-- and then we were to meet up with Travis for lunch, as I had speculated.

　Strictly speaking, as soon as I suggested that we all have lunch together, Travis agreed on two counts without confirming who else would be in attendance.

　And although he seemed blatantly upset when he found out that Leila was with us, he didn't go back on his word.

It's a good thing, Luke. When in the world is the last time I had dinner with you like this?
I mean, what's the point of a banquet?
Except for the whole crowd. It's probably been years ago.

　They are sitting in a private room at a certain restaurant, exchanging inconsequential chit-chat over food.

　Sharing seats are Garnett and Leila, and about two adventurers on Travis' side of the table.

　They are seated on opposite sides of the table from each other, with me and Travis sitting in the middle of each.

Speaking of which, I heard there was a disturbance at the end of the 'Demon King's Castle Realm'. I heard that Roy and Dustin were involved in it.
'I can't give you any details if you ask me. I'm sure the guild will get the information eventually, so give me a while.
'The fact that you can't say anything proves that you've achieved something significant.

　Travis folded the thin slice of meat thickly with his fork before he chewed the whole thing in his big mouth.

　He chewed it vigorously with his strong jaw, swallowed it with a cold herbal tea for meat dishes, and grinned wryly.

''It's at the level where you need the royal court's permission to disclose information. I'm looking forward to receiving the information. Lately, I've been spending a lot of time instructing young people in the 'Demon King's Castle Realm'.
As expected, you're tired of being a guardian and want to have a crunchy search?
'No. I was just thinking it's time to let you take the next step.
You're a hardcore.

　I can't help but direct a sarcastic smile at him.

　There are many different reasons why adventurers are allowed to advance to A-rank, but Travis has achieved achievements worthy of A-rank, both in exploration and in training his successor.

　Although they were both adventurers at the same time, he was on one hand a rising star with a steady rise in rank, and on the other hand the bottom of the all-time E rank.

　Travis tried to treat me as a friend no matter how much difference we had, but I couldn't stand the inferiority complex anymore.

　...... Well, that's also something I miss now.

　I'm not sure if it's the fact that I relied on it for the commotion that accompanied the discovery of the "Demon King's Castle Realm" a year ago that gave me a stepping stone.
　Or maybe my sense of inferiority was wiped away by my success in a field other than that of an adventurer.

　Anyway, now I was able to treat him with the same attitude as in the past, not much differently.

'You can't speak for others either, can you? I heard you were taking care of a number of younger guys when you hardly saw each other. That's Roy in the basement, or that mechanic in your shop.
He said it all happened. I just happened to get involved, so I just hung out with them until I graduated from the runway. I didn't have the luxury of doing it the way you did.

　The only two people having this kind of unreserved conversation are me and Travis, and the rest haven't joined in on the conversation much.

　Garnett seemed to be more preoccupied with eating, and Layla was very careful not to miss a statement.

　The two companions on the other side were similar, and seemed to be too focused on eating and listening respectively.

　It's a good thing that you don't talk to Leila when you have the opportunity to do so, but since Travis seems to be consciously talking to only me, I guess it can't be helped.

　-- so when we finished lunch, I let Garnett out of the private room first and stopped Travis to prepare a place for us to talk alone.

'So ...... net, how do you feel about Leila?'
'That's direct. You know I'm not very good at this.
Yeah, and he told me why he wasn't good at it. But there are two kinds of things you're bad at.　I don't want to get involved because I don't want to, and I'm not good at it. ...... If it was the former, I would have admonished Leila, but in your case, it was the latter.

　He couldn't control the self-enhancement skills he acquired as a child and injured a girl he was close to when he tried to help her - this is why Travis is not good at contacting young women.

　I've known him for a long time, but it was only relatively recently that I was told the reason for his dislike of them, and I remember that Leila had already figured this out as well.

'You too, you're pushing the younger guys who are struggling with girl-related issues. I feel the same way.
"...... mmmmmm ......
'I knew you were aware of it. At all ...... I've been ranked A for a long time now, so I don't see why I should fail to control my skills now.

　Chuckling at a straight-faced, troubled Travis, he casually leans against the wall of his private room.

　Then a faint presence and noise came through the wall.

　Apparently, Leila, burned by Garnett, is trying to listen to the conversation with her ears against the wall.

'Why don't you tell her if she doesn't feel like it?　If you don't feel comfortable telling him directly, I'll take over for you: .......
...... I don't hate it. But I really don't know how to treat them. I guess it's because I've deliberately avoided them until I was my age.
Do you plan on overcoming it?

　Travis folded his arms in thought and replied with a serious look on his face.

'Whatever you conclude, I'm not going to continue to run away from my bitterness ...... If you don't mind a little bit, I'd like to learn how to deal with women, too, if you don't mind a little bit.
...... Well, is that enough for now?
'I'm counting on your help, too. I'm sure you're better at this sort of subject than I am.
'Don't say that I'm not a good listener. The only time it barely worked was when you were younger, when your skills were crappy but normal.

　Is this the time to keep A-rank (Travis) in custody?

　As I left the private room to join everyone else, Layla and Garnett left the wall with a vigorous and unassuming look on their faces.

　...... Wasn't Leila the only one who was eavesdropping?

　I'm anxious to see if I've been misunderstood in a strange way, but I'm going to go and fulfill my original purpose soon.

''Well then, we're going to go check out the branch office. Leila is ...... right, why don't you let us observe how the adventurers usually work?
'What?　I don't want to bother you, sir!
'I'm just saying. You'll have to ask Travis if he's okay.

　I said goodbye to an impatient Layla and a troubled Travis and took Garnett with me to the branch.

　On the way there, Garnett walked next to me and raised his voice as if teasing me while only looking forward, as if on purpose.

'What do you mean, I guess we're going to hear a lot of interesting things from Travis after all.
...... That was a long time ago. They haven't had any floating stories in the last few years.
You haven't said anything yet, have you?

　Garnett muttered happily as he quickened his steps, amused by my reaction, and kept his back to me.

'They were totally ...... all women who didn't have the eyes to see, weren't they?