Chapter 215 - 215. Reunion with the Wandering People and Koukun’s Whereabouts
We arrived at the encampment of the wandering people, located outside the city where Karpana’s group was staying. Several tents and wagons were lined up, and horses freed from carrying loads were leisurely eating hay. The preparations for dinner must have been finished, as the aroma of spices drifted through the air, stimulating my nose. The scent further whetted my appetite, and I couldn’t help but press on my stomach. Rinco and Airi, seeing Reiko’s face, frowned.
"What? Do you know them?"
They shook their heads from side to side. Reiko also wore a puzzled expression. What she wanted to say was clear to me. I could understand why she might be surprised. I, too, could not articulate this strange sensation. Unless we disappeared without a trace, we would likely only become a minor news story that would soon be forgotten from society. But if famous people like them disappeared, it would become a huge news story. What was happening in my original world after we disappeared? According to my predictions, all transferrees come to this world at the same year, date, and time. In my original world, an incident must have occurred where so many people disappear without a trace.
"Are you two related? Is Reiko an actress?"
The surprise from before was gone, and their eyes gleamed as they questioned me.
"W-We’re not related, and I’m not an actress!"
She denied it, her face turning red. The surprise from before was clearly impacted by their sudden questioning.
"Huh? Then what are you?"
"It’s none of your business, but I’m just a normal high schooler…"
Rinco and Airi exchanged glances at Reiko’s answer. "She’s prettier than us. That’s not fair," they whispered to each other, but I could hear everything. Reiko started to fidget uncomfortably.
"Not exactly normal. A precious high school girl with respectable breasts.
I corrected Reiko’s words to clear up their misunderstanding.
"Normal, that’s all! Don’t say things like that in public!"
She retorted. The two were still watching our interaction with vacant expressions.
"C-Could it be, are you two lovers?"
At Rinco’s words, Reiko’s cheeks flushed, and she stared intently at me. This was a non-negotiable topic. If I said something nonsensical, I’d get into serious trouble. I nodded as if succumbing to her pressure.
"Absolutely false! Impossible! You must be doing something wrong!"
Rinco shouted.
"What an awful thing to say! Reiko, show her the cute mountain climbings at your Mount Pleasant!"
"Those are fake!"
Although it's gone now, it was Reiko who wrote it when she became Marsh as her supernatural ability. She left with heavy steps.
After introducing the same way to Momoka and Chihiro, I headed toward the tent where Karpana was located. Momoka and Chihiro also knew who they were and had ambiguous expressions. Rinco and Airi also recognized her from where they were bargaining.
"Wasn’t there one more person? The one we saw at first?"
"Are you talking about Shizuka?"
As I said that, Shizuka, who was with Lini, approached with a smiling expression. It felt like it had been a long time since I interacted with Shizuka and Riinii. I stroked Lini’s head next to me. I also touched her rabbit ears for good measure.
"Shizuka is her name?"
Airi asked Shizuka.
"That's right. Pleased to meet you."
Hearing her answer, Airi covered her mouth with her hand in surprise.
"Could it be, are you Tiger-kun's partner?"
"Huh? To-ra-kun? My partner is Koukun though?"
"That’s right, Kosaka Toratsuna-kun!"
I wanted to point out that it was an unusual name like that of a Sengoku warlord, but I decided to keep quiet as it would make things more complicated.
"Ah, that’s right, Koukun!"
Shizuka lightly clapped her hands as if impressed.
"Whoa, you really didn’t know your boyfriend’s name!"
"Well, Koukun is Koukun, and I’m not exactly dating the name."
"“….”"
"So then, where did Koukun… Toratsuna go? We’re looking for him."
Koukun sounds like a frail boy, but Toratsuna gives off the feeling of an experienced general. It was a mystery as to why that name was given to him.
"I don’t know. Maybe Yuuki killed him…"
"Huh?"
Shizuka’s face turned pale in an instant. Reenie rushed over to hug and support her as she stumbled. Shizuka also buried her face in the chest of Reenie, seeking something to rely on, and hugged her back gently. I had been treating Koukun as something of a joke, but I was surprised that she harbored such deep affection for him. Shizuka had also been here, hiding her unease all along. I bit down hard on my regret for not noticing Shizuka’s obvious feelings.
"Could you tell us in detail?"
"I didn’t see it directly, and our information might be wrong, but…"
Rinco waved her hand frantically and answered. She also seemed perplexed by Shizuka’s reaction.
"Before that, maybe you should talk about Yuuki."
Airi said, as if to change the atmosphere, and Rinco nodded in agreement.
"That’s right! But I’m hungry, so let’s eat first!"
She headed to the large tent where Karpana was located.
"From here on out, only Mash-sama’s party and the transferrees please."
A guard politely lowered his head. Marmie showed no intention of leaving, not even Mermy or Reenee. Shizuka was also hugging Reenee tightly, refusing to let go. Rinco and Airi glared at me as if blaming me for something. 'Why are you involved in this?'
"The descendents of the tribal leader must not recklessly show their faces to the public. That is the law."
Rinco started to say, but Airi quietly stopped her, having noticed the guard’s hand subtly shifting towards his sword. I wouldn't have noticed the guard's alertness if Airi hadn't said anything. It seemed they had more experience in dealing with situations than us.
"Could you show them to where everyone else is eating? We’ll join you later."
"Everyone’s waiting for you!"
The guard smiled.
Inside the tent, Fam, Reiko, Myra, Sesily, Aria, Momoka, and Chihiro were already gathered. They sat on round cushions in a circle and had already started eating. The way they ate, using flat bread to scoop up the meat and curry placed in the center, was unchanged from before. The seat of honor was occupied by Karpana, guarded by two female retainers dressed in Eastern-style clothing, with long, wavy black hair and black eyes—a different see.
"It’s been a while, Mash."
Karpana stood up and bowed deeply. As I was about to sit next to Fam, she took my hand and urged me to sit next to her in the seat of honor.
"W-Wait. Let me introduce the new faces first."
As I said that, I introduced Mermy, Marianne, Shizuka, Reenee, and then Rinco and Airi in order. I slightly regretted not inviting Crea, too. If I had, maybe she could offer a reasonable solution to this.
"Is that so? My grandmother has received a new divine revelation."
"Is that so?"
"Yes, but first, please sit down and eat."
Myra continued to move to Fam's side but was stopped. If Karpana’s pressure was increasing, then maybe there's a reason.
I took a sip of the Ayran poured into the silver cup. It had a strong sourness that stimulated my appetite. Following the grilled meat, I put vegetables and meat on the flatbread, and then slathered curry on top of it and put it in my mouth. The unique spice flavor further whetted my appetite. As I chewed, I organized the events so far and what I needed to say in my head. Had Myra already told Fam and the others about the visit to the Leafclout family today? Reiko’s story of receiving a sword from Racshell was also probably finished. Izak’s failed pursuit, I had already heard from Momoka. And I had already informed everyone about the fourth group of transferrees summoned by the five goddesses with this introduction. The problem was the remaining group and Koukun’s whereabouts. I needed to explain the information we had obtained so far, especially that they only had ten years to live in this world. I had to explain the new divine revelation brought by Karpana’s grandmother, Yuuki’s movements, and that Shizuka’s partner’s name had been identified. I also needed to ask where he was now. As I was thinking about those things, my appetite gradually declined. Why did I have to be in charge? Everything felt so troublesome. Still, my hands reached for the food on their own. I was drawn in by the spice aroma, and it felt like my stomach was completely in control.
"Why must you dine together with those who raised their blades against the Lord?"
Fam opened her mouth as if impatient that I hadn’t started talking. Mermy, sitting next to her, also nodded as if agreeing with her opinion. It seems she completely forgot that she challenged us to a duel on our first day arriving in this city.
"What, are you going to gain anything by making friends with the weak? And why is this person acting like a king?"
"There are other ways to test one’s strength."
Fam answered calmly. I should have told Linco and Airi not to make her angry.
"That’s right. The leader should apologize by offering their stomach full."
Marians answered in response to Fam’s words, her voice suppressing murderous intent. It felt like I’d seen an unexpected side of her. Maybe she had something with high alcohol content when I wasn’t there. It was also possible she doesn’t usually show this side.
"Let’s forget about the earlier fight. Tomorrow, if you summon us to the Four Noble Houses again, Meriann, apologize with me."
"W-Why do I have to…"
Marians flinched at my words.
"You’re the head of the Wanland family, aren’t you? Besides, you were the one who led the charge into battle…"
"I just became the head, but I’m always getting scolded…"
I shifted my gaze from the dejected woman to the faces of Rinco and Airi.
"So, Koukun… what do you know about Toratsuna?"
The two nodded as shadows. Chihiro and Momoka repeated the name in unison. They must have become more curious after hearing Shizuka say his name.
"Before that, just one thing. Yuuki, the elven Clovis Leafclout, the dog-eared Sam Aim, and the little one—assuming he’s a transferee—are they in the same party?"
The two nodded at my words.
"I didn’t know the name Sam Aim, but the dog-eared girl is a newbie. She's with Yuuki’s group."
"Are you guys the transferre party that’s fighting the Clovis group in this city?"
"Yes."
The two nodded again. From the previous battle against the transferre party that clashed with the adventurer party Wind Blade, I thought that we had the upper hand. I did not think that those guys could stand up to a party that was heading to the deepest part of the dungeon.
"We didn’t use our specials earlier since Mash didn’t use his. But we have them too."
Airi said as if reading my mind.
"So, what’s the purpose?"
"Simply put, rivals, I guess? We came to this world three years ago. We came to this city a year and a half ago. At that time, the members of our party were in a party with other transferre adventurers."
"Wait, were they transferrees from the five goddesses?"
Airi shook her head.
"They were the ones who helped us with things like finding a place to stay and contacting the Guild when we came to the city."
It seems that the transferrees transferred by the 50 gods were divided into those like Yuuki and Mii, who obeyed the god's command to fight other transferrees, and those who defied it to help each other. I can't help but wonder if they have the desire to fulfill their wishes even by taking human life, but I believe a major reason is that there is no compulsion in the god's instructions.
"That was attacked by Yuuki and his group one day at the Crystal Palace, and died."
I remembered Hyakka and Chihiro saying that they were also killed by someone they had been helped by, just like the transferres.
"Is that a misunderstanding?"
"We didn’t see it directly. But there’s no way our comrades would feel such hatred due to a misunderstanding."
"And Toratsuna… he was exploring the dungeon solo in this city."
"Is he strong?"
"Why don’t you ask him about that?"
Airi glanced at Shizuka. However, Shizuka’s face was pale, unlike her usual self. In the first place, she didn’t have any combat experience, so dungeon explorations were also done separately.
"Anyway, Toratsuna was mainly exploring the middle layers, but one day, he didn’t come back. We went to look for him, but in the end, we couldn’t find him."
"But Yuuki, we learned that the ones who were exploring the upper layers were exploring the same floor as Toratsuna on that day for some reason. And one of their party members died during the search of that floor!"
Rinco continued from Airi’s words.
"Of course, Yuuki and his group say they don’t know anything about Toratsuna."
Airi added, clenching her teeth. After finishing their story, the two lowered their gaze, glaring at the floor.
"Which floor is it?"
Shizuka suddenly opened her mouth.
"…The Forty-Ninth Floor."
"Wait, is that true?"
Airi nodded at my words. I couldn’t believe that he even made it there since I was struggling with even the 45th floor. But she had been protecting Shizuka, who had been useless as an adventurer after coming to this world. Maybe she had gained that much power.
"His job isn’t adventurer, so he can’t move to the designated floor by himself. The information of the person who guided him remains. He didn’t seem to go into the Area Guardian’s room. But I’ve seen him a few times."
"Understood. I’ll go tomorrow."
Shizuka suddenly said.
"Wait. Are you trying to die?"
"Koukun might be waiting."
"That was several months ago."
"But there might be clues to Koukun’s whereabouts there."
"Hey, show me your character sheet."
After confirming her character sheet, her job was listed as [Bandit], and her level was 1. She really hadn’t fought before. Reenee gripped her hands tightly.
"It’s okay. I’ll go with you. I’ll protect you."
Even if I explained how reckless the exploration was, she wouldn’t agree. I didn't want her to take Reenee and enter the Crystal Palace on her own. It felt like the only way to calm her down was to accompany her on the search. I glanced at Fam, Reiko, Myra, and Mermy. Reiko also looked odd after hearing about Yuuki. She looked like she was lost in thought, looking down. However, the other three nodded. Since they weren't going to the Area Guardian’s room, I could protect Shizuka during the exploration. I sighed.
"Alright. We’ll go with you. But Reenee, you stay here."
"Eh?"
Reenee, who had naturally assumed she was going too, slumped in disappointment.
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