Seirei Gensouki's
Chapter 171: Advice

The morning before Flora was teleported to Paladia kingdom, after boarding the magic ship, Liselotte and Rio headed towards Almond. On the way back she is invited by Liselotte to a tea party along with Kouta.

「Do you have any settings after this, Mr Amakawa? 」

When Liselotte asked such a sudden question in the middle of their conversation、 、

"Yes . I have a little pressing issue and will leave Almond today or tomorrow. 」

Rio told her that he had an urgent matter to resolve with an apologetic expression.

「So that's the problem ………. . I apologize for asking unexpected questions. 」

Liselotte apologized to him with a slightly gloomy face.

「No problem. If there is something we should talk about, it would be best if we meet again later after everything has settled down. Naturally I am more than willing to accompany you for a light conversation whether today or tomorrow. 」

The matter of the conversation here was clearly referring to the event a few days ago when Liselotte suddenly tried to frankly tell Rio about her previous life.

「…………. It's okay . Well, when we meet again then. 」

Liselotte said that with a worried look on her face and then bowed respectfully to Rio. So, Kouta who felt a soft air hovering between them tried to look at Rio's expression.

When Rio noticed Kouta's line of sight, he smiled wryly ―― 、

「What will you do after this, Kouta-san? Are you going to make Almond your headquarters? 」

After drinking the tea in his cup politely, he changed the topic of conversation to Kouta.

「Ah. Although Haruto-kun recommended this, I thought I would become an adventurer. Even though you tried hard to give us all that advice. 」

Kouta answered carefully.

「After all, this is your own life, Kouta-san, you have to walk the path you choose yourself. Even so, are you ready to become an adventurer even after hearing the losses from the job from me? All I can do is give you some advice. 」

Maybe because of his respect for Kouta's choice, or just because he doesn't want himself to be involved with other people's lives, Rio just shook his head.

「. 」

Kouta nodding.

「......... In that case, you can definitely start by registering in the guild. There are also many tools and a minimum amount of equipment that you will need. This is just a little advice from an experienced traveler. Would you like to hear more after we arrive in Almond? 」

Rio asked her. Even if he only knew Kouta for a moment, they had traveled together. There was also a request from Christina asking her to give Kouta some advice, so she felt that she should at least provide a minimum amount of support for Kouta who has a difficult journey ahead. Hearing it――,

"Yes thank you . It is very reassuring to have your advice! 」

Kouta said his thanks with a bright red face.

◇ ◇ ◇

Later, less than an hour after their arrival in Almond, Rio-tachi stopped in their tracks as they were about to cross the south pier.

「Then, I guess this is where we should split up? 」

Liselotte asked Rio and Kouta. Following him were some leaders who led with Aria.

"Yes . We would basically go around and visit some shops after this. Thank you so much for driving us. 」

"Thank you very much! "

When Rio thanked her, Kouta also followed her.

「Kouta-san. If you encounter any problems, please come to my house. I will be happy to help as long as it is within my power. 」

Liselotte told Kouta.

「You-Yes. Thank you very much, Liselotte-san. 」

Kouta bowed to Liselotte awkwardly.

「Alright, we'll go then. I hope we have a chance to meet again later, Haruto-sama. 」

「Yes, I'll come visit again later. 」

To ensure that they do not part with the negative feelings―― Liselotte raised the handcuffs of her dress and bowed elegantly. He then turned around and left in an elegant gait.

「Natalie, Chloe. 」

Moments after leaving Rio-tachi, he called out his two servants.

"Yes!"

Natalie and Chloe replied at the same time.

「For now, will you help me keep an eye on his activities in this city until he calms down? She should be fine as long as Haruto-sama is by her side but, the problem is after Haruto-sama's departure. You might indirectly tell only Haruto-sama about the situation. Regarding his activities after Haruto-sama's departure, you can only help him in the most casual way if he seems to be in trouble. 」

Liselotte gave such an order to the two of them.

「Awessed. 」

Natalie bowed respectfully.

「Salam, then. 」

"Yes . Then let's go, Chloe. 」

「Yes, senpai! 」

After seeing Liselotte leave, Natalie leaves with her junior, Chloe. Rio-tachi had already started touring around the city during that time.

◇ ◇ ◇

Ten minutes later . Rio led Kouta to visit the Almond adventurer guild. First, they immediately completed the registration process. Perhaps because he too wanted to go there alone, Kouta asked Rio to accompany him to the adventurer guild.

「Then, please complete your registration first, I will wait there. 」

Rio urged Kouta to complete the registration procedure after they entered the guild building. He had just come and did not intend to register himself as an adventurer, but his knight-like appearance, which betrayed his young age, was, and his quality equipment made others think of him as a veteran adventurer.

「U-Uhn. There goes. 」

Carrying the sword at his waist, Kouta walked timidly towards the receptionist. Maybe because of her timid personality or just because she wanted Rio to come, but since she said that she wanted to register by herself, it was not cool for her to step down now. A moment like this was when he had to show his courage as a man.

「U-Uhm-s. I want to be an adventurer ............

After Kouta arrived at the slightly less crowded counter, he prepared himself and spoke to the receptionist. The receptionist girl was the same age as Kouta. Although her face was a bit harsh, she herself was quite beautiful.

「…………………. . Entiendo. I'll record your personal information first. Can you write? 」

The guild receptionist looked at Kouta's face and hair for a while before starting his business-like explanation.

「Ah, Yes. I could write more or less. 」

「Then, please write the necessary information on this blank sheet. 」

「Understood. 」

Kouta began to fill in the necessary information on the blank sheet. Somehow the guild receptionist continued to stare at Kouta with a curious expression. At that time–,

「Ah, you! ? 」

A loud voice sounded within the guild. Kouta was surprised to hear such a loud voice. And when he will start writing again――,

「Eh ...................... Ah, Haruto-kun? 」

There, he saw an adventurer pointing his finger at Rio. Kouta accidentally stops writing and turns to the source of the sound. Sana–, satirical,

「Oi, you. Wasn't it you who escaped during the demon raid a while ago? 」

The man pointed towards Rio with a suspicious expression.

「........ . before asking that question, who are you? 」

Rio asked back as if he felt troublesome.

「I am an adventurer of this city. And you, when the demon attack happened a while ago, you ran using "I'm not an adventurer" as an excuse, right? I was there as a witness! 」

When the man said so with an annoyed expression, the adventurers who came with him frowned while muttering 「Men at that time huh?」

"Yes……"

Rio approving. Something like that happened back then.

「You, aren't you also an adventurer! ? 」

Due to his adventurous appearance and he was inside the adventurer guild itself— The tone of the man's voice became rougher.

"You are wrong . Look, I don't have a label on me do I? 」

Rio replied in a lethargic tone.

「U-Uhm, may I ask? 」

Kouta questioned the female receptionist in a timid voice while looking at the entire ongoing event in front of him.

「What is it? 」

The receptionist girl asked back in an innocent voice with no interest.

「Well, we shouldn't have stopped them. That will change ………. . Be a quarrel, right? 」

「Rude people of this kind are everywhere. This level of contention occurs almost every day. Or rather, it has progressed to the point that we cannot take the time to mediate between them and so we leave them alone as long as they do not go as far as killing people. 」

The guild receptionist replied in an indifferent voice.

「EH-EEEEEEEEEHH?」

Kouta shouted in a confused voice. But when he looked around, he saw that the people inside just sighed and went back to their own business without caring about the commotion.

「I don't mind if you want to stop them. Is he your acquaintance? 」

The receptionist of the guild said so to Kouta.

「Eh …………. . Ah no,…………… . Uhm I mean .. 」

Kouta showed a stiff expression as he was at a loss as to what to do in this situation.

「People who cross the last line rarely show up because of the penalties that follow those actions. There was also a dueling system but, it was heavily restricted in Almond. 」

The guild receptionist sighed while explaining in a slightly tired voice. And when they spoke like that, the furious adventurer's spear tip was already pointing towards Rio.

「So many people were injured at the time！ But they did not run away from the frontlines because they knew that they would be scorned by fellow adventurers if they escaped on their own while leaving the other adventurers behind. 」

The man who was accusing Rio said it out loud. He probably thought that Rio was unfair because it was a fact that his fellow adventurers were injured. But the man had misunderstood the current matter.

「I will say again, I am not an adventurer. 」

Because he really wasn't an adventurer. Instead, he was actually a noble. But fixing a deep-rooted misunderstanding in someone is not easy.

「Ceh, you deleted your tag right? I mean, you won't be open as long as you don't meet your acquaintances in the city that has been your base of operations. If you are completely innocent, let us check your belongings. If you really don't lie, you should at least allow us to do that, right? 」

The man ignored Rio's claim and unilaterally pressed forward with hers because it was natural for him to accept the examination request if she was innocent and refuse if she was. Since he is in the position of being blamed, there may be a need to be a little more understanding.

By the way, the adventurer who registered in the adventurer guild had to show his personal written information and the name of the city that would be his base of operations, besides that he had to wear a mark engraved with his personal information.

「No need to take action against his own responsibility, especially when requested by strangers. I don't care even if you don't believe me. So please step back. 」

Rio nonchalantly rejected the man's request and sighed as his line of sight moved away from the man.

"…………… What did you say? 」

The man who blamed Rio was already about to explode seeing Rio completely ignore him. Even–,

「Who is this guy? 」

「He is very rough ………. 」

「Bokah sucks. Are you even aware of your current situation? 」

The surrounding adventurers also started to frown. At that time–,

「PLEASE WAIT A MINUTE! 」

A slightly panicked voice sounded in the room. Rio looked at the owner of the voice. There she sees Chloe coming with Natalie.

「…………. . May I ask what you are doing in this place? 」

Rio smiled wryly, probably because he had already guessed the reason why Natalie and Chloe were there.

「M-I'm sorry. Uhm, our master ordered us to secretly supervise the activities of Kouta-sama …………. . We were waiting outside the building at first, but then I heard from Chloe that the adventurers started fighting with Haruto-sama. 」

Natalie explained the situation in a somewhat awkward voice. The reason for their delayed appearance was because they hated standing up because of their uniforms, which would definitely happen when they entered the guild building.

「No, there is no reason for you to apologize to me. I'd be happy if you keep watching him that way .... 」.

「K-We didn't come for it. 」

Natalie shook her head in confusion as Rio said it with a troubled face. And when the two of them talk in an intimate way – 、

「Oi. That's Chloe-chan. Princess Rebecca-san. 」

「The one by her side is Natalie-san, right? You are supposed to be on the site at that time so why are you talking so closely with it? 」

「Eh？ They ..... Wearing maid clothes? Who're they? 」

"You fool . Both of them are people who work at Liselotte-sama's house. 」

The surrounding adventurers started whispering to each other while looking at Rio-tachi. Natalie then fixed her gaze on the adventurers who were fighting with Rio and— ――

「This person is someone who is directly appointed as a noble by the king of our kingdom, moreover he is also a very important guest for our master. Therefore, anyone who spoke unjustly about himself in order to tarnish his honor would be severely punished. That's why I sincerely ask you to be careful with your statements about him. 」

So he told them.

Right after, the faces of the men who chose to fight with Rio turned pale. Among them, the man who first accused Rio was clearly the most panicked.

「Uh ……………. No . 」

「So, what are you fighting about? 」

The man became even more confused when Natalie asked in a cold tone.

「Well, nothing important. It's just about him criticizing me for not registering myself during a demon attack using the pretext I didn't become an adventurer. It seems like he is doubtful whether I am really an adventurer or not. 」

Rio shrugged and replied instead of the man. He tried to tidy up the matter with an unconcerned smile.

"…… I see . Is that what happened? 」

Natalie notices attempts to resolve this difficult situation and asks the man to confirm. He instantly understood the situation because he also got the wrong impression about Rio's actions during that time.

「Uh .........................」.

The man quietly shifted his eyes.

「This man did not escape and he is also not an adventurer. The actions he took at that time were justified. Moreover, then after he left, he saved the citizens of this city and single-handedly slaughtered many of those unknown demons. Our master, Liselotte-sama's life was also saved by him. If we were to talk about the most military exploits during that time, he would definitely be placed among the top 3. 」

Natalie explained in order of the events that followed Rio's desertion to those around her who listened to her explanation.

「KUH」

The expressions of the people blaming Rio turned sour.

「What are we going to do with these people, Haruto-sama? I'll call the one in charge of this branch if you want to punish them. 」

Natalie asked Rio.

「WAIT! There were a lot of people harassing him back then! 」

The man who blamed Rio shouted in a confused voice.

「…………. . Didn't he? 」

Natalie asked with a sigh.

「Why just us! ? Moreover, from the beginning ……. . ! 」

The man who blamed Rio suddenly felt that he was being persecuted. Although he looked like he was about to say something, he stopped in the middle. He felt that continuing would ask for more trouble and so he swallowed back the words that would leave his mouth. He might want to say that there is a problem with Rio's personality.

「It seems that you jumped to conclusions without considering the consequences, but then, I have no intention of accompanying you guys because I only have more important things to do. That's why if you don't involve yourself any further with me, I'll ignore the case today. 」

Rio said so while looking at the man and he said the last part to Natalie.

「.............................. Understood. We'll do what you say but, what are you going to do now? 」

After bowing respectfully towards Rio, Natalie asked the men.

「M-My. I lost my composure as many of my colleagues were injured in the incident. 」

The man who accused Rio obediently apologized. Following him, the others who accused Rio also apologized to him.

「I accept your apology. In that case, you can leave... —- No, wait a moment. I should be the one to leave I guess. Please leave after you finish your business, I'll wait outside. 」

Rio sent a fleeting glance towards Kouta while saying it in a slightly loud voice and then left the guild building. Natalie and Chloe chase after him in a panic. When they are outside――,

「If I'm not mistaken, Chloe-san's house is an inn right? 」

Suddenly Rio asked such a question to Chloe.

"Ah yes . 」

Chloe nodded shyly.

「If it's okay with you, will you let Kouta-san stay at your inn? Doesn't that make your task a lot easier by letting it stay in a place you can easily observe? 」

「So, there are also so ………. 」

Natalie also only realized it after Rio showed it.

「Uhm, I don't, or rather I have to say that it will save us a lot of hassle. 」

Chloe also nodded in agreement.

「Alright, let's do that. I will be the one making the recommendation. 」

Thus, without the person noticing it, they had decided on the inn that Kouta would occupy.

◇ ◇ ◇

Kouta left the guild building a few minutes later and rushed as soon as he found Rio.

「Uhm, Haruto-kun! 」

「How is your registration? 」

Rio asked the over-enthusiastic Kouta.

「Yes. I did, but .......... 」...

Suddenly Kouta became less excited.

Then I'm happy then. 」

「Yes. I feel the same way …………. . But that's not what I meant. Sorry for what happened a while ago! Because you're coming with me ………. . 」

Kouta apologized to Rio with an embarrassed face.

「...... Don't worry, things might become even more troublesome if Kouta-san suddenly intervenes there, moreover it's not a problem that Kouta-san should be responsible for. 」

Jerk Rio from his confusion and say so with an apologetic smile.

「But ………. . 」

Kouta's mixed emotions appeared on his face.

「. Being an Adventurer means that you should not act recklessly like meddling in other people's problems that you cannot solve. It may sound heartless but, you might call it one of the secrets of success in life or the secret to living a long life. Because if you live as an Adventurer, there will come a time when you will do commissions that you cannot do yourself, you know? 」

After sighing, Rio gave a wise word to Kouta with a troubled face.

「. 」

「Because as long as you work as an adventurer, there will come a time when you will incur such enmity from someone, which makes me worry that you might become a rogue adventurer. Well, honestly I'm glad you wanted to help me but. Sounds like I'm preaching to you, right? 」

Rio apologized to Kouta with a smile on his face after seeing Kouta's depressed face.

「. I learned a new lesson. I have a lot to learn ………. . Or rather, it seems like I need to etch this point of reflection into my heart. 」

Kouta smiled wryly as he sighed with a mixed expression.

Then I'm happy then. By the way, the two here are servants who work for Liselotte-sama. 」

To change the sad atmosphere, Rio introduced Natalie and Chloe who had been staying by his side.

「Yes. I saw you two a while ago. 」

「My name is Natalie. It's nice to meet you. 」

"My name is Chloe . It's nice to meet you. 」

After Kouta nods at them, Natalie and Chloe introduce themselves.

「A-Happy to meet you too. 」

「The truth is, Chloe-san's family runs an inn, so I thought of suggesting her family's inn as your residence, what do you think of it, Kouta-san? 」

Suddenly Rio asked such a question to Kouta who had greeted the two beautiful women with anxious voices.

「Yes. Because you said what I thought ………. . I think it'll please me. 」

Kouta nodded timidly.

「It's decided. Let's go there right away and make arrangements before all the rooms are filled. We'll leave the store for later. Will you be our guide, Chloe-san? 」

「Y-Yes, please go this way! 」

After Rio switched the conversation to her, Chloe replied in an excited voice. Thus, they headed for the inn that the Chloe family managed.

Then, after finishing shopping, Rio also stayed for one night to settle another matter with Chloe's mother. And the next morning, Rio left Almond with Kouta driving him away and went towards the Proxia kingdom to the north.