Once I mentioned that it was bout time for me to go back, Karen invited me to another place, Ah! Just one more place. I know of another nice store I wanted to visit with you!

Sorry. Ive kept Indra waitin, so itd be bad if I dont get back soon.

Eh? Ah, I see, well

I used my skill for wardin off honey traps I had honed over the years.

See you. Make sure to stay healthy, kay? Ill tell you just for cautions sake, but dont try the impossible. Overestimatin yourself is a big no, got it?

Oki, thanks.

I raised a hand and tried to leave, just for her to call out to me, Sword! Can we meet again?

I shook my head, We dont have any need to meet again, do we? We both have found comrades and now were walkin different paths. This time I just wanted to report back to you, someone who partied with me in the past, that I had also found a comrade.

Karen looked like she was on the verge of cryin. But I pretended to not notice, and continued, Im no longer the solo adventurer Thunderclap Whitefang, but Sword of the party Allrounders. I wanted to tell you that, and I wanted to make a clean cut with my past. Tellin you that Im not a loner nymore. Bye. The next time you see me, dont call out to me nymore. Let us both move on while facin the future.

With those words, I turned around and left.

After several strides, Ryoku suddenly showed up and commented, Mr. Sword, you held back on the alcohol. Im sure Mother will praise you, you know?

Whoa! Hey, peepin isnt a nice thing to do, kay?

I was guarding you!

Its not what you say, but how you say it, eh? I laughed.

This guys learnin ability is seriously amazin!

Welcome back. Did everything go well? Indra had come out to greet me.

Im home. And, what should have gone well?

You being ensnared by a honey trap or you drinking too much after sensing some weird malice. Basically, Im asking whether youve come back without any such things occurring.

kay, Indras overprotective mindset towards me has reached a level similar to her excessive care for the Ryokus.

Fortunately, somethin of that level is a breeze for my veteran evasion skillswait, was it possibly you who sent Ryoku to watch over me?

I believe hed have voluntarily done so even without me saying anything, but since I was worried, I told him to save you when needed.

Whoa. Just what the hell have I done for a golem to be worried bout me?

Well, its just I met this woman who was a member of my first party, so I felt somewhat nostalgicor maybe, I just wanted to brag a bit?

Haah?

Walking in front, Indra looked back at me.

Did you see!? Im no loner anymore! That kind of stuff.

I see. Well..sure, why not.

Oh? Whats with that ambiguous phrasin?

Indra crossed her arms behind her head, and continued without mindin my comment, Alls fine as long as you had fun. HoweverI just wonder whether that woman, who used to be in a party with you long ago, didnt have something she wanted to consult you about.

Heh, considerin how shes doin everythin at her own pace, shes surprisingly quick on the uptake bout such things, isnt she?

Pretty much, yeah.

Ah, so you played the dense guy despite having realized it!? You sure use that trick quite often, dont you? But look, you gotta be careful since it comes with the danger of you becoming even more popular!

I mean, youd be troubled if Im suddenly asked to let someone in our party, no? I asked and peered at her face, wonderin how shes goin to react.

Ughyoure right, thatd be a problem. Or rather, youve got the choice to turn it down, no?

Oh? Is this girl thinkin that I have a choice here?

Hmm Turnin em down sure is hard, I probed to trigger more reactions.

Really?

And that was the end. How disappointin.

What do you think bout it?

Me? Wouldnt it be fine to let them enter the party if its a talented person who would fit us in your eyes? She calmly responded.

Huh? Thats aright with you?

I dont have a reason to be against it in the first place. If you let a woman, who loves you, join, youll be the one troubled.

I guess shes got a point there. Its just as she says.

But, let me give you a warning. If you let a woman, who loves you, into our party and dont change your attitude towards me, that woman might try to kill you and me after becoming half-crazed or completely insane, she added all of a sudden.

Huh? Why?

Bloody Witch is a prime example. We merely slept in the same bed after having a long talk, and that alone was enough for her to pulverize the bed, wasnt it? If she had seen us bathing together, she might have immediately launched fatal, wide-ranged destruction magic.

Eh?

Ah, so bathin together is kinda out?

Ive been yearnin to bath together with my comrades, though.

If you base it on the other worlds values, its definitely out. Ive got no clue about this world, though. In the first place, nobles dont bathe all that often, not to mention commoners. Should I try to ask our maids? However, if its a no go, theyll try to murder you in a fit of craziness.

Oof, I can clearly picture that, so please dont.

I see, so it was out, huh?

Huh?

Do you hate enterin the bath with me?

I dont care either way, answered Indra, obviously not giving much of a damn.

So she doesnt care, huh? Ive been yearnin for it though? Didnt you look like youve been enjoyin it quite a bit, too?

What, and here I thought you enjoyed it as well.

When I responded with a sulky voice, she became puzzled.

She stared at me, her eyes repeatedly blinkin, but then looked as if shed grasped somethin, sayin, I see. Okay, so thats your take on the matter, eh? But, why not. I didnt know that you wanted to enter with me, but apparently you want to invite someone to bath with you since you experience it as fun. I see. Now Ive got it.

Huh? Why is she agreein there and to what?

Why? What do you mean?

Dont mind it. Its a story youd hate. You can simply interpret it as me saying, Lets bath together since its fun.

In other words, perverted stuff, huh? Then its better for me to not probe ny further.

No, wait.

That means her out in regards to men and women bathin together was about doin that kind of stuff? Hey, hey, weve bathed together on many occasions, havent we? She wasnt afraid or nythin, right?

Did you possibly dread bathin with me?

She gawped at me, bewildered, Dread it? Why would I just because your flappy, shriveled dic-gueeehhh!

I strangled her neck with an arm.

Dear Indra, were you sayin somethin just now?

N-N-No-Not at a-all. I-I-I wasnt s-scared, I-I just s-s-sa-said.

I loosened my hold, causin her to cough violently.

Seriously, that girls got no delicacy whatsoever!!! And you tellin me I should think of someone like that as a woman!?! Like, no way in hell!!