74. Hero Party! Let's Go on a Picnic (3)
Hiking.
An activity of climbing mountains while strengthening body and mind.
Though we had no choice but to climb the uninteresting "Deep Mountain of Repentance" for our picnic spot.
Some of the children seemed to enjoy the outing.
"Oh, climbing mountains is fun, mister! It feels like... like I'm training!"
"I-I like anything as long as I'm with you, mister...!"
"Well, I'm glad you two are enjoying it."
Heave-ho, heave-ho.
Luna and Hare, climbing toward the mountain's depths, looked satisfied with the picnic.
After all, those two had superior physical abilities compared to the other children.
They seemed quite pleased with this outing.
Luna hummed a tune as she walked cheerfully ahead.
"Let's go! Let's go! To the mountain~ Let's go! Saten! You sing along too! We're going to the mountain!"
"What's so fun about this? Hiking just makes your body tired."
"No way! It's good when your body gets tired! It's proof you're getting stronger!"
"Hmm, I can't understand that at all."
But compared to Luna and Hare, Saten and Estia didn't look happy.
One was a drug-addicted Saint and the other a shut-in Mage.
In a way, this outcome was perhaps inevitable from the moment we decided on the picnic.
I spoke to Estia, who had fallen behind.
"Estia, how are you feeling?"
"Haaah... heee... I'm dying..."
Estia walked like a zombie, her body drooping limply.
We still had a long way to go before reaching the summit...
There was nothing to be done about a drug-addicted Saint with no stamina.
I clicked my tongue and lifted Estia, who looked like an exhausted dog with her tongue hanging out, into the air.
"A-a kidnapper is lifting me!! You're planning to abandon me on the mountain!!"
"Be quiet before I throw you, Estia."
So noisy.
I moved the loud Estia from the air onto my back.
Estia, with her weak stamina, seemed to need a brief rest.
"Rest there for a bit. The mountain is still far, so you can't be worn out already."
"What! You're sweeter than I thought, oppa!"
Estia settled onto my back and shouted.
Since Estia's mouth happened to be close, my ears hurt even more.
*Should I just drop her?*
A wicked thought crossed my mind for a moment, but I decided not to act on it.
Just as I was about to quickly climb the mountain with Estia on my back.
Luna, who had stopped ahead, was staring at me intently.
Her blue eyes seemed full of dissatisfaction.
"What's wrong, Luna?"
"Uh, umm..."
Luna stared at me silently.
She frowned, her gaze alternating between me and Estia.
Then suddenly.
"I-I don't know! Just hurry up so we're not late! You bad kidnapper mister!"
After shouting that, she turned around and began climbing the mountain.
I could only be dumbfounded by Luna's behavior.
"...What was that about?"
Why is she acting like that?
Is it puberty?
Her mood went from good to bad so suddenly.
I couldn't understand Luna's rapidly changing behavior at all.
A picnic.
A happy time with mister, enjoying new scenery and landscapes.
Currently.
Hare was in a very good mood.
"I-I'm really glad we came on this picnic...!"
Where she always lived, there had been rotting smells and damp air.
But now.
This moment walking up the mountain was completely different from those times.
Dense forests and open mountain paths.
The fresh air provided by the trees was purifying Hare, who had spent her days in darkness.
*It's a shame it's not the ocean Luna talked about, but... it's still good...! Wherever we go is good...!*
Because I'm with mister.
No matter where in the world I go, I can be happy...!
Thinking this, Hare diligently climbed the mountain path someone had carved out.
Though Estia being carried on mister's back was irritating.
She decided to let it be since this moment of going on a picnic together was enjoyable.
And Luna, walking beside her toward the top...
"Mister is such a boomer! I don't like him at all! I hate mountains!"
Was expressing her complaints with a sulky expression.
Her excited appearance from just moments ago while climbing the mountain had quickly vanished.
Not understanding, Hare asked Luna.
"B-but you liked it just a moment ago...! And calling mister a boomer...! Y-you shouldn't say things like that...!"
"I didn't say anything wrong! If someone who goes to mountains for picnics isn't a boomer, what are they! Look at that, Hare! Look at mister ignoring us!"
"Wh-what are you talking about...! Mister didn't ignore us...!"
"Then see for yourself!"
See for myself?
At those words, Hare turned around once.
Mister walking with Saten and Estia.
Estia was being carried on his back, and Saten was tightly holding mister's hand.
Though the two looked tired, that fact didn't register in Hare's eyes.
In her eyes, only one thing entered.
Only the atmosphere flowing between the three people.
"...He doesn't even notice us."
"Right! We've been abandoned! We've been robbed blind!"
Grrr- grrr-
Luna glared at the three people like an angry dog.
That's why she opened her heart to Hare, feeling their minds were aligned.
"Let's drive those two away! And make this place a training ground! So mister can run! What do you think, Hare! It's a good idea, right!"
Drive those two away.
And take their place ourselves.
However, Hare had no intention of agreeing with Luna's opinion.
"...No, Luna. This is an opportunity."
"Huh? What opportunity?"
"An opportunity to look good to mister."
"Huh...?"
Whoosh-
Hare left Luna standing there dumbfounded and ran toward mister.
Then, to help mister who was handling two people alone.
She took Saten's hand instead.
"Hare, what's this? Let go."
"Mister...! I-I'll help you...! It must have been hard alone, right...!? Hehe...!"
Though I'm jealous.
If I use that crisis, it becomes an opportunity.
Hare, who had grown through a series of incidents.
She was helping the struggling Saten to score points with mister.
That appearance was like...
"A sycophant! She's a sycophant...!!"
Behavior that suggested she would sell everything in sight to score points with mister.
Luna could only be shocked by Hare's incredible display.
Time passed.
A sign appeared indicating only half the distance to the mountain summit remained.
"I wonder if we can reach the summit before sunset..."
We had no plans to go down today anyway.
If we couldn't make it, it would be better to find a place to sleep.
Thinking this, I checked the condition of the children who had climbed to the midpoint.
*Luna is sulking for some reason. Hare is lively like a fish in water.*
As expected, the Hero and Thief's physical abilities stand out.
It must be the difference in innate talent.
Thinking this, I turned my gaze to the two people resting on a bench.
*Saten isn't bad. But she expresses so little emotion I don't know when she'll say she's tired... and I'll have to carry Estia.*
That drug-addicted Saint is far too frail physically.
Her stamina and strength are both at minimum levels.
If left alone on a deserted island, she could die naturally within ten minutes.
While checking on the children like this.
Hare grabbed my sleeve and asked.
"Mister..."
"What is it, Hare?"
"Wh-when do we eat...?"
Hare asked about mealtime while glancing back slightly.
There, Luna was puffing out her cheeks, expressing dissatisfaction.
*So she's been complaining because she was hungry.*
But it wasn't time to be hungry earlier, was it?
Did moving more today make it come earlier?
Well, anyway, if she's hungry, I should give her food.
I took out the prepared food from subspace.
"The picnic mat... should be spread over there. Hare, will you help me?"
"Y-yes! I'll spread the mat!"
Rustle-
Hare headed to the grassy area with the mat in her arms.
It was a position where trees provided shade and a cool feeling.
"Now, you all follow Hare too."
"Yes, mister."
"Mmkay~"
Saten and Estia slowly followed Hare.
However, for some reason today, Luna didn't move even when offered food.
She just sat there with a pouty expression.
"Are you still sulking, Luna?"
"...I'm not sulking. I'm angry."
"Then may I ask why you're angry?"
"..."
Luna closed her mouth.
Usually she's so chatty.
Why is she acting like this on such a nice day?
Could it be...
"Are you sensitive because you haven't eaten?"
"...!!"
Luna heard my words and shouted loudly.
"Do you think I'm a pig!? I'm not sensitive just because I haven't eaten!! I'm not a pig!!"
"...So that wasn't it. But Luna, if it's not about food, why are you angry?"
"Th-that's..."
Luna muttered in a shrinking voice.
"I don't know either... I was excited...! But something's not satisfying...! Like something's missing, I guess..."
Anyway!
"It's all mister's fault! Bad mister! Child kidnapper! Criminal! Hurry up and make me strong!"
"I'd like to make you strong quickly too."
But for that, first...
"Just eat. You're in your growth period. Growing tall comes first."
"Grr...!! Always telling me to eat! Are you planning to turn me into a pig?!"
"For someone refusing, your feet are quite honest."
Though she was refusing with her mouth.
Luna's body was honest.
Luna was heading toward Hare, who was preparing the meal.
Her sulking seemed to have cleared up somewhat.
*Her emotions change quickly, perhaps because of puberty.*
Though it seems like only Luna is like this...
Anyway, shall I prepare lunch?
I changed direction to walk toward where the children were waiting.
But at that moment.
A scream came from the children's direction.
"Kyaaah-!! Wh-who are you-!! That person-!!"
"Wh-who are you...! Th-this is our spot...!"
The children's screams.
And a mysterious person standing there.
I couldn't identify that person.
But from the gaze glaring at me, I could tell one thing.
"...They harbor hostility toward me."
So it was a connection from the past.
Was it an "ill-fated connection" of all things?
I placed my hand on my waist, preparing for combat.
The priority was ensuring the children didn't get hurt.