Raising the Lowest-Ranked Adventurer, the Heroic Girl – Wasn’t I Just a Substitute Old Man?

Raising the Lowest-Ranked Adventurer, the Heroic Girl – Wasn’t I Just a Substitute Old Man?

Volume 2  Chapter 4  Gaze and True Intention

“Then, wait until you’ve grown more before saying things like that.”

“I’ve grown even since then.”

I said it in terms of age, but Abe emphasized it by placing her hand on her chest.

…Perhaps because we’re close, there’s more than I thought—no, not like that!

Dangerous. Even though I have no intention of getting a girlfriend, it doesn’t mean I’ve lost my desire. As a man, even if I don’t have that intention, my eyes naturally wander.

However… However!

Just try blatantly staring at a high school girl’s chest as an old man. That’s just a pervert. It wouldn’t be difficult to be labeled as a pervert even among our friends.

I won’t be on this team for another six months. At the very least, I don’t want to be labeled as a pervert.

If I were to be recognized by high school girls as a “pervert who stares at their chests,” I don’t think I could easily recover from the shock.

“…What do you expect me to say when I see you like that?”

“…You’ve grown, haven’t you?”

“This could turn into a serious matter, you idiot.”

Ah… my head hurts.

“…”

“What’s wrong, Miyano? Is something bothering you?”

“Oh, no… it’s just that…”

When I averted my gaze from Abe because I couldn’t stand being approached any further, I noticed Miyano had her hand over her mouth, not in confusion or bewilderment, but with a hesitant expression.

“Oh, it’s nothing.”

I tried to divert the conversation to avoid further discussion, but Miyano began to say something in response to my question, only to ultimately shake her head and deny it.

“Well, if that’s the case… why did we end up talking about this? It’s not interesting to hear about an old man’s love life. Wouldn’t it be more enjoyable for people your age to discuss it among yourselves?”

In fact, we were just talking about your own matters earlier. Go back to that topic.

Honestly, I don’t want to talk about my love life.

“Well, um, maybe not so much, I guess?”

“Hmm. It was fun.”

“Are you guys having fun mocking an old man?”

After casually changing the subject and lingering on with aimless chatter, we finished paying the bill and walked out of the store.

However, just as we stepped out of the shop, my phone started ringing.

“Hmm? Someone’s calling… What’s with that expression?”

“Is something wrong?”

“Well… maybe. Sorry, but I have to answer this call. Oh, you can go ahead and head home.”

Saying that, I walked a little away from the road and answered the phone.

But Miyano and the others didn’t move from their spot. It seems they had no intention of leaving me behind.

“Hello? Yes. Uh-huh… Is everything alright? Understood. I’ll come by tomorrow. Yes, thank you. Goodbye.”

“I see, that look on your face…”

After ending the call, I returned to Miyano and the others, but right away, Abe made that remark.

It certainly wasn’t the most desirable phone call, but it seems like it showed on my face.

“Hmm, yeah. Did I have that expression? Sorry.”

“If I may ask, who was it from?”

“…It’s a business associate.”

“Work? As an adventurer?”

“Not quite. It’s through an acquaintance, more like a side job for some extra money. I get called occasionally.”

Oh right, they’re still here, and I should let them know.

“Oh, by the way, it’s tomorrow, but I won’t be going to school. I have something I need to take care of.”

“Is that the side job?”

“Yeah… I really don’t want to go.”

To be honest, I really don’t want to go. Seriously, I don’t want to go. Going to school isn’t exactly desirable either, but it’s still better than this.

“Why though? Is it low-paying?”

“No, the pay is fine, and the job itself isn’t difficult. In fact, in a way, it’s quite easy.”

“Then why?”

If you judge solely based on writing down the job details on paper, it’s definitely a white job rather than a black one.

However, that judgment is only on paper.

“…There’s someone I don’t want to see.”

“Someone you don’t want to see?”

“Someone with a dangerous temper… well, adults have all sorts of things going on.”

Miyano and the others repeated their question in unison, but I stopped midway through trying to answer and evaded their inquiry with a vague response.

The time will come when I’ll tell them someday, but for now, it’s fine.

“Well, whatever. I’m heading home now. You guys can keep hanging out, but don’t stay out too late.”

With just that, I bid farewell to Miyano and started walking away to return to my own house.

In reality, I should probably accompany them all the way to the school dormitory, but I’m sure they won’t be attacked by thugs.

And even if some accident like getting hit by a car were to happen, it would likely result in only minor injuries.

——Miyano Mizuki——

“Haaahhhh…”

After Kousuke walked away, it was Kana who let out such a deep sigh.

“Kana, you still have a chance.”

And then, Haruka spoke to her, trying to encourage her. Her voice sounded just like usual, without any changes.

“But, isn’t it a bit too much, like, you know?… Are you serious?”

“I-I am! Haruka, are you serious!?”

Recalling the conversation they had inside the café earlier, Yuzu questioned Haruka, but Kana, who had been releasing a sigh and relaxing until just now, looked at Haruka while raising her voice, as if demanding an answer.

“I truly have no interest in romance.”

“I see…”

Kana breathed a sigh of relief at Haruka’s words.

However, Haruka’s words didn’t end there.

“…However, I don’t think he’s a bad choice as a partner.”

Haruka’s words continued, causing Kana and Yuzu to widen their eyes as they stared at her.

Could it be that Haruka genuinely has feelings for Koosuke? That thought arose in both of their hearts.

The reasons behind their doubts were entirely different.

“Looks don’t matter to me, and he doesn’t have an annoying personality either. His ranking may be third-class, but his achievements are beyond first-class. I believe my family would approve as well.”

With Haruka’s words, the two of them, harboring doubts, understood her true intentions and became convinced.

“Haruka-chan’s family is a prestigious one, after all.”

“Just categorized as a ‘so-called’ prestigious family.”

“They’re descendants of ancient onmyoji from the Heian period, right? Something like Seimei, I think? He’s quite a famous figure.”

“We’re just part of the bloodline, not the main branch… My family doesn’t seem to like that, though.”

Haruka’s family carries the blood of one of the awakened beings from the Heian period—an onmyoji.

However, Haruka’s own family is not the main branch but a branch of the family, to the extent that it could be considered a distant one.

Yet, despite being from such a distant branch, Haruka possessed powers stronger than those of her peers born in the main branch.

Although her abilities were focused solely on manipulating flames, the overall strength of her powers far exceeded others’.

It was precisely because of this that Haruka’s parents had placed high expectations on her. It could even be said that their expectations had turned into a curse.

That’s why they desperately wanted Haruka to marry a “suitable partner” from somewhere within the “prestigious family” that shared their power and history—almost forcing it upon her.

“Besides, in this day and age, there are plenty of individuals with power. There’s no point in fixating on bloodlines.”

However, in the current era, with the increasing number of awakened beings, there’s no need to consider the inheritance of abilities through ancestral blood.

So-called prestigious families that have possessed power since ancient times? Such notions are simply outdated. Powerful beings can be found everywhere.

To put it bluntly, it’s absurd. That was Haruka’s perspective.

Nevertheless, completely disregarding her parents’ intentions would be troublesome. But if it were Koosuke, they would begrudgingly accept him, and he wouldn’t be a bothersome partner. For Haruka, he was a “suitable partner.”

“Hey, Mizuki…”

Upon hearing Haruka’s thoughts, Kana called out to Mizuki, seeking his opinion.

However, Mizuki seemed lost in thought, his mind elsewhere.

“Mizuki?”

“Huh?! W-What is it?”

“What’s wrong? You’ve been acting a bit strange lately…”

“I’m sorry. I was just lost in thought.”

Mizuki forced a smile, trying not to appear odd, as Kana gazed at her with concern.

“Is that so? As long as it’s not due to feeling unwell…”

“…Are you interested…….. Mizuki too?”

“Huh? Is that true!?”

“N-No, it’s not like that! I mean, it’s just, um…”

In response to Haruka and Kana’s words, Mizuki hastily denied it, but in her haste, she nearly blurted out words she didn’t intend to say and ended up stopping herself.

However, it would be too suspicious to leave it at that, so Mizuki desperately tried to think of something and managed to squeeze out an explanation…

“Oh, um… I-I saw it when Haruka leaned against him, and, well, it felt like he’s man after all.”

It’s commonly said that women are sensitive to men’s gaze, and naturally, Mizuki and the others were no exception. They noticed Koosuke’s gaze.

“Oh! S-So that’s it!”

“Did you have an interest after all?”

Kana expressed her frustration, and seeing Haruka touch her own chest once again, Mizuki internally shouted, “I’m sorry!” to Koosuke, relieved that she managed to come up with a plausible excuse.

However, if someone happened to remember this conversation when Koosuke meets Kana and the others next time, he would likely face some sort of misfortune.

“I remember, Igami-san, said that he don’t have a partner anymore, right? It was a somewhat suggestive way of saying it…”

While listening to Kana and the others’ conversation that kept piling up accusations against Koosuke, Mizuki couldn’t help but feel concerned, even as she laughed.