Part 1
“Assistant-kun, Assistant-kun! Look! There’s a really big inn over there! Shall we stay there tonight?”
Chris, who has been in high spirits since she joined up with us, said cheerfully.
“Big Boss, do you have the money to stay in such a fancy place? I always got the impression that you’re the kind of person who quickly blows away all your money the moment you get it.”
Chris and I were sitting in the back of the carriage, looking around for a good inn to spend the night as Darkness handled the horses.
“Of course not. I donated most of my money to the Eris Church and drank the rest.”
“That’s no good, Big Boss. Then what are you going to do about tonight?”
In response, she gave me a glowing smile.
“Oh, Assistant-kun, are we really that distant? Haven’t we ran around the city at night together? We’re already close friends, aren’t we? Such close friends should of course sleep in the same place!”
In other words, ‘please handle my lodging fees for tonight.’
Well, I don’t particularly mind doing so, but Darkness interrupted before I could give my reply.
“I’ll cover Chris’ lodging fees. You did rush all the way here from Axel to help, after all… Still, Chris, it’s not bad to be so devoted to Eris-sama, but for the sake of your future, you should at least consider saving up some money.”
“Yay! Thanks, Darkness! Yeah, I’ll think a little more about my future from now on.”
Saying that, Chris hugged Darkness around the neck from behind.
“You don’t need to thank me. You’re the person I’m most worried about. I have my family estate, Kazuma here has both a mansion and a fortune. Aqua and Megumin can rely on him for their daily fees. But what about you, Chris? You don’t have a fixed home nor do you have any savings. Sure, it’s very adventurer-like, but maybe you should consider moving together with us…”
“N-No, I’ll be fine, Darkness. I might not look like it, but I have plenty of places to stay, so I can get by somehow.”
Chris slightly averted her gaze after being lectured by Darkness.
“Tell me how exactly do you plan to ‘get by’!? You’re not planning on breaking the law again, are you? If you get caught, I can’t just let you be. It might be different in the past, but right now I have to use my authority in a just manner. Please don’t make me have to do that.”
“What happened, Darkness? Why would the hardheaded Darkness say something like that? Hey, it’s your fault, isn’t it? You were the one who led her astray! Give her back! Return my earnest, hardheaded and easily fooled Darkness to me!”
“Don’t blame me, Big Boss. She’s always been a little shot in the head.”
—While we were fooling around in front of the gates, the sound of a bell emerged from the town, signalling that it was evening.
