“…Why are you asking that?”
Daniel immediately understood from the Adventurer’s suddenly lowered voice.
He would no longer remain with them.
More precisely, it seemed he no longer had any intention of continuing as the Hero’s companion.
“I was simply… curious. If the question bothered you, I apologize.”
“There is no need to apologize.”
The Adventurer shook his head in a calm tone, but Daniel did not take those words entirely at face value.
Of course, saying there was no need to apologize did not mean it was a question he had been happy to hear.
Perhaps traveling with them—and beyond that, the very act of devoting himself to a great cause—had become something utterly exhausting for him.
“For now… I am still considering it.”
“I see.”
But Daniel himself likely had no right to add anything more.
Just as the Adventurer had refused to recklessly interfere in matters between Daniel and the boy.
“…Whatever you choose, I hope it brings you peace and happiness.”
And so Daniel ultimately held back.
He was worried about the Hero, who would have to shoulder everything alone, but… just because a burden was something he could not ease did not mean he had the right to arbitrarily hand it to someone else.
As for that immature brat… well.
That bastard would have to manage on his own.
Daniel had already done everything he reasonably could.
“…I hope so too.”
“I believe you can.”
In any case, that was everything Daniel had wanted to ask.
Thinking he had rested enough, he took hold of the shovel again.
There…