Two Lemon Men

After Nilu, who seemed to be in a strange state, caught up with us, she didn’t suddenly blurt out things like “there seems to be treasure here” or “there might be a secret path there” anymore.

Could it be that today I managed to block all of Nilu’s “lucky encounters”?

Thinking that, I didn’t really get the chance to ask why Nilu was so quiet afterward.

After all, Kefir — who was basically dragging along two burdens — had already begun “getting into the flow” and was stepping into the main storyline.

Kefir ran into some things that looked like inanimate stone golems.

Look at that, they were clearly “small fry monsters”!

Encountering monsters meant the path was correct.

To be safe, we returned to camp by evening and decided to continue exploring the next day.

However, the strange condition Miss Nilu had shown since the morning finally revealed itself on the second day.

At this moment, in camp, Kefir was brimming with confidence, ready to set out.

I was also fully prepared to cling to her thigh.

But Nilu, who always maintained the highest standards of a maid, did not follow as usual today.

Instead—

“My lady, Lord Euclid.”

Just as we were about to depart, Nilu, who had been lagging behind, finally spoke up.

“Today, I won’t be going with you.”

The hesitation and distress in her tone made me immediately see that the smile on her face was a bitter one.

Kefir, confused, ran up to her side.

At the same time, she seemed to “understand” something and turned to glare at me with suspicion.

“Shaman, don’t tell me that yesterday, while I was fighting monsters, you took advantage of Nilu!?”

“I did not!”

I might have the guts to take advantage of someone else, maybe even hug your big white thighs if necessary, Kefir.

But to take advantage of Miss Nilu?

Even if you stuffed me with dozens of bear hearts and leopard gall, I wouldn’t dare lay a sinful hand on her — because the consequences of offending Nilu would be far too severe.

If anything, I was puzzled about why she chose not to follow us now.

“Nilu, don’t be afraid. If this shaman really laid a hand on you yesterday, I’ll string him up and roast him right now!”

Kefir still radiated that citrus-sweet aura she always had around Nilu.

But the next moment, Nilu quickly stepped back, avoiding Kefir’s comforting hand.

Then, as if realizing something, she forced a bright smile and explained,

“Mr. Euclid didn’t do anything to me.

I just feel like… if I keep tagging along, I’ll only get in the way, so…”

“Nilu, how could you ever be in the way!?”

This time it wasn’t just Kefir — even I was confused by Nilu’s words.

Kefir, however, grabbed Nilu’s hands firmly.

“Since I brought you with me, I’ll never think of you as a burden.

On the contrary, it’s a certain idiot who throws himself at me whenever there’s the slightest danger that’s a bit of a nuisance.”

After saying that, Kefir frowned and glared at me.

Don’t look at me like that, boss!

I’m just trying to stay alive, that’s why I stick close to you!

While Kefir was side-eying me and making me take the blame, I clearly saw something unusual in Nilu’s expression.

At this point, I really couldn’t ignore it.

After confirming several times that I wasn’t the “protagonist,” but a villain — and thus wouldn’t trigger any messy “love triangle” events — I checked Nilu’s script.

【Nilu feels she is of no real use, so she decides not to trouble Kefir and Euclid further.】

The script matched her explanation perfectly.

Looking at her smile at Kefir, she seemed lonely, but it wasn’t the kind of obsessive “yandere” I imagined.

“But my lady, you also think that exploring together with Mr. Euclid would be better, don’t you?”

“But…”

“I’ll wait here at the camp for good news from you two.

If you act together, your efficiency will definitely be higher.

So… my lady, please don’t worry about me…”

Kefir still looked a little hesitant.

Indeed, because of Nilu’s presence, yesterday was spent mostly with me desperately making excuses to hide or block all her “treasure encounter” scripts.

Maybe, from her perspective, she felt like she was slowing us down.

The truth was the complete opposite.

But the script — especially Nilu’s script — was something I could never say out loud.

I just hoped she wouldn’t resent me for this, and at least I needed to find some excuse to soften the blow…

But before I could even speak—

“I understand.”

This time, even Kefir, who usually always stood on Nilu’s side, agreed with her.

After shooting me a suspicious glance, Kefir turned her face away.

“Then Nilu, stay at the Britannia camp outside the perimeter and wait for our news.

Since it isn’t far, I’ll escort you back, and then continue exploring with Euclid.

Hey, shaman!?”

“Eh?”

“Eh what eh…”

While Nilu turned to pack her things, relieved that Kefir had agreed, Kefir quietly moved closer to me.

“Since that’s what Nilu wants, let’s just take her back to camp.

That way, we can explore faster.”

“But… won’t this make her feel left out…”

On the way here, I’d blocked all of Nilu’s “lucky encounters.”

Now that she was heading back to camp, she wouldn’t run into any “legendary dragon-slaying swords.”

Still, I couldn’t shake this vague sense of unease.

But Kefir gave me no chance to argue with “prophecies” or “mysticism.”

“Enough, just listen to me!

You’ve been going on about Nilu this, Nilu that all along.

Now that she’s going somewhere safe, you can finally shut up, can’t you!?”

“And… and later, I have something to tell you alone… cough cough!

Nothing, nothing — just wait here for me!”

【Kefir also intends to escort Nilu back to camp.】

Hmm… could it be that my thigh… is jealous?