them, was also blushing just as much as Alwin.
(He’s thinking the same thing…)
Meelis felt happy imagining a future where they’d marry, have children, and live happily together. At the same time, the thought of having a child meant doing that… and she wondered:
(Does Al-kun want to do it too…?)
Meelis had only ever experienced innocent kisses with Alwin, lips touching lips. She’d avoided going further, not because she wasn’t interested, but because she felt it would be improper to initiate. So, she was in a waiting state.
(If the mood gets right and he makes a move… hehe.)
Meelis had no intention of refusing. Even if they weren’t ready for children, she wanted to embrace her beloved.
“Mee’s turning red too… I didn’t raise such a naughty girl!”
“Eek!!”
Lost in her fantasies, Meelis was startled when Renka, who had sneaked up beside her, hugged her tightly.
“No, Renka didn’t raise her!”
“What~? We’ve been together since back home. It’s not an exaggeration to say I raised her as the older one.”
“Haha…”
They’d always been together, the three of them. And they assumed they always would be.
At that moment, they all shared that thought.
No one could have imagined that things would change in the future.
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