“Are you not worried about the duel Shin-sama?”

The question suddenly came out of nowhere from Yuffa.

Right now, the time is half past 7pm so they are having dinner at a restaurant. The place isn’t luxurious or something but the ambient it gives is relaxing. Different from others where most adventurers eat which would turn to a rowdy place filled with boisterous laughter, this one gives the feeling that this place is more family oriented.

On a perspective, Shin and the girls do look like a family. It is a given that Tanya was the daughter but on the mother side, going by the looks and age, Yuffa is clearly has the advantage over Clarisse.

“Yuffa-san is right, you know?”

Said Clarisse that as she stop slicing the meat in order to talk to Shin properly.

“Shin onii-chan… eryi goer shu… fight? Nom nomnom.. “(are you going to fight?)

Shin who was the subject of those questions only shrugged and patted Tanya who was struggling to chew the steak ‘swallow before you talk, okay?’. Tanya nodded while the steak still in her mouth. Looking at her, Shin thought that the next time they eat; he will have to order something that is easy to chew for a kid.

This kind of typical attitude of Shin made Yuffa look at him in worry. Certainly, he is strong but that doesn’t mean she can’t stop worrying about him.

Early this morning, Shin received an invitation to a duel.

It started with a stereotype noble who aggressively hit on her that incurs Shin’s wrath and one thing led to another. Yuffa felt responsible for the trouble she causes so she felt that she had to at least warn him.

Yet the person she was worried to is eating leisurely without a bit of care of anything else. In fact, he is currently poking Tanya’s puffed cheeks as she continues to struggle chewing her steak, laughing while he does it.

Yuffa recalls the face of the woman who challenged Shin. She only met her once but she had a gut feeling that she can’t be taken lightly. Call it a woman’s intuition. Although she might be wrong, still it isn’t right to be careless as well.

She wants to convey her worries but there isn’t anything she can do so she only swallowed her words.

Perhaps she notice the face Yuffa was making, Clarisse talked straight to Shin.

“Aren’t you going to prepare something, like training Shin?”

“Hmm?For what?”

“The duel”

“Oh that..”

“What else could it be? So what are you gonna do?”

“Nothing, I guess?”

“Nothing you say, can’t you show a bit of panic Shin? The duel is tomorrow, to-mo-rrow”

“It is as you said. The duel is tomorrow so there isn’t enough time for me to prepare something”

“You’re right. But even so-“

“Even if I have something, it is useless because I don’t know anything about her skills, except for her weapon. Also, if I have to start training now, then it will leave me exhausted tomorrow.”

“…. So what are you gonna do tomorrow?”

His words made sense. Considering the time of the duel which is after lunch, training or practicing at this hour is futile indeed. In fact, if he would go for strenuous practice now, the result would be as what he said, he would be exhausted for tomorrows duel and that would obviously put him at disadvantage. So without a doubt, the best action for him would be to do nothing.

Without anything to arbitrate Shin’s reasoning, Clarisse can only ask in a small voice.

She only has known Shin for a short while so she doesn’t know much about him or how strong he really is. His age didn’t differ as hers however his unbelievable skills that she witnessed at their first meeting left a big impression on her. She knows that Shin isn’t an ordinary adventurer like anybody else but knowing his opponents, it made her doubtful if he can really do it.

“It might be late for asking you this Shin but do you know who you are facing to?”

“No, we just came here recently. As a matter of fact, this is the first time we ever set foot on this city, right Yuffa, Tanya-chan?’

“Y-yes”

“Un that’s right!”

Yuffa and Tanya answered consecutively. Hearing their answers caused Clarisse to sigh.

“And yet you accepted her invitation without knowing her”

“Well, it was a spur of the moment decision. Why, is she that strong?”

“Umm.. Where should I start, let see. She is the daughter of the Lateran family which is known for their service of the kingdom as military officials. At first, the Lateran family’s ancestor was a common family you see everywhere but their sheer strength were top notch so the king granted them the honorary position of knights. Since then, their family started serving the king directly. Like anyone would do as to not disappoint the kings’ expectations, they trained their child as young as possible. Emilia wasn’t an exception; she was trained as long as she can remember so you can imagine what she had become, right?”

‘what a rough childhood. Good thing I was born to an ordinary family on a different world. I can’t imagine spending my childhood days like that’

Given the fact that his opponent is as dangerous as what Clarisse is implying, Shin’s concern was on entirely different thing.

Noticing that his brows were frowning, Clarisse misunderstood that and thought that Shin was thinking about how fearsome his opponent is.

“Now you get it. So you better prepare for the worst”

“Huh? Oh sure”

“Really?”

“Well, it’s not that I won’t have a chance against her”

“What do you mean by that?”

“You see she is also in the same position as I am. Of course I know nothing about her or anything but doesn’t that apply to her as well? Not knowing what the other party is up on their sleeve makes one anxious and that would cause them to be cautious.”

“True but since both of you are on that position, doesn’t that put you both on an impasse?”

“That’s right.”

“So how come that situation gave you a chance?”

“Let’s see… I think that I have much bigger element of surprise”

“Where did that confidence came from?”

“Who knows?”

“Look here…”

“You worry too much, right Tanya-chan?”

Not understanding one bit about what they are talking, Tanya tilted her innocently while rubbing her stomach. Apparently, she finished her meal while they are busy talking. Shin was satisfied looking at her as he pat her head. ‘do you like the food?’ ‘Un! That was delicious~’.

Despite the seriousness that Clarisse was showing towards the subject matter, Shin only replied with a carefree tone. ‘Does this man doesn’t have panic button?’ she thought on the back of her mind. Maybe worrying over him is useless. Sigh. Instead of worrying, she can only pray for him.

Watching their exchange from the sidelines, Yuffasmiled looking like she was relieved from something.

Clarisse glanced at Yuffa after noticing her expression.

“What’s wrong Yuffa-san?”

Being asked unexpectedly, Yuffa waved her hands in front of her chest and smiled reservedly.

“It’s nothing” said Yuffa as she looked at Shin who stood up and was carrying Tanya on his back and continued “It’s just that my master is an amazing person, that’s all” she said with a gentle smile on her face.

Clarisse looked at her, then to Shin and nodded.

“Yeah. I suppose he is.”

The two of them watched his back with gentle expressions.

Maybe feeling their gazes on his back, Shin turned around to look at them.

“What’s wrong? Come on we’re going home.”

“W-wait Shin-sama”

“Wait for us!”

Yuffa and Clarisse’s reaction was kind of late and ran towards Shin who started walking off without them knowing.

On the side note, earlier today, Clarisse decided to stay on the same inn Shin and the girls was staying at by Shin’s suggestion. Thankfully, unlike the other day, the inn has a vacant room. Since she became a party member, this would make things easier and more convenient.

With that, Shin and co started walking off.