Welcome to the Special-Grade Guild! ~ The Beloved Elf Poster Girl Soothes Everyone’s Hearts ~
Chapter 165

165. Differences in Perception

Walking endlessly in silence… I wonder how long it’s been? I’m currently fighting a tough battle against a formidable foe. This foe is none other than drowsiness!

Stupid! I got to sleep properly before we left, so why am I getting sleepy now!? It’s because, because, Ronny’s back is unexpectedly comfortable! It’s super stable! He’s walking briskly, without even getting out of breath, as if he’s not carrying anything! Even if I was walking empty-handed, I’m confident I’d be exhausted by now…

“…You can sleep.”

“Fwah!? How did you know!?”

Ronny suddenly said that, making me cry out unintentionally. This is exactly what they call “falling into a rut”. But really, how? Is he an esper?

“It’s obvious when you’re nodding off like that. Meg, didn’t you notice? You’ve headbutted Ronny several times.”

“Hyeh~! I’m sorry!”

I didn’t notice! What a huge failure! I feel so pathetic, I could cry. Sniff.

“Resting when you can is important. We’ll feel better if Meg’s always smiling. Sleep tight. That way, Ronny won’t take any damage either.”

“It doesn’t hurt though…”

Ravi-san, who was walking in front, glanced back and said that teasingly. Well, I know they don’t expect much from a child. But as a member of Ortus, my frustration wins out! But the journey’s just begun. There’s no point in pushing myself now. I know, I know, but…!

“Don’t make that face. Let’s increase what you can do little by little, okay?”

“Little by little… Yes! Okay!”

I mulled over Licht’s words as he gently patted my head. Yeah, I’ve been making progress little by little. Steadily, from what I can do! Alright, I’ll do my best!

So for now, I’ll obediently do as I’m told and sleep! Ronny, I’m sorry… Good night. Zzz.

When I woke up, I noticed that I’d gone from being carried by Ronny to being on Ravi-san’s lap without realizing it. Huh?

“Oh, you’re awake?”

I looked up at the sound of Ravi-san’s voice and met her gentle smile.

“I was just thinking of waking you up. It’ll be morning soon. Then we’ll enter the village.”

When she said that, I looked at the sky and it was getting brighter. It seemed like Ravi-san was sitting against a large tree. Her elbow was resting on a thick root sticking out of the ground. Licht and Ronny were curled up sleeping right next to us.

“Ah, huh? Ravi-san, you didn’t sleep…?”

Had she been keeping watch this whole time? If so, she hasn’t slept since we were at the cabin, right? She must be really tired…!

“That’s not it. I took a nap first when we got to this spot. These two stayed up until then without me having to ask.”

Ravi-san said that with a troubled smile. I see, these two… Hah! Th-Then maybe…

“Ugh, I’m the only one who slept a lot…”

“I thought you’d say that. So how about a trade?”

A trade? I tilted my head at that thought. Then Ravi-san spoke, looking apologetic.

“Breakfast is ready! Licht, Ronny, wake up!”

Ravi-san’s proposed trade was, you guessed it, preparing breakfast! Apparently, they’d heard about my storage bracelet from the two of them, and they’d talked about asking me to provide food if I looked down when I woke up, because they knew I’d feel bad. They understand me so well, even though we’ve only been together for a short time…!

“Mmm, smells delicious…”

“I’m hungry…”

The two of them sat up immediately at my voice and the smell of breakfast. All I did was boil water and dissolve the soup stock, though. But it makes me happy.

Ravi-san started the fire. Ah, but I did knead the bread with Tio-nee before, so maybe I can say I made a little of it!

“But this soup stock is amazing. I’ve never seen one that makes such a hearty soup just by dissolving it in hot water.”

Ravi-san exclaimed in admiration as she stirred the soup in the pot. Yeah, I was really surprised when I first saw it too! It’s what you’d call instant soup, but when you dissolve it in hot water, surprise! The ingredients get big, like freshly made soup. It’s like magic! Well, it actually does have magic in it.

Apparently, this was Miko-san’s idea, not Lasch-san’s. Miko-san, who’s active at night, often found that restaurants weren’t open when she wanted to eat, so she was passionate about being able to easily eat delicious food anytime! Food really motivates people!

“This soup is from the current head chef, who took over from the previous head chef. So it’s really delicious!”

That’s right. This is Tio-nee’s own soup, the result of her agonizing over not being able to recreate Leo-jii’s flavor. It didn’t end up tasting the same, but Tio-nee was laughing, saying she was satisfied with how it turned out. I still can’t tell the difference in taste though! As long as it’s delicious, it’s fine!

“Head chef? So you really are a young lady, Meg?”

Ravi-san asked this as she poured the soup into bowls, picking up on my words. The steaming bowls were placed on the table with a clatter. Ah, that’s right. Just hearing that, it does sound like I’m a young lady.

“No, that’s not it! I live in a guild. So it’s the guild’s head chef!”

“Huh? Guild? Guilds have head chefs? And wait, you can live in a guild?”

Licht, who picked up on my explanation, voiced his questions as he wiped his face with a cloth. It seems he washed his face with magically produced water. Ronny was washing his face behind him.

“I don’t know about other guilds, but our guild, Ortush, does!”

“Our guild? Ortush?”

“No! O-ru-tu-shu!”

“…What’s the difference?”

Argh! I can’t say it! I just can’t say it! But somehow they understood after I explained it several times. Ugh, I thought I was saying “Ortus” properly…!?

“So, what’s this Ortus thing? Guilds have names?”

“Eh? Every guild has a name… right?”

Somehow we’re not on the same page. Um, am I mistaken about something? Licht and I tilted our heads at each other across the steam rising from the soup on the simple table.

“Guilds are completely different between the human continent and the Demon Continent.”

“Eh?”

“Really?”

After a moment of silence, Ronny spoke up. Ronny, who was standing next to me, nodded. Licht and I both exclaimed at the same time.

“Oh, I didn’t know that either. I’m interested in how they’re different. Let’s hear about it while we eat.”

At Ravi-san’s invitation to sit down, we hurriedly took our seats. I was embarrassed when the three of them thanked me for providing the food! Ehehe.

We all said “Itadakimasu!” and started eating! Mmm, the chewy bread turned out pretty well!