第６２２堀：獣人美人刑事純情派 学生誘拐事件 狐 (Part1)
Senior Mikos had left.
...I was agonizing over what to do.
Besides me, only Kaya-san, Yuki-sensei's wife, and Eoid-san, a guest from the If Continent, were here.
...In other words, the future of Haiden depends on my guidance!?
Even though I thought that wasn't the case, Kagura-san was trembling and scared, and I couldn't shake off my anxiety.
"Calm down. Just act like you're here to play with a friend."
"Ah, y-yes. A friend. A friend? Friend..."
What's that, is it delicious?
As a loner, I don't understand the meaning of that word...
"I see. So that's why Yuki chose Eoid and not Amanda."
"Huh? What do you mean?"
"Eoid. Solo is nervous because I'm here. But I don't think she'll relax just because I force her to."
"Is that so? I think she'll get used to it gradually."
"If she's awkward the whole time, she'll be looked at strangely by others. The goal here is to investigate the main street naturally."
"Ah, that's right."
I'm sorry. I'm sorry for being a loner.
Listening to their conversation, I felt even more uncomfortable.
Sigh, why am I like this? When my seniors were here, I could talk with ease.
When I have to talk alone, my words just won't come out as I want them to.
While I was realizing my own patheticness again, Kaya-san and Eoid-san's conversation continued.
"So, what are you going to do?"
"The answer is simple. We'll make it so that awkwardness doesn't matter."
"Make it so that awkwardness doesn't matter? What do you mean?"
"Eoid. You're not very perceptive. In other words..."
Kaya-san said that, took Eoid-san's hand, and then took my hand and made us hold each other.
"Hia!?"
I couldn't help but let out a cry at the suddenness of it all.
"Um. Solo-san, are you not okay with this?"
"N-no! I was just surprised!!"
"Haa. If Solo-san is okay with it, then it's fine. So, what happens if we hold hands?"
"...Eoid. You're too unperceptive. In other words, if it's a shy couple in love, there's no problem. Rather, it's natural."
"C-couple!?"
Eoid-san is my boyfriend!?
Hearing that, I finally felt the warmth of Eoid-san's hand holding mine.
"No, even more so, aren't you uncomfortable, Solo-san? Even if it's acting, me playing the role of your boyfriend..."
"No!! That's not it!! I'm fine!!"
This might be my chance.
The biggest chance for me to get a boyfriend!!
After all, he protected me when I might be expelled, and maybe Eoid-san likes me!!
I-I think Eoid-san is okay too...
I might be able to instantly job-change from a loner to someone with a boyfriend.
He's a distinguished guest from the If Continent, am I hitting the jackpot!?
"Won't Amanda get angry?"
The moment Eoid-san said that, I felt like I had gone from a flower field to a snow-covered region.
That's right, Eoid-san has a wife.
Haha, I'm an idiot.
Amanda-san has helped me so much and even became my friend, and I was about to make a move on someone important to her.
How terrible of me.
Now that I've calmed down, I think I can guide them. I should let go of his hand now. Just as I was thinking that...
"It's okay. I got permission from Amanda just now."
"Huh?"
While Eoid-san and I were letting out foolish sounds like that, Kaya-san attached something strange to our ears, and then we heard Amanda's voice.
"Eoid. I heard about it. Just play the role of her boyfriend. You came this far because Eoid protected me in the first place, right? Protect her properly as a knight."
"Ah, okay. If Amanda says so."
"Good. Solo. Eoid might be uncomfortable playing the role of your boyfriend, but please bear with it."
"Fue!? N-no!! That's not it!!"
"...? Ah, hmm. Well, I kind of figured. But it might be a good opportunity. Principal Popuri, Master Eris, and Master Deryu all said the same thing."
"Eh? Ah, um...?"
"Hm? Oh, that's something else. For now, today, Eoid and Solo are a couple, or close friends. If you can't do that, then you'll have to go with that. Eoid isn't used to handling women, but please help with that, Kaya-san. And also, don't do anything strange to Solo."
"...I'll do my best to support you. However, I can't react to Eoid's miracles either, so I can only handle the aftermath."
What is this "miracle" they're talking about?
As I tilted my head, Eoid-san hurriedly pulled my hand and started walking.
"Come on, let's work hard!! Right? Solo-san."
"Ah, yes."
"Kaya-san, let's go too!!"
"Well, I hope nothing happens."
"...Right. Work first."
I didn't understand much, but in that way, our investigation of Onnok's main street began.
Well, even though it's called an investigation, it's just walking around the main street and looking at the shops.
"There are more shops than I thought."
"...I knew it to some extent from the map, but it's surprising."
"Yes. I was surprised when I first visited Onnok. Apparently, after the magic academy was built, Onnok became a convenient place for people to stay, and accordingly, various shops and things were built," the townspeople told me.
"I see. It's like a town of learning."
"The academy and the town are integrated, and since there are no other towns nearby, I didn't realize it, but the presence of students means a lot of visitors, and accordingly, the surrounding towns prosper."
With my simple explanation, Kaya-san easily understood what I had finally understood after hearing it many times.
She's such a capable woman. And she's also a priestess of the spirits, which is amazing.
Or maybe it's natural because she's a priestess?
"Well, because all sorts of people come, there are also a lot of troubles..."
"I know. The academy was like that too."
"...Places where people gather tend to be like that."
"When I was working at the shop, the customers would..."
*CRASH!*
Just as I was about to say that, a loud noise came from the shop next door.
"Hyaah!?"
Instinctively, I clung to Eoid-san, whose hand I was holding, and Eoid-san immediately embraced me.
...Ah, maybe this is happiness?
"What was that!?"
"...Eoid. Calm down. It seems like they're fighting in the shop next door."
"Fighting?"
"Yes, fighting."
Kaya-san said that and looked at the shop next door, and we followed her gaze...
"You bumped into me, didn't you!?"
"What!? You're the one who bumped into me!!"
Two men with sturdy builds, possibly mercenaries, were shouting at each other as if they were about to start a brawl.
"Um, customers..."
A woman, likely from the shop, tried to intervene in the fight, but there was no way those kinds of people would listen to such restraint...
"Get out of the way, woman!!"
"Yeah. It's not a woman's place to butt in!!"
"Hya!?"
Saying that, they even threatened the female shop employee.
The people around didn't want to be bothered, so no one stepped in.
I thought we'd have to call the guards, but Kaya-san walked briskly towards the shop.
"Eoid. Take care of Solo."
"Ah, yes."
"Eh? W-what are you going to do?"
As I called out to Kaya-san, who was walking away, she replied briefly...
"This is how."
Saying that, she firmly grabbed the arms of the two men who were about to punch each other.
"Who the hell are you!?"
"We told you not to butt in, woman!!"
The men threatened Kaya-san in the same way and tried to break free from her grip, but considering that Kaya-san was with Yuki-san's party, it was impossible to break free, and they remained fixed in her grip, unable to move.
"...Are you okay?"
Ignoring the threatening men, Kaya-san spoke to the shop employee, who had been intimidated and was now sitting on the floor.