“We’re back.”
“Oh, Amachi. Welcome back everyone… I will go call Miki, so please wait in the conference room.”
“Please do.”
We see Hana when we enter the association. It feels like she can sense something from us, and gets to work right away, as we head to the same conference room as always. And when we enter it, we see the layout has changed.
Before, it was what it sounds like. It had a big table with chairs around it. At first I saw that there were more and more chairs, but there weren’t any changes to justify changing the name of the room or anything.
But now, it’s so different and more elegant, that I think we could call it a drawing room. It’s clearly more spacious, with comfortable real leather sofas for several people.
I lay the still sleeping Ayane on one of those sofas, and have a look around.
“It’s a waiting area for an A rank adventurer, so our mother splurged.”
“It looks like it.”
“Almost A+ too. They have high expectations.”
“That makes me feel worse about today’s blunder…”
“Yes, really think about it. You didn’t take those status conditions seriously.”
I can’t argue with Aki.
“I was told I didn’t need to go to lectures, because I didn’t need them… But now I’m thinking maybe I should have.”
“…Aki?”
“I-I didn’t tell him that! You’re talking about back when you were in school, right!?”
“Ah, yes.”
Even someone as carefree as Aki wouldn’t have said that. But… She did neglect to check.
“But since we are reflecting on what happened, should master receive a course on status conditions?”
“Okay. Hum… Where do I make a reservation?”
“There is no need, I will teach you personally.”
“Really? Thanks.”
“Miss Maki, does the association’s vault store several kinds of medicine?”
“Eh? Medicine?”
This is starting to sound dangerous…
Shouldn’t it be more educational, like learning general knowledge or something!?
“Yes, they should have a full array. But is it for teaching or punishment?”
“Punishment, of course.”
“Very well. I’ll see to it as soon as possible…”
“…”
They’re more upset about what I did than I thought.
I was relieved about making it back alive, but am I getting through this night? I’m not so sure.
And then the door squeaks open.
“Thank you for waiting… What is this atmosphere?”
“Ah, branch manager. We’re back…”
“And it doesn’t seem like you have good news. Still, I’m glad to see you back safely. Judging by the time and your energy, I assume you didn’t eat properly. Have something now. I will also eat here.”
The branch manager goes back the way she came from, and brings boxed lunches.
We do as she says, and eat after waking Ayane up. After that, we tell the branch manager what happened, and I bow.
“It was Aki and Maki’s first time adventuring with us, so I’m sorry about what happened.”
““…””
“From what I’ve heard, you were all sorts of unprepared for this fight. You understand, right, Amachi?”
Says the branch manager, as Aki and Maki stay silent.
I can feel an intensity from her that I haven’t felt since the first time I met her.
“Yes. I didn’t know enough about status conditions. I didn’t have enough self-control, and the means to heal…”
“Yes. You faced an unknown monster. When you don’t know what will pop up, you can never spend enough time preparing. How much time did I give you when I proposed that test?”
“Two weeks…?”
“Yes, that is how long it takes to face a new challenge. You pushed through with your power back then, and while I won’t ask how you have gotten through everything so quickly so far, it’s too naive to think it will work every time. Sometimes you get the rug pulled from under you, like today.”
“…Yes.”
“You need to be self-aware. You are the leader of a group with four others. You can’t keep thinking of it as an extension of your solo play. Their lives are in your hands.”
“I will make sure to remember that.”
“Very well.”
Then, the pressure exuding from her disappears.
“It looks like you understand what you did wrong, so that’s enough of a sermon from me. You can’t sulk forever either, so forgive him. The problems were his lack of awareness and preparation, but those are two things his exclusives should have covered. Don’t make him shoulder it all.”
““Uu…””
“I understand that you’re frustrated about your romantic first adventure ending in a big failure, but you’re professionals, so pull yourselves together.”
““Wai, mom!””
“Ohohoho.”
The branch manager lets out a playful laugh to lighten the mood. There was a lot of reflecting to be done, but that should come later.
“Uu, sorry, Shouta. I got all worked up about our first adventure, but I should’ve done a better job preparing.”
“I’m also sorry. Even if there were no reports of rare monsters, I knew there were snake monsters, so I should have predicted to a certain extent that we would need ways to heal, or at least presented ways to get around it. I was foolish in thinking your Luck meant nothing unfortunate would happen.”
“I also need to reflect. Darling has never really been hit by monsters, so I just didn’t think about it. I should have been better prepared, since you are relying on my Healing Magic.”
“I also may have been too naive in relying on master’s power to break through anything through his wonderful abilities and strong luck. He should not be reprimanded alone.”
“I understand what you all say, but the fact is that I’m the leader, and you’re putting your lives in my hands. I was too naive. Let me repent for that.”
Everyone’s blaming themselves, and vocalizing what they need to reflect on, so our voices are getting more heated, and the atmosphere is warming up. But that’s broken by a sharp noise.
Everyone goes quiet, and turns to where the noise came from.
“Yes, you’re all at fault, so you should all reflect on it. But as the leader, Amachi should reflect the most. Don’t forget that.”
“Understood.”
“One correction before we move on. Amachi, you said you were missing three things.”
“Yes.”
“One of them was self-control. I believe that should not change.”
“Eh?”
“People like you who can’t let mysteries be mysteries are very important to this world. Especially if they have the power to back it up. The fact that you can’t contain it is just right. In fact, you should instead prepare beforehand, to make sure you can be safe despite not controlling these urges.”
…Ah, not good, I’m really happy.
I didn’t expect to be praised for my efforts instead of hearing them denied. I’m tearing up a bit…
“Well then, let’s watch the footage and discuss how to deal with it next time.”
I’ve always been a bit bad at dealing with her, but she really is Aki and Maki’s mother.
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Thanks for the treat.
Oyakodon