If You Cheat, Just Don’t Tell Me - Chapter 26

“Well, you see…”

My motorcycle was completely wrecked. Well, I suppose that was to be expected.

After all, I’d forced magic into a machine not designed to handle it, using the engine as a substitute for my immobilized right hand. Making such reckless use of it was bound to wreck it completely. And then I’d charged straight into a horde of monsters with it.

“Don’t you dare use it so recklessly again!”

When I took it to the usual old man for repairs, he chewed me out. At least he didn’t hit me with his fist. Well, whatever. Alta, Freya, and even the old man.

Having people who get angry on my behalf, that’s not so bad.

“…Got it.”

That’s what I was thinking as I replied to the old man.

“Hey there, newlywed! Should you already be up and about?”

After the old man fixed my bike, I headed to our usual meeting spot, and for some reason, all the usual crew was gathered there.

Alta, Misha, and the rest. Some got injured during the demon invasion, but nobody died. Well, if anyone had died, I was prepared to kill them and drag them back, but it seemed that wasn’t necessary.

“What do you mean ‘newlywed,’ you idiot? We’re not married yet. And I’m up and about because I’m fine enough to be up and about.”

“Saying ‘yet’ means you plan to eventually! Well, you did put your body on the line for it!”

I felt like punching Alta for his loud, cheerful yelling, but at the last moment, I remembered that wasn’t why I’d come today.

I said I was fine to be up and about, but honestly, what hurts still hurts especially around my right shoulder, where that bastard’s arrow pierced through and left a hole. The wound hasn’t fully closed yet. If I move it with force, it starts bleeding.

Fortunately, my right arm didn’t become immobile, but I’ll have to live with this pain for a while. There are healing spells, sure, but they don’t fix you up in an instant. If such a thing existed, hospitals would become useless.

So, even though I’m wearing a jacket, I’m not putting my right arm through the sleeve, instead keeping it slung and immobilized. Well, it’s probably because I look like this that Alta asked. I brought the bike through sheer willpower.

“Doesn’t look like you’re fine at all… So, boss, what brings you here? Shouldn’t you still be resting at home? Sister Freya would nurse you back to health, right?”

“She already went back home. Wait, how do you know she was at my place?”

“Well, you see…”

Misha’s suggestive laugh sent a chill down my spine, but shaking off the feeling, I decided to fulfill my original purpose.

“Hey! Just you guys here is fine, listen to me for a minute!”

Raising my voice too much would hurt, so I didn’t shout that loudly. Even so, my companions stopped their individual conversations and turned their attention to me.

“Well, you see… I can’t go into details, but you guys saved me. First off, let me thank you for that.”

If Alta and the others hadn’t pushed me forward back then, my engagement with Freya would’ve undoubtedly fallen through. Freya would’ve ended up marrying into the Fidel family, and as for me after that, what would’ve become of me?

That’s why I can’t thank these guys enough. I probably won’t be able to repay this debt easily.

“…To be honest, until I created the Steel Whirlwind, I never took you all seriously. I thought of you as people I’d never see again if I left this town. That’s how little I thought of you.”

“Boss, that’s harsh!” “If you’re leaving town, take us with you!”

“Shut up, that’s in the past!”

…Well, it wasn’t that long ago. But compared to now, everything in the past feels like ancient history, right?

“Like I said earlier, I’m grateful to you all. Honestly, I feel like I want to do something for you.”

This isn’t really like me, I think. But wanting to give something back when expressing gratitude isn’t wrong, is it?

The problem is, I don’t know what I should do for them. I’m broke, so I can’t buy them anything. So, what can I actually do?

While I was thinking that, Alta chimed in from the side, almost teasingly.

“Alright then, invite all of us to your and Freya’s wedding!”

“Huh? No, you—”

Before I could react to Alta’s words, the others jumped on the bandwagon and started shouting.

“Yeah, yeah!” “We’ll never get another chance to see a noble wedding!” “Treat us to some good food!” “Let us see Sister Freya in her wedding dress!” “We wanna see you cry, boss!”

“I’m not gonna cry!”

These bastards, taking advantage of me being a bit humble to say whatever they want! Why would I cry at my own wedding? There’s no way!

…But, well.

“I might not be much of a leader, but I’ll do my best from now on. I’m counting on you.”

“Right!”

“And I’m not inviting you to the wedding.”

“…”

Don’t go silent! You guys just want to make fun of me. You can’t possibly be actually interested in the wedding!