Adventurer's Guild Café: I Was Wrongfully Exiled by the Saint, So I Will Enjoy My Second Life with My Fluffy Friends-Chapter 5.6 - Thank You
In the end, both Albert and the man in the black hood were quickly restrained.
They were beaten so badly that it was almost too painful to watch.
But since they resisted fiercely, maybe it couldn’t be helped.
I was rescued by Ruri and Ellen and the others and was taken out of the warehouse ahead of them, carrying Lulu with me.
“I’m so glad, so glad, Kuu-chan...! I’m so glad you’re safe!”
“Ruri...”
Ruri, with tears streaming down her face, hugged me tightly.
She was crying more than I’d ever seen, and I was bewildered by it.
“I’m sorry... I thought Lulu was gone... so I went to look for her alone... and then this happened...”
Ruri, looking teary-eyed, said this while flustered.
“Simon told you not to go into town alone!”
“I just... I didn’t want to cause any more trouble... for everyone...”
As I lowered my head, Ellen, who was nearby, spoke.
“Kuuna-san. Not even once have we ever thought of being with you as troublesome. Rather, we wanted you to rely on us more.”
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“...”
“Everyone in the guild lives by supporting each other. It’s not strange or unusual at all.”
Kurona, who had broken the cage and checked on Lulu inside, assured me that Lulu was just weakened and handed her to me to hold.
Earlier, I thought Lulu seemed to be in pain, but now she was peacefully sleeping, her breathing soft and steady. I held Lulu tightly in my arms and tried to hold back my tears.
But I couldn’t hold it in.
“I told you before, didn’t I? We’re already tied together by a strong bond... And I, I already think of you like family, Kuu-chan.”
When Ruri said that, everything I’d been holding back overflowed.
I threw myself into Ruri’s arms.
She hugged me tightly, holding me close.
For the first time, I sobbed openly in front of Ruri.
“Thank you... thank you...”
Thank you for accepting me.
Thank you for giving me a place to belong.
Thank you for saving me.
I want to stay by everyone’s side forever, too.
◆
Albert and the man in the black robe were captured.
Apparently, both the Wand Knights and the guild had been keeping an eye on them for some time.
The first sign that something was off was the Mokomott explosion incident.
As Solaris mentioned, that Mokomott had been cursed with some kind of dark magic. After analyzing traces of the magic, the Wand Knights found that part of it matched the techniques used by a criminal organization wanted in the royal capital.
An organization involved in the illegal trade of rare monsters and human trafficking.
Just hearing about it sends chills down my spine.
Albert, the third son of Duke Berta, was also handed over to the royal capital.
Even though he’s of noble blood, his crimes won’t be erased.
He’ll be tried for his involvement in human trafficking.
Apparently, Albert wanted a girl from a rare race. I don’t know through what connections, but he asked that criminal organization to abduct me (it seems I had been flagged on some list or something by that criminal group...).
Where he got those “connections” from remains unknown.
Depending on the circumstances, Duke Berta might also be tried, turning this into a significant case.
Simon telling me to refrain from going out was because of this.
(Though, in the end, I broke my promise and went out alone, so it didn’t mean much…)
When I went missing, the chicks caused a huge commotion, and Kurona was the first to notice.
I wasn’t in my room.
When they asked the dorm manager about my whereabouts, they were told I’d gone outside.
They immediately informed Simon, and the search for me began.
“Your fever still hasn’t gone down.”
“Mm…”
As for me—
Since then, I’ve been bedridden with a high fever.
It felt as though everything that had been keeping me tense ever since I came to Grantania had finally collapsed, and my fever wouldn’t go down for a while.
Ruri has been taking care of me every day.
But now, I don’t think I want her to stop out of guilt anymore.
“Muppy!”
“Pigyuu!”
“Piiiii!”
The chicks flapped over and gathered around my face.
The Mokomotts, still upset that I left them behind that time, clung to me and refused to let go.
“Sorry... I still can’t play with you.”
“Pii.”
“Hey, hey, that’s enough, you little ones. Once she’s better, have her make all your favorite treats for you, okay?”
Ruri said that and tidied up the chicks into the basket.
As for Lulu, she was quietly curled up beside me.
Lulu seemed a bit tired too, staying by my side without leaving for even a moment, looking drowsy.
“Kuu-chan, don’t get up on your own.”
“Okay...”
I’m sleepy.
As Ruri stroked my forehead, my eyelids slowly began to droop.
The fever is tough, but for some reason, being cared for like this by Ruri felt unbearably blissful.
