While vaguely thinking about dinner, I—Setsu—was leisurely sitting on a bench.
However, everyone around me was in the middle of a seminar. I wish it would end soon.
"...Oh, I have to remember to water the garden when I get back."
I shrugged and sighed.
At this rate, I'll get home late. If that happens, harvesting the cherry tomatoes will be delayed, and I want to rest tomorrow—my head was already full of plans for after I got home.
But as I was having such leisurely thoughts, I suddenly noticed.
When I looked back, Lilia was being beaten to a pulp by Shiina.
"Oh dear... Lilia, you're working hard... Are you okay?"
Shiina definitely looks like a dangerous person, but she should be holding back to some extent. She wouldn't kill her, right...? Probably.
Besides, the other adventurers don't seem as strong as Shiina, and they're getting beaten one-sidedly. Even though it's called a seminar, is this just a lynching? Well, maybe this is what practical training is like.
Since coming to this world, I've never trained with anyone, so I'm not familiar with these kinds of things.
As I was vaguely thinking about this, I made eye contact—with Lilia.
"Huh?"
Lilia was clearly frightened.
Her strong-willed persona was nowhere to be seen, her face was pale, and she was looking at me while quickly approaching.
"Setsu-san..., that person is scary...!!"
As soon as she said that, Lilia hugged me tightly. She was clinging to me so much that I was surprised and lifted myself up from the bench.
She's usually so arrogant, saying she's the MVP and good at speed, but what happened? Now she's trembling like a puppy.
Her eyes are teary, and she seems to be looking to me for help.
"Uh, well..."
This is bad, I don't understand the situation at all.
"Darling, I told you not to interfere, didn't I?"
As expected, Shiina glared at me. The bloodlust emanating from her entire body felt like it was stinging me.
Lilia trembled at the bloodlust and clung to my shoulder even more, trying to hide like a small animal.
"Setsu-san, Setsu-san... please, help Lilia! That person is being mean...!"
Lilia, who was so strong-willed, is making a face like this... Honestly, I can't hide my confusion.
It feels a little calculated, but she seems to have been hurt quite a bit, and she has tears in her eyes, so she's definitely genuinely scared.
"...Shiina, shouldn't you calm down?"
I held Lilia while facing Shiina. Even so, she pouted like a child, wearing an expression of pure selfishness.
"No way! I want to beat her up! I was just getting to the good part!"
"Come on, calm down. You've beaten her up enough, right? Lilia is crying."
"But it's fun to make her cry! I was going to play with her for a while and then throw her away...!"
How can she say such terrible things so calmly? For now, I have to smooth things over somehow. Hmm, is there any good way?
"Th, that's right... Shiina... let's go to your favorite place in town later. I'll treat you to some sweets. Okay?"
"Sweets!? Yay, a date with darling!"
She was easily swayed. Shiina's eyes sparkled instantly. Seeing her put her hands on her hips and get excited, Lilia cowered.
But Shiina smiled cheerfully and finally looked back at Lilia.
"Hehe, I'll forgive you for darling's sake. I'll hold back on punching you a little longer. Aren't you glad, Lilia-chan?"
"Uh... y, yes... thank you...?"
Lilia's response was like that of a citizen under oppression. She was very timid. Still grabbing my arm, she looked up at me pleadingly.
"Se, Setsu-san, really... thank you... for helping me... someone who can't do anything..."
No, I didn't help, Shiina just agreed on her own. But Lilia had a grateful look in her eyes, which felt a little undeserved. Honestly, I'm confused.
And in that awkward atmosphere, the guild branch manager came rushing over with hurried footsteps.
He saw the adventurers collapsed in the training area and widened his eyes in shock.
"How is the seminar going...? Wh, what is this...? A, are you all okay!?"
Looking at Gard and the others, you could tell the situation at a glance. The four of them were lying on the ground covered in sand, and Lilia was a mess. At first, all five of them had introduced themselves energetically, but now they were in a pathetic state.
"Um, Shiina-sama... what is this...?"
When the branch manager hesitantly called out to Shiina, she didn't look embarrassed, but rather answered easily.
"Hmm, what is it...? Just a seminar. It's okay, I haven't killed them yet, so it's fine!"
"N, no, even if you say you haven't killed them... this is too much...!"
Indeed, he was shocked to see the four of them groaning on the ground. Ah, it seems that even in this world, beating people up this much in a seminar is abnormal.
The branch manager quickly called the receptionist and instructed her to arrange for healers.
"Call the rescue team quickly! Check their injuries and hurry with treatment!"
I was strangely nervous at the sight of this branch manager. After all, he's in a key position in the guild, and I don't want to give him a bad impression.
I'm in a position where he always gives me the dirty work jobs... judging from my previous life's experience as a corporate slave, it's best not to go against important people.
"U, um... thank you for everything as always. Branch manager, today is... a fine day..."
The branch manager gave me a subtle nod, saying, "Well, thank you..." to my clumsy bow.
Hmm, I can't think of anything else to say. I don't know what to say next, and I fall silent. This is awkward...
At that moment, Shiina tugged on my sleeve and said something rude, "Darling, that's enough, right? This guy."
"H, hey, what kind of attitude is that towards the branch manager...!"
Thinking it was really bad, I reflexively tapped Shiina lightly on the back of the head. Then, Shiina recoiled, saying "Ah."
Lilia next to me watched the scene and muttered in a small voice, "Amazing... to casually hit the witch..."
"Um... branch manager, is the seminar okay now? I mean, we're done, or rather... well, everyone's collapsed."
When I brought up the topic, the branch manager looked around and answered with a pale face, "It's impossible to continue any further... yes, rescue is the top priority. Let's call off the seminar here."
Just then, several healers rushed over. As they began treating the four collapsed people, the scene finally calmed down.
"Alright, it's over then. If it's over, darling! Let's go eat sweets quickly!"
"H, hey, you should at least properly say something to the branch manager--"
Without waiting for me to finish, Shiina grabbed my arm tightly and began to drag me away.
"Setsu-san...! I, I want to go too..."
Lilia looked like she was about to cling to me, but she was stopped by the healers because she was injured all over.
"Lilia-san, please don't push yourself and receive treatment... you seem to have a fractured rib. It will be terrible if you don't rest!"
Lilia sent a lingering gaze toward me, saying, "But... Setsu-san... is..." But she was persuaded by the healers and reluctantly stayed. It seemed like she was being forced into a state of rest.
"Well, I'm caught by Shiina... see you later, Lilia."
I quickly signaled with my eyes, and Lilia nodded slightly and smiled a little shyly, "Yes... Setsu-san, thank you."
Watching that out of the corner of my eye, Shiina pulled my arm, saying, "Darling, hurry, hurry!" Reluctantly, I left the training area.
"Haa... I'm so tired..."
I can only hope that Shiina won't cause any more trouble.
Also, I'm worried that Lilia was looking at me with so much respect. I hope I don't get caught up in more trouble later.
While vaguely thinking about that, I walked in the sunlight. I sighed lightly as Shiina cheerfully said, "It's a date with darling!"
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