LIGHTNOVELWORLD Chapter 259.2
Chapter 259.2. Tachibana
Without looking around, the children ate their meal with all their focus, and I watched them with a warm smile. It reminded me of my own past, making me feel a little nostalgic and happy to be able to help.
“Don’t go around telling everyone about your gold rank or your wealth. This isn’t Amatsugahara Corporation; they don’t know you’re a demon lord’s ally here, and someone’s bound to hassle you if they find out,” Yoko-san whispered with a slight grimace.
Realizing her point, I nodded in agreement and thanked her. She’s a good person.
“If you get tangled up in anything, the demon lord will take even longer treating me like a ‘mofler.’ Don’t go off alone, okay? This isn’t an action movie, so doing everything solo won’t lead to anything good.”
“That’s right-nyan. Sakimori’s touches are getting more… soothing, so it’s dangerous-nyan. Just behave-nyan.”
Their faces looked unusually serious, so I broke into a cold sweat and nodded vigorously. I didn’t fully understand why, but it seemed they were under a lot of pressure.
Just as I reached for some bread, planning to make a small sandwich with the smoked meat, Tachibana leaned forward, staring at me with bright eyes.
“So, what’s your name?”
“I’m Hana. As for my last name, umm… I’m still deciding.”
I’ve been thinking about it, discussing with Jun-chan and the others, but we haven’t settled on one yet. Though samurai names are trendy, I want something that truly fits us. The young girl chose “Amano” as her last name—her first name was… well, I can’t remember, but that’s okay.
Some people believe that taking on a famous warrior’s name means you’re their reincarnation, but I can’t buy into that. I don’t want to pick my name just for good luck.
“Got it. My name’s Muneshige Tachibana! Pretty great, huh?”
He proudly rubbed his nose.
Wow, here’s someone who did pick their name for good luck, right in front of me.
“So, um, where did you train? You were incredible against those grown-ups. Want to team up? I bet we could take down goblins together!”
Seeing him so eager, practically leaning into my space, I was caught a bit off guard. I guess he wants strong people as allies.
“Sorry, but I can’t join any parties. I already have a lot of work.”
“Oh, I see… what kind of work, I wonder… actually, never mind. I was a little too pushy. Sorry about that.”
Surprised by his easy acceptance, I sighed in relief and decided to give him a bit of advice.
“Tachibana-kun, goblins are stronger than you might think, so it’s best to stay away. You’re used to soldiers, right? They handle goblins with guns and groups, but adventurers don’t carry firearms. When you’re in small groups, it’s easy to get killed. There’ll probably be a dungeon tour soon, so get some experience there first.”
If I don’t explain clearly, a boy like Tachibana might end up like those people in the special zones who died. After breezing through the goblin tour, some thought they could handle them alone and never returned.
He looked shocked by my serious expression, clearly remembering something relevant.
“Oh, I see… you’re pretty knowledgeable, Hana. Are you not from Hakata?”
“Right, I came here from Kanto on support.”
“From Kanto, huh… so you’re an elite.”
Tachibana muttered, looking down with a hint of sadness. What’s going on, I wonder? But for now, there’s something more important.
“Are you guys from the old abandoned town?”
I asked the kids eating, and they nodded back.
“Yeah, we are… hey, um, could I save some of this bread?”
Watching them as they ate, I noticed they were holding onto their bread instead of eating it, glancing frequently at the leftovers. I realized they wanted to ensure they’d have food for tomorrow, not just today.
“Don’t worry! Eat as much as you like, and I’ll make sure you’ve got some to take with you. I’ll even get you warm clothes!”
With what I have now, I could easily buy old coats and enough food for a hundred people. Helping kids in the same situation I once was in… that’s my goal.
I puffed up my chest proudly, ready to tell them,
“Lea-mff!”
Karin-san and Yoko-san both pressed my cheeks together to stop me.
As I was about to promise them food, they stopped me, leaving me flustered. Were they telling me not to spend my money on others? I tried to give them a stern look.
“Um, why are you both grinning at me like that?”
“Hana, listen. If you want to help, don’t waste your money. With your position, you can make a bigger difference without even spending a cent. This way, you can save more people, including these kids here.”
“Yeah, especially since you said they’re from the ruins-nyan. You don’t know, but this info is worth quite a bit, nyan.”
Yoko-san and Karin-san smiled slyly, as if there was something I didn’t yet understand.
“Well, just trust us and follow along, nyan. The kids can come too, nyan.”
Beckoning like a cat, Karin-san got up, and Yoko-san gave a cunning smile. Though I wasn’t sure what was happening, I trusted Karin-san because she’s someone President Sakimori trusts. I decided to follow them with the kids, making sure to pack the remaining food to take along.