The Unaware Harem Adventure Tale of the Strongest Enchanter ~~I Don’t Know My Companions’ Faces or Identities, but I’m Pretty Sure They’re All Guys~~ - 20. The Usual Morning, the Usual Breakfast, the Usual Felice.

20. 20. 20. 20. 20. 20. 20. 20. 20. 20. 20. 20. 20. 20. 20. 20. The Usual Morning, the Usual Breakfast, the Usual Felice.

We had returned to Avantale. We resumed our unchanging daily life.

In the home’s dining room, there was as always freshly baked bread, Felice’s special soup, and a basket full of fruits.

I took a sip of the soup.

As always, delicious. A deep flavor that would make even a professional groan in admiration.

“Thank you for the meal. It was delicious again today.”

“I’m honored by your praise. I’ll keep doing my best to make you happy.”

“Well, I’m heading to the guild.”

“Yes. Please be careful.”

Felice, in her apron, saw me off with a gentle smile.

As I left the dining room humming a tune, I felt a strange sense of… nothing feeling strange?

Huh? Didn’t Felice return to her hometown?

Why is she here in the home, acting like it’s totally normal and serving food??

I rushed back into the dining room. She was just cleaning up the dishes.

“Hey, hey, what happened to Mirdia!? What about the talk of a groom!?”

“Oh, that story――

I had a fight with my father and left Mirdia.”

Felice said that with the happiest smile she’d ever had.

“He just suddenly decided I should take in a groom. And he even told me to quit being an adventurer. So I punched him once and left the castle. Now that my father has returned and I’ve fulfilled my duties, it’s over. Right now, I’m the sub-leader of Unknown.”

“He’s totally going to come to take you back.”

“If that time comes, then it comes. Well, I don’t think a territory that lost to the Undead King can do anything against an S-rank like me, though.”

“Scary.”

You’re scary, Felice.

Just what kind of fight did you have with your dad?

Still, I’m thankful she came back.

A powerful attacker like Felice is rare. On top of that, she cooks, takes care of things, and is quick on her feet—she’s an irreplaceable, one-of-a-kind comrade.

As long as she says she wants to stay here, I’ll protect her with all I’ve got.

I’m the leader after all. And that’s the least I can do.

“By the way, where are Silk and Grannaughts? I haven’t seen them even once since we got back.”

“They’re still in the library at Mirdia Castle.”

“You left them there!?”

“I mean, they just kept reading and wouldn’t move no matter what I said. So I gave up and left them. They’ll come back in a month or so.”

I left them with water and food. So they won’t die.

I told the library caretaker that they’re inside. So if anything happens, they’ll contact me.

According to Silk, Mirdia was once the capital of a nation. And the books it hoarded are rare and precious.

They said there were probably books even about the Five Great Dungeons.

The Five Great Dungeons are the most difficult dungeons still untouched to this day.

It’s said that clearing even one will make your name go down in history.

My dream is to one day challenge and clear the Five Great Dungeons.

And then retire and live out my days in the countryside.

That’s the kind of long and full life I aim for.

I’m going to enjoy life to the fullest.

“Well, I’m off.”

“Wait. May I ask just one thing?”

“What?”

“Right before I defeated the Undead King, you applied direct-script enchantment, didn’t you? That movement, that speed, it was just like the Sword Saint――”

“What are you saying? There’s no way someone like me is the upright and proper Sword Saint. I just happened to move similarly and you imagined it. You’re tired. You should rest a bit.”

“Maybe so. That I would compare someone like you, so undisciplined, to the master I deeply respect… someone like you.”

“Don’t say it twice.”

Felice shaped her pretty eyebrows into a 八 character.

I wonder if she used to make that exasperated face under her mask before too.

Now that she has no need to hide it and is freed from all restraints, she seems more alive than ever.

“Thank you.”

“For what?”

“You gave me that enchantment so I could be the one to defeat him, right?”

“It was just a coincidence.”

“Hehe.”

Avoiding Felice’s delighted face, I quickly headed for the guild.

◇

As soon as I arrived at the guild, I went to the usual reception.

I was planning to lean on the counter and say the usual “Got any jobs?” line.

Of course, I expected the usual “None” reply as part of our usual back-and-forth.

But just as I put my elbow on the counter, the staff spoke first.

“Thank you for your work in the Mirdia territory! It’s been the talk of the town and the guild! Our town’s S-rank party has finally taken down the Undead King that so many adventurers gave up on! We already have a direct request based on your reputation!”

“A direct request!? From where!?”

“From the Umbrella Territory. The content is undead extermination.”

“Undead… huh.”

My excitement instantly dropped.

This is it. We’ve been mistaken as undead specialist adventurers.

Well, it’s still a job. Yeah. I’m grateful and I’ll gladly take it.

Undead are still monsters, after all.

Smelly, dirty, gross. But still monsters.

There’s no such thing as high or low jobs—some amazing old adventurer once said that.

“And also, there’s an apprentice request for you, Lux.”

“An apprentice request…? What’s that about?”

“It’s a request from Rinoa-san. She wants to be taught enchantment. Since she’s a thief, she’s mainly in a support role. I believe she’s trying to broaden her capabilities.”

“That’s fine and all, but why me?”

“Exactly—ah, I mean, of course, it’s because Lux is the leader of Unknown and a top-class enchanter.”

“Don’t let your real feelings slip. It hurts.”

Rinoa… Oh, the thief girl.

I’m not great with her. She always has a face you can’t read and keeps staring at me.

Still, even with that blank face, she seems eager to improve.

Most of all, choosing to learn from a top-class enchanter like me is a great decision.

Didn’t Sister say it too? Contributing to society ultimately leads to my goal.

Guess I’ll take her on.

“I’ll take both jobs. I want to handle the training before heading to Umbrella. So, can you call the thief girl?”

“Thank you. I’ll call Rinoa-san now.”

“I’ll be waiting on the bench.”

“Ah, that bench is—”

I looked toward the bench inside the guild.

There was already someone there. And a heavy gloomy air hung around.

A man cloaked in black aura—Silver Blade’s leader, Luke.

Apparently, he’s been like that since returning from Mirdia.

The man who used to shine so brightly was now withered like a dying flower.

The passing adventurers were clearly avoiding him.

“Ahhh, I’m hopeless. I’m trash unworthy of S-rank.”

Such dramatic contrast.

His sighs are super annoying.

“Lux.”

“Hm? Oh.”

The one tugging on my clothes was the thief girl.

Behind her were the usual two. The swordsman girl and the mage girl.

“I thought this was just about the thief girl?”

“We’re just tagging along. Not here to monitor Rinoa or anything.”

“Akane! You just said it all! You didn’t even try to hide it! Geez!”

The mage girl smacked the swordsman girl’s back.

These three are as close as ever.

I looked at the thief girl.

“I’ll say this now. I won’t go easy or be cheap just because we know each other. If you still want to learn enchantment, I’ll teach you.”

“Yeah. I’m ready. I want to learn and contribute to the party.”

Well, there’s no real job today anyway. So I’ve got time.

Enchantment really depends on the person.

If she’s not suited for it, I’ll just teach her some beginner stuff and send her home.