It's been a few days since the masters went to Lokakuk.
More days have passed since I saw off the awakened Eliodarte-sama and Chess, and today I was still making potions in the alchemy room by myself.

I'm still an apprentice, and I can't make many potions at once like my master.
That's why I can barely make them one by one with all my attention and concentration.

''Fufu........this is 30....... Let's bring it to you soon.

When I finished my early morning routine of making potions, I rolled my shoulders around and took a sip of my cooled tea to catch my breath.
Then I finally realized that I was hungry.

'I guess I've been concentrating too hard and it's past noon...' I can't say much about my master...''

I don't think he's with me, though, because when he starts to concentrate, he can't even think about what's going on around him, let alone the time.
Then, good grief, I lift the box of potions and carry it on my back and head up the stairs to the gate.

''Ah, Mizera!　Are you delivering a potion to the Adventurer's Guild?
Yes. I'm always sorry, but could you do me a favor?
'I'm fine!　I'll take care of Missela's safety!

Pococo, the son of the raccoon tribe, not only delivers potions, but also escorts me on my daily shopping trips.
Normally, she is supposed to be Iris-sama's bodyguard and does ruthless things, but she is so cute that it's hard to imagine that she's so cute from her usual behavior.

You made a lot of food today, didn't you!
Yeah. I did my best to get the delivery numbers up.
'I've heard that Mizella's potions are very popular!　If this is the case, when the Lord comes back, he may say he doesn't want his potions...
I don't think so, do you?

I can only make low-effect potions, and the master can make even more effective potions.
Besides, when I look at the finished product, the Master's potion is still more beautiful and delicious....
I can't control the bitterness no matter how I try, so changing the taste is difficult for me........

"Oh, Misela-chan. Do you deliver today too?
'Yes. Thankfully, it's selling very well.
That's great. That's booming!　How's that for a share of the economy?　Vegetables are cheap today, okay?
'Yes. Then I'll have one Tomet and then I'll stop by on my way home.

I'm going to buy one large tomet to tie up until dinner, and then I'll buy the rest after the delivery is done.

'Hi, Mizella. It's a beautiful day.
Yes, hello. It's a beautiful day.

As I walk around talking to Pokoko, various people talk to me.
They range from small talk to deals, and it takes much longer than going to the Adventurer's Guild with my husband, but I can't help but be happy with everyone's kindness and stop in my tracks.

''Misela-chan, you're so hospitable.
Is that so?
''Misela-chan is beautiful......... I'm sure one day I will too....
Pococo is still pretty, but I think she'll be even prettier.
Yes, sir!

She's really honest and cute........
I can see why the master is so excited.
After we took a bath together, she let me touch her while drying her off, and her fluffy and fluffy tail felt so good.


Well, we've come to the Adventurer's Guild, but the door of this place still has a difficult atmosphere to enter...
There's a lot of noise coming from inside, as if they've been drinking since past noon.
That said, I'm already used to it.

Hello. I'm here to deliver some potions...
'Oh, Mizera!　"Clear the road, you bastards!
Welcome. I'm not sleeping. I want the table moved.

The tables are lined up in a mess and the road to the reception desk hadn't even been made, but in no time at all a straight line is made.

"Oops, before that........I'll take your luggage.
Thank you. Thank you for being so precious.

When I leave the box I was holding with the strong adventurer, I feel a little uncomfortable as the weight I've been feeling on my back for a long time is gone, but my body quickly adjusts to it.

''I know, I know. It's an important potion made by Mizella-chan, you know!
"Oh, um. I didn't mean.......I just didn't want everyone to die because they couldn't recover....

The only potions I can make are (small) and (fine), so I'm sure the new kids will still use them, and I wouldn't want to be short of them.......

Misela-chan.......... Hey you guys!


When the adventurer who received the package called out to them, the people who always greeted them lined up along the vacated path and began to be on alert for their surroundings.

''Wow..................''
Well I think that's a bit much, don't you think?

I don't know, I'm just carrying a potion but it's too much of a kill........
....

Finally, he reached the Guildmaster and gently, really gently, placed it on the desk and turned around and nodded to the people in line, then turned to me.......

''Mission accomplished!''
'Yes, yes thank you. Thank you all....
" " " " " " " " " " of course!

As it was, everyone sashayed away and sat back in their original seats as if nothing had happened.
Come to think of it, the parties we usually form are all different........

I'm sorry..... They're not bad guys, but........
No, it's a bit of an exaggeration, but I'm grateful.
'It would be nice to hear you say that......... You've grown up, haven't you?
Yeah. Little by little, though, I'm getting better at making (small) than (micro). My success rate is still the same, though...
'I see. You can report back to me when the young master gets back.
I'd like to report back to you when you're more mature...

If possible, I'd like to report that I'm at level 2.... But it's still a long way off, and I'm worried that your husband won't come back that far, so I'm going to ask him to use the money I've earned so far to go to Lokakuk to check on you.

''Well then, wait for me to do the assessment. Oops, what can we both get today?

I was waiting while the guildmaster assessed and calculated the price, but he was serving me a drink, as if he was worried about being out of hand and dazed.

「今日は……温かいジンジャールにしようかしら」
「私はモモモの果肉水がいいです！　果肉多め、果汁ソースがけ、乾燥モモモチップ追加でお願いします！」
「こだわりが強いな……。あいよ」
「美味しいものを食べるのに遠慮はしないです！」
「ふふ。ギルドマスターが参考になるって言っていたしいいんじゃない？」

冒険者用のお酒のメニューにも応用が利いたようでよく売れるようになったと言っていたし、多分夜には今頼んだメニューをお酒にアレンジして出されているのだろう。
早速後ろの方ではお酒の種類を何にするか、果肉をなににするかなど話し声が聞こえてくる。

「んんーごろごろでとろとろのモモモ果肉がたまりません。乾燥チップの別の歯ごたえと舌触り、それに追加の果汁で濃厚なモモモが更に濃くなります！」
「それは……濃そうね……」

私は買ったトメトを一口食べ、その後にジンジャールを飲んでほっこりする。
今日のトメトは美味しかったので、ポココにもおすそ分けをしつつ食べ終えるとあとはゆっくりとギルドマスターの査定を待つだけだ。

「しかし、若旦那はまだ帰ってこないのか。連絡も無しかい？」
「ええ……。まだなんにも。というか、旦那様は連絡なく帰ってくると思うの」
「ははっちげえねえ。若旦那はそういうタイプだな。でも、必ず帰ってくるタイプだ」
「そうね。旦那様は絶対に帰ってくる。それは信じてるわ」

ギルドマスターが査定をしながら他愛のない話をしてくれる。
ポココは果肉を味わい頬を緩めて年相応の子供のようになっているが、一瞬だけ真剣な顔をして振り向くと今日私の荷物を持ってくれた冒険者が近づいてきていた。
まだ私が突然近づかれるのは苦手だと知っているからか、その男は結構手前で止まってくれるので、ポココは果肉との戦闘を再開したみたいだ。

「どうしたの？」
「あ、あー……ミゼラちゃん。良かったら今日の夕食はここで皆と取りませんか？」
「……お誘いはありがたいのだけど、今日はまだ家の事が済んでいないのよ」
「それは明日に回すとか……」
「駄目よ。もし今日帰ってきたら、お迎えできなくなっちゃうもの。だから、ごめんなさい」
「そう……ですか……その、今は皆が……」
「気を使ってくれてありがとう。でも、ポココもいるし大丈夫よ」
「いえいえ、ミゼラちゃんが大丈夫だと言うのならいいんですよ！」

おそらく旦那様や皆がいないから寂しいだろうと誘ってくれたのだろう。
その優しさは嬉しいのだけれど、私は旦那様の奴隷。
今はお家の管理がお仕事で、いつ旦那様が帰ってきても迎えられるように整えておかねばならないのだ。

「おっし、査定終わったぞ。金額を確認してくれ」
「はい。……大丈夫ね。それじゃあ行きましょうか」
「か、果肉が、最後の果肉が取れないです……むむむ。えいっ」

必死にスプーンで底の方にある小さな一欠けらのモモモの果肉と悪戦苦闘していたのだけれど、最後は器を反対にして食べたみたいね。
頬に小さく濡れた跡をつけたまま椅子から降りるので、ハンカチで口元を拭いてあげる。

「ふふ、要改善ね」
「ですね……。もっと取りやすいスプーンがあれば……」
「旦那様に相談してみましょうか」
「はいです！　それはいいと思います！」

こうして、私たちは冒険者ギルドを後にし夕食の買出しを済ませて帰路につく。

「それじゃあ、夜ご飯が出来たら呼ぶわね」
「はいです！　それまでしっかり警備をしてお腹を空かせておきます！」
「ええ。まずはお掃除からやらないと……」

皆で住むには広くていい家なのだけれど大きいから大変なのよね。
まあ、個人の部屋はやらなくていいって言われているし、鍵もかかっているので出来ないのだけれど共通の部屋だけでも結構な数があるからテキパキやらないと……。

玄関、廊下、厨房とリビング。
普段から綺麗に使ってあるので頑固な汚れなんかはないから楽ではあるのだが、やっぱり大変ね……。
一つ一つ終わらせるたびに水を換えに行くのも一苦労。
でももう何日もやっているし、軽くでいいと言われているからなんだかんだあっという間なのよね。

あとは私の私室は……今度でいいとして……旦那様の部屋ね。
旦那様の部屋も別にしなくてもいいと言われたのだけれど、ここは断固として死守させてもらった。
家主の部屋が汚いなんていうのは、そこに住まう奴隷として認められることではない。
だから、絶対に毎日掃除をするようにして、床や棚を綺麗にする。
そして……最後に残すのはベッドだ。

「ふぅ……」

ベッドを掃除する前に腰掛け、体を後ろへと倒す。
ここでちょっとだけ休憩をするのが、いつもの日課なのだ。
良質なベッドは反発と包み込むような感覚を私に与えてくれて、気持ちがいい。

「すぅー……」

天井を見上げながら、鼻で大きく息を吸う。
ほんの少しだけ、旦那様の香りを感じながら目を瞑る。

とても、とても静かな家の中。
何の音もせず、何の気配も無い家の中。

「……皆優しかったな」

思い出すのは街や冒険者ギルドでの事だ。
街を歩けば声をかけてくれて、冒険者ギルドではご飯にも誘ってくれた。
誰もが旦那様が今は出かけていることを知っており、だからこそ積極的に声をかけ、一人にならないようにとしてくれているのが良くわかった。

「心配……されてるのかな」

靴を脱ぎ、もぞもぞっと動いてベッド上方の枕があるほうへと移動をする。
そして、枕と一緒においてあるクッションを手にとり抱きしめて横になるとそこからは旦那様の匂いが色濃く残っていた。
当然だ。クッションだけは洗濯していなかったのだから。

「……早く、帰ってきてよね。信じていても、心配なんだから……」

ついていけば良かった……って少しだけ思う。
でも、あの時挙げた理由以外にも明確に体力がもたないだろうとわかっていたこともある。
砂漠の暑さもあるだろう。
移動中に倒れてしまえばそれだけで迷惑をかけてしまう。
だから、私はついて行く事が出来なかった。

「……よし。晩御飯と、お風呂のお掃除しよ」

ついて行く事が出来なかった私は、出来ることをしよう。
For the Master to come home, to keep this house clean and ready for him to start living as he did before he went.
Besides it's an important place for the Master and everyone and me.
I'm the guardian of the house, and since I'm going to say welcome home to the Master, I'm going to welcome him with all the best of intentions.
Right after I rekindled the thought that dwelt in my heart, I heard a voice from outside.

".........Mr.!　Lord!　Welcome back........are you okay?
...What?

Hey, hey!　Are you home already?
No, I'm glad you're home, but I still have to clean up... I mean, I have to say welcome home, welcome home!

'Oh, Lord, be strong!　You're almost home!

What's the situation now!
Quick, we have to go!　Ouch ... face ... ugh, that's not the point, we have to go, now!

'Lord!
...What are you doing?

I was a little embarrassed that people would think I was in a hurry to meet them, so I welcomed them with a calm expression, but ... Pokoko was holding her husband and barking to the heavens.
........What is the situation?
But when I look closely at the Master's face, I see that he is very pale.......bad.
It's as if his soul has been sucked out of him........

"Wait a minute........don't you look too pale?　What's the matter with you....
"..........

What? Why are people looking away?
White is the only one with cheeks puffed out.....
But what in the world can I do to get squeezed out so much........
I mean, I'm not White, but I'm not happy about it either.

The best thing to do is to say "welcome home normally"............
I just wanted to say I'm home like normal...

Huh.........already.
The Master is such a troublemaker, isn't he?
No. He's the kind of person who annoys me.
But......

But, welcome back. Are you alright?　....I don't know if it's a good idea, but I'm glad you're back.
Yeah. I'm home I'll rest for now and then we'll talk about things.

You came back.
I trusted you, but you came back.
So I'm glad.
More than any souvenir, that's what makes me happy.
I can feel it strongly in my husband's hands as he gently holds me.
That made me very happy, and although I couldn't make an ideal welcome home, I couldn't help but smile and welcome him back.

After he woke up, my heart was filled with an unclouded happiness until I heard that he had fought the earth dragon as a souvenir story.
It's a sermon, of course.
I think even people who annoy me have their limits!