# 63. The Hero Party Needs Training (1)
After Irina left the house, about five days passed, and my body overcame the cold.
"To think I had a cold for five whole days... This is the first time since becoming an adventurer."
During my time as an adventurer, perhaps because my immunity had grown stronger, I never caught a cold even when drenched in freezing rain. Living a harsh life had naturally strengthened my body.
*And when my body was weak, during my time as Aina's disciple, I caught it once too.*
While living as Aina's disciple, I had caught a severe flu. Back then, I lay in bed while Aina nursed me.
*'Jun, who said you could get sick? Didn't I tell you to only follow your master's words?'*
*'It's not like I wanted to... get sick... you stupid master...'*
*'D-did you just... call your master stupid?! Even though I made this medicine for you, my disciple?!'*
*'That looks like poison...'*
*'Medicine going in! Open your mouth!'*
*'Gyaaah...'*
Aina's homemade medicine that she forced into my mouth. The taste was absolutely terrible, but the effect was certain—I recovered in just two days. I was curious what she made it from to have such good effects, but...
*'It's better not to know. I'm being serious.'*
*'...'*
I couldn't bring myself to ask more questions at Aina's serious expression. The saying "ignorance is bliss" must be for times like these.
Recalling that past incident with Aina, I opened the door with my now-healthy body. Hare was waiting in front of the door.
"You're up, mister...! You came out earlier than yesterday today...! Y-you're feeling okay, right...!?"
"...I'm fine. The cold seems to have passed."
"Th-thank goodness, mister...!"
Phew—
Hare let out a relieved breath and patted her chest. More than that, how did she know I came out earlier today? Wait...
*Does that mean she remembers the time I usually come out...?*
At that moment, a chill ran down my spine as I looked at Hare. Hare tilted her head as if asking what was wrong and answered me.
"I-is something wrong...?"
"...No. I'll head to the kitchen, so go ahead first."
"O-okay, mister...! I-I'll go ahead and chop the vegetables...!"
Patter patter—
Hare ran toward the kitchen as I said. Being a Thief, she was fast and ran well. The sight of her running hard on her still-short legs was impressive. Watching Hare's retreating figure, I thought to myself.
"It's one thing to worry about me, but there's no need to remember when I come out and wait at the door."
Hmm...
Still, she does listen to me well, but... something...
"Feels unsettling, like I'm being stalked."
The feeling that all my actions were being observed and recorded. The moment when cold air seemed to wrap around me—
Flinch—
I noticed a gaze from beyond that corridor. Black eyes watching me with a black cat perched on her shoulder. Cecilia was observing me.
"Cecilia? What are you doing there?"
"..."
Cecilia watched me silently with an expressionless face. She stared at me intently as if observing me for a moment, then went upstairs without a word. What on earth could I call this situation?
At that moment, the door to the next room opened, and Luna came out yawning, having just woken up. I innocently asked her about this situation.
"Haaam... I'm sleepy..."
"Luna."
"Eek...! Wh-who is it!!"
"It's me, Luna."
"Wh-what? It's just you, mister! You're in good shape today! Not that it matters to me! Anyway, you scared me!!"
"Right. More than that, I have a question, Luna."
"Wh-what is it?"
"If someone remembered my movements and acted accordingly, what would you think?"
"A stalker! Totally a stalker! A criminal just like you, mister!"
"...I'm talking about Hare."
"Huh?"
Luna's expression showed her drowsiness had completely vanished. Luna seemed to remember something and began making excuses with an "oops" look.
"I-it's not that Hare is a stalker! It's, how should I say... the situation is like that! Cecilia isn't a stalker in that sense either—"
"...I only mentioned Hare, I don't think I brought up Cecilia."
"Oops—!!"
Luna instantly covered her mouth in surprise. She shouted at me to forget it, saying she didn't say anything, and scurried away, but... the information had already entered my ears, so that wasn't possible. You can't spit out food that's already in your stomach.
"That was good information, Luna. You really can't lie. Befitting a truthful Hero."
More than that, are Hare and Cecilia talking about me behind my back?
*Hmm...*
If the two of them converse with "me" as a common interest, they will become closer. Even if people don't get along well, they can become close if they have similar interests. Whether the gossip will have a positive or negative effect, I'll know later when I see.
*For now, Minerva hasn't said anything either.*
I should watch the two of them for a while. It's fine now, but if they cross the line, then I'll have to mediate. Having decided on this matter, I headed to the kitchen to prepare breakfast. The Hero Party needed to eat three nutritious meals a day and grow steadily to defeat the Demon King.
After finishing breakfast and lunch, Luna and Hare gathered in the yard. Since my condition had returned, it was time to start the training we couldn't do during that time. Just as I was about to begin that training, Estia, sitting beside me with a sulky expression, asked me.
"Apostle oppa."
"Why are you calling me?"
"Why did you bring me out...? D-don't tell me you're going to make me train too...!"
"Estia. You have no physical talent. I won't make you train, so sit in that chair and read the scriptures."
The reason I brought Estia out was simply for a walk. Since she was always confined to her room, Estia needed to breathe outside air periodically. Showing sunlight to an addict had a positive effect.
"In that sense, go read the scriptures."
"No! Why should I! I absolutely won't read them!"
"Forty pages. If you read up to there properly, I'll give you Holy Water."
"Okay! I'll read them! I'll definitely read them!"
Basically, Estia's education didn't require a stick. Give her a goal, and if she meets the goal, give her a reward. And a reward with value equivalent to gold for Estia at that. However, since Estia had low concentration due to Holy Water addiction, the possibility of failure was high.
*...If she studies the scriptures, I can change the distorted religious knowledge she has.*
While thinking about Estia's unique training, Saint Estia ran toward the chair in the yard to read the scriptures. I turned my gaze to the two children who were waiting.
"Now it's time to teach you two."
"Before that! Wait a moment, mister!"
What's this suddenly? Luna stopped the training for a moment, as if she had something to say to me.
"T-to interrupt mister's words...!"
Hare gave Luna a sharp look, but I didn't particularly mind.
"Do you have something to say, Luna?"
"Yes! I do! It's a bit much to do this to an injured mister, but... a promise is a promise!"
Once a week! A duel! Please duel with me! Luna shouted at me with sparkling blue eyes. Come to think of it, there was such a promise. I looked at Luna's confident appearance and asked.
"Don't tell me you think you can win just because I lost one arm?"
"Th-there's no way! I absolutely didn't think that!"
"Really? There's no lie in those words?"
"...I thought it a little. Really just a little."
I see. To think she believed she could beat me with that level of skill... That was amusing.
"Luna."
"Yes?"
"This time I'll close both eyes. Give it a try."
"D-don't underestimate me!! The skills I've practiced during this time! I'll show you!"
Luna said that and drew her wooden sword at me. I hoped she could show me those practiced skills, but unfortunately, she wouldn't be able to show them yet. I closed both eyes and called out.
"Come at me first."
"H-here I come! Don't regret it! Hyaaa—!!"
The approaching footsteps were heavy. Unlike before, her spirit was up. Did she train hard after I fell ill? It seemed her words about practicing a lot weren't bluster.
"Still, you're still a greenhorn. Dueling is a waste of time, so just train."
"Huh?"
I swung my wooden sword down toward Luna's head as she charged.
"Kyeng—!"
Thud—
Luna collapsed on the ground clutching her head. Since I controlled my strength, there would be no aftereffects. At most, a small bump would form. Luna, collapsed on the ground, shouted indignantly.
"Ow-ow!! My brain cells are dying! I told you not to hit my head!!"
"Did you even have brain cells left to die? I'm learning this for the first time."
"Ugh, annoying!! Why did I nurse such a mister!? You dummy! Mister, you're totally mean!"
Heh—
It's been a while. Seeing Luna angry. Was it because there were too many times we couldn't train? Seeing Luna's expression after so long was quite amusing. Though the person in question didn't seem to find it amusing. As I watched Luna with a chuckle, someone tugged at my collar from the side. Hare spoke to me with pitiful eyes.
"M-mister... let's train... I want to train..."
"Right, we should train quickly before it gets any later."
Cecilia's lesson is also remaining today. I shouldn't delay any longer. I reached out my hand toward Luna, who was rubbing her crown.
"Luna, get up now. It's time to train."
"...Hmph, I can get up by myself!"
Luna smacked my hand away and stood up. She seemed thoroughly sulky.
*...I should cook meat for dinner tonight.*
Luna would quickly get over her anger if I made her a meat side dish for dinner tonight. After gently patting Luna's head, I looked at the children alternately. Before entering training, I had to choose the content of the training. I checked Minerva's words that appeared on my retina.
[Sudden Quest! Who gets today's training? Focus intensively on one person in training! Something good might happen, or you might prevent something bad?]
[1. Train Luna.]
[2. Train Hare.]
Disappointment, jealousy, stimulation. Not good as a parenting method, but helpful for improving skills. A choice like a double-edged sword.
*Luna and Hare...*
A problem where I had to choose one of the two.
*First, it would be wise to read the answer key.*
Looking at the expressions of the two children looking forward to the training we were conducting after a long time, I opened the answer key that would allow me to decide who to choose.