Volume 1 Chapter 9 Interlude： The Collapse of a Certain Party (Part II)
*Continuing from the third-person perspective.*
<hr>
"I'm back..."
"Oh, it's you, Minori and Suzu. You two look worn out."
Emin, the guildmaster of the Adventurer's Guild, happened to be at the reception desk and expressed his concern to the exhausted Second Rank adventurer sisters.
"Yeah... Guy messed up, and we had to retreat from the labyrinth."
"Suzu and the others held the rear until the end. Guy, Sean, and Marie just kept pushing them to the back and running away; it was ridiculous."
The sisters sighed.
But they knew the reason for this.
It was because Guy had returned the magic stones to Ryuuji.
The <Magic Stone of Sublimation>, which enhances physical strength, and the <Magic Stone of Powerful Arms>, which boosts physical abilities, were both created by Ryuuji and required the skills of an exceptional enchanter to produce.
Well, a regular enchanter could probably create them, but only a select few with advanced techniques could bring out their full potential.
"That must've been tough... So, did the mission fail?"
"Yeah. Guy wanted us to try and extend the deadline, but given his state, I doubt we can accomplish it. We can just ignore it."
"That's sensible."
Minori's bluntness made Emin smile wryly.
While repeated mission failures could lead to a downgrade in adventurer rank, these sisters had never been too concerned about their rank in the first place.
"Oh, right, Guild Master! I wanted to ask you something──"
Just as Minori was about to ask something, Emin stopped her with a hand gesture.
He carefully scanned the surroundings.
"I know what you want to ask. ...Are Guy and the others not here?"
"Yeah, they're at the inn."
"I see. Then read this here."
As Minori and Suzu wondered if Guy had some secret, Emin handed them a letter from Ryuuji.
The sender was Ryuuji.
The recipients were Minori and Suzu.
"This is...!"
The sisters nodded and quickly opened the letter to read its contents.
---
To Minori and Suzu,
You may have already heard, but I've been branded as useless and forced to leave the party.
It will be difficult for me to continue adventuring in this town.
So, I've decided to set up a workshop in Sartzstadt, a town in the southwest of the Beistein Kingdom, with an alchemist I met.
I have no intention of parting ways with my dear sisters, so I want you two to come if you're willing.
I'll be waiting.
Ryuuji
---
"...Sartzstadt."
"Yes, that's what it says."
"He's waiting for his dear sisters."
"...Yeah."
Minori's expression became lively, like a fish in water.
Ryuuji never intended to part ways with them from the start.
"Have you read it?"
"Yeah, I did. Thanks, Guild Master."
"Thank you, Guild Master. You secretly took custody of it so Guy wouldn't know where we're going, right?"
Emin smiled, seeing Minori and Suzu's reactions as if they understood everything.
"As expected of his sisters, you two are perceptive."
Emin's words brought a cheerful grin to Minori's face, while Suzu offered a more reserved smile.
"Of course! We're Big Bro Ryuuji's little sisters, after all!"
* * *
As Emin took charge of the letter's disposal, Minori and Suzu discussed their next steps.
It would take half a month to travel there on foot, so the most sensible option was to take a shared carriage via the kingdom of Beistein's capital, Raudinger, from Bechmer.
"Huh? So, Suzu, you're not planning to leave right away?"
"Yeah, I'm gonna take the shared carriage later."
"Why's that?"
Minori tilted her head, wondering if it would be more fun to go together, but Suzu held up the magic book in her hand and calmly explained her reason.
"I haven't finished reading this magic book I borrowed from a friend."
"Pfft!"
Minori couldn't help but burst out laughing at such a typical Suzu-like reason.
This young genius magician's unwavering pursuit of truth was nothing new.
"Alright, Suzu. But if you run into any trouble, leave right away. That self-proclaimed leader, the monkey, is unpredictable."
"Yeah, I understand. You take care too, Sis Minori."
The sisters embraced each other tightly, their small frames intertwining in a heartfelt farewell.
"...Sis Minori, have you grown even more?"
"Ugh, shut up!"
Minori quickly disentangled herself from Suzu, her face turning crimson as she tried to conceal her recently burgeoning chest, a source of recent concern.
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