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I Got a New Skill Every Time I Was Exiled, and After 100 Different Worlds, I Was Unmatched (Web Novel) - Chapter 412: The Other Side of a Good Story Is Not Necessarily Something Bad
Chapter 412: The Other Side of a Good Story Is Not Necessarily Something Bad
This chapter is updated by JustRead.pl
By joining our party, Yuto’s life changed significantly. Previously, he could only take on menial tasks alone, but now he could accompany us on high-difficulty quests, dramatically expanding his range of activities.In addition, along the way, he learned how to navigate uncharted territories and gained knowledge about various flora and fauna, including demonic beasts, from Tia and me. He also received sword and magic training during our free time, leading to remarkable growth.
However, that didn’t mean he forgot his humble beginnings or suddenly became an adult. A little over a month after forming our party, we took on a request suited for Yuto and Mao—taking care of some grazing sheep.
“Hello! We’re the adventurers who accepted the request!”
“Oh, you’ve arrived. I’ve been waiting… hmm?”
An elderly man emerged from the stable, drawn by Yuto’s call, and looked at us with a puzzled expression.
“Strange, I only requested two apprentice adventurers…”
“Oh, we’re just accompanying them. We won’t be doing the work or taking any payment. Rest assured.”
“Is that so? Well, that’s fine then.”
The elderly man nodded with a satisfied smile at my words. He then began explaining the task to Yuto and Mao, while Tia quietly spoke to me.
“Fufu, it’s a strange feeling to be reassured by saying we won’t be working, isn’t it?”
“Well, that’s just how it is.”
Although the request was to “take care of the sheep,” Tia and I knew from Alma that the elderly man didn’t actually need help. The real purpose of the request was to support the hardworking children.
This was part of a community effort, and such special requests occasionally came up. The fact that children as young as twelve could become apprentice adventurers and make a living, albeit modestly, was thanks to the silent support of the adults around them.
Therefore, if we, as capable adults, were to intrude on such a well-paying request, it would be more than just frowned upon. That’s why I assured the elderly man that we understood.
“Well then, I’ll leave it to you.”
“Leave it to us!”
“Yes! We’ll handle it!”
While I was considering this, the man’s explanation to Yuto and Mao seemed to have finished. The elderly man opened the wooden fence, and about twenty sheep started coming towards us.
“Come on, this way!”
“Hey, not that way! Over here!”
Yuto shook a bell to guide the sheep. Naturally, it was impossible for the inexperienced Yuto to control all the sheep, so it was Mao’s job to bring back any strays.
“Meeeeh!”
“Hmm, what’s wrong with you? Come on, get back in line!”
“Meehh!”
“No, that’s not right! I’m not playing! Why are you pushing back!?”
“Meehh!”
“Wait, there are more!? Ack, Yuto!”
“Mao-chan!?”
Hearing Mao’s distressed voice, Yuto hurried back to find three sheep tightly pressed against her.
“H-help me! The fluff! The fluff is overwhelming me!”
“Uh, what should I do… Come on, this way!”
Yuto shook the bell again, but the sheep didn’t move. Instead, the sound of the bell caused the sheep that had moved to the grassy area to start heading back towards Yuto.
“Whoa, they’re coming this way!? Uh, um…”
“Hey! What are you nibbling on!? No, you can’t chew on my skirt! It’s going to come off! It’s going to tear! Waaah, Yuto!”
“Hey! Don’t be mean to Mao-chan!”
“Hey Ed, shouldn’t we help them?”
“It’s fine, Tia. Experience is the best teacher.”
We watched Yuto and Mao frantically ringing bells, pulling, and pushing, trying not to hurt the sheep they were supposed to be guarding. Tia and I found their efforts quite endearing. If it were a dangerous situation, we wouldn’t hesitate to step in, but this was just a playful struggle with sheep, not something to be overprotective about.
Besides, failure was also a part of learning. While it might be tempting to let them figure things out on their own until the very last moment, this time, I decided to intervene.
“Hey, Yuto! If you keep focusing on Mao, the sheep will scatter too much!”
“Huh!? Oh no!”
Because he was continuously ringing the bell without moving forward, the sheep had lost their way and started wandering off. Yuto hurriedly returned to the front of the line at my words, even though I couldn’t physically help.
“Sorry, Mao-chan! You’ll have to manage on your own!”
“What!? Ugh, Nii-sama! Help me, please!”
As soon as Yuto disappeared, Mao quickly turned to me for help. Her quick surrender was almost amusing, even to me.
“Hey, isn’t that a bit too soon? Besides, you can handle this, right, Mao?”
“Even so, it’s hard to manage. If these were demonic beasts, it would be easy…”
“Ah, I see.”
It’s easy to forget, given her childlike appearance and behavior, but Mao was actually a fragment of my power and the Demon King of this world. Being one of the strongest beings in the world, it was probably difficult for her to “remove others without causing harm.”
“All the more reason to practice. It’s a good opportunity to learn to hold back even when excited. If you hurt Yuto, that would be a bigger problem, right?”
“That’s true, but… Nii-sama, you’re so mean!”
Mao grimaced and reluctantly started calming the sheep. Amidst all the commotion, we finally reached our destination, the meadow, around noon.
“We finally made it…”
“Ugh, my skirt is all wet…”
“You did well. Good job.”
“Both of you, great work. Let’s have lunch.”
“Yay!”
As expected of children—although it’s hard to lump a Demon King and a hero in with ordinary children—the two quickly regained their energy and started eating the sandwiches Tia had prepared from the basket. These special sandwiches, filled with plenty of meat and vegetables, were made by Tia using the inn’s kitchen.
“How is it? Tasty?”
“Yes, yes, food after work is the best!”
“Really, it’s delicious! Oh, Mao-chan, you have something on your mouth…”
“Hyah!? Y-Yuto!?”
“There, it’s gone.”
“Ah, Yuto touched my… my lips… Then I should return the favor…”
Mao, her face bright red, stared at Yuto after he wiped the crumbs from her mouth. Unlike the somewhat clumsy Mao, Yuto had no crumbs on his face, leaving Mao looking a bit disappointed.
“Hmph. Yuto, you should have crumbs on your mouth to match the mood, shouldn’t you?”
“Eh? Even if you say that…”
“Ugh, it’s not too late. Take a big bite of the bread and get your mouth dirty! Then I can use my fingers to… or maybe… a kiss… No, no! That’s too embarrassing… Ahh…”
“Um… Ed-san, what should I do?”
“Just ignore my silly sister and eat normally.”
“Who are you calling silly!?”
“Mao-chan, sometimes I can’t tell if you’re bold or shy.”
“Even you, Tia-dono!? Waaah, Yuto! Comfort me!”
“Wait, Mao-chan!? Don’t cling to me like that!”
“You’re really something, always making the most of every situation…”
Mao clung to Yuto, who, despite being flustered, didn’t push her away. Their red faces were quite amusing, and Tia and I couldn’t help but laugh.
Under the clear sky, the cheerful bleating of the sheep and the lively voices of the children filled the air, bringing a sense of peace to the surroundings.
