I’m Being Pressed by S-Ranks Volume 1 Side Story Chapter 2 (LN Exclusive) (Patreon)

Side Story – Carla’s Fateful Encounter 2

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I looked fearfully at the expression on his face.


But for some reason, he didn’t seem to mind at all.


He was still smiling and, “Do you want a spare map?” he even asked me curiously.


I nodded hastily at the offer.


To be honest, I didn’t need such an extra map, but since the man had taken such good care of me, I couldn’t let his kindness go to waste.


I was an ugly woman. As such, I was in no position to ignore a man’s kindness.


…maybe I can keep the spare map as a souvenir…


“So this is the map of the dungeon…. Ah, if there are any monsters or treasures that we defeat or discover, I will make sure to bring them back to you.”


“Yes. I look forward to that. But most of all, please be careful not to get hurt.”


“-!! Oh! Thank you!”


――It’s a miracle.


Maybe I’ve used up all the luck in my life today.


It’s amazing that he didn’t frown at this ugly woman… and even went so far as to smile kindly and say a few words of concern.


I had never heard such words from the guild receptionists in the capital, let alone from any of the other guild staff.


They even told us to be aware that if we did anything to tarnish our S-rank status, it would not only cause trouble for other S-rank adventurers, but also for the guild itself.


I left the reception in a dreamy, tipsy mood.


As expected, my friends greeted me with strange looks.


“A-are you okay, Carla? What’s wrong?”


“Did that guild receptionist say something to you?”


Lieselotte and Iris looked at me worriedly.


Tsukikage looked worried too, even though she was saying nothing.


“It’s okay! Or rather, the receptionist was a very nice person!”


“Is that so? Well, I’m glad to hear that, but… you’re in a good mood, Carla.”


“Oh… really, he was a very nice man! I wonder if he’s already married…”


“Excuse me, Carla?”


“I know, Iris, I know. I’m just kidding.”


But it seems that Iris could see through my flirtatious mind.


After leaving the Adventurers’ Guild, we had a quick tour of the Dungeon of the Hungry Wolf, and when we returned to the inn where we had stayed to break up the party, I was told, “We need to talk,” and was dragged off to a tavern in town by Iris.


“――As I said, it was a very nice feeling! Our fingers touched as I took the map, but he didn’t give me a sour look. He didn’t even give me a look of disgust, you know?”


“It’s only natural for guild receptionists to be friendly to adventurers.”


“Uh… you don’t have to say that again. I mean, come on. At least give me the hope to dream!”


But Iris vehemently denied my words.


It wasn’t much fun, but I could tell that Iris was thinking of me when she said it, so I couldn’t really argue with her.


“It’s useless to expect ugly women like us to mingle with the gentry.”


It’s been a long time since we started drinking, but Iris’ complexion hasn’t changed at all.


She gulps down her sixth pint of ale with a cold face.


But I was annoyed, so I countered a little.


“But you know, even though you say that, didn’t you also say, ‘Me too, I’d like to have a relationship with a man’, Iris? As far as I remember, you said you’d like to be someone’s wife, even if it was only a tenth wife or more.


“That’s…”


“But that’s not what I wanted. If I did, I wouldn’t have applied to be an adventurer in the first place. But even though I went so far as to give up the chance of becoming a wife, I want to at least get out of being a virgin before I die.”


At that moment, the door of the tavern rang.


The door has a bell attached to it, so it was a dull clang announcing the arrival of a new customer.


I turned to see the face of the most recent arrival.


“Ah…”


――and I was surprised.


It was the same man I had met at the Guild reception some time ago.


When he noticed Iris and me, he went out of his way to bow politely.


Iris and I quickly returned the bow.


He walked over to the counter and sat down on a stool.


He did not seem to be looking around the restaurant, so it was unlikely that he would meet anyone.


If he had planned to meet someone here, he would not have sat at a counter where he could not see the entrance and exit of the shop.


“This is unusual. For a man to come to a tavern like this alone…”


Iris seemed to have the same thought as me.


“Um, doesn’t that show how safe Cassandra City is?”


“Still, it would be dangerous to walk home alone after dark, which is even stranger for him, who doesn’t seem to be meeting anyone here…”


The man looked around.


The female customers at the other tables also looked at him.


Then he saw a couple of women at the table furthest from him, about to leave.


They were of the human race, but they had a pair of beautiful faces with round eyes like those of a fish. And they looked so much alike that they could have been sisters.


They’ll probably call out to him if I don’t do something.


No, that’s not it.


I’m sure they’ll call to him no matter what I, an ugly woman, do!


――In that case, so be it!


Since it won’t make any difference if I fail or not, let’s just do it! At least I would be rid of the regret of not having wasted this chance!”


“H-hey! Carla!”


Iris’s expression turned grim as I got up from my seat and walked over to the man.


“Y-yo!”


“Hey Carla, you’d better not…!”


Iris, who had been following me, pulled my clothes on from behind with an “Oh, snap, she really did it!” look on her face.


He looked at us and cocked his head curiously.


Furious with Iris, I spoke to her in a lowered voice.


“Iris, don’t get in my way! He’s a man who’s been kind to an ugly woman like me. Maybe there’s a chance for me?”


“He’s a guild receptionist, so it’s only natural that he’d be kind! I knew it. You drank too much, Carla. All I can see is you getting hurt again!”


“Still, at this point I have to make the best of it, no matter how small the chance! Just… go away, Iris, if you don’t want to see me fail. You’re a hindrance!”


“It won’t do us any good if you break down here!”


Iris still had a worried look on her face, but she reluctantly returned to the table where she had been sitting.


I know what Iris is saying.


Maybe, as she says, it’s not worth the effort.


I know that. I am the one who knows best.


Iris isn’t the only customer here who must be thinking the same thing.


I look around and see that everyone is making fun of the fact that an ugly woman like me is trying to talk to a man.


“Uh, um…?”


“H-hey. Have you finished your work already?”


“Yeah, I’m done for the day. Um… Carla, is it? Have you been to the Dungeon of the Hungry Wolf yet?”


“Oh, that… we’ve just surveyed the place today. Oh, owner, give him some ale, will you?”


“Eh?”


When I asked for some ale for him, he seemed very grateful.


“You even took the trouble to order a drink for me. Sorry to have bothered you.”


“No, it’s okay. In return, I’d like to propose a toast, if you don’t mind.”


Even though it was awkward, I managed to smile desperately. B-but all right! At least I managed to create a nice atmosphere!


Or at least I didn’t get the impression that he was trying to escape.


In fact, when I raised the mug of ale, he even offered me a toast.


――Although, in retrospect, I was quite drunk at the time.


I was alone with Iris, drinking the ale at her pace.


But looking back, it was very fortunate for me.


If not for that.


I don’t think I could have done such a bold thing with my face exposed.


For what I said afterwards changed not only my fate, but also that of my friends.


“Oh, you see…”


“?”


“I have a room upstairs. Would you like to come there with me?”


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