The Neighborhood High School Girl, Miss Isezaki, Is the Great Saintess Returned from Another World~ And I, Suddenly Awakened as Her Exclusive Mana Supply Uncle, Travel Between Earth and Another World with Time-Space Magic~ - 233. The Way Home

233. 233. The Way Home

Using [Storage Space] to transport materials makes storing them easy. But taking them out is a bit of a hassle.

Since a large amount of materials can’t fit in a single room. Another reason is because the wooden boxes containing weapons, armor, food, building materials, and other categories must be somewhat organized when placed. Otherwise, the people who take them out later will have a hard time.

“Alright… there. Whew, that’s the last of it.”

Just as I finished such work and placed the last wooden box in the corner of the room, Maristel raised her voice as if impressed.

“Amaaaazing! Matsunaga, you always unload this much at once? That’s no good, y’know. Hoarding too much is bad for your body~. You should let it out regularly, okay?”

That… sounded kind of erotic. But maybe it’s just my imagination.

“I always transport about this much at once. Though this is the last time.”

“Huh~. They say the size of the [Storage Space] scales with mana capacity. But if it’s *this* big, then of course your mana smells this good.”

While saying that, Maristel brought her nose close to my neck and sniffed.

Among the demonfolk, Maristel possesses the special ability to smell mana. But honestly, from my side, I’d really rather she didn’t. Sniffing people for their smell is the act of a pervert. I subtly put distance between us.

“Ehh~? Can’t you at least let me smell you a little~? Stingy~”

“No way… Anyway, I’m done with my work here. So I’ll be heading back. I think I’ll come by again during Lady Levia’s ceremony. I’d appreciate your help again then.”

“Ha! Matsunaga-dono, good work!”

“Yup, good work~♡”

Captain Beard saluted, and Maristel waved her hand lightly. I turned my back to the two and left the frontline base with Colin.

◇◇◇

On the way back, just like when we came, I planned to use [Dimensional Teleport] behind the big boulder at the edge of town.

To get there, I walked through the developing townscape once more. Along the way, I suddenly noticed something and muttered aloud.

“The workers using earth magic… they’re all short and stocky…”

“Well, duh? They’re dwarves~”

“Huh, dwarves?”

“Earth magic means dwarves, right~? You didn’t know that, Matsunaga? You really are kind of clueless sometimes. But that part of you is adorable too♡”

So there are dwarves in this world too, not just demonfolk. Which means maybe there are those kinds of races and those kinds too.

Isezaki-san doesn’t really tell me much about this sort of thing. Well, at my age, surprises that feel truly fresh are rare. And I’m not trying to force the information out of her anyway.

…More importantly—

“Um, Maristel-san. How long are you going to keep following us?”

Even though we said goodbye at the frontline base, Maristel was following us like it was the most natural thing.

“Well, I mean~. We haven’t seen each other in so long~. Parting right away would be boring~”

My plan was to report to Holly, then visit the Reymar Trading Company. I wanted to start selling the products I bulk-bought at the 100-yen shop soon.

So I’d really like to part ways with Maristel around here. But she just wouldn’t leave.

“At least let me see you off to the carriage. I adjust the dolls at night, so I’m totally free right now. That much is fine, right~?”

Apparently, Maristel wanted to see us off until we left town. She probably just didn’t want to part ways so soon. That pure sentiment pricked at my conscience.

Still, it would be a problem if she kept following us. We weren’t using a carriage in the first place.

Now then, what to do… And maybe sensing the mood, Colin whispered to me:

“Matsunaga-sama, if you wish, I can render Maristel-san unconscious.”

In the next moment, Colin’s figure flickered and appeared behind Maristel. She raised her hand in a practiced stance.

If I just nodded, she would probably do *that* technique—the tap to the neck that knocks people out.

I’ve heard that doesn’t actually work. But if it’s Colin, she might really pull it off. No doubt.

“Hey, hey! Aren’t you two saying something dangerous?! Did I say something that weird!?”

Maristel flailed. She was startled by Colin’s sudden appearance behind her.

Well, she’s probably kind of an out-of-place character at the fortress. And I can kind of understand her feeling lonely when I leave.

Last time I left without saying anything, and I was the one who forcibly got her the job at the fortress. So I can’t help but feel some responsibility. What should I do…

While thinking about that, before I knew it, I had reached the big boulder at the edge of town—my destination.

Hmm… now that we’re here, maybe there’s no helping it anymore.

I turned around to Maristel with a bit of resignation. And for some reason, she was looking around the area with a lewd grin.

“Hehehe~! Oh my, Matsunaga~. Dragging me to a place this deserted… If you’re in the mood, just say so, okay? I’m always ready♡”

Maristel gleefully placed her hands on her dress straps. She looked like she was about to strip in an instant. So I quickly stopped her.

“No, wait, that’s not it. I just need to talk to you.”

“Eh? What is it? A love confession at this late hour? Matsunaga, you’re surprisingly romantic~”

“No, not that. But what I’m about to say—please keep it a secret, okay?”

“Mmhm, got it♡ You mean a secret relationship from Isezaki, right? Ufufu~ this is my first time~ So I’m super nervous~”

“I said that’s not it! Please, just calm down for a second.”

I’m already getting tired. I sighed and looked at the overly excited, completely misunderstanding Maristel.

Around her neck was a ‘Chikkawa’ necklace that looked way too cutesy for someone as sexy as her.

It had Isezaki-san’s custom magic [Sacred Oath] embedded in it. And apparently thanks to its effect, Maristel couldn’t betray me. …If that’s the case, maybe there’s no need to explain anything.

“Anyway! Just keep it a secret, okay?”

I confirmed it with Maristel, slightly fed up. Colin noticed my intent and looked up at me with slight surprise.

“Are you sure, Matsunaga-sama?”

“Yeah. Well, she’s got the necklace. Should be fine.”

“Understood! Then, in case anything happens, I’ll eliminate Maristel-san before she can speak. Leave it to me!”

“Wha—Eliminate?! What do you mean eliminate?! What’s going to happen to me now?! I’m seriously getting scared!”

Maristel’s face turned pale at Colin’s dangerous words.

She seemed to be totally misunderstanding something. But at this point, I might as well just get it over with before she starts complaining.

I grabbed Colin’s and Maristel’s hands.

“Eeep!”

Maristel jerked her hand away.

“Wh-Why are you touching me?! You always run away when I try to get close! And now you’re suddenly the one touching me—scary!”

Well, she’s not wrong. But explaining everything now is too much hassle.

I grabbed her hand again and, gripping it tightly, pulled her behind the rock.

“Uppiiiiiieeeee!”

Letting out a weird scream, Maristel cried with teary eyes.

“W-What are you going to do to me in a place like this?!”

I said nothing to the trembling Maristel and just spoke.

“[Dimensional Teleport].”

In that moment, our figures vanished from behind the big rock.