Otherworld Company Chapter 53.1: Handling Trouble Is Prudent, If You Don’t Consider The Aftermath, It’s Okay To Be A Bit Messy

Jiro Tanaka: 28 years old – Has Girlfriends

Girlfriend(s): Suela Handelberg & Memoria Tris

Occupation: Dungeon Tester (Regular Employee)

Magical Aptitude: Eight (General Class)

“Pardon me, I am Mary, a merchant. This is Giro, my escort. We have come to this mountain to gather sprite berries.” (Memoria)

“Are you really a merchant?” (Ashley)

“Yes, because I can save money by doing it myself, and the sprite berries fetch a high price this time of year. I am engaged to him and he is helping me with the collection.” (Memoria)

After the battle, Memoria bowed her head politely beside the huge forest bear lying on the ground, looking very respectful.

Memoria, who answers without hesitation after giving a light bow, finishes saying our purpose and waits for the reaction of the other party while allowing me to move.

I don’t sheathe the Mineral Tree and stand by her side, slouched and relaxed.

The priestess on the other side, a girl named Ashley, as I recall, removes her hood to reveal her face.

She was a girl with honey-brown hair trimmed at her neck, about the age of a junior high or high school student in my world.

However, her expression did not give the impression that she was a child, but rather that she was a mature adult.

“Then, why were you up in the tree earlier? Sprite berries grow in clusters near clear streams.” (Ashley)

“Even if he is as good as he is, he will eventually fall before a demonic beast while protecting me. It is natural for a merchant to avoid unnecessary risks. I had instructed him to evacuate to a safe place if anything came near him.” (Memoria)

“Then, why didn’t you help us? I think you could see that we were being driven.” (Ashley)

The other side was not slowing down to criticize the suspicious part.

If there is the slightest sense of discomfort, they are determined to push even harder.

For a small girl, she seems to have a strong heart.

I guess she is proud of his position as part of the clergy who does not tolerate lies.

I shifted my gaze and paid attention to the other knights.

All of them are paying attention to our movements and are ready to move at any moment.

The knight who was injured, while I was fighting, had already finished his treatment.

I checked with just a glance being tactful and left them to their own devices.

“I’m sorry to sound like I’m defending my own people, but he was concerned for my safety and admonished me not to intervene in the battle. As you can see, I’m quite adept at hiking in the mountains, but I’m not good enough to fight demonic beasts.” (Memoria)

I can watch Memoria’s attitude with peace of mind.

I don’t have to worry about her in the first place, and they are not impatient with Memoria who answers their question easily.

It seemed as if the questioning would continue for a long time, but the clouds were thickening and the surroundings were already dim.

The situation made me wonder if this was the time to be doing this, and I thought it would be better not to spend too much time on it, but I couldn’t say anything.

It is not a good idea to show impatience here. I carefully kept my mind at ease and kept my eyes on the surroundings, and watched Memoria and Ashley’s exchange of questions and answers.

Fortunately, the question and answer did not last very long.

“…I apologize ahead of time for being very suspicious, I heard in town that there has been a recent increase in activity of demonic beasts in this vicinity, and I was trying to find out the cause.” (Ashley)

“A traveling priestess will have a hard time just doing that.” (Memoria)

Memoria, who creates a sympathetic atmosphere while repositioning her glasses with a click, may have talent as an actress in addition to this performance.

Or is this the default for those who run a business on this side of the world?

Her usual lack of emotional presence is gone, and she seems like a different person as she weaves lies and truths into her conversation.

From what I hear, the question she was asking earlier was to confirm that we were not related to demonic beasts.

“We cannot leave people in need. So, do you have any idea what is going on?” (Ashley)

“No, we have been actively avoiding fighting with the demonic beasts… so I think it took us quite a long time to encounter them.” (Memoria)

“Well, thank you for the information. We’re headed back at home, but what about you guys?” (Ashley)

“No, thank you for your kindness, but we have our own plans.” (Memoria)

“Is that so.” (Ashley)

She gave an air of disappointment, but it was not convenient for us to go along with her.

That’s the end of the story. She too had put her hood back on and was getting ready to move.

As for us, as long as we collect our luggage, we can leave as we are.

I was relieved in my heart that we were finally going to a place where we could rest.

“Then, I hope we meet in better times.” (Memoria)

“…Yes, may you have God’s Divine Protection.” (Ashley)

After saying our goodbyes, we turned in different directions and left the place.

All that remained was a message that they would meet again if they had a chance.

But,

“”…”” (Jiro & Memoria)

“What’s the matter?” (Ashley)

“Well, why are you following us?” (Memoria)

“Because we are going in the same direction.” (Ashley)

“Is that so.” (Memoria)

Memoria and I look at each other and wonder what’s going on.

The conversation should have ended and we would have parted ways, but instead, they followed us like ducklings behind their mother.

The behavior is unnatural.

This time, when we look at them without hiding our suspicions, it seems even more unnatural because the resolute attitude that had been burning with a mission just a moment ago has disappeared.

It seems to me that they are not overtaking us, but only standing still as if to answer our questions.

It is natural to wonder what is going on.

“By the way, which is the base you mentioned earlier?” (Memoria)

“Sakar. We’re from there.” (Ashley)

“I see. We’ll be looking for spriteberries a little further up the mountain, so it’s not this way, you know?” (Memoria)

“”…”” (Ashley & the Knights)

The words of Memoria were like a sickle that landed a massive critical hit.

The silent silence is painful.

We were having a serious exchange earlier, but what is this change in the atmosphere?

Memoria seemed to have guessed what was going on, and everyone on the other side was looking uncomfortable.

It’s the kind of atmosphere you feel when you’ve done something wrong at work, a place that makes me feel nostalgic and uncomfortable, and even though it’s after physical exertion, I can’t help but see them break out in a different kind of sweat.

“Memoria, can I talk to you for a minute?” (Jiro)

“Yes, excuse me, please wait a moment.” (Memoria)

“How do you see this situation?” (Jiro)

“I don’t know how to say it, but…” (Memoria)

I was in no mood to just walk away, so I watched as Ashley nodded to change the air for the time being, and then I made some distance to buy some time.

On the other side, Ashley, who is in the lead, is maintaining an excellent smile and is on standby.

Since there is no problem to be heard in the conversation, I continue to talk with Memoria.

“Given the current situation, do you think they are lost?” (Jiro)

*Stab!*

Everyone, including Ashley, moved slightly as if something had pierced through their hearts at this unforgiving comment, but we were acting like we were unaware of this and continued to exchange our thoughts.

“Is that so? It could be a coincidence.” (Memoria)

“But judging from their behavior and demeanor, there is a strong possibility that it is.” (Jiro)

“No, but they’ve come all this way, haven’t they? They wouldn’t go this far back unless they had a very poor sense of direction.” (Memoria)

“The possibility is that they should be considered “directionless”, not accidentally lost.” (Jiro)

I feel that the word “directionless” that I said, and the words that Memoria previously said, landed a fatal strike that a groan was heard from their direction.

But in my mind, a professional knight is absolutely a professional knight, and I have an assumption that a professional knight would not make the elementary mistake of getting lost on their way into the mountains.

They are traveling knights, an occupation that takes them all over the world, and I am sure that they can handle themselves in the mountains.

“I speculated from there because her words lacked a sense of normalcy, but is there something bothering you?” (Memoria)

“Oh, I’m curious about her first request for cooperation. How could she make a request like that in a situation if they were really lost?” (Jiro)

If I were lost in the woods and attacked by a demonic beast that I couldn’t win by myself, would I be able to ask someone to fight with me if they happened to pass by?

I would say it depends on the situation, but the first thing I would ask for would be a rescue rather than cooperation.

“…Certainly, I don’t think I could make a statement like the first in such a situation. If they’ve been wandering in the woods, they’d probably ask for help first, even more so.” (Memoria)

“The girls’ behavior could also be described as unnatural. But the possibility also arises that the sudden attack of the demonic beasts made them go in the wrong direction, get lost, and feel embarrassed.” (Jiro)

“I am not sure if that was a possibility. Certainly, if you are in a tight spot, such a thing may be…. upsetting, and if you combine the first statement with the one you just made, it may be more likely to be a coincidence. If not, it will lead to trouble later on and you will be caught like a sitting duck. I would not commit such a mistake.” (Memoria)

Another *Stab*, a sound like someone getting stabbed, and multiple sounds of crumbling to the ground can be heard.

“In any case, it may as well check them.” (Jiro)

“Yes, so… what’s wrong?” (Memoria)

“No, I apologize, so please listen to us. Please have mercy.” (Ashley)

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