Goodbye, Kamasse

“Well~~! I just smelled it, you know, the stench of crime! So I thought, that thing's adventurer registration, I absolutely mustn't do it! That's why I turned her down, you know! Ahaha, that's me for you! Yes, working in the Royal Capital really trained my eye for people! I almost gave a criminal the status of an adventurer! Whew, that was close!!”

The rotten receptionist's barefaced words rang through the lobby of the branch office, gone quiet since Kamasse froze.

“Y, you, you weren't, an adventurer?”

Kamasse, finally rebooted, turns to me and asks.

I nod in reply.

“Not yet. That woman, told me to do a ‘task’. If I keep gathering Cysh grass for a month......”

“AAAAH!! AAAAH!! Mr. Guard! Please hurry up and catch that cursed child~! Protecting the town's peace is your department, isn't it!?”

“O, oh! Leave it to me!”

The rotten receptionist raises her voice so no one will hear what I have to say, since it's inconvenient for her.

And the guard, coming over in response to catch me.

“Kuh!”

Kamasse.

Kamasse tries to lunge at the guard.

To protect me.

I'm happy.

But, you can't, Kamasse.

The very instant he took a step toward the guard.

I grabbed Kamasse's belt, pulled him, and threw him backward.

Don!

Kamasse slams his back into the reception counter with a bang.

Sorry.

“H, hey, Emi, what are you......!”

But, no more than that.

If he raises a hand against a guard, Kamasse will become a criminal.

There's no need for Kamasse to get hurt for someone like me.

Because I'm totally fine.

Stuff like this, I've been used to since my past life.

Enough...... any more.

There's no need for Kamasse to put up with me any further.

Slowly, slowly.

I step forward.

“What? Have you finally given up and decided to be caught?”

The guard puts on a triumphant face.

......As if that would happen.

I haven't done anything wrong.

I use 【Intimidation】.

I direct my killing intent at him.

“Hih!?”

With just that, the guard let out a small scream and collapsed, his legs giving out.

Ahaha.

So weak.

<Shall we kill this one first?>

......Omake-sama.

Thank you for getting so angry for my sake.

But, please, calm down.

I'm not going to do that.

<Why?>

If I did that, I'd really be a criminal, you know?

It's different from killing thieves.

......Kamasse went out of his way, to stand up for me.

Even though I'm a cursed child.

Even though everyone tells me to get out of town.

Kamasse was the only one who stayed on my side.

I don't want to waste that kindness. Absolutely not.

<Emi......>

“I, haven't done anything wrong. So I won't be caught.”

My voice rings through the silent branch office.

“But, if you want me gone, I'll go. Bye.”

I walk toward the entrance.

Maybe out of fear of the magic power and killing intent leaking from me, the merchant bunch and the bystander adventurers unconsciously back away, opening a path.

“You...... you! Emi! Are you really okay with this!?”

I hear a voice from behind.

It's Kamasse, getting to his feet, coughing.

“To be...... so unfairly looked down on! To be treated like this! And yet you're just going to leave in silence!?”

“Kamasse......”

I turn around.

His face bright red.

Tears welling up.

Kamasse, looking so terribly frustrated.

“Thank you.”

Ah, it's such a shame I can't put on a smile.

“For protecting me, Kamasse, thank you. Really, I was happy.”

“Emi......!”

“Kamasse, is smart, and strong enough, and very, kind. So I'm sure, you'll really become a special-grade adventurer.”

I turn back again, giving Kamasse my back, and place my hand on the door of the branch office entrance.

“Emi! Wait......”

“Hang in there, okay!!”

Without waiting for Kamasse to finish, I leap outside.

Instantly, 【Body Strengthening】.

【Grasshopper】 running style.

I run at full speed, as if bouncing.

In a flash, I pass the main street and reach the outer wall.

I climb with 【Silverfish】, then jump down.

Outside the town.

The wasteland.

I run through the wasteland. I keep on running.

In an instant, the town disappears from view.

Goodbye.

Goodbye, Kamasse.

In the end, I couldn't become an adventurer.

In town, I was bullied the whole time.

And the herbs, too, only ended up getting exploited.

But, because I met you.

Just for that, I'm glad I came to this town called Yoshanka.

I can truly feel that.

I'm happy.

Happy, that's what I am.

The tears, spill over.

These, are tears of joy.

Tears of joy.

Kamasse, thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you so much.

As always, the sea wind howls against me.

A very cold headwind.

But, the reason my heart is so warm.

Is thanks to you.

Thank you, Kamasse.

......Yes.

And so, Emi didn't become an adventurer, and she dashed out of the town of Yoshanka.

With this, Emi's story in Arc 6 comes to an end.

What follows is the epilogue of Arc 6.

There's still a little more to go.

I'd be grateful if you'd stick with it.