Are You Really Just Seeing Me Off?

"Why can't someone see me off?"

Lokkishi pouted and glared angrily at Allen, who was slouched in the carriage seat with his sword in his arms.

"I... I thought you were going to become an adventurer with me, but you..."

After getting into the carriage, Allen explained that he was only accompanying her for part of the journey. Lokkishi, who had been beaming moments ago, instantly blew up. She no longer wanted to look at that scumbag, turning toward the carriage window as she muttered incoherently.

"You couldn't be found when it was time to see someone off, yet aren't you seeing me off now? You might as well have gone with them. Sneaking out now just means you'll have to go back later anyway..."

Allen could not help finding Lokkishi's expression amusing. He naturally understood that, after being alone for so long, she had mistaken this for him finally coming around and accepting the proposal she had made two months ago—to become adventurers together.

You were wanted anyway, so why not go far away from home, right?

But Allen really could not do that in his current state. After all, the major events of Mushoku Tensei were tied to his participation.

He shook his head. "Since I snuck out, I definitely didn't come just to accompany you for part of the way. Didn't you say a week ago that bandits were blocking the road outside Rigette City? Since this happened because of me, it makes perfect sense for me to escort you safely to Rigette City. You killed one of their people last time. If they stop you again, what if they come in large numbers, maybe even with skilled swordsmen? What would you do then?"

Lokkishi abruptly turned to look at Allen, her expression somewhat blank. Although she felt like he was sophistically arguing, it sounded rather reasonable at first. Just as she was about to think it over, Allen spoke again.

"Their bandit gang's hideout is obviously involved in smuggling. Slave trafficking is definitely part of their business. If you really got captured, would our next reunion be at a slave market on the black market? In the little-girl section, no less. Ow!"

As he spoke, Lokkishi irritably kicked Allen, then turned back toward the carriage window.

Allen blinked. Seeing that Lokkishi had clearly stopped questioning whether it made sense for him to accompany her to Rigette City after being talked around like that, he silently sighed in relief. He could handle clearing out the Maned Wolves alone.

For one thing, he did not want to cause Lokkishi any more trouble. And if he said it outright, Lokkishi might insist on coming with him. Blue Mom was too kind-hearted.

Besides, Allen had carefully considered things before going to sleep last night and established a principle for his future actions:

While preserving the original storyline as much as possible, he would farm points to obtain the full-score bonus rewards for each stage's major events. If the two came into serious conflict, he would rather give up the full-score rewards than casually trigger the Butterfly Effect.

Rationally speaking, Future Sight from having read the novel was more overpowered. Its returns were far more stable than point rewards.

Thus, Allen decided that the Butterfly Effect concerning Lokkishi should stop here. He still needed to avoid the risk of her additional actions affecting the future development of the storyline.

For another, Allen alone was more than enough. In a filthy rat's nest of the underworld like a bandit gang, experts above Saint rank would not mingle there. Even if there were Saint-rank experts, they would surely remain near the bandit leader rather than being wasted in the forest on a task like this.

For his childhood, which had not involved much conflict, this was a perfect whetstone.

But it was not merely for sharpening his claws. Allen was also making this trip to prevent the bandit gang from continually gathering information and possibly tracing him back to Buena Village. These bandit gangs in the gray areas had many enemies, and even if their hideout was wiped out, as long as no survivors were left and all traces were burned away, it was unlikely anyone would suspect Allen.

That way, all the variables of his childhood would be pulled back into place.

Allen looked up at Lokkishi, whose mood had improved considerably, and chuckled.

"Still, there'll definitely be a chance for us to become adventurers together someday. I promise. I'm still too young right now, and you know I'm wanted. I definitely won't be going home to inherit the family business. So after another three or four years of practicing my swordsmanship under Lord Paul, I'll come find you and we can become adventurers together, okay?"

Traveling with Lokkishi after the Great Transfer would be a good choice. By then, I'll have location tracking and can avoid that awkward situation in the original story where we pass each other at the port. Not bad.

Lokkishi glanced at Allen, only then suddenly remembering that he was only nine years old. Because he was tall and carried himself maturely, she had always unconsciously overlooked his age.

"I forgot you're only nine. The way you sweet-talk people really doesn't seem like something a nine-year-old would do."

Allen pulled a miserable face.

"How am I sweet-talking anyone?"

Lokkishi stared directly at him for a long while without speaking. When she finally opened her mouth, however, she changed the subject.

"But I didn't bring enough food."

Hearing that, Allen pulled out a jar of Batil Flower seed powder from his pocket and said excitedly.

"Look! I came prepared. Don't you like sweet and spicy food? I can hunt magical beasts for you and roast them."

Halfway through, Allen saw Lokkishi staring strangely at the Batil Flower seed powder, and his expression froze.

Oh no. I keep forgetting that overdosing on this stuff causes fainting. I thought I wouldn't see Lokkishi again for the next few years, but I've already run into her!! Wait! She hasn't already fainted from it, has she?!?

Lokkishi half narrowed her eyes without saying anything, her gaze shifting constantly between the jar and Allen's face. In the end, she pursed her lips.

"I didn't even bring it up, yet you have the nerve to take it out yourself."

"...Listen, let me explain."

Before he could finish, Lokkishi opened her luggage and took out a completely empty jar. Scratching her cheek, she said with a red face,

"Although it seems to have some improper uses... it really is delicious. Good thing I know Detoxification Magic. But I'm saying this in advance: every time I eat it from now on, I'm going to use Detoxification Magic on myself!"

What do you mean, 'it seems to have some improper uses'?! If I wanted to use it for something else, wouldn't it be easier to just buy an aphrodisiac?! Why do you need to specifically explain the Detoxification Magic part?! Would I hold your hand down and stop you from using it? And why did you have to bring this up and emphasize it so deliberately? Do I really look that much like some flower-plucking thief?!? Huh?!?

Allen's mouth twitched as he watched the scene. Though countless retorts filled his mind, he could not say any of them aloud. He could only mutter,

"Then you really should detoxify it..."

"...Give it to me. I'll put it away. When you want to eat it, ask me for it, so you don't take it around and use it everywhere."

"...You just want to secretly keep it all for yourself, don't you?"

"No!"

Night, Buena Village.

Rudy stared blankly at his own striped briefs inside the shrine.