The day after, Aleid's detox was completed.

“Fuaaaah… mmm…”

I let out a big yawn.

I spent almost the entire day yesterday resting, but maybe because so much happened, I’m still sleepy.

“Hey, hey, you alright, Seti? You didn’t have to force yourself to come out shopping, you could’ve just kept sleeping.”

“Nah, there was something I wanted to buy anyway. I’m sleepy, yeah, but I figured I should get it while I still remember.”

The one worrying about me is Gadivan.

Standing over 2 meters tall with broad shoulders, yet with a tightly toned, slim waist, his abs—constantly exposed due to his equipment—are sharply defined and look harder than rock.

His hair is like a lion’s mane, but not messy, rather somewhat kept together, a reddish-brown color, and he’s got a short beard only on his chin, a wild, handsome older guy type.

Of course, he’s one of my party members.

He’s friendly with everyone regardless of gender, easygoing, and even willingly takes care of miscellaneous tasks, a dependable older man type who gives off the feeling that if the party were a family, he’d definitely be the father figure.

‘If only he didn’t treat me like a kid, he’d be perfect. Not that there’s anything specific, though.’

It’s true that the difference in height and build is huge, so from my perspective he looks like a giant, but just because I’m small doesn’t mean I like being treated like a child.

I may look like this, but I’m properly an adult age-wise.

So even though I know it’s a bit childish, I end up taking a slightly more grown-up attitude toward Gadivan.

I know I can’t quite pull off that composed adult vibe, but I tend to consciously act and speak as if we’re equals.

“I see, but don’t overdo it, alright? You worked hard on your own, after all. Even if you just laze around doing nothing, no one’s gonna complain… You said you had something to buy, right? I’ll carry your stuff, so don’t hold back.”

“Oh, that helps a lot. Then I’ll take you up on that.”

* * *

“Here ya go! Thanks for waiting, miss. Ah, that big guy’s carrying it, huh? It got a bit heavy, but you’ll be fine.”

The stall owner hands over the packaged goods I ordered.

A burlap sack about the size I can carry with both hands.

But it’s packed full and bulging.

Judging by the contents and quantity, it’s probably around 7 to 8 kilograms.

“Mm, received… But Seti, what did you buy? Looks like dried leaves of some kind.”

Gadivan slinging the sack over his shoulder suits him perfectly.

As expected of a front-line power-type job.

I hand over silver coins to the shopkeeper and smirk slightly.

“It’s herbs. Though not medicinal herbs, they’re for enjoying the aroma.”

“…Is there any point in buying something like that?”

Gadivan, that’s a fair question.

Up until the day before yesterday, I probably would’ve thought the same.

We’re the Hero party.

Our journey’s purpose is to defeat the Demon King’s army, something soaked in blood.

Naturally, we’re expected to minimize unnecessary baggage and prioritize essentials.

I’m actually pretty efficiency-focused myself.

However!

After what happened with Aleid’s detox, I realized we absolutely need this.

“The poison Aleid got hit with reacts to the mind. To put it super simply, it’s set up so that things like… stress… trigger the trap embedded in the poison.”

“What, a trap in poison?”

Yep, as expected of a muscle-brained type like Gadivan, his reactions are pretty good, makes him easy to talk to.

Sometimes a bit exaggerated, though.

“Yeah, a trap. It was a nightmare during detox, and if something like that shows up again, it’d be troublesome, right? But if the mental state of the poisoned person is stable—what do you think?”

“…The trap won’t activate, or even if it does, its effects are weakened?”

Gadivan is actually quite sharp.

As long as you explain things clearly without making them too complicated, he understands pretty well.

People like him tend to be all brawn no brains, but Gadivan isn’t like that, which really helps.

“Exactly. There’s no way I want to go through that kind of ordeal every time I treat poison.”

* * *

“I see~ so that’s why you bought these tea leaves for herbal tea?”

At the inn lobby.

After returning from shopping, I immediately served it to the two party members hanging around there.

Ryokusuicha.

It looks similar to green tea from my previous life, but the taste is refreshing, with almost no bitterness and a faint elegant sweetness.

It doesn’t leave an aftertaste, quickly refreshing the mouth, and when consumed, it has effects like mental stabilization, mild calming, and stress relief.

As I explained the same thing I told Gadivan earlier, I also took a cup myself—yeah, it’s good, and calming.

My mood is easing.

“Yeah, this is good. I’m not really into tea, but I could drink this all day. Seti, gimme another cup.”

“Nice, if Marl likes it, everyone probably will. Wait a sec, I’ll brew more.”

The one leaning their head back on the chair and asking for a refill is Marl.

One of the Hero party members, a female thief with a rough edge if you put it badly, but if you put it nicely, she’s tough and big-sister-like.

Apparently her father was a fairly famous martial artist, so she can use martial arts techniques quite well too.

During travel, she takes the front line or scouts ahead alone, handling traps and enemy detection, and in battle, she’s based in the mid-line but can step into the front line when needed, a highly skilled fighter.

She likes alcohol, but her weakness is that she has bad drinking habits and gets knocked out quickly.

“Please pour me another cup as well. If it can lessen your burden even a little in times of need, Seti-san, then there is nothing better.”

This gentle and refined lady is Viarose.

One of the Hero party members, a duchess’s daughter, and like me, a noble-born female assassin.

She originally had an active and adventurous personality, but being born as a noble lady, that nature was suppressed through education, and she was raised to be graceful.

She was born with aptitude for scout and ranger jobs, but her parents forbade her from pursuing them as they weren’t suitable for a noble lady.

However, as a result of suppressing her natural talents and enduring the pressure of noble education, she unexpectedly awakened as an assassin.

Later, upon learning that her family and relatives were enriching themselves through shady dealings, she lamented it and personally eliminated her entire clan.

“Vivi, you’re dressed as a nun again? It kinda feels weird.”

“Oh my, that’s right, Seti-san used to be a nun before becoming a White Mage. How is it, does my disguise look convincing?”

Since joining the Hero party, she’s been honing various disguises, using them for infiltration and information gathering.

…And right now, Viarose is particularly focused on disguising herself as a nun.

From me, a former professional, I’d say—

“—Your chest is too big! Nun outfits are loose specifically so they don’t show body lines, to avoid that kind of allure, so you need to make the bust line less noticeable. You have to make it more plain and inconspicuous.”

To be honest, I don’t actually know if that’s the real reason for those clothes.

I just made it up on the spot, but a seductive nun would stand out and defeat the purpose of a disguise, so as advice, this works.

“Oh my, I see. Hmm, then I should adjust it.”

She’s seriously well-endowed.

I mean, I’m not exactly small myself for my size, but compared to Viarose, I lose all confidence.

That’s how big they are.

“Hah! Why don’t you bind ‘em tighter? You’re already holding ‘em down with bandages, right?”

“Still not enough, apparently.”

‘…Wait, seriously? They’re already easily J… no, even K… how big are they actually?’

As Marl teases her and Viarose pouts cutely in response, my mind drifts off for a moment, and I can’t help but stare at her chest.

Then I grab my own chest with both hands and squeeze.

…Yeah, they’re there.

For my small frame, they’re actually pretty ample.

Sure, clothes play a part, but when I compare visually like this, mine start to feel like small fry.

Just what kind of power level are Vivi’s?!

…While the three of us girls were noisily chatting like that, Gadivan quietly enjoyed the tea I brewed, saying, “Oh, this is good.”