It was noon in the Holy See's backyard.
Ichikawa held Furni's letter, a smile playing on his lips as he gazed at the vibrant flowers lining the path.
“Bishop Furni should like this beautiful flower, the same color as her.”
He plucked the most vivid bloom from a cluster of blossoming blue flowers. Bringing it to his nose, the intoxicating scent reminded him of the faint, fresh fragrance of the easily embarrassed Bishop from last night.
His demeanor even led passing sisters to mistake him for some creeper who had snuck in. Especially when he inhaled the scent, every sister looked utterly terrified.
“Um, hello, are you the recently summoned Sir Hero?”
A sister approached Ichikawa, a strange expression on her face, as she watched him sniff the oddly blue flower in his hand. However, this sudden question made Ichikawa freeze again, his face instantly turning grim, completely devoid of the resolute expression he'd shown Furni yesterday.
“I didn’t mean anything by it, I just wanted to ask if your body… is truly alright?”
Listening to the sister’s concerned inquiry, coupled with the furtive glances from those around him, Ichikawa’s body began to tremble uncontrollably. The sister watched the flower, which had been clutched in his hand, flutter to the ground.
When she looked up at the Hero’s face again, his expression was one that seemed ready to execute her on the spot.
“I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have meddled!”
With that, the surrounding sisters scattered in a hurry.
“Sigh.”
Ichikawa shook his head, watching the retreating crowd.
【I still can't talk to people properly, even though Bishop Furni trusts me so much.】
Thinking of Furni's gentle appearance yesterday, hope rekindled in Ichikawa's eyes as he looked at the flower on the ground. Ichikawa walked back towards the flowerbed.
In the backyard pavilion—
“Karl, Karl!”
Furni was shaking Karl, who was nearly asleep. This damn old man! Even she, a dragon with dark circles almost like makeup from lack of sleep, hadn't slept, yet this old man, who ate and slept well every day and whose finances had inexplicably improved recently, dared to fall asleep?! This made Furni incredibly indignant.
Seeing Karl still sound asleep, a snot bubble emerging from his nose despite her continuous shaking, a fierce glint flashed in Furni’s eyes.
“You rotten Karl, how dare you fall asleep while the great Guardian Dragon is diligently working?”
“Take this, Furni Bottle Opener!”
With that, Furni leaped up, flying directly onto Karl’s shoulders and clamping her legs around his head. Feeling an extremely dangerous object gripping his head, Karl’s eyes snapped open instantly. His muscles bulged, and he grabbed the clothes of the thing on him, tossing it straight into the air.
After watching the blue object grow smaller and smaller in the distance, Karl’s blurry vision finally cleared.
“Wait! Did I just throw that dragon, Furni, out there?”
Karl slapped his own head.
“Isn’t this terrible?!”
Karl watched the dragon fly into the sky, showing no signs of coming down, and stomped his feet back and forth in the courtyard in a rage. “Damn Furni, how dare that dragon escape her duties this way!”
Furni, seeing Karl below grinding his teeth and glaring at her, materialized a pair of tiny wings. Her leisurely flight was a blatant mockery of Karl.
“Alright, alright, that dragon, heh, heheh.”
Karl watched Furni slowly fly away, a cold smile appearing on his face.
“Furni, oh Furni.”
“It seems my retirement fund as a Bishop will have to increase just a little bit more, won't it?”
Karl gestured with a wide gap between his fingertips, already envisioning his gold-digging plan. He even began tidying his cutting tools for certain large gold nuggets.
Just then, the sound of footsteps crunching through the grass came from not far away. As Ichikawa entered the courtyard, he saw Bishop Karl hastily tidying up some items.
“Um, excuse me, is Bishop Furni here? She arranged to meet me here.”
Ichikawa repeatedly checked the note in his hand, but no matter how he looked at it, the agreed meeting place was here.
“Cough, cough, yes.”
“However, Bishop Furni, well, something came up, so I will be speaking with you instead.”
Karl quickly put away his cutting tools, adopting a serious expression as he faced Ichikawa.
“Is that so.”
Ichikawa’s hands, held behind his back, seemed to discard something before he walked directly to the seat opposite Karl.
“Alright, to save your time, I’ll keep it brief.”
As he spoke, Karl handed Ichikawa a note.
“You should be departing soon, shouldn’t you?”
“As a suggestion before your departure, Furni left you some information about companions.”
Karl recalled Furni’s expression when she handed him the note; her smile had been truly radiant, as if she were remembering something she cherished deeply. She had told him, “Karl, as a Hero, you must have your own companions! Only then can it be considered a good adventure in another world!” Although he didn't know what Furni had experienced, as a companion of the Original Hero, she was particularly attentive to the matter of companionship.
“Also, Hero, this is some initial funding I’ve prepared for you. Please accept it.”
Karl rummaged in his sleeve and finally handed a bag to Ichikawa, who was staring blankly at the letter in his hand.
“Huh? Is this for me?”
Ichikawa looked at the bag that had been tossed to him; it even made a dull thud when it landed. Clearly, it contained a considerable amount of things.
“Sir Hero isn’t very good at socializing, are you? I can tell just by looking at you.”
Karl offered a kind smile. If he weren’t wearing his Bishop’s robes, he would look exactly like a benevolent old grandfather.
“This country is rotting, so, Sir Hero, go find the true Demon King.”
Karl bowed to Ichikawa, his expression sincere.
“I…”
“Please.”
Seeing Karl bowing ninety degrees before him, Ichikawa swallowed the words of retreat he wanted to utter, carefully put away the heavy bag of funds, and adopted a resolute expression.
“I will, Bishop Karl!”
Since someone was asking for his help, if he couldn’t respond, wouldn’t this second life have been lived in vain? With that thought, Ichikawa cast aside his timidity and didn't look back. Although confusion still lingered in his heart, and he still didn’t know what the true Demon King was, at least Ichikawa had now taken his first step.
Rate on N.U.
