Chapter53: Gaining A New Member

[ Wha-what happened? ] Asked the priestess Jena-san while still looking dazed.

[ well, you suddenly fell down when you were watching me pray earlier... ]

[ ...really...? I can't remember anything... ]

[ is that so? ]

[ haa... my head hurts... sorry, but I'm going to rest a little... ]

[ it's okay... ]

Jena-san finally leaves and went inside another room. I think she tried to read my thoughts when I was talking with Clair, but It's a great thing she wasn't able to because all of it passed in a second that she wasn't able to handle it and passed out.

[ I think that takes care of it. ]

I was afraid she might still remember what happened, or what if she's just pretending she forgot. I just hope she's not.

[ I guess I should get back to Alice and Clara-san now... ]

Clara-san is fine now, and we were able to get her treated without paying anything. I'm thinking of donating money on this church as thanks. It also turns out that this church also works as an orphanage, that's why it'll be a good thing to donate money here if they won't accept payment.

Right now, only the guards on the city knows about this place and no adventurers yet knows the existence of Jena-san, a priestess here. I'm sure adventurers will go flocking here once they hear about her treating customers for free. Jena-san said that she only got assigned here recently and this is also her first time working as a healer outside of the main church at the capital city so I'm sure she will know hardship once the adventurers here abuses her free treatment.

Well, anyway, I should get back to Alice and Clara-san now. My talk with Clair was pretty exhausting, she told me many things just to make me jealous and she also said that she's going to take my powers once she finishes investigating what causes it. I think it's pretty unfair because I now also know of people who also got transported here who received cheat skills and now living a luxurious life here as heroes. It's just really unfair.

All that I can do now is wait, my life will start to get hard once my power is gone and I don't think I will be able to take care of Alice then, so maybe I'm just going to retire as an adventurer once that happens and I will go look for a decent job where I can earn proper money.

thinking about all this stuff, and before I knew it, I'm already in front of the room where Clara-san and Alice are currently staying at.

I opened the door and what I saw was Alice and Clara-san talking and chatting with Alice's face full of smile.

[ and then, and then, onii-chan punched the large golem in its head and then it goes BOOM!!! the golem's head was crushed into pieces! ] Alice is currently making exaggerated movements with her arms, hands, and body while I guess, telling Clara-san how I defeated the Iron Golems last time.

[ ... that's embarrassing Alice... ] I said.

[ ...o-onii-chan!? ] Alice turns her head to me with a surprised and embarrassed look on her face.

[ it was very interesting you know? ] Clara-san said while still sitting on the bed.

[ is that so? ]

[ yes, and Alice is really cute too while she's telling the story. ]

[ Cla-Clara onee-san!? ]

[ haha, I agree. Anyway, the priestess told me that they don't need any payment. ]

[ is that so? ]

well, I'm still planning on donating on this church so I guess I can count that as payment.

[ by the way, it's already getting late outside, do you have any place you're staying at Clara-san? ]

It's already noon when we go out to the forest and now, it's already turning night and it's already getting dark outside.

[ Umm... no, I don't have yet... ]

[ how about you stay at the Inn we're currently staying at? ]

[ that's a great idea. I think I will do so. ]

[ is that so? then how about we go there now? ]

[ okay. ]

[ can you walk by yourself? I can carry you there. ]

she just got injured and it might be bad if I let her walk by herself.

[ no! no! I can walk myself. ] Clara-san replied while waving her hand left and right.

[ is that so? ]

[ me! carry me, onii-chan! ] suddenly, Alice beside me said while raising two of her arms towards me.

[ of course, of course. ] I said, I then bent down to carry her on my arm.

[ umm... Haruto-kun, about me joining your party... I know I haven't shown you my skills yet but... ]

[ Well, don't worry about it, the truth is, I also want you joining our party in the first place, we need someone who can use magic, and you know how to write, right? ]

[ huh? of course. Why do you ask? ]

[ umm... well, I was just thinking if you could teach Alice how to write letters and words and also magic... bu-but only if you want to. ]

If she agrees, I will just sneak around them and study and learn from them too. I don't want to tell her that I don't know how to read and write their words yet and also that I'm the real reason I'm asking her about this...

[ if that is the only condition, then I can deal with that, no, in fact, I would love to teach Alice. ]

[ is that so? then I guess all that's left is Alice to agree to it. What do you say, Alice? ] I asked Alice I'm carrying on my arm.

[ we-well... I think... I can let Clara onee-san to our team... ]

[ well, I guess that settles it. You can join us for now Clara-san. ]

[ ...thank you Alice-chan, thank you Haruto-kun. I'm going to make sure to work with you well, I'm good at both magic and hunting so I'm sure I can be a good and helpful member of your party. ]

[ we'll be glad to work with you too. ] I said.

I don't know why, but I feel like we're a company hiring a new member right now...

***

We're now outside the church. In front of me is the old nun I first met inside.

[ really! thank you for this. The children at this church will really be going to appreciate this. ] said the old nun.

[ don't worry about it, please consider it as payment for treating our companion. ]

[ I'm really sorry, but our new priestess is inside and now resting. She said that her head really hurts, I'm really sorry she couldn't come. ]

[ please, I don't mind... ]

It's my fault in the first place...

[ thank you for taking care of me. ] Clara-san bowed a little as she said her thanks to the old lady.

[ it's a natural thing to do. And you can also come back anytime you want to rest here. ]

[ I will do so. ] replied Clara-san.

[ we're going back now. Thank you again. ]

[ of course, please come back here anytime. ]

[[[ bye! ]]]

then we all said our goodbyes as the sky turns orange and the sun fell. I'm carrying Alice on my arm and Clara-san is walking beside us.

[ in the end, we couldn't finish the task, Alice. ]

[ I'm sorry onii-chan... ]

[ don't worry about it. We can always try again. But I won't leave you alone again then, and we also now have Clara-san with us. ]

The only reason they got beaten by the wolves was because both of them wasn't aware that the wolves were already surrounding them and they got surprised by their sudden attack. I'm sure it'll be easy for them once they try again with cautions.

[ un... ] Alice only replied quietly.

[ are you not happy? ]

[ no, that's not it... ]

[ haah... ]

I then stroked Alice's head, and she looks at me.

[ don't worry about it, okay? ]

I don't know what she's worried about, but I feel like I need to comfort her.

[ ...thank you onii-chan. ] she thanked me with a smile.

[ un. ] I only replied with a simple nod and also smile.