CH 39

[Meeting Uncle Bonus After a Long While]

Then after waking up, packing up the luggage, and getting the bill, I become stupefied at the stupidly expensive medicines that was used on me unreservedly.

Incidentally, Higaki’s treatment cost was forcefully added to mine for some reason, and when I tried to physically raise a complain, “What’s the meaning of this!”, the doctor said that all of it was actually Uncle Bonus’s arrangement.

Thus, I get into the Adventurer’s guild where Uncle is along with Higaki.

“Uncleeee! How could the cost of my treatment be 60 millioooon!!” (Sakurai)

“Ou, boy. Well, I worked to collect the ingredients for the medicines, that’s why. It makes sense that the person who received the treatment to bear the remuneration, am I wrong?” (Sanuki)

According to what they said, Uncle who heard that Higaki and I simultaneously did each other in, handed over the materials he got to the hospital and demanded a solid treatment for me who was in an almost unrecoverable state.

Then he even went to the outside of the wall to collect the materials essential for the treatment in the form of quest; he really did his best for the treatment of me and Higaki.

Even though it’s only been about a week since we collapsed, for him to go back and forth outside the wall numerous times, is ‘Sword Saint’ another name for one-man army?

“I had been thinking that if you died, then you died, that’s it, but it’s great that you came back to life.” (Sanuki)

Uncle says so he and gulp down alcohol while laughing. Then he adds that the treatment cost is interest-free and has no time limit, so I could pay it when I’ve become successful.

Well, he went outside the wall – which was highly dangerous – numerous times to gather high-quality materials for my sake, so even though I knew that I could be revived in the ‘Netherworld’, Uncle was certainly my lifesaver.

I’ve been indebted to Uncle many times since long ago, yet I swung my sword for personal grudge in the end, so the payment of the treatment fee itself is not a big deal.

I just want an explanation about the fact that the digits of the amount are a little out of order and that for some reason I have been billed for Higaki’s treatment cost.

When I try to ask him that, Higaki, who is squeezing herself behind me because she said that ‘it is difficult to face him’, comes forward and opens her mouth,

“Um, Teacher. I am responsible for this case. That is why I will bear the total cost of the treatment…” (Higaki)

“Huh? That’s no good, Young Lady Ao. I won’t accept the money from you.” (Sanuki)

“What does that mean…?” (Higaki)

“Ou. The matter was started by Young Lady, so if we have to point out who was originally at fault, it is you, of course. So, well, when talking about where the responsibility lies, it’d naturally be at Young Lady.” (Sanuki)

“Then that is all the more reason-” (Higaki)

“That’s why I said I won’t accept it, Young Lady.” (Sanuki)

Even as he smiles as usual, Uncle’s eyes are very cold; Higaki who is facing them ends up turning silent, perhaps understanding the meaning of his words. I frown, also understanding what he’s getting at.

“Um, I, I… um.” (Higaki)

“Do you understand? Young Lady.” (Sanuki)

“……nh. Yes.” (Higaki)

He won’t accept Higaki’s act of taking responsibility. He doesn’t let her take responsibility.

In other words, he doesn’t even allow her to apologize.

No matter how much she regrets, reflects, or tries to apologize, he won’t forgive her.

What is the inner feeling of Higaki who is clearly denied by Uncle who she admires to the point of worshipping him?

I have no way of knowing that, but looking at Higaki, who is looking down and stepping back with a sorrowful look, looking at her, who has become so small that it feels like she has diminished in size… I let out a sigh with all my might.

“Ha~~~~~h!” (Sakurai)

“Oh? What’s wrong, boy, to suddenly spit out such a loud sigh.” (Sanuki)

“Well, getting shown this kind scene, of course you would sigh at least once. Haa~~aa~~~~~h!!” (Sakurai)

As though to let the surroundings hear as well, and yet, as though to switch the air that has become heavy.

I sigh again without reservation to Uncle who is staring at that reaction in puzzlement.

Because I’ve provoked and eventually took her life (even though it was a trade-off) to get revenge at her for beating me black and blue, and adding the fact that she had apologized in the ‘Netherworld’, I hold hardly any ill feelings toward her.

The experience points of the future are more important that the grudge of the past, and although there might be obstacles going forward, within me things has been settled as ‘we both get what we deserved.’

And considering the character of Higaki, if this trend continues, similar problems will occur in the future.

That’s why I speak to Uncle. Not for Higaki, but for myself.

“No, well, I get that Uncle, who lost face in a sense, has his own consideration, however. If you put it that way, doesn’t that mean that Uncle also holds responsibility for not facing Higaki properly?” (Sakurai)

“Oi, oi, boy, what the hell are you talking about?” (Sanuki)

“It’s not like Uncle didn’t realize that Higaki was almost zealous about you. Besides, face the truth, even if you don’t face her, isn’t it your duty as the one overseeing her to warn her in advance? Or does Uncle can’t even do something like that?” (Sakurai)

Higaki is also at fault, but… or rather, I think she’s generally at fault, but from the perspective of me, who is the number one victim, Uncle as her teacher, who is target of that zeal, should have some responsibility – so I can’t help but say.

In reality, when an athlete who longs for a well-known coach is ridiculed by the said coach and commits an act of violence, that coach would try to cut their ties by saying that everything is the fault of that athlete – the same as the current situation.

For the society, it is possible to close the story with ‘well, that probably makes sense’, but from different perspective, it can also be intepreted as ‘even though the athlete who longs for the coach is angry for that coach’s sake, that coach is too heartless toward that athlete’ or ‘it is the duty of the coach to face the athlete and give them guidance so as not to cause such problems in the first place, no?’

So, since Uncle shows me such a nasty scene where he is digging up the problem and not giving Higaki a chance to make up for it, I, the biggest victim, end up wanting to say, ‘Don’t make the situation become more troublesome!’

“In the first place, what led to this case was the explosion of lots of dissatisfaction accumulated in her, aight~? In that case, the one who will be pointed with the spearhead at the foremost when she explodes again in the future, is definitely me, ain’t it? So why not let her stash away that feelings of guilt or something and have her take the opportunity to restore your dishonor… I mean honor, aight~?” (Sakurai)

I imagine an unpleasant future where I’m sitting on the spot while she complains to me nonstop.

I understand a bit after we spent time together in the Netherworld, but Higaki is fundamentally a person with strong attachment.

If such her were to be abandoned by Uncle, she would continue to be trapped, continue to regret, continue to punish herself, and one day she would definitely explode.

At that time, the one who will be closest to the center of the explosion is surely me. As long as we have to take care of Iris, I can be assured of that.

“Hm~m. In short, what the hell are you trying to say, boy?” (Sanuki)

At the end of the day, what I want to say is that I wish you don’t give me any more trouble than already is.

That’s why, since the concerned people have reconciliated, as the number one victim, I would like you to take action to prevent the same thing from happening again than just punishing Higaki.

“But Uncle might lose face that way, so you don’t need to accept money from Higaki. I’ll pay the full amount, including Higaki’s share. So at least, let her ‘apologize’. Otherwise, she will accumulate lots of dissatisfaction and explode again.”

“But Sakurai—” (Higaki)

“In exchange, Higaki should help me level up as much as she can. As long as Iris is here, or rather, until I’m satisfied!” (Sakurai)

“No, but… however,” (Higaki)

“Hold it, Young Lady Ao. No matter what you say, when all is said and done, the one who have the most right to say what they want to say is the boy only.” (Sanuki)

“Teacher…” (Higaki)

“Ou, boy. If you’re okay with that, I’ll make that my point of compromise. However, whether I’ll forgive Young Lady Ao is separate matter.” (Sanuki)

Of course, it doesn’t matter whether Uncle will forgive her or not.

The burden on the mind will be quite different depending on whether or not there is an opportunity to apologize, so the chance of Higaki exploding later will be lower than when she completely isn’t even allowed to apologize.

Besides, with the matter of Higaki apologizing to Uncle, she would be even more conscious of the case this time. I’m sure Higaki will never forget this, and if she doesn’t, it will help prevent it from happening again. That the flow I’m aiming for.

“So~, with that being said, this talk is over! Yes! It’s completely over!” (Sakurai)

“Well, I was being a bit childish too, hm. My bad, Young Lady Ao.” (Sanuki)

“No, such a thing, I myself am… really… really…” (Higaki)

Ignoring Higaki who begins to bow her heads repeatedly, I relax a bit and rotate my neck and shoulders while exhaling lightly, trying to change my mood.

Seriously, Uncle and Higaki’s talk suddenly started heading in a troublesome direction, so I told him that I would pay the full amount including Higaki’s share in order to force him.

Because of that, don’t I have to think about financial efficiency while leveling in the future?

I have no intention of taking back what I said, but I feel a lot of stress because of the seeds of great trouble that ended up being born.

Originally, leveling is something you have to do freely and carefreely, without having to do something you don’t want to.

I am enjoying leveling every day for the purpose of ‘raising the level’ itself, not for the purpose of ‘defeating the enemy’ or making ‘making money’.

The situation where a purpose that is not in line with my aim being born and make me need to turn my attention away is completely undesirable.

There are some money-making strategies in the game era, but all of them that I can remember have little to do with leveling.

Good dungeons where it is efficient in making money are far away and difficult to enter without obtaining a permit at the academy.

(It’s too painful having to spend my every second and every minute for raising level to make money, there are ways to make money stably and steadily, but I want to do something big enough to earn 60 million at a stretch and pay the treatment cost quickly)

Dammit, even though if experience points can be converted into money, even here and now I would be able to pull out an amount of money enough to topple one or two countries… no, why do I have to give up my experience points for money?

Not good, I can’t think of anything good even if I stand here and think about it. Should I immediately go and join up with Iris who should be coming over here and do some practice-swing?

Thus, I’ll be excusing myself first. Good work~.