After Reincarnating as a Villain-faced B-class Adventurer in the Game, I Picked up the Protagonist and His Childhood Friend - Chapter 52

The next day, I woke up in the morning, patted the heads of Stella and Ratz who were sleeping, and went downstairs to find Ariamel and Emilia preparing breakfast in the kitchen. Emilia was just carrying the requested ingredients Ariamel asked for.

“Good morning. You’re both early.”

“Good morning, Gray-san.”

“Oh, good morning. Isn’t it that Gray overslept?”

When I called out to them from behind, the two of them turned around almost at the same time, Ariamel smiled kindly while Emilia returned the greeting while mischievously closing one eye.

…It’s true that I’ve been waking up late in the morning lately. Am I getting too relaxed? When I sleep with my children, it’s warm and inviting…

“G-Gray? Are you kidding me?”

“Hmm? Oh. I know. I’ll help you with that. What do you want me to do?”

“Then can Gray-san cut up some vegetables?”

“Oh, leave it to me.”

Saying that, he took out a kitchen knife and prepared.

“Ah… if it’s just cutting, I can do it.”

Emilia offered to help while feeling nervous.

“Emilia, you can’t use any blade other than a sword.”

“…mmm, I’ll go lay out some plates…”

Emilia’s face turns saddened when she is told that. …She might be useful in a sense, though, since she can cut a wooden cutting board in half with a kitchen knife.

Seeing the exchange between me and Emilia, Ariamel smiled a little enviously.

After that, we all had breakfast together, Ares and I went to the adventurer’s guild, and Emilia went back to the “War Maidens” party house. When she leaves the house. When we left the house, Ariamel gave me three lunch boxes.

“Huh, when did you prepare lunch…”

I was curious about that too, so I asked Ariamel directly…but it seems like she always finishes the preparations the day before and just packs everything on the day it’s needed. I heard she also asked Rina to show her how to make a menu that can be eaten even if it’s cold.

I apologized properly afterwards, but… I regretted saying before that I didn’t want a lunch box on the day of the event.

“Ariamel”

“Yes. What’s wrong?”

“Thank you for everything. I appreciate it.”

“Eh…yes. I’m grateful to you too, Gray-san. Of course, we all are… right?”

Ariamel says so while looking at Iska and the others.

Iska and Fio are practicing on their own. Nina and Stella running around me in circles. Ratz staring at a stray cat. And for some reason, Ares keeps a distance when I and Ariamel are having a conversation.

“I see.”

I am grateful to all of them. It’s because of these kids that there are days when I feel happy like this.

…But what is it about that odd behavior of Ares, what’s troubling him?

“Then Ariamel… um… thank you very much. Please let me have your lunch. Nina and Stella, please play with me again.”

“No, I enjoyed it too. Please tell me more stories next time.”

“Emilia, please come again.”

“See you later.”

Emilia greets Ariamel and the others with a slight reluctance. They seem to have gotten to know each other pretty well.

However, it may be just my imagination, but I feel that there is a subtle atmosphere between Emilia and Ariamel… or rather, Emilia is one-sidedly looking uncomfortable.

It might be better to have a good talk with Ares and Emilia once.

The adventurer’s guild and the new “war maiden” party house are in the same direction, so I decided to go halfway with Emilia.

“…A family is a good thing.”

Emilia, who is walking next to me, says so while looking at the lunch box given by Ariamel. Ares is following from behind.

“I know.”

I replied, and after a short pause.

“Yeah. I also wanted to see my father, mother, and sister for the first time in a while. But I don’t think they’d want to see me.”

She said, looking nostalgic for the old days and a little lonely. …He asked Emilia about her family home when they were dating a long time ago.

Emilia’s family is a local noble family, and she was born as the third daughter of the family. She has a past in which she dislikes a political marriage and runs out of the house. She’s been a childhood friend of Kasha since she was born, and seems to have gotten along better than her real sisters. When Emilia left home, she followed her as a matter of course.

“Well, I guess this is where I say goodbye. I’m sorry for barging in unannounced yesterday.”

I was thinking about how to respond when I came to the parting of ways. It’s difficult… no matter what other people say, it’s nothing but comfort, and I don’t think I’m looking for something like that.

“No, it’s okay. Come visit us again. The children will be happy, and you’re always welcome.”

Nina was also so fond of her……I have nothing to regret.

“Oh, definitely. Well then, see you both at the guild.”

“Oh”

“Yes. See you.”

Saying that, Emilia gave a small wave and then turned her back and started walking away. Ares and I watched her walk away for a little while.

“We should go.”

“That’s right…um…”

“What’s wrong?”

“Gray-san and Emilia-san. What is the relationship between you two…”

Why is everyone so worried about that…