Chapter 59
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 59
Chapter Title: Great-Grandchild Double Event
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Even without the brightly shining sun, the heat in the adventurer guild district showed no signs of cooling down.
The time when adventurers who took on simple quests that didn't require camping gathered before their eyes were stolen away.
We stood in front of the adventurer guild with the magic tool reactivated.
Lancelot opened the guild doors with a majestic expression.
The adventurers who knew about the morning's events cheered as they saw the group following behind.
-Damn! I believed in you!
-Oi oi, did you pull it off?
-As expected of Lancelot!
"Haha! I brought everyone back safe and sound!"
With that clichéd line, Lancelot's nose was about to pierce the sky.
Before long, the veteran adventurer Kasim was standing in front of Lancelot, and the two of them...
"Heh... As expected of you..."
"Ahh... I'm back, Kasim..."
'These crazy bastards...'
They were exchanging utterly ridiculous bromance vibes.
The two men's heated gazes lingered for a while, and watching them made Lucas's eyes sparkle.
"As expected... humans are beautiful!"
'What the hell is this...'
"Everyone, look at this!"
In the atmosphere burning hotter than a furnace, Lancelot shouted.
-Ooh!
-That's!
-A troll's reproductive organ! Lancelot pulled off another massive achievement!
-He'll be diamond rank soon!
"Today is the day I made new friends! Everything's on me today!!!!"
-Waaaaah!
Lancelot poured oil on the already raging fire, turning the place into a festival of madness.
-Hey! Protagonists! The receptionist girl's in trouble! Come over here and sit!
-Lancelot! Lancelot! Lancelot! Lancelot! Lancelot!
-Bring a whole barrel of booze over here!
The brain-dead chants had gone past four verses, and even I couldn't help but laugh.
Brainlessness at its peak becomes art, doesn't it?
Everyone laughed as if they couldn't help it while watching Lancelot, then found their seats and started drinking.
"Hey! Kasim! Let's have a contest!"
"Ahh, I accept that challenge!"
Over there, Lancelot and Kasim were locked in a drinking battle, and the barkeep's hands were busy amid the unexpected boom.
We sat side by side around the table, sipping our drinks.
"Thank you again for saving us, Your Highness."
This girl bowing her head at the table was Karin Ertea, the one who'd been collapsing and wheezing just moments ago.
"If it's a private setting, I don't mind casual speech."
"B-But..."
"If someone overhears outside, that's on you?"
"Eek!"
I'd just tossed out a light joke, but she reacted like a newbie getting pranked by a grizzled sergeant.
"It was a joke. That lunatic over there is footing the bill today, so drink up."
-Kasim! Kasim!
-Lancelot! Lancelot!
-Not bad!
-Hah! Obviously!
Everyone's gazes turned to Lancelot, who was enjoying himself without a care, forgetting all worries.
Everyone smirked and grabbed their glasses.
Since everyone was naturally looking at me, I shouted.
"Alright, everyone... Cheers!!"
"""Cheers!!!!"""
As alcohol loosened up the awkward atmosphere, everyone started laughing and chatting.
-Oho... So that's what you mean...
-Yeah, just go for it. It'll come naturally...
-Did you perhaps heal me because...
-Hehe, is your body feeling better now?
-Whoa! I was so shocked earlier!
I smiled warmly at Jenia and Veronica chatting away happily.
Lukas seemed pleased with the vibe too, smiling contentedly, so I spoke to him.
"Heartwarming sight, huh?"
"Yeah... People really are beautiful."
It felt like two party leaders meeting at a gathering.
The women were having fun chatting, so I threw in a joke.
"If you try to take Veronica because she's pretty, I won't let you off easy?"
"Liam, let me say it again: I am a human..."
Can't tease him.
This hero seems to like people a lot.
As I smiled wryly, a beastkin girl with dog ears brought food to our table.
"Your ordered dishes are here~"
"""Whoa!!"""
Perfectly cooked steak, golden roasted chicken, red soup, and rye bread.
The hero's party all marveled, but for some reason, Lukas's expression soured.
"What, you don't like something?"
His unexpected reaction made me glance at him, startling Lukas.
"Uh...? N-No, just felt like I might sneeze."
"Sure...?"
I hadn't sensed any sneeze muscle twitching, so maybe he just hated one of the dishes.
"""Huh?"""
Everyone's eyes widened at the round meat chunks floating in the soup.
"Excuse me~ What kind of meat is this?"
Jenia asked, and the cat beastkin kindly replied.
"Oh~ That's troll testicles!"
'What?'
[Ugh...]
Trolls lay eggs, but they have those 'eggs.'
So what are those 'eggs'? The 'R' used for laying offspring.
And why the demand?
That's right, it's great~ for men.
You lacking confidence at night! One 'R' today, and your wife will love you!
Jenia and Veronica turned pale, while the women in the hero's party lit up.
Jenia and Veronica quickly exchanged glances and sprang into action.
"Oh my, Lucas and Karin, you both looked exhausted earlier. You two split this!"
Karin's lips curled up slightly at that.
"Oh! Thank you, but I'm a mage, so I'm fine!"
There was no such thing; I knew she was a mage.
Leila, catching on, spoke up.
"Hmm... Then why don't you two each take one?"
I really didn't want to eat it... but I was curious. Troll... ugh... still curious.
Gathering courage to try one, I opened my mouth...
"Then let me try one..."
"""No way!!!!"""
"""..."""
Kids...?
"Ahem! The apostle is a mage too~"
"Yeah, Liam... How about yielding to your 'new friend'?"
"I-I'm fine..."
"""Eat it."""
"Uh...? Uh uh..."
And so, the things so~ good for men went straight into Lukas's mouth, two at a time.
His face screamed, 'What the hell does this taste like?' as he chewed.
Suddenly, I felt envious... I like health tonics too...
It wasn't summer...
The mad festival ended surprisingly early.
Why? Because...
"I... won... Kasimmm... Hehnyah..."
Lancelot's waist was bent like a bow.
Not in that sense, but levitated in the air by telekinesis.
Grandma came running at the sight of Lancelot dangling midair like a wreck.
"Aigoo, you naughty pups! Why'd you drink so much!"
Grandma, who'd come to greet us, dashed out barefoot in shock.
"""Grandmaaa!"""
Grandma hugged Jenia and Veronica as they clung to her, shaking her head fondly.
"Come on in, wash up and sleep!"
"This is... the Marquis of Florence's estate!"
"Th-The tower master is here..."
"The garden is so pretty...!"
"Are these our pup's new friends?"
As the hero's party, faces flushed, looked around the marquis's home, Grandma welcomed her grandson's new friends.
"Greetings, Lady Marquis of Florence! I'm Lucas!"
"Aigoo, so spirited. Come in quick, I'll have beds ready after you wash up."
"Ah... Hello, Lady Marquis of Florence! I'm..."
After greetings ended, Grandma gently pushed everyone's backs toward the servants.
"Pup, you grew up so fast, bringing friends home after drinking?"
I could only laugh awkwardly.
"Heh heh... Where's Grandpa?"
"He heard you were coming and is on his way."
"Grandma must've been lonely."
"If you know, come here, pup."
Grandma hugged me and patted my back.
"I thought you'd just shoot up like bamboo, but you've grown into a fine man..."
Her patting hand felt warm.
Even as time passed and my body grew, the sensation of Grandma patting my back remained the same...
What was so great about a grandson who only caused worry...
Grandma smiled proudly, then grabbed my shoulders.
"So, you're heading to the academy soon."
"Yes, Grandma."
"It's close by, so visit often. This old lady can't keep going back and forth to the capital."
"Aw... You're still spry..."
-Smack!
"Ow!"
"When I say come, just come!"
The smack on my back confirmed she was spry.
As I reminisced about childhood spankings, Veronica waved from the mansion window and shouted.
-Apostleee! Grandmaaa! It's chilly, come in quick!
-Veronica~ Let's go wash up!
-Yeah!
Grandma and I waved back laughing.
As the window closed, Grandma gazed at me intently.
"Grandma?"
"What will you do about Veronica."
"Ah."
'I haven't told her yet.'
At my dumbstruck face, Grandma launched a defense-ignoring attack.
-Smack!
"Hot!"
"You better plan to take responsibility! Huh?!"
"Ow... No, it's not that..."
"If you seduce an innocent girl, you handle it!"
She didn't give me time to speak before glaring fiercely, making me feel wronged.
"I've already promised her the future, Grandma..."
Her blazing eyes rounded at my words.
"Really? You're not entirely useless, pup! Good job... You can't leave a pretty girl like that alone. What about Jenia?"
"She got scolded a bit... but Jenia's okay with it."
Grandma's face brightened.
'Come to think of it, I should tell Mom and Dad too...'
"Good! Aigoo, my baby, come here. Good job. If you'd met her secretly, I'd have dragged you to Jenia and beaten you bloody..."
-Flinch!
A chilling remark slipped from Grandma's lips as she hugged me.
Thinking of the now-erased bad ending and feeling relieved, Grandma gave me a warm look...
"They think only of you whether eating good food, wearing nice clothes, or having fun. Treat heaven's gifts with care."
Grandma, who'd treated Jenia and Veronica like her own granddaughters since we were kids...
Her words wishing happiness for all brimmed with love for them.
"I'll keep it in mind, Grandma..."
The moment I resolved to protect Grandma's love...
"Great-grandkids doubled... Hehe..."
'?'
"Grandma?"
"Pup... This grandma doesn't ask for much... Three each is plenty..."
"Pardon?"
"What."
"...I'll do my best."
"That's my boy."
I just smiled wryly.