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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: FusionX
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My clandestine conversation with Danuel ended peacefully. There was no fighting, just a time to understand each other’s positions.
Thanks to that, I gained a clearer understanding of the Church’s corruption.
‘As expected, whistleblowers are the most effective.’
I learned information I wouldn’t have known otherwise. The only lingering question was what Grimoire had demanded from the Church.
It was a shame I didn’t know, but I had gained plenty of other information, so I couldn’t complain.
“So, Danuel. Is there anything else you want to say?”
“No. I know why you’re on this mountain. I don’t particularly want to talk to you anymore. Especially not a child-kidnapping criminal. Ugh, how scary!”
“…Look who’s talking. I’m better than you who’s obsessed with the Goddess Church.”
Danuel looked at me as if I were a criminal.
Knowing her reputation as “Fanatic Danuel,” I found her attitude baffling.
‘She wasn’t like this back then…’
I remembered the time Danuel threatened to assassinate the king if he didn’t make the Goddess Church the national religion.
The small nation of Dehton had eventually succumbed to her demands… but after that, other countries had banned her entry.
I remembered reading in the newspaper that her range of activities had been drastically reduced.
As I left the cabin, I said,
“Since we’re done talking, I’ll be going. If you need anything, you can find me at the tents I set up nearby.”
“Yeah, sure. I’ll come by if I get hungry. Oh, and one last thing.”
“What is it?”
“Why didn’t you come to my brother’s funeral? I thought you were close. Couldn’t you have at least seen him off?”
“…”
She was asking why I hadn’t attended Daniel’s funeral. The memory left a bitter taste in my mouth.
“There were circumstances.”
“So what were the circumstances?”
“Your brother’s body was recovered, and he had a proper funeral. But my master, Aina…”
Her body was never found.
I had searched the site for three days without eating, but there was no trace of her.
“There were plenty of people to mourn Daniel. He was kind and well-liked. But Aina… she was alone.”
No one to care for her except me. Despite her talent, she had few close friends.
Aina had always lived a lonely life.
“That’s why I couldn’t attend Daniel’s funeral. Is that enough of an answer?”
“…I was being selfish. You lost someone too. I’m sorry.”
“i’m glad you understand.”
Danuel scratched her head apologetically.
I wasn’t upset. I understood her grief. I had lost someone like family too.
To escape the somber atmosphere, I opened the cabin door and stepped outside. I needed some fresh air.
“By the way, how long have you been eavesdropping?”
“W-We didn’t hear much! We just got here! Right, Estia?”
“R-Right! We didn’t hear anything! Just the funeral part!”
“Don’t say that!”
Slap!
Luna slapped Estia’s shoulder in surprise.
It looked like a light tap, but Luna’s hand must have packed a punch because Estia jumped up and down in pain.
“Ow, ow! That stings!! Brother! She hit me!”
“Luna, you shouldn’t hit people. Especially not Estia. She’s practically a walking corpse.”
“O-Okay… Sorry… Sorry, Estia!”
“It’s okay. I accept your apology, Luna. But a walking corpse? Brother, what does that mean?”
“…Don’t eavesdrop next time. It’s not a good habit.”
“Brother? What do you mean? Huh?”
“…”
I ignored Estia and walked towards the grassy area to set up the tents. I could hear Estia shouting something behind me, but her voice faded quickly.
She really was like a walking corpse.
Three large tents stood among the trees. A bonfire blazed in the center, illuminating the campsite.
I said to the children, who were staring blankly into the flames,
“Don’t stare at the fire for too long. It’s bad for your eyes. Step back a little.”
“Okay~”
Luna readily stepped back. But Estia, seemingly oblivious to my words, continued to stare into the fire.
“Hee…”
“Estia, step back.”
“Hee…”
“…I’ll help you.”
I lifted Estia and moved her further away. She must have been completely absorbed in the fire because she only reacted after I moved her.
“Hey! Why am I here?! Who moved me?!”
Estia shouted in surprise.
Luna looked at her with pity.
“Estia, you’re not very smart! It’s okay! I’m smart, so I’ll help you! Fighting!”
[T/N: for those of you who don’t know ‘Fighting!’ is what Koreans say as like a ‘Lets go’ or ‘You can do it!’]
…They seemed equally matched to me. Perhaps they saw each other as kindred spirits.
As I watched Luna and Estia, I heard footsteps approaching from behind. Those quiet steps could only belong to Hare.
“M-Mister…! I’m back…!”
“Welcome back, Hare. Where did you go?”
“I went over there… the view was nice…! It’s my first time outside, so there’s so much to see…! Hehe…!”
Hare seemed to be enjoying the fresh air and freedom. Despite the earlier incident, she seemed to be having fun. Her hands were full of glittering stones.
“Hmm… where did you get those?”
“There were a lot of them near the trees…! They were sparkly, so I picked them up…! Are they expensive, Mister…?!”
Hare’s eyes sparkled with anticipation.
Perhaps her thieving instincts made her drawn to shiny things. I decided to tell her what the glittering stones actually were.
“Hare, don’t be surprised.”
“Okay…! You said not to be surprised…! So I won’t be…!”
“Those are monster droppings.”
“O-Okay…?!”
Plop
Hare immediately dropped the monster droppings. Despite her promise not to be surprised, her eyes were wide with shock.
“T-These are monster droppings…? But… they’re so sparkly and look like jewels…”
“Monsters hunt for magic power, not nutrients like protein in meat. If they absorb more magic power than they can handle, they excrete it like this.”
“Oh… so they’re not jewels…”
Hare’s head drooped in disappointment. She didn’t need to be so disheartened.
“They’re more expensive than ‘magic stones,’ which are considered monster hearts. They’re worth quite a bit.”
“What…?! Why…?! So… monster poop is expensive…?!”
Hare frantically picked up the monster droppings again, her focus absolute.
“It’s rare for monsters to overeat and excrete magic power like this, so they’re considered rare items.”
“I-Is that so…! I understand…!”
“You can get a lot of money if you sell them, so keep them safe. You can use the money however you want.”
“…Okay, Mister…! I’ll work hard to earn money…!”
Hare working hard to earn money?
I remembered her role in the Hero’s party. She didn’t need to work that hard.
‘…I should hope she earns it honestly in the future.’
Now, where was Saten?
I couldn’t see her anywhere.
“Hare, do you know where Saten is?”
“Saten… hmm… the last time I saw her… she was near the cliff. I’ll show you…!”
Hare scurried off towards the cliff. She seemed to enjoy running around the mountain.
I followed Hare to the cliff, and there was Saten.
“Is that…?”
“M-Mister…! S-Saten is in danger…!”
Indeed.
A very dangerous situation.
Saten was sitting at the edge of the cliff, reading a book with a blank expression. She didn’t seem the least bit afraid.
“…Saten, what are you doing?”
“Reading.”
“Do you have to read in such a dangerous place?”
“It’s not dangerous. If I fall, I can use magic. And Blackie won’t die from a fall.”
“Meow~”
Blackie confirmed with a meow.
‘That’s not why I gave Blackie to her…’
I sighed and approached Saten, maintaining a calm demeanor. I had to get her away from the edge without making a fuss.
“…It’s time for bed, Saten. Come down from the cliff.”
“Is it that late already? The breeze is nice here. It’s a shame.”
“Stay there. I’ll get you.”
…It was quite a height, and she wasn’t afraid at all.
I lifted Saten from the edge and placed her on safe ground. Blackie, who hadn’t been paying any attention to its owner, followed.
“…No snacks for you for a while.”
“Meow?”
At least nothing bad happened.
I led Saten back towards the tents where the other children were. I felt more at ease when all the children were within my sight.
As we walked, Hare grabbed my sleeve and smiled.
“M-Mister… I had fun…! The picnic was fun…!”
“I’m glad you had fun, Hare.”
“Yes…! It was fun…! So… next time…!”
Next time.
Hare trailed off, then continued as if nothing had happened.
“Next time…! Let’s all come here together again…! It’s a promise…!”
“…Okay, we’ll definitely come here together again next time.”
“Promise…!”
Hare linked her pinky finger with mine, sealing the promise. I wasn’t sure if it would happen, but I forced a smile and agreed.
Once I made a promise, I had to keep it.
“The stars are beautiful…”
I changed the subject awkwardly.
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