Welcome to the Special-Grade Guild! ~ The Beloved Elf Poster Girl Soothes Everyone’s Hearts ~
Chapter 174

174. Side Gilnandio 2

Following Saura’s instructions, we immediately headed outside. Before leaving, I sent a Shadow Bird to inform the Don.

If it was just me, I could immediately head over through the shadows, but because Adol’s with me, we’ll have to fly. And our destination is the Dwarf mine. It’s pointless for me to arrive first, because I’m meeting up with the Don there. There’s no need to rush.

“Can you keep up?”

It’ll probably take us a full day to fly to the mine. We could get there a bit sooner if we hurried, but we don’t know when the Don’s going to arrive, and I can’t push Adol. Well, if it comes down to it, I can carry him on my back.

“I’ll do my best to keep up. It’ll be good training.”

“…Don’t push yourself.”

“Yes, that would defeat the purpose. I’ll let you know before I reach my limit.”

Adol must have perfectly understood my intentions, because he responded with a flawless answer. I see, so he is Saura’s protégé. He’s an incredibly capable man.

We immediately transformed into our beast forms and took off.

Adol, just like me, is a black bird-type demi-human, but he’s a Hoyokuban, a race that excels at supporting people. They’re specialists in support magic, the kind of race where “One is worth a hundred” if you have them in your party.

And they’re relatively small. Less than half the size of my Shadow Eagle form. So even if we fly at the same speed, for the same distance, he’ll consume more energy than me.

But he’s a support magic specialist. He’s using magic to enhance his physical abilities to keep up with me. It’s reassuring, but he’ll definitely get tired. We’ll take a break once we’ve flown for half a day.

As I flew, I couldn’t help but to think about various things. Meg’s smiling face appeared in my mind.

Meg… Is she okay? Is she crying, all alone? Has she been caught by some evil person, and been hurt?

Nature magic won’t work properly on the human continent, so she’s definitely struggling. I’m sure she’ll be okay, because she has all those self-defense magic tools… but she might not be able to use them if she’s confused. And she might even be targeted, because those rare, expensive items stand out.

Humans are cunning. And untrustworthy. There might be those who’ll approach her with a smile, trying to deceive her.

And more than anything… she must be lonely.

Thinking about this, it feels like my heart’s about to break. I promised to protect her, to always be by her side.

What good is being Ortus’s number two, if I can’t protect someone precious to me?

Meg, Meg, Meg…! Please, please be safe. I’ll definitely come for you.

『Gil-san.』

I heard a calm voice calling out to me. It was Adol, flying next to me. It resonated in my mind. Usually, I wouldn’t even notice if someone was using telepathy while I was lost in thought.

『It takes a lot of courage to believe in something, you know?』

He must know what I’d been thinking about. He must have noticed my anxiety… How pathetic.

『When you absolutely believe that everything will be fine, and it’s not, the damage to your heart is immense. That’s why people tend to assume the worst, you know? They think about what they would do in a bad situation, to prepare themselves.』

“I’m sure you know that already, Gil-san,” he added. That’s right, I do. But it doesn’t change the fact that I’m doing exactly that.

『But sometimes, those feelings of faith can give you strength. It attracts a good outcome. It’s wishful thinking, of course. But don’t you think it can’t be completely dismissed?』

I couldn’t answer… Because it’s something I already know. I want to believe. I strongly wish for Meg to be safe. But I’m also terrified. I’m not sure if I could handle it if something had happened to her.

Adol, seeing me fall silent, said, “It’s okay.” It’s like he can read my mind.

『Gil-san, please, keep thinking about those negative things, to protect your heart. If something did happen, the damage to your heart… it would be immense.』

『…You’re good at reading people’s minds.』

『It’s just because you’re easy to read right now, Gil-san. It’s not usually this easy.』

Adol said this jokingly. And he’s good at handling people.

『Leave the ‘completely believing without a doubt’ role to me. I’ll believe no matter what. Meg-san’s safe. Absolutely.』

His strong words gave me some comfort. To think I’d be encouraged by a junior… I couldn’t help but to chuckle.

『…I’m so pathetic.』

『That’s what parents are like, I hear. And seeing you like this, Gil-san, the man who’s said to be perfect… it reassures me, to see a human side to you.』

Perfect, huh? I remember trying my best to be that way. But after meeting Meg, my way of thinking changed.

She allowed me to be scared. I can’t even begin to describe how much those words saved me. She gently loosened my grip, the grip that had been choking me, as I tried to be strong, to be perfect. She embraced me, accepted me.

『…I’m just a person.』

She taught me that I’m just a person. And accepted me, as I am.

Precious, and dearer to me than anyone else. My family.

『By the way, Gil-san, it’s about time…』

Adol hesitantly spoke. He’s right, it’s time to take a break.

『Thanks for letting me rest my mind. Now it’s time for you to rest your body.』

『Ah, thank you…』

He’s the type to speak his mind, regardless of who he’s talking to, and yet, he’s being a bit reserved right now. Or rather, maybe he’s frustrated that he’s not strong enough.

We found a suitable place to land and took a break. The Shadow Bird I’d sent out returned. It seems like it was able to connect to the Don.

“Don, where are you?”

『Gil, huh. I’m almost at the mine entrance.』

Apparently, the Don had been headed this way from the start. I was surprised and asked if he’d known. “Just a hunch,” he replied. His hunches are always right, at crucial moments. Second only to Saura, I think.

『Ash is coming too. I’m going to talk to the Dwarves first.』

“Okay, we’ll head over too. We should arrive by today.”

『Yeah, I’ll be waiting.』

He said this, and then I cut the connection. I see, so the Demon King’s coming too. More work, I’m sure, but it can’t be helped, considering the situation. Kron will be the one who suffers.

“…Was it really necessary for us to come? The Demon King’s coming too…”

I smirked a bit at Adol’s puzzled words. I get it.

“It was. I’ll be in charge of searching the human continent. And you, you’ll probably start by negotiating with the Dwarves.”

“Eh, but won’t the Don and the Demon King handle the negotiations?”

“Think about it,” I said to Adol, who was looking puzzled.

“Even I’ve lost it. Do you really think those two can negotiate calmly?”

“…I’m necessary, huh.”

I immediately transformed into my beast form as Adol chuckled. Adol, knowing what to do, got on my back, and we ascended.

We have to get there, as quickly as possible. Before those two go on a rampage and start fighting the Dwarves.

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