Volume 2 Chapter 5 Big And Small Guests
Do I look that close with Cosmos?
"I don't think we're that close, though. Why do you think that, Rose?"
"Well, it seems like Ms. Cosmos has been coming here a lot lately, and you promised to take the promotion exam together, right?"
Now that you mention it, I guess we've been spending a decent amount of time together recently.
I only took the promotion exam because Cosmos invited me.
But whether that makes us close friends is a bit questionable.
"The promotion exam is mainly for promoting Nurturer and to be ready for any quest requests, so it's not like I did it just to match Cosmos. The reason she's coming here is the same as you, to give me money."
"...I-I see."
Even after explaining, Rose still looks a bit unconvinced, furrowing her brows.
I don't mind if we're not particularly close, but I wanted to clear up any misunderstanding about how Cosmos feels.
"Plus, that payment was settled just the other day, so she'll probably be coming here less often from now on. Well, our relationship is kind of like that, so I don't think we're particularly close."
"Wow, really..."
Slowly, Rose's expression softens.
So I took this opportunity to add more.
"Now that you mention it, I think we've definitely gotten closer compared to when we first met, but with Cosmos, the first impression was 'that' moment. It might look like there's a big gap. I mean, being called a 'poor shopkeeper' right off the bat made me wonder what was going to happen."
"W-Was it that hostile?"
Hostile? More like she probably thought of me as an enemy at that point.
Her rejection was that strong.
So compared to that time, we've made quite a bit of progress.
"But we still bicker and mess around with each other, so maybe we're not as close as you say, Rose."
"...Bickering and messing around?"
For some reason, Rose makes a complicated face again.
As I wondered if I had said something weird, she turned away and muttered softly.
"...That's what I mean by being close friends."
"...?"
I couldn't catch it well since it was so quiet, so I could only tilt my head in confusion.
...Well, whatever.
"Anyway, there's nothing special going on between me and Cosmos. I've said that a lot already, but honestly, I'm glad that my first client as a Nurturer was Cosmos."
"Really? Why's that?"
"I don't think I'll ever have a client as difficult as her again. Since my first client was that prickly Cosmos, I feel like I won't be surprised by anyone else who comes after. I'm really glad I got to experience Cosmos first."
I said that with a hint of a joke and let out a laugh.
Then...
*Knock, knock, knock.*
As if it were perfectly timed, someone knocked on the front door.
I couldn't help but flinch and feel a bit unsettled.
Could it be Cosmos? What if she heard that joking remark? I felt like I had said something quite rude from her perspective, so I hesitated and spoke with a trembling voice.
"W-who is it?"
I cautiously approached the door.
Then, gathering my courage, I put my hand on the doorknob and opened it.
If it was Cosmos, I would apologize right away.
As I thought that...
"Eh..."
Fortunately, Cosmos wasn't there.
Contrary to my expectations, a "huge figure" that didn't resemble Cosmos at all was standing in front of the door.
"..."
A woman, about a head taller than me, with blue hair cut to her shoulders.
She had a large shield on her back and a straight sword at her waist.
With a face that didn't show any emotion, she looked down at me through the gap in her bangs.
Under that gaze, I felt a sense of déjà vu and suddenly remembered.
"Ah, from yesterday..."
Yesterday, after the promotion exam was over, a refreshing young adventurer had invited me to join his party.
I had to politely decline, and after he left, this woman had come up to me.
At that moment, she just looked down at me with that colorless face, just like before.
She left without saying anything, so the impression was strong and I remember it well.
Since she left without stating her business, I thought she didn't have any particular reason to see me, but she appeared in front of me again.
I wonder if she really has something to discuss with me? Is it an invitation to a party, just like that refreshing young man? Or maybe...
"Um, excuse me, is there something you need...?"
"..."
The blue-haired woman didn't answer at all.
She just stared down at me with her emotionless blue eyes.
It was exactly the same as yesterday.
At that moment, I felt it was very rude, but I inwardly bowed my head to Cosmos.
I had said that no customer as difficult as that would come again, but I should correct that; I was wrong.
An even more difficult customer came to visit me.
"...Make me... strong."
"Excuse me?"
"Make me... strong."
Just when I thought the woman finally spoke, her voice was very small, despite her large appearance.
It was almost quieter than the sound of a bug's wings.
On top of that, her words were extremely lacking in detail.
Make me strong.
Make me strong.
She definitely said that.
From that line, could it mean she knows I'm a "Nurturer"? So she wants me to help her grow, I guess? Maybe yesterday, she really came to say this...?.
"Um, milady. I'm afraid that's a bit lacking in explanation."
"Hm?"
From behind the large woman, a very small figure appeared, moving slowly.
I didn't sense her presence at all, and she appeared so suddenly that I let out a small groan.
Moreover, I was even more surprised that this figure was about the same height as Cosmos.
The figure turned out to be an "old lady" in an apron, with white hair tied back.
"W-Who are you...?"
She wasn't with the woman yesterday; it was the hunched old lady.
She walked unsteadily, as if she might fall at any moment, and came in front of the woman.
Then she bowed her head to me again.
"Sorry for the delay. I'm the servant Kikrys, serving this young lady, Nemophila. I've come to ask if you could lend your strength to Miss Nurturer Sir Roezé, as I've heard rumors about you."
"Uh, uh..."
The old woman who introduced herself as Ms. Kikrys explained everything quite eloquently compared to the large woman.
Thanks to Ms. Kikrys's words, I was finally able to grasp the situation to some extent.
So, these people came to rely on me as a Nurturer, right? By the way, didn't this old woman just call the blue-haired woman 'Milady'? What kind of position does she hold? And this old woman is also a servant to this woman...
But I didn't have time to ponder such questions; I realized they came to me for help as a Nurturer, so there were things I needed to do first.
It wasn't the time to be standing around chatting at the entrance like this.
So, as I was about to invite them inside...
"Mr. Roezé, the tea is ready. Sorry for borrowing the kitchen without asking."
"..."
When I turned around, there was Rose, refilling the tea for everyone at the table.
While I was having a clumsy conversation with these people, she had been preparing the hospitality behind me.
Thanks to that, I was able to smoothly invite Ms. Kikrys and the others inside afterward.
So, I guess this means I've gained my second customer as a Nurturer, right?
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