Volume 3 Chapter 32 The Joy Of Nurturing
After parting with Suisen, I pretended to go home and hid in a small path.
When Suisen came out of the library, I secretly followed him.
Earlier, he said he had 'no worries,' but his face definitely showed that he had something on his mind.
"So, you're sneaking around to uncover the 'hidden secret,' huh? Sounds like an interesting plan."
"...Still, you didn't really need to follow all the way, did you?"
I know it's a bit odd to say this after casting Hide's support magic, but while the library needed extra hands, I felt like I could handle this tailing on my own.
"I can't just go home halfway like this. I've helped you this far, so it's fine if I stick around a little longer, right?"
"Y-Yeah, I guess that makes sense..."
While we were talking, Suisen almost disappeared into the crowd.
We hurriedly quickened our pace to keep him in sight.
He must have some big worries that are different from ordinary people, so there should definitely be moments in daily life where his true self shows through.
I have to be careful not to miss those moments.
"By the way, is this really the 'job' you should be doing?"
"Huh?"
Cosmos, who was following me, tilted her head as she walked beside me.
"Are you talking about helping Suisen?"
"Yeah. The power of a Nurturer is supposed to help with job class growth, right? But helping with 'job class awakening' seems to go beyond the 'scope of work,' doesn't it?"
"..."
Now that I think about it, it does feel like it's beyond the usual job scope.
Until now, the Nurturer had only used my Trainer's ability to rapidly grow someone else's job class.
I'm not really an expert on job class awakenings, and I'm a bit confused when asked if it's really the job of a Nurturer.
But well...
"The job of a Nurturer isn't just to level up job classes; it's also about making that person 'stronger.' I didn't put any line on the promotional paper saying 'no one without a job class allowed,' so if someone wants to get stronger, I'm just here to help them."
Even if it means doing things differently than usual, if there's a chance to make someone stronger, I'll cooperate.
"I think that's my role as a Nurturer when I take on a request."
"..."
When I expressed my feelings again, Cosmos widened her black eyes a bit in surprise.
Then she let out a small, exasperated laugh.
"You really are a 'Nurturer' who loves raising people, huh? I won't be responsible if this gets complicated."
"Y-Yeah, I'll be careful."
But I already think things have gotten pretty complicated.
Anyway, I recognize this as a proper Nurturer job.
It's a request that's a bit different from usual, but it's still about making a struggling adventurer stronger.
I'll understand Suisen's worries properly, help resolve them, and awaken his job class like Hero Dandelion.
...Or at least, that was my passionate determination.
"...What is that guy doing?"
When I followed Suisen, all I could figure out was that he's just a "weird guy." Walking through town, Suisen stopped every time he found a window or a puddle, mesmerized by his own reflection.
He did the same thing when he was with me, but it seemed he did it alone too, as if it were natural.
'Ah, what a beautiful face...' As Suisen admired his own face, women passing by looked at him with a mix of curiosity and discomfort.
It seems that no matter how good-looking he is, that kind of behavior is something many women find off-putting.
If he stays quiet, he looks cool, but still, there are probably many people who are drawn to him.
Suisen, without caring about those gazes, often stops to admire his own face and even pretentiously buys a single flower at a flower shop.
"I wonder if he really has any worries."
"Uh, I don't know..."
Watching Suisen walk gracefully through the town, enjoying the scent of flowers, it's hard not to think he's someone completely free of worries.
Does he really have any problems? Maybe I've completely misunderstood her? While I was hit by this slight anxiety, help unexpectedly came from a direction I never imagined.
"Hm?"
As I followed Suisen, a blue-haired woman in a jacket walked towards him from the front.
The moment Suisen saw her, he quickly turned into a side alley.
We also followed and hid behind a nearby wooden barrel, and soon the figure became clear.
"That person is..."
A cool woman with a slender build and a dignified face.
Dressed in the same guild outfit as Ms. Terra, she was Alium Groke, who had been in charge during Rose's promotion exam.
Needless to say, she is Suisen's crush.
"Ms. Alium..."
"Wait? That person is...?"
"Yeah. She's the receptionist at the guild that Suisen is about to confess to. Suisen is trying to get stronger to tell his feelings."
"Then why is he hiding? Isn't he going to talk to the person he likes right in front of him?"
"Uh, I don't know...?"
I feel like Suisen would be the type to be proactive.
But instead, he quietly watches Ms. Alium from the shadows of the alley, never attempting to make contact.
Come to think of it, I had no idea how close Suisen and Ms. Alium were.
This morning, I intended to go to the guild to see Ms. Alium, but I ended up changing my route to the library.
I never had the chance to witness them interacting.
Could it be that they hardly even talk to each other?
I thought for sure that Suisen and I were really close and that he was the one actively approaching me...
"What's up with that guy? Could it be that despite his looks and personality, he's actually really 'shy'? Is that his 'problem'?"
"...Well, I guess that's a possibility."
From what I've seen, I'm starting to think the same way.
When I think about it, Suisen is surprisingly cautious.
He had decided to become stronger first in order to successfully confess to Ms. Alium.
It's probably because he's shy and careful that he's relied on me, the Nurturer, to make his confession perfect.
Could it be that such a timid 'shy heart' is Suisen's 'problem'?
"Surprisingly, I mean, it is surprising..."
Eventually, Ms. Alium walked past the alley, and Suisen, who had been watching intently, returned from the alley to the street.
He started moving again, so we hurried to follow him.
After that, nothing particularly happened, and Suisen disappeared into an inn in the West District.
After a day of tailing him, we took a breather.
"So, did you find any clues that might connect to his worries?"
"Umm, I don't know...?"
I didn't get any clear hints, but I did find something that piqued my interest.
The surprising fact that Suisen, who is usually overconfident and full of self-esteem, is actually 'shy.'
I'm not sure if that's really Suisen's problem, but it's definitely a possibility.
Anyway, tomorrow I'll ask Suisen about this.
It would be nice if we could discuss how to solve his worries together.
So, with the tailing done, we decided to head home this time.
It had gotten quite late, so we took a shortcut through the back alleys to get to the East District.
However, just as we moved a little further into the alley, in that moment──.
"──!?"
A "figure in black" suddenly appeared from a side path.
I, along with Cosmos, jumped back in surprise, wary of the figure before us.
They were completely covered in a pitch-black hooded cloak and a black mask.
Judging by their build, they were probably a "woman."
Soon, from the depths of the alley and the side streets behind us, a group of several people dressed in black appeared, and we were perfectly surrounded.
In the dimly lit alley where only a little light from the town lamps barely reached, silence and tension surged.
"...No matter how you look at it, they're not a friendly group, right?"
"Well, it doesn't feel like they want to be friends."
I quietly nodded in response to Cosmos, who murmured while keeping an eye on the group in black.
The fact that they were covering their heads with hoods and masks made it clear they were up to no good.
Moreover, they didn't seem like ordinary thieves; they were specifically targeting us.
Were they after me or Cosmos? Or maybe both of us? I fixed my gaze on the first person in black who had appeared, hiding a hint of surprise, and asked.
"...Do you need something from us?"
The person in black, upon hearing my question, bluntly threw out a shocking statement.
"Back off from Suisen Pride."
"Huh?"
"I know you're the Nurturer who's cooperating with him. Withdraw immediately. Otherwise..."
"..."
So it was a sudden ambush aimed at me.
I never expected they would try to stop Suisen's request.
After all, Suisen's request was only to help me succeed in his confession.
Why would they want to interfere with that? Realizing that this group in black was targeting me, Cosmos seemed to remember something and let out a wry smile.
"This situation feels a bit familiar. Do you have some weird talent for getting attacked on night streets?"
"That's because of Cosmos' brother..."
The last time I helped Cosmos, I was also attacked by her brother on a night street.
It was true that the situation was somewhat similar to that time.
I hoped she wouldn't blame my talent for this, and as we exchanged this tension-free banter, the woman in black before us raised her voice again.
"If you quietly withdraw from Suisen Pride, I won't resort to rough methods. So from now on, don't go near that man."
"..."
I can feel the intent behind the warning that if I ignore it, I'll face pain.
I honestly have no idea what they mean by telling me to pull away from Suisen.
What disadvantage could my cooperation with Suisen bring to these people? I have no way of knowing that, but...
'That's why I'm captivated by Ms. Alium. For the first time in my life, I've fallen for someone. I want to support Ms. Alium for the rest of my life, just as much as she has saved me until now.'
Suisen now wishes to become stronger.
Following his pure feelings, he came to visit the Nurturer to succeed in his confession.
I don't think that feeling is wrong.
I don't believe it's an act that would trouble anyone.
Above all, as the Nurturer, I've already decided to fulfill the request of 'wanting to become stronger' until the very end.
"I'll help Suisen. Sorry, but I can't listen to what you say."
"..."
As I showed my defiance, a woman in black raised her hand, and the people around her moved all at once.
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