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~~ - 55. H-Help me, Lux…

55. 55. H-Help me, Lux…

After being rocked in the covered wagon for about half a day,

The town of Avantale gradually came into view.

When we entered the town, the wagon dropped us and the newbie girls off. It then went off somewhere.

“Feels like we’re finally back. Hey, before heading to the base, how about we grab a bite? I suddenly got hungry.”

“Now that you mention it, I’m kind of peckish too. Lux-san, Nonon-san, why don’t you come with us? We have a regular place we go to.”

The swordsgirl and mage girl invited us. But I gently declined since I wanted to relax at home as soon as possible.

“I’ve got things to do. I need to get a report on what happened while I was gone. What about you, Nonon?”

“Ya gal probably can’t either. Grannaughts isn’t feeling well. So I wanna do some finer maintenance. Sorry, even though you invited me.”

“I see, too bad. If you’re busy, then it can’t be helped.”

The swordsgirl slumped her shoulders for just a moment. But she quickly switched back to a bright smile.

As she and the mage girl headed toward their usual restaurant, the thief girl dashed after them—then hurried back to me. She was looking a bit embarrassed.

“Tomorrow, can I come to the base? I want you to teach me.”

“I plan to take it easy, so I don’t mind.”

“Okay. Then I’ll come.”

She raised the corners of her mouth slightly. Then she ran off to catch up with the others.

Her eagerness to learn is admirable.

From what I hear, she practices enchanting alone every day. She’s improving faster than I expected. Though it’ll still take time before she can be called fully capable.

“Raku-cchi looks happy”

“It’s not a bad feeling, being looked up to by juniors”

“Moi too, we’re seniors now. But honestly, in our hearts we still feel like newbies”

“Same here. A side effect of climbing too fast, I guess. I’ve got no clue how to train the next generation.”

“You could ask Silver Blade’s Bronk for advice. He’s more senior than us.”

“That’s true. But would they give advice for free?”

“Stingy guys aren’t popular.”

We chatted like that as we headed toward the base.

In Grannaughts’ form, with her full-on gyaru personality, Nonon drew stunned looks from passersby. Normally kids would cling to Granaughts. But now they just stared from a distance, clearly confused.

While walking along the main street, I noticed a guard.

And next to him was—someone in black clothes. Their hands were tied with rope.

“Zain!?”

“L-L-La-Lux… h-help meee…”

Zain was looking at me with one teary eye. She was begging for help.

Looking closer, the guard was a young face I didn’t recognize—probably a recently assigned recruit. I hurriedly called out to him.

“Excuse me”

“What is it?”

“Did she do something?”

“Suspicious outfit and shady movements. I caught her for questioning. Are you her accomplice?”

As I thought—the rookie guard had captured Zain just because of her ominous appearance.

I explained the misunderstanding. I told him she was Zain Hernard of ‘Unknown’.

“My apologies. My senior warned me. But I didn’t expect someone to look so… criminal. My instincts as a guard just reacted, and I tied her up”

“D-d-don’t… worry… about it.”

“Eek!”

As he untied the rope and apologized, Zain suddenly leaned close. She was staring at him wide-eyed without blinking.

Thinking she was angry, the poor guard’s legs gave out and he collapsed.

“Anyway, we’ll be going now. Come on, let’s go”

“Y-yeah.”

“See ya, guard-san.”

We hurried away before things got any stranger.

◇

The base’s living room was wrapped in an odd tension.

On the opposite sofa, Felice and Zain sat with mouths agape.

Next to me, Nonon was already drinking as usual.

“I’ll ask again… this person is the one inside Grannaughts?”

“That’s right. Looks like you two didn’t know either”

“Heh, my ‘show-only-the-back’ act was flawless. But Zain seemed to notice. She always looked at my eyes—the real me inside—not at Gura’s”

“……?”

Zain tilted her head. She apparently didn’t follow.

Really, demons are just… out of the ordinary.

“Anyway! From now on, it’s not Grannaughts Heidern but Nonon Heidern. So nice to keep working with ya!”

She threw up both hands in a V-sign in front of her face.

That relentless brightness, pure gyaru power. After over half a month I’d gotten used to it. But Felice looked lost. And Zain—being her exact opposite—averted her eyes and trembled.

“For now, I understand Nonon-san is Grannaughts. As for hiding your identity, neither I nor Zain are in any position to complain. Since you’re reintroducing yourself like this, there’s no problem. I look forward to working with you.”

“So stiff! Feli-chi, you’re way too stiff. Just say ‘nice to meet ya’.”

“Fe… Feli-chi…？”

“Cute, right? As for Zain… hmm, what nickname should I give you?”

Don’t ask me. And Felice is clearly flustered.

Even the Flame Sword can’t handle a gyaru, huh.

(By the way, “gyaru” originally comes from copying the Gyaru Tribe. They’re a famous all-female warrior tribe. Women outside the tribe admired their lifestyle and copied it—hence the term gyaru. The simplest way to spot one is if she says “That’s so funny!”—and in that sense, Nonon is definitely a gyaru.)

“Well, whatever, Zain is just Zain.”

“Anyway, there’s something I need to discuss with you, Lux.”

“Hm? With me?”

I was watching Zain sigh in relief when Felice called. I then shifted my focus.

“First, Umbrella’s payment has been delivered. Avril-san came herself with thanks and the reward. Since it was delayed, she added a little extra.”

“So proper of her. That means our treasury is healthy again.”

“Next, the forge has sent a request for you.”

“Probably an inscription, then.”

For an enchanter, that’s the main job—

Carving magical letters into tools or weapons.

Usually, they have their own contracted enchanters. But nobles and royalty always request top-class ones for their prized items.

For me, such inscription jobs come maybe two or three times a month.

“Ya gal should tag along too, yeah?”

“There’s no pay.”

“It’s fine. For my learning. I *am* an elder dwarf, you know? Just hearing the word ‘smithing’ gets my bl00d pumping. Plus, I’m super curious about this town’s craft.”

“Do whatever you want.”

“As expected of Raku-cchi!”

She clung to my arm. She was pressing soft, nicely-sized br3asts against me.

Yeah… gyarus are nice. Lots of skinship. Maybe I’ve misunderstood them all this time.

“Ahem. Then I’ll tell them you accept. By the way, about this document from you, Lux…”

Felice placed a receipt on the table—the one from when I bought my new staff.

Sweat started pouring down my face.

Everyone’s eyes locked onto the amount written on it.

“What’s with this insane price!?”

“L-L-La-Lux…”

“That’s like two or three months of our earnings gone! Do you have any explanation?”

“I’m so sorry!!”

I threw myself into a full dogeza bow.