I’m an Appraiser, But What the Heck is a [Divine Eye]? ~I Want to Live Freely as the World’s Best Beginner Class~ - Episode 153: An Unexpected Survival Life 23

Episode 153: An Unexpected Survival Life 23  

“――…P-Please, forgive me already.”  

“No, Maki-kun! From now on, you absolutely cannot overdo things on your own, got it?”  

“…Yes.”  

“You *must* consult with us. And since it concerns Moriya, you need to talk to him about it as well.”  

“…Well, that’s…”  

“”We don’t want to hear excuses!””  

“…I’m sorry.”  

The scolding from both of them has been going on for quite a while now.  

During this time, Moriya has been standing by the wall, silently watching us. If he’s just going to watch, I wish he’d step in and help me.  

Well, considering I did exactly what he told me not to do, I wasn’t expecting him to bail me out anyway.  

“…Alright, alright, both of you. Maki-kun seems to be reflecting on his actions, so maybe that’s enough.”  

Just as I was thinking that, Moriya spoke up to calm them down.  

Did he come to my rescue? …No, he probably just found the prolonged scolding to be a hassle.  

“…Well, if Taiku-san says so.”  

“…True, we might have gone a bit too far.”  

“But, Maki-kun, make sure you don’t do anything reckless from now on, okay?”  

“……Understood.”  

This time, I was completely in the wrong, so I had no choice but to accept their words.  

Besides, Sunny has been repeatedly pressing its forehead against my chest. So it seems I’ve worried it too. …That said, it’s starting to hurt a bit, so I wish it’d stop.  

“S-So! Moriya, I have some good news—or rather, something I need to tell you!”  

“Hmm? For me?”  

“Yeah! I’ve only uncovered part of the information, but it’s something important!”  

Moriya seemed to grasp what I was referring to, his gaze locked onto me. His expression was stiff.  

“…‘Something important’, you mean…”  

“Exactly what you’re thinking. I found a way for you to leave this place!”  

“For Taiku-san?”  

“To leave?”  

The two of them tilted their heads, clearly puzzled, as they didn’t know Moriya’s circumstances.  

With Moriya’s permission, I explained to them that due to the cost of a forbidden magic spell, Moriya was bound to this location.  

“…Taiku-san, I can’t believe it.”  

“But from how you said it earlier, Mihiro, it sounds like there’s a way to lift that cost?”  

“That’s right, Arata. However, like when I learned how to acquire new skills, I only have partial information at the moment.”  

“Hmm, do you mean that one? So, if I increase my Magic stats enough, I can undo the soul-binding and move freely, right?”  

I nodded emphatically at Moriya’s summary.  

If only I had a banana on hand to present… Ugh, why do I always end up wishing for things I don’t have?  

“Hey, Taiku-san. Can’t we use the teleportation circle again to come back here?”  

“It’s not impossible, but why do you ask?”  

“We have fruits that double our stats. If we can bring those back here, I believe they’ll help you overcome your binding.”  

“..…You have such fruits?”  

Huh? I thought Moriya might know about them. But apparently, he didn’t.  

“Yes, we do. The type of fruit varies depending on the stat: Strength, Endurance, Speed, Magic, or Dexterity.”  

“For Magic stats, it’s bananas.”  

“Bananas, huh? Not my favorite… Though, I can’t eat them right now anyway!”  

The fact that he still had room for jokes showed he wasn’t entirely without hope.  

“If such convenient items exist, I wish we had known earlier. Are they newly developed fruits?”  

“No, they’re not. Maki-kun discovered them in the Forest of Demons.”  

“…What? They grow in the Forest of Demons?”  

Moriya was genuinely shocked. He didn’t even make his usual clicking noises; he just stood there with his mouth agape.  

“………If we’d had those, maybe we could’ve seen a different future.”  

“Moriya?”  

“Ah, sorry—nothing. Don’t worry about it.”  

Although he was betrayed, Moriya and the others were summoned to this world together. He probably never imagined they’d turn against him.  

Realizing there might’ve been a way to prevent that must have stirred some regret.  

“…The ones who betrayed you, they’re already dead, right?”  

“…Maki-kun?”  

“Since you’re the only one alive now, wouldn’t it be better to focus on your future rather than wasting time thinking about them?”  

“Wait, Maki-kun, that’s a bit harsh…”  

“Yeah, Mihiro, give Moriya-san some time to sort out his feelings.”  

Madoka and Arata both tried to chide me, but Moriya interrupted them.  

“No, Maki-kun is right. Thanks to the forbidden magic that kept me alive, I’ve had too much time to overthink everything. But if I can move forward, then that’s what I should focus on.”  

“Exactly. So, once we get back to Granzawall, we’ll grab some bananas and return here immediately. When we do, you’re coming with us to Granzawall, got it?”  

“Haha… Is that a done deal?”  

“Of course it is. You don’t have the right to refuse.”  

I said it half-jokingly and with a condescending tone. But Moriya strangely wore a smile.  

……Maybe dragging him along like this is exactly what he needs.