Chapter 27: Protecting You
Chapter 27: Protecting You
MINA put a hand on her hip and raised her left eyebrow at the new face. “Ooh dear, another handsome man came out of the woodwork! …What a rarity we have here. You’re a Minstrel, no?” she asked, impressed by his attire. “Can I sit next to you?”
“Of course. A gorgeous beauty such as yourself is always welcome beside me,” Louis answered, winking at her.
“Whoa, you seem like quite the inveterate rake…! Guess I shouldn’t expect anything less from a Minstrel.”
“I’ll take that as a compliment,” he chuckled, entertained by her sardonic remark.
Her expression visibly twisted with disgust. “Seriously, this is why they say Minstrels are mostly flirtatious flakes.”
“I don’t think someone from the Thief Job famed for being full of scoundrels is one to talk,” he quipped, a sly grin turning up the corners of his lips.
“You have a retort for everything, don’t ya?!” Mina complained, pursing her lips.
Aki laughed at their perfectly synced argument. Mina and Louis get along pretty well right off the bat! They say the more you fight the closer you become!
She picked up her juice with both hands and took a sip before glancing up at Mina sitting directly across from her. “By the way, Mina, are Minstrels really that rare?”
Elias and Mina had a similar reaction when they saw Louis.
Mina put her index finger to the base of her chin. “Well, they are rare. When it comes down to it, you need to be musically inclined to become a Minstrel. The only people who can afford to study music as a part of their education are the sons and daughters of affluent merchants or the children of nobles. And then not only do those elite kiddoes have to choose the path of Adventurer, but then further decide to become a Minstrel instead of another Job. You just don’t see them around all too often.”
“Interesting,” Aki said, taking another look at Louis. His appearance had elegance to it and his mannerisms and demeanor hinted at a good upbringing. “Were you born to a good family then, Louis?”
Louis smoothly brushed the golden bangs from his eyes and said, “As you guessed, I was born into nobility as the son of a count. I’m the third son though. I stand no chance of inheriting the peerage, so I’m doing whatever I please as an Adventurer.”
“Seriously? You’re nothing more than a profligate son!” Mina promptly retorted.
Louis made a mock expression of hurt. “Now that is a misleading statement. I’m traveling to different countries widening my view of the world all while jovially sharing the talents of my voice.”
“How is that any different from you playing around?!” she shouted in exasperation. Louis’ shoulders trembled with his laughter.
Apparently, Louis was hopelessly amused by the way she nitpicked at everything he said. Aki and Elias looked at each other and laughed at their banter. A gutsy lady like Mina was a good match for the jesting Louis.
“Oh, come on! Why are you all laughing?!” Mina huffed indignantly. She rested her elbows on top of the table and put her chin on her hands. “By the way, Aki, what Job did you choose? Did you go with a long-distance attack class like we discussed?”
“Mm-hm. I chose Archer after discussing it with Elias. I still have no idea how to fight though. Do you load the arrow into the bow like this and release it at the monsters?” Aki asked, mimicking what she saw characters in movies and games do with a bow and arrow. Elias cracked up beside her despite his desperate attempts to keep it in. “Wh-Why are you laughing at me? You’re awful!”
“Sorry, sorry,” he apologized, laughter mingled in his reply. “I was just thinking it’d take a lot of practice to actually get the arrow to go anywhere with the way you pretended to shoot it.”
“Geh… H-How should I know? I’ve never held a bow before.”
Until she arrived in this world, she had been the epitome of a normal, plain secretary. Not once had she picked up a weapon, much less used one to fight monsters—unless video games counted.
Things might have been different if I joined the Archery club at school…
Physical activity was never a specialty for Aki who had joined different culture and reading clubs through university. The future of her Archer adventures looked bleak.
Elias ruffled the top of her head. “You should take the time to practice for battle. Would you like to practice archery with me for a bit later and whenever we get the chance?”
“You can use a bow as well as a sword, Elias?”
Aki was under the impression he was completely devoted to swords.
He nodded nonchalantly. “I can. Not just bows either. I know my way around daggers, spears, axes, and throwing knives too. I’m just the most skilled with a sword. I had no choice but to be skilled in every method of fighting,” he said, sadness coating his tone.
The Hero had to master every weapon, forcing harsh training on him since his youth. Elias wasn’t born a master at fighting. Through pain, suffering, and hard determination he obtained strength like no other. If Aki wanted to become strong enough to protect him, she didn’t have time to complain about her lack of experience.
“Okay! I might be an unworthy apprentice for you, Elias, but I will work my hardest to make up for it! Please teach me your ways, Master!”
“Master… I have mixed feelings hearing you call me that, Aki…”
“Why?!”
“I don’t want that kind of relationship with you, but something more normal like…” Elias muttered under his breath so she couldn’t hear.
Louis and Mina broke down laughing at them.
“You truly do get along well.”
“Right? Don’t they? Hard to believe they aren’t dating. And guess what? I figured out why Elias had Aki pick Archer!”
“What are you talking about?” Elias asked, suspicious.
Mina smiled slyly. “Because to you Aki is just so precious and dear, you don’t know what to do with yourself, right? Think about it. An Archer never has to get close to a monster during battle, letting the vanguard Elias protect Aki at a moment’s notice if any trouble arises!”
He had that in mind? The heat rapidly rose to Aki’s cheeks and she put her head down on the table to hide her face. I totally thought Elias suggested it because of the Goddess’ divine revelation, but did he actually have such a joyous ulterior motive? Nah, who am I kidding? With how dense and off he is from common sense, I doubt he thought too deeply about it…
She secretly stole a peek at him and saw the sincerity and absolute seriousness written across his face as he declared to Mina, “Isn’t that obvious? I’m the one protecting her. I swore I would.”
Elias’ unabashed declaration got Mina to put her head on the table and roll back on forth on it with embarrassment while Louis cracked up laughing.
How embarrassing! I’m seriously embarrassed here! Apparently, the Hero is always straightforward about everything and anything! Which is why he misleads me into thinking he likes me too, but…I know better. He’s protecting me because I’m the Hero’s Right-hand. I can’t misinterpret this… I can’t misunderstand him… Aki repeated like a curse.
This is an unattainable love. I can’t get my hopes up. I have to keep these feelings a one-sided secret. Besides, I’m happy just being with him.
“Hey, with Aki choosing Archer…” Mina looked around the table. “Elias is a Swordsman, right? Aki is an Archer and I’m a Thief. Our Party is going to be specialized in physical attacks now. I would be grateful if some Minstrel who can use support-class magic would join the Party to balance things out, but where would we find such a person?” She glanced at Louis.
Right, we don’t have any magic users… We were more than covered on the magic front with the max level Mage Leo and the Priest Johann in our Party, but they won’t be joining us for this Quest. It’s disconcerting to think we are going to fight monsters without any Party members who can use magic.
Louis slapped his hands together like he couldn’t have asked for a better request. “Indeed. Is it possible for me to join you on your Quest then? It will be a fine opportunity for Elias to determine whether my skills meet his expectations.”
“Yeah. I’d appreciate it if you came with us too, Louis. I’ve never formed a Party with a Minstrel before. I look forward to seeing what you can do. I’m glad to have met you.”
“You honor me.”
Louis reached out and shook Elias’ hand.
“It’s decided then!” Mina did a drumroll across the table and shoved to her feet. “The four of us will definitely complete this Search Quest!”
“Hear, hear! I’ll do my best during my debut battle as an Archer!”
“That’s the spirit, Aki!” Mina and Aki held hands and jumped up and down.
A lot of pressure was on Aki to do well, but more than that, she looked forward to going on an adventure with her two new Party members. They had all the strength they needed with the incognito Hero on their side, lessening the load on her.
Elias fondly watched Aki and Mina bounce up and down with excitement as he joked, “Looks like the women have the reigns of control in our Party, Louis.”
Shoulders shaking with laughter, Louis responded, “Sure seems that way. I wouldn’t mind being dominated by those ladies. This is going to be a fun adventure.”