"I'll Catch Up Later, So Go On Ahead!" I Said, and Stayed Behind in the Dungeon for Five Years. When I Returned to the Royal Capital, for Some Reason, I Had Become a Great Criminal, So I Decided to Retire. But Outstanding People Keep Gathering Around Me Though... - Episode 25: Resolve

Episode 25: Resolve

“──I knew it. Because your scent was the same.”

“R-Really?”

“Yeah.”

Luster showed no particular surprise. She continued speaking as calmly as ever.

The same scent… That’s a completely unexpected angle.

I had thought that if my appearance and voice changed, people would think I was someone else.

But scent, huh… I guess that’s so like Luster.

Still, if Luster had realized it was me, why didn’t she bring it up?

“Why didn’t you question me about it?”

“Haruto. You looked like you didn’t want it brought up. And I thought if you were pretending not to recognize me, then you must’ve had your reasons.”

“I see…”

“Yeah. Besides… we still haven’t regained your place.”

“Luster…”

Luster wasn’t the type to show emotions openly. But she was kinder than anyone.

Her kindness almost brought me to tears.

Then I told her about reuniting with Felina and Estelle.

For some reason, Luster’s expression turned slightly displeased.

“Mmm…”

“What’s wrong?”

“I’m the third one?”

“Yeah, I guess so.”

“Mmm. I wanted to be first.”

Luster puffed out her cheeks in displeasure.

“Sorry. It’s not like I was picking the order or anything──”

“No, it’s just personal feelings. Don’t worry about it.”

“If you say so, then alright.”

“Yeah.”

Luster kept talking in her usual calm tone.

She wasn’t talkative, but she hadn’t changed a bit.

That gave me a strange sense of comfort.

“Well then, I’ll be relying on you again going forward. I think I’ll be needing your help a lot.”

“Yeah. I’ll bring lots of wheat. Haruto— no, I mean Haru, let me try your bread sometime. I’m looking forward to it.”

“Yeah.”

“Okay. Bye-bye, Haru.”

And with that, Luster got into the wagon and returned to the farm.

—

I’d managed to talk to the three of them.

The last one left… was Sharo.

But I didn’t know where she was now.

Maybe I should try going to the capital on my day off.

That’s what I was thinking—

But the next day, just before closing, Sharo came into the shop.

She was clearly glaring at me.

There was even a faint sense of hostility in her eyes.

“Haru.”

“Yes. What is it?”

“You’re the one who put up the barrier on this store, right? And there were similar barriers on other shops. You— You’re definitely not just some ordinary guy, are you?”

“Uh, well…”

She looked ready to attack at any moment.

Yeah… I should properly explain this too.

If Sharo saw the barrier, she’d know how strong it was. That must’ve made her suspicious.

I asked Lisel to let me leave early. And I brought Sharo to a quiet spot near the forest to talk.

—

“──Just admit it. Tell me who you really are.”

Tension filled the air.

Sharo was cloaked in magical power. She was ready to fire a spell at any moment.

“Uh… I’m—Haruto.”

“Huh?”

“Long time no see, Sharo.”

As I said that, her long black hair flared up with magical energy.

Was she… really that angry?

“You… How far are you planning to mock me?”

“M-Mock…?”

“Pretending to be Sensei… What are you trying to pull?! I can’t forgive you! Using his name like that…!!”

Sharo’s anger only grew stronger.

W-Well… yeah. Honestly, this is the normal reaction.

The way the other three reacted was the strange part.

It’s true—there’s no trace of the old me in my current appearance.

But I had no choice. I had to calmly explain it.

Just as I was thinking that, Sharo’s magic was already in motion.

Sharp ice spikes flew toward me one after another.

“Whoa…! Sharo! Wait! Just listen to me──!”

“No more words! I’ll never forgive you!”

A barrage of magic attacks came flying.

Sharo specialized in ice magic. And she’d clearly improved since five years ago.

While I was happy about her growth, now wasn’t the time to be admiring it.

“──Looks like I have no choice.”

I partially unlocked the ability of my unique magic, Arlia’s White Sword Alba.

Without fully manifesting the sword, I activated only the magical formula.

“First Anchor: Structural Analysis.

Second Anchor: Magic Formula Recognition.

Third Anchor: Synchronize Interference Field──

Phase Neutralization.“

As I analyzed her magic, I saw an incredibly beautiful structure.

It was clear how much she had trained these five years.

But—I completely nullified it.

“Wha──?”

Her magic dispersed instantly into pale blue light.

I approached the stunned Sharo and grabbed her wrist.

“Sharo. Please, just listen.”

“Grr…! That magic—what was it?! You completely nullified my magic formula! That speed and precision aren’t normal! And that barrier, too… Just who are you?!”

“Sharo. After spending five years in Abyss Sanctum, my appearance and voice changed. That magic—I learned it to survive in that place.”

“Liar! I won’t be fooled!”

I guess I’ve got no choice…

I didn’t want to use this, but—it’s the only way.

“──You sometimes wear your clothes backward.”

“Huh?”

“And that time you botched a teleport spell and only sent your underwear.”

“Huh!?”

“Or when you messed up a summoning and ended up with slime all over your head.”

“W-Wait—! Stop digging up embarrassing memories! But… only party members would know that… Ah! You heard it from the others, didn’t you?!”

“Then here’s one only you and I know. You tried to go to that adult lingerie shop in the capital by yourself. And on the way, you ran into me and—”

“Uwaaaaaaaaaa!! Stop talking about it any further!!”

I didn’t want to reveal those memories either.

But I had no choice.

Finally, Sharo let her guard down.

She looked at me as if unsure whether she could believe me.

Her eyes shimmered slightly.

“Y-You’re really… Sensei?”

“Yeah. I’m back, Sharo.”

“Uwaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!”

Sharo finally accepted me.

She threw herself into my arms.

After a while, she stopped crying. And I told her everything that had happened up to now.

“I see… So that’s what happened.”

“Yeah. But now, I’m having fun working at a bakery.”

“Makes sense. Sensei, you always did like bread.”

Then Sharo stared at me intently.

“Sensei. Will you… teach me magic again? I’ve worked really hard these five years. But you’re still amazing. That barrier spell was incredible, and you even nullified my magic!”

“Sure. I’ll teach you when I have time.”

“Yay!”

Sharo gave a big smile.

Without thinking, I patted her on the head like I used to.

“Hey! I’m not a kid anymore!”

“Ah, sorry, sorry. Old habit.”

“Well, it’s fine… But you have to teach me magic, okay? Promise!”

“Of course.”

And so, I was truly reunited with all four of my former party members.

However—deep down, I still had one concern.

The incident with Zephyr’s attack.

That… likely involved the kingdom.

There’s no way he obtained that Artifact-class magical tool on his own.

And there were words he said that still bothered me.

This matter isn’t over.

If the kingdom’s threat might harm not only the people of Rothen, but also my old comrades, then I…

†

The next morning.

When I arrived at work as usual, the boss called out to me.

“Haru. I need to talk to you. Got a moment?”

“Yes, understood.”

I followed the boss to the kitchen.

“Tomorrow, Lisel… plans to debut her new bread.”

“……I-I see.”

“Yeah… Haru. What do you want to do…? You can’t keep covering for her forever…”

The boss had a serious expression he didn’t usually show.

It showed just how cornered he was too.

So the time has finally come.

Lately, Lisel had been cheerfully working on new bread.

I caught a glimpse of a prototype…

But to be honest—it definitely wasn’t something we could put on display.

I made up my mind.

It was finally time—to tell Lisel the truth.