Chapter 144 – On the Beach in a Port City

I was a little taken aback when he suddenly asked me to become a bodyguard.

If it’s a bodyguard, it probably means to act as an escort for Bella herself.
It was a job to guard the person who would become the guild master of Galarhorn 24 hours a day. Of course, it wasn’t an offer worth making to just anyone.

“Hey, Bella? I’m a dreamer.”

It’s a nightmare!
After hearing that one word that had many meanings, Bella reacted by asking what it was.

“It’s a dream horse. It’s because it has horns. But you’re not saying that you can’t be a bodyguard because you’re a dream horse, right?”
“Of course, it would be difficult to be a bodyguard. There are many other races, so why would you want to hire a dreamer? .”

People will point fingers at you if you keep a lowly dreamer next to you as a bodyguard.
Bella’s reputation as respected by the citizens of the community may be undermined.

I don’t know why anyone who knows all this would do this.
However, Bella’s words, heard right away from her, contained her own thoughts in their own way.

“Luke. It doesn’t matter where you come from or what your race is. I think adventurers should be evaluated purely on their abilities. Because Luke is a competent person that I want to keep by my side. I want to hire him as an aide based on his abilities.”
“You only care about ability? Does it matter where you come from?”

Bella and I were going up the hill that led upstream.
As I continued walking forward, Bella spoke to me.

“Three years ago, from the first time I entered the office. I thought the adventurers’ society was strange. If you’re an adventurer, Luke, you know. Adventurers evaluate other adventurers based on perception rather than individual abilities.”
“That’s right. Well, typically things like race.”

I knew very well what Bella meant by saying that adventurers judge perception.
The adventurer industry is a mysterious society where everything is determined by perception regardless of individual abilities.
Representatively, recognition of race or occupation.
When interviewing at an adventurer’s party, the first thing to set up a strainer was the tribe.
The other races of demons, such as dreamers and vampires, are rejected without asking or questioning.
The perception is so stupid that they don’t accept it.

– Who will accept the Bronze Dream Party!!

-I’m afraid it won’t work, but is there anyone who can take me to Bronze Dream!! It’s been advertising for 10 hours now!!

I remember being ignored by adventurers while trying to save a party in my bronze days.

But what’s also funny is that there are very few parties held by people of different races who are shunned.
They don’t get along with a tribe that is treated like garbage because they judge each other’s superiority and inferiority.
It must be like a caste system where classes are divided based on perception.
And the one at the bottom of the caste system was the dream horse.

“Mr. Luke. I want to change the bad habits of adventurers. I want to create an atmosphere where people prioritize their personal specs rather than recognizing their race. That’s why hiring Luke as my bodyguard is very meaningful.”

It wasn’t just because I was a wizard that I wanted to hire him.
It must mean that he wants to set an example for adventurers by hiring me, a dream horse. It was a decision I made with my thoughts as a leader who runs an organization in my own way.
However, it was not easy for me to accept Bella’s offer.

“If you work as a bodyguard, you should always stick by Bella’s side.”
“Yes.”
“I really have to give up my adventurer job. It’s going to be impossible to work with my lovers.”
“Of course, bodyguard work is better than adventurer work, isn’t it? If you want, I can hire Mr. Luke’s lovers as well.”

Bella’s side even offered to hire my lovers.
But to be honest, bringing up the story of a lover was an excuse.
I didn’t want to be tied down and hired by Bella.

‘I want to focus on practicing magic. As for money, just enough to live on is enough.’

I was very interested in learning magic.
It was more rewarding when I learned a new magic theory than when I had money in my pocket. Besides, I had Rumi who taught me magic without paying lecture fees. If I quit my adventurer job and work as a bodyguard, my time would be cut short.

“Sorry. I want to continue my adventurer work.”

I was honest with Bella.
Bella was taken aback as she did not know that she would be rejected by a mediocre adventurer.

“Why, why? No matter how I think about it, my bodyguard is a more stable job.”
“I don’t want to be a commuter bug.”
“Going bugs…?”
“I’m talking about people who come to work on time and leave work on time. I want to go to work when I want. To be honest, since I became a wizard, I’ve thought that being an adventurer would be the best thing ever. It’s heaven to be at a place where you’re welcome to take a break and come back anytime.”
“Ah.”

Bella couldn’t deny that the adventurer’s job was honey for a wizard.
I chuckled as I looked at her speechless Bella.

“Besides, there’s no way a commuter idiot can date properly. I’ve been dating lovers for less than a year, and I don’t want to live a busy life. So, if you want a bodyguard, look for someone else.”
“Are you thinking of your lovers as well?”
“Of course you should think about it. If you become a man, you should be responsible for your women. What kind of lover is that if you just work and leave it alone? It’s a tool to make money.”

Tools to make money!
It contains the sadness of Korean men.
I made money by working hard, but the sadness of being treated as an ATM by my family!

I didn’t want to be treated as a tool by the children I would have in the distant future.

– My dad is a tool to make money!! I rule my dad!!

If you’re treated as a tool by kids who look like Rebecca and Kate, you’ll collapse on the spot. I never want to be treated as a tool, especially by my daughter, who looks exactly like Kate.

“I am a man, not a tool! No one can rule me!”
“Oh, I see. Mr. Luke is a person, so calm down.”

Goosebumps ran through her body as she recalled the scene of her being sold by my daughter.
Bella told me that she was having horrible hallucinations and that she no longer asked me to work as a bodyguard.
After a while she hesitated and she said something a little off-putting, but her words.

“…You seem to love your lovers very much.
“Yes?”
“Bah, I just told you. Once you become a man, you have to take responsibility for women. You showed that with your actions.”

For some reason, Bella’s voice trembled slightly.
Bella, who was walking alongside her, responded that she was envious of someone.

“Those who go out with Luke must be happy. I’m a little envious.”
“Are you envious…?”

What are you envious of?
Why does Bella envy the girls I date?
I could have picked out any number of men better than me.

“What does that mean?”

When I asked with a puzzled expression, Bella opened her mouth strangely flustered.
She backed away from me slightly, then it was her who waved her hand with her face flushed.

“Oh, I don’t mean anything! It’s just nonsense. Forget what I just said.”
“Is this an order as an employee?”
“It’s not an order, it’s a request!”

Without thinking deeply, I decided to forget what I had just heard.
The employer asked for it, so you have to do as you say.

“Yes.”

Some time has passed since then.
Just before joining my lovers and Hannah on the upper side of the river.
Bella asked me for a personal favor.

“Luke, can you do me one more favor?”
“What else?”
“Please repeat what you said earlier while protecting me in the valley.”

What did I say?
After thinking about it for a while, she told me what Bella wanted to hear.

“That means that it’s Luke’s job to protect me.”

I broke into a cold sweat when I realized what Bella wanted to hear.
It was an embarrassing word that I unconsciously brought up while talking with the fisherman Banner.
Would you want to hear it again?
Is it retaliation for turning down an offer to become a bodyguard?

“Quickly. Let’s do that quickly, that.”
“Fu. I see.”

Bella urged me to open my mouth.
Remembering when Banner challenged me to relax, she said the same thing.

“…Hey, I’m not taking my time. Protecting Bella-san is my job now!”

The moment I finished speaking, my face heated up.
I felt like I wanted to hide in a mouse hole.

Hehe!”

Bella looked at me and smiled.
I wasn’t kidding, but seeing Bella laugh made her feel embarrassed.

It was the first time I had ever seen her smile so wide.

*

After rejoining the party upriver, we immediately got into a carriage and set off for the port city.
We barely met again, but there was no time to rest.
In the colony of fishmen, he had to quickly get out of the river before Banner’s tribesmen pursued him.

After getting into the wagon and receiving a healing spell from Kate, her minor wounds quickly healed.
Hannah thanked me again and again for bringing her Bella back safely.

“Thank you. If it wasn’t for the adventurer, the lady would have been in big trouble. I will definitely repay this favor someday.”
“You can do whatever you want to repay the favor. But what happened to the fishmen who attacked us? There must have been quite a number of them.”
“Everything was dealt with. The fishmen continued to come in, but thanks to Rebecca-sama, it wasn’t too dangerous. Rebecca-sama took good care of me and the nun.”

It is said that the party remaining on the upper reaches of the river safely finished the battle with the fishmen.
To be honest, I was a bit worried because the fishmen rushed in like dogs.
Kate talked to Rebecca, perhaps remembering the fight while tending to my wounds.

“It’s been a long time since I’ve been fighting to live and die without taking a walk. I think fish smells like fish from the mace.”
“K. But why do you only hit the last hit? When I kill them all, they come running and kill them.”
“I hit it instead of the last hit! Thanks to me, the fatigue of finishing it was alleviated.”
“Oh yeah…”

It felt like my lovers got closer because they went through a big battle.
Seeing them bickering, I felt like starting a ‘body talk’ right now.
But even if the three of us want to talk, we’ll have to put up with it.
I couldn’t do anything embarrassing in front of Bella and Hannah watching.
Perhaps when I arrived at the port city, I would have a chance to make love with my lovers.

‘There’s no law saying you have to be around all the time for an escort quest. I’ll be able to relax a bit once I get into the city.’

In fact, it’s not just me who’s troubled.
When Rebecca and Kate talk to me, there are times when they send me subtle signals.
Whispering that we should spend some time together in a port city.
I don’t know if it’s a sex signal or a dating signal, but I wanted to believe it was a sex signal.

How much time has passed
Bella, who was looking out of her window, spoke her words to me.

“Now we’re almost there. As you all know, the place we’re going to is the port city of Lotus. It’s where the traditional magic society ‘Ninggard’ is located. The day I’m visiting Ninggard is this Wednesday.”

Today is Monday, so there are two days left.
I thought I would have to wait for two days, but it wasn’t.
Bella ran her jet-black hair in a neat ponytail, and she smiled and whispered in my ear.

“… Let’s go to the beach together tomorrow afternoon. There’s a beautiful beach near the villa we’re staying at.”

Why are you whispering so ticklingly in my ear?
Do you mean you want to walk on the beach with me?

I was taken aback for a moment, but of course it was my misunderstanding.

“Ser, can’t it be just the two of you?”
“We should all go together.”
“…Ah, yes.”