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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Vine
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It might seem strange to ask for directions from people who were just held captive, but surprisingly, I had only been in this world for less than a day.
So, it wasn’t unreasonable for a former slave to know the way better than I did.
“Phew, finally made it back.”
I hadn’t expected to find someone who actually knew the way.
Since they needed to pass through the capital to return home, we traveled together.
We were stopped at the checkpoint, but they were just victims and were taken aside for questioning.
I showed my adventurer’s tag and passed through without a hitch.
Nothing to worry about.
I went straight to the Adventurers’ Guild.
“…Welcome back. I’m glad you’re safe.”
Adela, the receptionist, greeted me with a familiar, yet somehow less-than-enthusiastic expression.
One dissection show, and my favorability rating plummeted. This world’s entertainment options were truly lacking.
“I got the goblins.”
“You took longer than expected.”
“I got caught up in something.”
If I had just hunted goblins, I would have been back much sooner.
But I got lost, and then I ran into a Golden Goblin that I had to… relieve of his burdens.
I had left a little after lunch, and now it was almost dinner time.
“Did you complete the request?”
“Of course.”
“…What?”
“I said, ‘of course.’”
“Sigh…”
Adela sighed and rubbed her forehead, looking stressed.
I wanted to put on another dissection show, despite the guild’s rules, but I had caught too many goblins this time. It was too much work.
“You only brought back the ears, right?”
“Yep.”
“Then please submit them.”
I reached into my inventory, into the slot labeled “Goblin Ear x19,” and pulled out a handful of goblin ears.
“I didn’t get a chance to ask earlier, but… are you a Storage Magic user?”
Storage Magic?
Was there such a thing?
I guess Inventory could be considered Storage Magic.
But I had no magic power, so I couldn’t use magic.
Explaining was too much effort, so I just went with it.
“Yep.”
“It’s my first time seeing Storage Magic… it’s fascinating. I heard it’s rare. As expected of an academy student.”
Her words reminded me.
This is an academy setting, isn’t it?
I had completely forgotten after dropping out so quickly.
But if Storage Magic was rare, why was Inventory only F-rank?
The author probably didn’t understand the value of a weightless inventory.
Tsk tsk. Such ignorance.
Adela finished counting the ears.
“You brought back a lot…”
“I found a goblin lair.”
I had actually stalked them to their lair, but there was no need to explain.
“Wait, you went into a goblin lair alone…?”
“Why? Is there a problem?”
“…Yes, a huge problem.”
Was there a problem? Was I going to get kicked out of the guild again?
“Going into a goblin lair alone is incredibly dangerous!”
“They’re just goblins.”
“There are fifty-three adventurers who died thinking the same thing.”
More than I thought.
“To be precise, fifty-three bodies were recovered. The actual number is probably higher.”
Wow.
That many?
Did they all charge into the lair and get overwhelmed, instead of setting up a goblin club like I did?
“You should always have a party of at least three when entering a lair of monsters of your rank. It’s too dangerous otherwise.”
“Okay.”
I replied, but I had no intention of forming a party.
I’d just sneak in alone again next time.
Sensing my lack of sincerity, Adela gave me a dubious look, sighed, and started counting the ears.
“There’s an odd number of ears.”
Each goblin had two ears, so the number should be even.
She was probably wondering why I had nineteen instead of eighteen or twenty.
“A goblin ate one.”
I answered honestly.
It vomited it back up immediately, but it was important to try new things.
Sadly, the adventurous goblin who tried a new snack was no longer with us.
“Really? That’s strange… I’ve never heard of goblins resorting to cannibalism, even when starving.”
“Huh. That is strange.”
Technically, I wasn’t lying. I had fed the ear to the goblin, but I hadn’t eaten it myself. Besides, Adela seemed squeamish, judging by her reaction to the dissection show. There was no need to traumatize her further with the truth.
She finished counting and handed me my reward.
“Nineteen goblin ears confirmed. Nineteen copper coins.”
My hard-earned money.
Finally, I could get some food.
“By the way, you seem to have caught something else while hunting goblins.”
“What?”
How did she know?
Was I being watched?
Was there some kind of miniature crystal ball surveillance in this world?
But I didn’t bring back any human ears…
“The person behind you has been staring at you.”
Behind me?
Were receptionists required to be psychic now?
Maybe she was seeing the ghost of the mercenary I killed.
I turned around.
What? Why is she here?
My eyes met with the dark blue-haired, silver-eyed woman from the forest.
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“So, you’re saying you were kidnapped, about to be sold into slavery, and then rescued by an adventurer? Is that right?”
“Yes.”
“Hmm… everyone else said the same thing, so I suppose it’s true. Alright, you’re free to go.”
“Thank you.”
Having given the same testimony as the others, she was quickly dismissed.
She had passed through the checkpoint and entered the capital.
…What do I do now?
She was lost, both literally and figuratively.
Her home was a small village far away in the beastfolk kingdom.
She had lived a peaceful life with her family and friends until humans attacked, killing all the men and elders and kidnapping the young women.
She had been full of resentment at first, but seeing the other human captives in the cage had softened her anger somewhat.
There was nothing left for her in her village.
Her family was gone.
And I have no way to get back…
She had been a slave, confined to a cage.
She needed a carriage to return home, but she had no money, and now, no reason to return.
Thinking wouldn’t solve anything.
She wandered aimlessly through the capital, lost in thought.
Her ears and tail, clearly visible among the humans, drew unwanted attention.
Those less prejudiced against beastfolk were drawn to her beauty.
I feel like I’m on display…
She had been destined for the slave auction, so this attention was nothing new.
But one man had changed her fate.
…I wonder where he went.
She thought of the man who had saved them.
They had parted ways at the checkpoint.
He must be somewhere in the capital.
She quickened her pace.
She had to find him before nightfall.
The first place that came to mind was the academy.
Even beastfolk knew of the prestigious Gemini Academy.
And she remembered him wearing the academy uniform.
…Was he really a student?
It didn’t make sense for an academy student to be alone in the middle of the forest.
And his actions…
Luke probably didn’t realize it, but she had seen him kill the mercenaries.
All the women had.
It was brutal, but she didn’t care what happened to the men who had tried to assault her.
It was satisfying, even.
She checked various establishments: restaurants, inns, weapon shops…
Then, she saw it. The Adventurers’ Guild.
Besides the academy, this was the most likely place to find him.
She stepped inside.
There he is!
She spotted him talking to a receptionist.
His pure black hair was rare in this world, making him easy to spot.
And he was still wearing the academy uniform. It was definitely him.
She watched him from the entrance.
If there’s nothing left… then create something new.
It was natural to develop feelings for someone who had saved you, no matter how small.
She decided to start a new life.
She walked towards him. The receptionist noticed her and alerted Luke. He turned around, and their eyes met. His blood-red eyes locked with her silver ones.
He looked at her strangely, but she spoke first.
“…Master.”
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