落とし穴外伝：親戚が多いと２ (Part1)
Pitfall Side Story: When You Have Many Relatives 2
Side: Milly
The evening Shera visited the Adventurer’s Guild, I was just finishing up my shift and heading out when...
"Good, you're still here."
Eris was waiting for me.
"That's rare. What's up? We're going to see each other at home, aren't we?"
"True, but there’s something I wanted to ask you about a little early."
"Oh? Can we talk while we walk?"
"Sure. Here, have a drink."
She handed me a canned coffee, and I cracked it open, taking a light sip as we began to walk.
"So, what’s the talk about?"
"It’s about how Shera visited the Adventurer’s Guild today."
"Pfft!"
Caught off guard by the very topic I was currently mulling over, I accidentally spat out my drink.
"What’s wrong?"
"No, it’s just... I was the one who handled her request."
"Ah, well, that makes sense. I was just wondering why Shera would go there. Did you hear anything? Tefa is worried about her since she’s one of her subordinates. Though, she couldn't exactly pry into her personal business."
"Well, it is private, so that’s to be expected. But it’s not like she never visits the guild. I’m there, after all."
"I suppose. But lately, her lunches have been... well, mostly vegetables, and not exactly a wide variety. When she first joined, she’d come by for meals often, but lately, she hasn't, claiming she doesn't have the money."
Wow, so she’s cutting back on things like that—no, she’s actually running out of money.
"It’s not like Shera’s personality has changed, so Tefa asked me if something happened that would require such extreme frugality."
"I see. Tefa is a good supervisor."
"She is. That girl is very attentive. So, do you know anything?"
"Know anything? I heard the whole story from her today..."
I explained to Eris what had happened earlier.
"Ah..."
Eris tilted her head back and let out a groan. She didn't spill her coffee, but her hand was trembling.
"I figured it would come to this."
"...I hadn't even considered it. It’s because she’s so young, I suppose..."
"Exactly. If she were willing to accept money from us, she would have come to me for advice in the first place."
"Shera values the money she earns herself. Well, that’s what being an adult is all about, but... to save up that hard just to buy us presents..."
"It really gives me a headache. Is there any way you could raise her salary, Eris?"
"Impossible. That would look like favoritism, and Shera would hate it."
"Then we have to find a way to supplement her income, or she’s going to keep working without a single day off."
"...Knowing Shera, you're right. I just wish she’d understand."
While we were talking, we arrived home before we knew it.
"My, why do you both look so troubled?"
Ratz opened the front door to greet us. After exchanging a glance, we turned our eyes toward her.
"“Could you listen to something for a moment?”"
"Yes?"
We pulled the bewildered Ratz inside, and while washing away the day's sweat in the bath, we told her about Shera.
"Ah... ah..."
Ratz, much like Eris, stared up at the ceiling and groaned.
"Do you think it’s a difficult problem to solve, Ratz?"
"...It is. This situation is beyond her capacity, and while this is likely a lesson for her to learn that there are some things she simply cannot handle, she’s trying so hard because she sees a sliver of possibility. But if she were to come into money that isn't suited to her station, it could easily lead to her downfall."
"“Exactly.”"
I had thought about a "get-rich-quick" scheme at the guild, but I didn't want her to get the wrong idea. It’s common for people to succeed once, try to repeat it, and then lose their lives in a reckless attempt. Even if she didn't try again, suddenly having a lot of money could warp her sense of value, just as Ratz said, and lead her astray.
"Sigh, what are we going to do?"
"This is one of those cases where Shera accepting our help is the right thing to do. However, she has always given us gifts for our birthdays, hasn't she? Wait, that’s right—that was funded by her parents, wasn't it?"
"Yes. She must have bought them with the extra pocket money her mom and dad gave her."
"Hmm. That could be our breakthrough. She might reject help from us, but if she thinks of it as something her parents would do, she might be convinced. Is she still living with her parents?"
"No, she moved out and is enjoying living alone in an apartment. She was so excited about renting her own place."
"That independence is likely what’s fueling her desire to do this on her own. It’s a commendable attitude under normal circumstances, but it’s heading in a bad direction this time. You should talk to her parents."
"You're right. She’d be more likely to accept it if it came from them. Understood. I’ll talk to them."
"And would it be alright if I told Tefa about this? She was quite worried."
"Yes, please. Tell her that if it looks like she’s going to collapse, we’ll make her stop, even if we have to force her."
With our course of action decided, I ate dinner and immediately headed out to see her parents. Fortunately, they run a restaurant, and since they’d just finished up, they weren't asleep yet. The noren curtain was already put away and the lights out front were dimmed, so I knew they were closed, but the interior was still lit—they were likely cleaning up. I stepped inside without hesitation.
*Chime.*
At the sound of the bell announcing a customer, my father, who was cleaning in the back, poked his head out.
"Sorry, we’re already closed... oh, Milly?"
"Eh? Milly?"
My mother reacted to my father’s voice and came out as well.
"Hey there. I came by because I wanted to talk about something. I’ll help you clean up, so do you have a moment?"
"Ah, that’s fine, but..."
"Did something happen?"
"Yeah, but it won't take long, so let’s get this done quickly. We all have work tomorrow, after all."
"Understood."
With that, we finished cleaning the shop quickly and sat down in the living room in the back to talk. The content, of course, was simply about Shera.