SWNOVELXO Chapter 142.2
The Guardian Was More Overprotective Than Anyone Else
As for why Yuuri was so relaxed and lacking a sense of urgency, it was Ali’s fault. From the very beginning, Ali had understood Yuuri’s situation completely and acted as the perfect guardian, so Yuuri never felt any danger. With his luck stat maxed out, dangerous situations simply didn’t exist, so it was no wonder he lacked a sense of crisis.
Perhaps understanding Yuuri’s situation correctly, Leopold muttered, “I see.” While still holding Yuuri’s head, Ali glanced at Leopold, who was smiling happily. The contrast between Yuuri, who was complaining about the pain, and Ali, who looked thoroughly displeased, made the scene oddly comical.
“Ali, the reason Yuuri-chan doesn’t have a sense of urgency is your fault.”
“Huh?”
“Because you’ve completely shielded Yuuri-chan from any such situations. Of course, he wouldn’t understand.”
“…Guh.”
“Really, you’re more overprotective than anyone.”
At the effeminate man’s cheerful remark, Ali was at a loss for words. Being repeatedly called overprotective made him want to retort, but he knew any rebuttal would be crushed, so he stayed silent. Whether he understood Ali’s feelings or not, Brook muttered, “He’s right,” under his breath. Of course, he was immediately glared at, but being used to it, he remained unfazed.
Ali’s overprotectiveness towards Yuuri and his efforts to keep troublesome people away stemmed from his own experiences. Now established in his position, Ali wasn’t always like this. When he was starting out, just being an exceptional appraiser attracted all sorts of troublesome people.
The high-tier appraisal skill, [Demon Eye], is a rare skill required for the job class known as the “True Appraiser.” While there are many appraisers, few possess [Demon Eye], and even fewer can use it effectively.
Given this, it was no wonder that Ali, who possessed such a rare skill and could use it proficiently, attracted attention. Fortunately, he was also physically strong, and despite being a backline class, he could wield a greatsword on the frontlines, ensuring his safety. With the help of Brook and Leopold, he managed to live a relatively peaceful life.
But still.
“Enemies who come at you with force can be dealt with by force, but those who don’t are a hassle.”
“That’s right. Being noticed by important people is troublesome.”
“Even I had a hard time dealing with them. If this guy gets caught, just thinking about it is terrifying.”
“Indeed. …Though for a different reason.”
“Yes, that’s right. …For a different reason.”
“…Ah, for a different reason.”
“Huh?”
At Ali’s words, Brook quietly added his opinion. He looked serious. Leopold chimed in, and Ali agreed. Yuuri, hearing the three adults, tilted his head in confusion. But they had no intention of explaining further.
Yuuri was a carefree, unconventional, and constantly off-the-wall airhead. Everyone knew that, for some reason, he was also ridiculously high-spec. If someone important got their hands on him, it would be like giving a legendary weapon to a child and letting them swing it around however they wanted. The danger was undeniable.
“…Yeah. Yuuri-chan, you’re not going to leave here on your own, right?”
“Eh? I don’t have anywhere else to go, though?”
“That’s right. Besides going back home, you mustn’t leave Ali’s side, okay? It’s a promise with your big sister, okay?”
“Okay~”
“Who are you calling ‘big sister’? You’re a man, aren’t you?”
“Be quiet.”
Yuuri responded curiously to Leopold’s serious words. Indeed, with no way to return to his original world, Yuuri had no reason to go anywhere else. The Scarlet Links had become his home. He had no reason to leave the home where his reliable guardian was.
Just as the conversation seemed to be wrapping up nicely, the beautiful effeminate man casually dropped the word “big sister,” prompting Ali to half-heartedly retort. Leopold, in turn, fired back with a sharp remark, as usual. The ensuing argument was nothing new.
“…Well, as long as you’re here, Ali will be your shield. You’re still a kid. It’s fine to be protected.”
“A shield, you say?”
“Yes. As long as Ali is your guardian, neither the adventurer’s guild, the appraiser’s association, nor those annoying nobles will lay a hand on you.”
“Is that so?”
“…Yeah. If there’s anyone stupid enough to make an enemy of Ali, they’ll just be crushed.”
“…Huh?”
While gently patting Yuuri’s head, Brook casually dropped a terrifying statement. However, Yuuri, oblivious to the subtle killing intent, simply wondered what it all meant. He also thought, “Brook-san’s hands are big,” completely unfazed.
“Yuuri.”
“Yes~”
“For now, if any suspicious people approach you, let me know immediately, okay?”
“Got it~”
“Also, take Luke with you when you go out.”
“Okay.”
Mentioning the name of his familiar, who was currently busy cleaning the hideout, Yuuri nodded obediently. The adorable-looking Luke was a rare variant of an Ancient Slime, a triple threat of being a rare species, a variant, and a named monster. Though gentle, Luke adored Yuuri and would eliminate any threats that approached him. He was a truly reliable guard.
Seeing Yuuri smiling carefreely, Ali let out a heavy sigh. No matter how much he warned him, Yuuri’s carefree nature meant the worries never ended. Being a guardian was tough.
“Must be tough, dad.”
“Must be tough, dad.”
“I don’t remember having any kids, dammit!”
At his friends’ teasing, Ali screamed from the bottom of his heart. But to anyone watching, he was clearly the dad, so there was no helping it.