I’m Not Good at Offensive Magic, but I’ll Do My Best With Support Magic!

Chapter 2: The City of Tanza

「It smells good!」
「It looks like they use sugar candy. I’ve never been in one, but it seems to be a popular place for women」

We went to a store on the main street that sold sweets. It seemed that you could eat the sweets you bought in the store, and even though it was still early in the day, it was crowded with female customers and couples.

「Um, which one do you want?」
「I’m sorry, but I’m not familiar with this kind of food either, so I don’t know much about them」

We sat down at a vacant seat, but we both stared at the menu.

「In times like these, I thought it would be a good idea to ask an expert」

Snow-san approached the clerk who was serving us, raising her hand like a man even though she was a woman and said, “Excuse me”.

「Are you ready to place your order?」
「No, we’re not familiar with this kind of food. If you don’t mind, could you help us out?」
「Understood. Do you have a preference for sweetness?」
「I have a sweet tooth」
「I prefer moderate」
「How would you like your drink?」
「Do you have fruit juice?」
「Yes, is it okay if I match it with the sweets?」
「I’ll take that, please」
「I’ll have some tea」
「Tea. I’ll have it ready for you in a moment」

It looks like we managed to place an order.

「So, what’s the story?」
「Yes, before that…」

I’ll deploy soundproofing magic. You never know where someone might overhear our conversation. If it’s this crowded, it won’t matter if they can’t hear us.

「Magic?」
「Yes, I shielded our voices」

As a test, I called out to a clerk who passed nearby with just my voice, but he did not respond.

「Hee, amazing」
「I’m only good at auxiliary magic」

She was amazed to see the effect of the magic.

「So, Snow-san, do you know anything about the disappearances that are going on?」
「Yes…」

Snow-san looked a little puzzled at my question.

「Is there something you’d rather not say?」
「It’s not that, but… well, I trust you, Yuan. There is no malice in your eyes」

Staring into my eyes, Snow-san nodded quietly to herself.

「I’m an adventurer, but I also belong to an organization called the 【Resistance】」
「Resistance… ?」
「Well, in a nutshell, it’s an organization that works to free good people who have fallen into the hands of the Lord, and those who have gone missing」

So there is such an organization.

「Were you sure you wanted to tell me that?」
「I don’t mind. That’s what I’ve decided. You were an enemy, and I just wasn’t looking hard enough at the time. Actually, you’re not, are you? Leader of Bow Moon Time」
「Fue!? H- How do you know that?」
「There are plenty of ways to find out. Whether it’s a report from the guild or from a fellow member」

Apparently, it wasn’t by accident that she came to my aid, but to make contact with me.

「So those three guys were Snow-san’s friends?」
「No, that was different. When I was trying to make contact with you, I realized that those 3 guys were after you, and I took advantage of it」

Thank goodness. I was about to lose faith in Snow-san if she had set me up that far.

「But you tried to leave after you saved me, didn’t you, Snow-san? What would you have done if I hadn’t called out to you?」

After the trio left, Snow-san turned on her heel and started to leave the alleyway. If I hadn’t called out to her, I think she would have just gone away.

「The purpose of this encounter was to get to know you and have you remember my face, so no problem. I had been informed by my companions that they did not fully trust you」
「I see. So, who was the person who reported me?」

She said that there are ways to find out about it in the guild, but from what she said, it seems that there is someone who told Snow-san about me, or more precisely about Bow Moon Time.

「Do you recognize Kabai from Talis?」
「Eh, it’s Kabai-san!?」
「Yes. We’ve received reports that you defeated the bandits and rescued the 3 village girls」

As I recall, he said he had friends in Tanza. Does this mean that Snow-san is one of them?

「Fufu. I’m sorry I tricked you」
「No… I’d be happy to listen to what you have to say」
「We have very little information to offer, though」
「I- Is that so…」

I thought that if she was active in the resistance, she would have a good amount of information, but alas.

「Most of the informants are in the hands of the lord, so we can’t rely on them」

If you sell information, you sell it to someone who will buy it at a high price. When you weigh between the lord and the resistance, you have no choice but to go with the lord.

「But just remember that if you want to explore the issues that are happening now, we can help you」
「Eh, I haven’t said anything about looking for a missing person yet, have I?」
「But you’re looking for information, and I think that’s the answer, don’t you? At the very least, the enemy will see you as someone to be eliminated」

It’s true…… I can’t seem to stomach it. Because I might catch the tail of an enemy somewhere when I’m looking for information about a missing person. If they find out, I’ll be targeted. There is no specific information that I found out, but it’s great to have someone in this city who can be an ally. At the same time, there is a possibility that we will be asked to help if something happens to them, but if we think of it as a cooperative system, I think it is a positive factor.

「Thank you for waiting」

While we were having this conversation, the clerk brought sweets and drinks. I notice it and undo the soundproofing magic.

「Thank you」
「These are the seasonal fruit cake and the less sweet chocolate cake. Please enjoy these cookies as a palate cleanser」

The food that the clerk put on the table was something I had never seen before. Mine was a triangular piece of soft dough with a white fluffy foam and bright red fruit… strawberries on it, and Snow-san’s was also triangular, but with a brownish sauce on top.

「I feel nervous」
「Yeah…」
「Is this your first time too, Snow-san?」
「I was aspiring to be a knight. I had never eaten any for educational purposes. Even after I arrived in this city, there were no women among my companions, so I never had the opportunity」

I thought she looked like a knight, but it seems she was really aiming for it. I think there’s a reason why she’s an adventurer and a member of the resistance now, though.

「Then, let’s eat」
「Yes!」

I prick the foam and fluffy dough with my fork and bring it to my mouth.

「It’s delicious!」

The sweetness just filled my mouth! There are also cut strawberries in the dough, giving it a nice sourness in the sweetness.

「Delicious」

Snow-san also happily took a piece of what was called chocolate cake into her mouth.

「Snow-san, would you like some of this as well?」
「Are you sure?」
「Yes! I’d be happy to share a bite with you if you’d like」
「Yeah, that’s fine」
「Then please」

I stick it on a fork and offer it for easy eating.

「E- Ehh!?」
「What’s wrong?」
「No, this is a little embarrassing, I mean, I would rather just look…」

I used to do this when I fed little kids in the orphanage and such, but was it wrong?

「Yuan… ?」

As I was tilting my head, I heard a familiar voice behind me.

「Ah, Shia-san!」
「What are you doing?」

When I turned around, Shia-san had frozen in place with a surprised expression on her face.

「Um, it’s a secret」

I couldn’t tell you what we were talking about, because I had already lifted the soundproofing magic.

「Secret… ? Does that lead to that?」
「Hmm?」

I tilt my head, not understanding the meaning of the words.

「Um, I’ll be fine! Yuan-san, if you don’t mind, you can feed it to Rinshia-san!」

For some reason, Snow-san became flustered… and more than a little happy? But she knew about Rinshia-san too? The report seems to have been well received.

「Would you like some, Shia-san?」
「Eat」
「Ah, Shia-san, that’s dangerous!」

I held out my fork and Shia-san took a quick bite. I’m glad the fork is made of wood. Metal forks are dangerous. So, I’ll be careful about that.

「No problem」

That’s what Shia-san says, but what worries me is worrying her. But I’m glad to hear that Shia-san seems to be happy with it. It looks like Shia-san likes sweets too.

「Ah… wonderful」
「Did you say something?」
「N-No. It’s nothing」

I thought I heard Snow-san say something in a whisper, but it seemed to be my imagination since she was shaking her head vigorously.

「So, what’s going on, Shia-san?」
「Imouto is away. So I came to meet up with Yuan… who are you?」
「Shia-san, you’re being rude to her. This is… well, before that…」
「Wait a minute」

I was about to cast my soundproofing magic again, but Shia-san stopped me before I could.

「I’ll eat, too」

Shia-san calls the clerk and places an order.

「Chocolate cake. Not too sweet, no brandy. And tea. No milk and sugar」
「Understood」

It seems that you had ordered it. Aren’t you quite used to this, Shia-san?

「Yuan, please」
「Y-Yes」

Confused by the strangely accustomed Shia-san, I deployed my soundproofing magic.

「OK」
「Thank you very much. Once again, my name is Snow Cuone. Yuan-san and Rinshia-san, I heard from you from Kabai」
「Kabai?」
「Shia-san, the bandit from last time」
「…… I understand. So?」

I briefly talked about the situation so far. Shia-san nodded yes, but are you really listening to me?

「I understand. So, why was Yuan aahing?」
「I don’t know about “aahing”, but it’s a cake exchange?」
「… I see」
「Snow-san’s looked so good, I was just about to trade it for mine」
「Understood」

Mumumu. I have a bad feeling about this pattern?

「Thank you for waiting」
「Thanks. And add…」

Shia-san was a magician! Instead, she’s talking to the clerk in terms I don’t understand… or rather, she’s ordering! I don’t know, it’s like chanting!

「Hey, Shia-san!」
「What?」
「I don’t know what you said, but you ordered a lot!」
「………. A bit?」
「What’s that pause? It’s an absolute lie!」

Sure enough, the table was filled with cakes and pies. The clerk is also confused, and we’re getting a lot of attention.

「The soundproofing magic… lift it」

With all this attention, it would be unnatural to hear any sound at all.

「More importantly, what are you going to do about this?」
「Eat together」
「M-Me too!?」
「Yeah. Then you don’t have to exchange anything」
「I understand… but I don’t have that much money today?」
「No problem. I got it」
「No, you can’t! I’m the one who invited Snow-san, so I’ll pay for today. I’ve been selling materials at the guild」

The extra income is going to disappear completely. Or rather, it’s not enough. I’m going to have to put some money into the party fund as a necessary expense.

「Ordering more is my own doing. So I’ll get that one out」
「But, Rinshia-san…」
「You can call me Rinshia. I’ll call you Snow, too. And no need for honorifics」
「… I understand. But I’m going to eat it too, so can I at least share some the pay with you?」
「I’ll pass. Instead, I’ll ask you to move when I need you to. Advance payment, so to speak」
「I understand. But don’t be too reckless, okay?」
「I know」

The conversation proceeds between the two of them.

「Um… I’ll pay for this…」

My proposal was not accepted and all the money was to be paid by Shia-san. Of course, I ate a lot of the cakes and everything. It was delicious, but the amount of food was so much that I didn’t want any more sweet… them too.

Author-san

I’ve been posting for a month now.
I never thought I would get 70 bookmarks, and I am glad I did.

The story has only just begun, but I have a long way to go, so I’ll keep at it!

Thank you very much for reading this novel.
It would be very encouraging if you could rate and give me feedback, if you don’t mind!