Chapter 285: Take It Back

Chapter 285 - Take It Back

Once on the deck, it was chilly, as if the hot daytime sun was a lie.

Looking up, I saw many stars shining in the sky, so beautiful that I couldn't help but gaze at them.

And at the same time, I found that guy.

"...... Why is he in a place like that..."

『Perhaps he is gazing in the direction from the position of the stars, or it could be a hobby...』

"But what's the point of standing so high up and watching?"

『...... tis better to be as close to the sky as possible... or so no one can interrupt him there...』

He was standing on top of the lookout attached to the mast...... or rather, at the very top of the mast, looking up at the sky.

What are you doing?

"...... good grief...... shut up... are you talking to yourself? You...... just now..."

Me and Tre'ainar were on the deck, looking up, when that guy lowered his face and met my eyes.

『Apparently, the latter... he did not want any interruptions...』

"Geez... in this day and age... kids look at people like that with impunity..."

When I was about this guy's or Espie's age... wasn't I saying something about becoming an Ultra Hero?

Compared to me, I wonder what kind of life a kid would have to live to make such a face.

"Oh, excuse the interruption. Let's talk a little bit... I wanted to know more about you... and then, I thought you might be interested in me."

"...... Hah?"

I answered Slayer, who asked grumpily, and sure enough, he glared at me even more grumpily.

But even though I'm dealing with a kid who had lived a life I couldn't imagine and seemed to have gotten that look in his eyes, it still doesn't feel good to be stared at like that all the time, so let's tease him a little...

"Me? To you? Interested? You're so full of yourself——"

"Magical Parkour!"

"...... eh!!??"

And the moment he sighed and turned away from me for a moment, I ran up the mast with a little bit of serious parkour and came around behind him.

"............ you..."

"Oh, that's a good response... but your brother's going to be a little hurt if you run off so spooked, right?"

Slayer, whose eyes immediately widened at my movement, instantly jumped back to the edge of the mast.

I see. It's a good reaction for a kid.

Espie was more the type who moves by making full use of her abilities, but this guy used simple physical ability.

And in the moment, he was on high alert, glaring at me intently, ready to make a move at any moment.

"So, what do you think? Did you get a little interested in me?"

"Huh... what the heck...... are you..."

"Kuhahaha, don't glare, don't glare. I'm not trying to take you to go eat. Rather..."

Slayer, who had previously rejected everyone and didn't even try to show interest, finally looked at me, albeit in a bad way.

But at this rate, the fight might break out, so I laughed and showed that there was no hostility, took that out of my pocket, and threw it at Slayer.

"Here, an apology for surprising you. So don't get any twisted ideas about this being a freebie."

"...... Huh?"

Slayer caught the item I threw while being wary of it.

I took the same thing out of my pocket and tore off the wrapping.

And what came out was a small stick-shaped biscuit-like food.

"...... this is...?"

"You're a Hunter, and you don't know? It's 'Calorie Friend.'"

Yes, it is a portable food item purchased from Slayer's equipment store in the modern era, once invented by Tre'ainar and possessed by the soldiers of the Demon King's Army.

I took a bite to show that it wasn't anything suspicious.

Actually, this was my first time trying it...

「...... Hmm, it's a little dry in my mouth...」

『What!? I am unsure what you are complaining about! This took lot of trial and error, so the taste may be improved...』

「Ah, but it's fluffy... the flavor seeps in... yeah, it's good enough.」

『I... I suppose so. Incidentally, tis dry because the water content has been suppressed. With little moisture, tis lighter and more convenient to carry.』

Oh, I thought Tre'ainar would be in a bad mood for a moment, but he nodded his head happily.

Well, these days, whether it's women, little girls, or my master, I have to be careful of various things.

"...... what... you...... who are you? What is your purpose in approaching me?"

"Don't be so defensive. I'm not so short of money that I'd take you in to make a profit."

"............"

"I mean, you said it was stupid to ask people twice, but don't say that until you learn not to ask twice."

"Unh..."

"I told you, didn't I? I thought you'd be interested in me, I'm just trying to have a conversation with you."

Without removing the wrapping off the Calorie Friend I gave him, Slayer was still wary.

"I'm not hanging out with anyone."

"Haha, I see... so how did you defeat that big squid earlier today? Was it magic?"

"There's no way I'd expose my hand, right? In the first place, I don't want to talk to you."

Hm~m..... unlike Espie and Master, this one's on guard.

"Anyway, I'll return this portable food."

"It's okay, I gave it to you, or rather, it's a simple pleasure item. I mean, you're hungry, aren't you?"

"I'm not hungry! Besides, I don't want it!"

Then, Slayer tried to give back the Calorie Friend.

I don't mind if he doesn't give it back to me, but Slayer was stubborn.

Would you go so far as to refuse?

No, but when I was a kid, Sadiz told me, "Don't take candy from strangers, you'll be kidnapped," and I guess that means you shouldn't take it from suspicious people?

"Anyway, I don't need it! So... take it back!"

"Oh..."

At that moment, the figure of Slayer flickered in front of me.

He must be trying to fly quickly and get behind me. I wonder if he was quite annoyed that you took his back earlier?

But......

"Like I said... you don't have to give it back."

"Uh... oh...!"

I again got behind Slayer who was trying to land behind me.

Slayer froze, his back to me, holding out the Calorie Friend he was trying to return to me to an empty space.

"...... huh... take it back!"

"Kuhaha, I said I don't need it."

"Ah..."

While looking frustrated, Slayer turned around, looking peeved, and tried to forcibly thrust the Calorie Friend at me.

But that hand again cut through the air.

"Kuhaha, that was a shame ♪."

"Uh, ugh, you... what the heck..."

Slayer, who couldn't even touch me, glared at me with his eyes wide open, but those eyes are different from the ones that were indifferent to me, saying he had no interest in anything.

His eyes were clearly asking, "Who are you?". They are curious about me. In a way, is it safe to say that he was interested?

At the same time, I thought I'd play around with him a little more.

"Hey, Slayer... if you're so frustrated... why don't you try to catch me and give it back?"

"...... What..."

Provoking Slayer, who couldn't touch me, to try and catch me... that was......

"Oh? Even though you're a Hunter, can't you catch a human?"

"W, what!?"

A hunt...... or rather, a game of tag.

And even Slayer, who was supposed to have no interest in anyone and had no intention of getting involved, was also moved by this provocation...

"Hm, hmph... I don't know who you are, but... are you underestimating me just because you're a little skilled? Then...... I'll catch you right away and make you take it! Don't underestimate me!!"

It was too easy.

『Fuhahaha, still a brat as expected. Is it not silly to fall for such a simple provocation? What? Child.』

「You say that?! Yes, boomera———」

『Oh?』

「No, it's nothing...」

『Seriously... however...... even though tis a child's game of tag, it could get quite thrilling, be careful...』

「Yeah, I get it. I don't know what he's capable of.」

I came to talk to Slayer and wanted to get to know a little bit about him... in a sense... or maybe this is better.

It's the same as with Koujiro.

"Kuhahahaha, come, try to catch me!"

"Wait, I won't let you go!"

I feel like we can get to know each other better this way than if we were forced to talk to each other.

With that in mind, I jumped off the mast and ran across the deck, followed by Slayer, who gave chase.