113 - Former Prostitute
Near the entrance of the forest, the village chief and I stood, watched over by the villagers.
"Hey, is this really going to be okay?"
"It'll be fine. I told you, she's someone who can be reasoned with."
I reassured the restless village chief—for the umpteenth time—and looked toward the forest.
Then, Mei appeared, slowly taking the form of a Kirin.
As Mei emerged from the dark forest with her shimmering white scales, the villagers reacted in various ways.
Some were wary.
Some prayed.
Others simply watched in silence.
When the Kirin came close, I pretended to negotiate with the village chief, just as we had arranged beforehand.
"She really came."
"I told you she would. Oh, and please make sure you look like you're having a serious conversation."
"Oops, right."
While talking with the village chief, I acted as if I were conversing with Mei. After a while, Mei turned around and disappeared back into the forest.
The surrounding villagers buzzed with excitement, wondering what had happened.
The village chief turned around and waved his hand in a large, sweeping motion.
Seeing this, the villagers sat down in relief, and some even let out cheers.
As I headed toward the villagers, the village notables surrounded the village chief.
"Haha, I knew you could pull it off!"
"The village can rest easy now."
"I'll treat you to some of the finest sake today!"
They surrounded the village chief with smiles, their attitudes having flipped completely.
Watching this, the successive heads of the family inside the Jewel Orb explained things to me.
Regarding the scale of a village, the Third Generation had now become the most knowledgeable.
"What a magnificent turnaround. But with this, the way the village chief is viewed will change. Well, everywhere is harsh for newcomers. You aren't recognized unless you contribute something, but if you work too hard, you're just taken advantage of. It's really difficult, isn't it?"
The village chief, surrounded by the notables, gave a wry smile.
I stepped away from the chief and joined up with Novem.
"Liel-sama, I've finished the preparations for our return, but are you truly sure about this? The subjugation of the Grey Wolves was left unfinished."
Since Novem seemed worried about the request, I nodded. No one seemed to be paying any attention to us.
"It's fine. Mei took care of most of it. We just need to have the completion of the request confirmed at the end, and then we're done."
Novem looked toward the forest, then returned her gaze to me.
"We weren't able to contribute much at the end. Also, I'm glad the deal with the village chief went well. You've cleared the test successfully, Liel-sama."
There was a misunderstanding regarding the "successfully" part.
The evaluation I wanted was one that would allow me to challenge the labyrinth. I needed to obtain it without being perceived as having too much utility.
"I turned down the reward for the additional request because I want to get a convenient evaluation. Well, I won't know for sure until we get back."
How the guild would evaluate us...
I could only pray that things would proceed in my favor.
"If we aim too high... though, I suppose we'll have to take requests like this periodically."
Looking at us as a party, our scale was small and our track record was limited. It was true that we had received a high evaluation despite that, but I wondered how the guild would view it.
Also, there was a possibility that the difficulty of the requests assigned to us would increase.
(Well, I'll manage somehow. Even if I can't, making it work is the leader's job.)
If I added Mei to the party, that would make nine people.
In terms of numbers, it was still few, but this would allow us to split the party into two groups to act.
Just being able to create a reserve of members was something I was grateful for.
"Even so, I never imagined a Kirin would become a companion. Liel-sama, for what reason exactly did you bring her into the fold?"
At Novem's gaze, which seemed to be peering up at me, I instinctively wiped my mouth.
I remembered kissing Mei. And not just that—I had put my tongue in while she was in her Kirin form... Thinking back, it would have been better if I'd had her transform into a human at that moment.
(No, I'd probably still hesitate to do that.)
Averting my eyes from Novem, I gave a vague answer.
"Well, you know... something about my ancestors being acquaintances? Yeah, maybe it's just fate."
I tried to laugh it off, but Novem's eyes widened for a split second before returning to normal.
"Novem?"
"...No, this must be proof that the successive heads are watching over Liel-sama, who works so hard every day. Liel-sama, let's continue to do our best."
Our goal was to defeat Celes.
Looking at the scene of the rejoicing villagers and the wryly smiling village chief, I spoke to Novem.
"You're right. But the road is long."
Novem nodded.
"It is."
That night.
When I headed to the village chief's house, I found the chief, who had returned from the banquet, lying on the sofa with a red face.
In the morning, he had encountered the Kirin, in the afternoon, he had entered the forest with the notables and hunters to have the request confirmed. After returning, the villagers had prepared a banquet, and he had been drinking since it was still light out, with almost all the villagers making a ruckus.
Eva had performed a song at the banquet, and Monica and Shannon had helped with the preparations and cleanup.
The village chief's wife approached me and handed me an envelope.
"Please take this."
"Thank you. Is this regarding the request?"
The wife nodded and looked at the village chief.
He wasn't weak, but he was currently exposed in a state of total collapse after being forced to drink a massive amount of alcohol.
"He hurried to write this as soon as he returned. Seeing the preparations and scale of the banquet, he felt it wouldn't be in time if he waited until tonight or tomorrow morning. He's actually quite a diligent person."
Saying this with a smile, the wife draped the blanket back over the village chief after he had kicked it away. She looked happy—truly happy.
Having received the envelope, I was slightly dissatisfied that I couldn't speak with the village chief. I was curious if the contents matched the deal, but opening it would make it known to the guild side.
Seeing my concern, the wife spoke.
"You don't have to worry, my husband doesn't lie about these sorts of things."
She giggled, and I scratched my head.
"So, he does lie about other things?"
"Yes. I've only known him since he was an adventurer and since he became the village chief, but he certainly tells lies. Just like this time."
It seemed she knew what we were doing. And then, I wondered if she knew other things as well.
"It's alright. I'm probably the only other person who knows."
She was a good-looking woman who seemed sharp-witted.
Looking at the village chief sleeping sloppily, I—.
"The village chief is quite lucky to have a beautiful and intelligent wife like you."
At that, the wife gave a wry smile.
"I knew you were a young adventurer, but it seems you aren't well-versed in the circumstances around here."
When she mentioned "circumstances," I tilted my head.
The wife looked around, and after confirming the children were not awake, she told me to sit down.
She prepared tea and sat facing me.
"Liel-san, was it?"
"Yes."
As I replied while drinking the tea, the wife told me her story.
"I am a former prostitute."
I swallowed the tea I almost spat out through sheer willpower, and coughing, I looked at the wife. She was still young, beautiful, and good-natured.
"That's... I mean... uh..."
As I floundered, the wife nodded with a smile.
"Yes, my husband was one of my customers. Let's see... I believe it was ten years ago. My husband became an adventurer, and once he started earning, he began to buy my time."
I didn't know what kind of expression to make, but I heard advice from the Jewel Orb.
It was the Sixth Generation.
"Liel, don't do anything. Don't offer any strange sympathy, just listen to her story seriously."
I listened to the wife's story.
"Liel-san, all your party members are women, aren't they? I won't ask too deeply, but such parties are rare. Most seek partners outside their own profession. And in Beim, many adventurers choose prostitutes as their partners."
I knew that many adventurers stopped seeing their colleagues as members of the opposite sex, but I hadn't expected them to choose prostitutes.
(I thought it would be guild staff or residents.)
"Well, the entertainment district in Beim is bustling, so there's no shortage of girls sold cheaply by their parents from far away. I was the same. In a year with a poor harvest, we were attacked by monsters, and I was in a situation where I desperately needed money."
While feeling apologetic, I couldn't help but ask the wife.
"Um, did you not think about becoming an adventurer to earn money?"
The wife shook her head and looked at me with a serious expression.
"Many adventurers lose their lives. Many people I knew died. I heard it wasn't because they were weak, but because they were truly unlucky. To earn money safely, that was the only path available. But it wasn't all bad. I was taught etiquette, reading, writing, and arithmetic for two years, as education was deemed necessary."
From inside the Jewel Orb, the Sixth Generation's voice spoke.
"Hmm, she was bought by a quite respectable establishment."
For some reason, I felt the Sixth Generation was far too knowledgeable about that area. I couldn't question him now, so I continued to listen to the wife.
"In Beim, people gather even if you stay silent. Once you reach a certain age, it becomes difficult to work as a prostitute. When that happens, some prostitutes are bought by their regular customers. But if you truly hate the idea, you can refuse."
The fact that she didn't refuse meant the village chief must have been liked.
"He is a kind person. I believe I was lucky."
The wife looked at the village chief, then returned her gaze to me and smiled.
"The introduction was a bit long. What I really want to talk about is regarding Liel-san's party."
"Mine?"
As I tilted my head, the wife gave a wry smile.
"How should I put it... neither men nor women can get by on platitudes alone, right? Liel-san, you have a good face and you're earning well, so I'm sure you'll have your struggles. I thought I'd give you some advice. Consider it a reward for helping my husband."
It was true that I was struggling right now.
No, rather than struggling... there are times when I just don't know what to do. I was also at fault for blurting out things about protecting them or telling them to follow me during my high-tension state after growing.
However, in my natural state, I'm not particularly skilled at playing around with women.
As I straightened my posture, the wife taught me.
"Listen, please assume that you are being watched, even in the smallest things. If you give a present to someone, you should assume it will certainly become known. Looking at your members, they are clearly conscious of you, Liel-san. You are being watched quite a bit."
I gulped, terrified by the thought that I was being watched.
"I'll ask honestly, have you had relations with all of them?"
I answered immediately.
"I haven't. Kisses... only three."
(First Monica, then Novem... then Monica again, and finally the Kirin, but I kissed Mei, so that's three? Right?)
Then, the wife looked at me and shook her head.
"Do you want to be stabbed?"
"Stabbed!? No, but surely it wouldn't go that far..."
Just as I thought that, the faces of Aria and Miranda came to mind.
"Once you lay a hand on one, it'll be terrible if you don't deal with the remaining members. It's fine if you leave the party, but there are cases where they hold a grudge and end up killing each other among companions."
Thinking that I had heard of such things, I worried about how to handle the disaster that was about to befall me.
(Wait, but they're members who followed me with the goal of defeating Celes, so maybe it'll be okay?)
I thought so, but then I remembered the prickly relationship between Novem and Miranda.
"If it's impossible to make things clear, you should think about 'processing' things somewhere so they don't explode."
"Pr-processing!? No, that kind of thing is, uh..."
As my face turned red, the wife giggled.
"You're quite serious, aren't you? But it's dangerous if you don't take some countermeasures. I've seen many instances where affection turns into hatred. Please be careful so that doesn't happen to you, Liel-san."
With a serious expression, I nodded repeatedly.
The next morning.
Since we had achieved the request, we left the village.
As for the village, the matter of the Grey Wolves and the Kirin had been settled, leaving only the problem of the trio.
Before departing, I had heard the details from the village chief, who looked miserable with a hangover.
(Two years of forced slavery, and after that, being cast out of the village, huh... Slavery... come to think of it, I've heard of it, but I didn't know the details.)
I knew that the slave system existed, but I didn't know the specifics. Since there was no slave system in the Kingdom of Vanseim, I only knew that such a system existed elsewhere.
To ensure they didn't follow us, the trio was apparently under surveillance in the village.
Opening the door to the Porter's cargo bed, I sat near the entrance and gazed vacantly at the scenery.
This was because the inside of the Porter was noisy.
I tried to escape to the ceiling, but the current guards were Novem and Miranda, who had lost a game.
I didn't want to go near them.
Mei, who had newly joined, was fighting with Monica.
"Stingy! Let me eat more!"
"Shut up, you beast! This is the chicken-bastard's lunch!"
Mei didn't back down an inch against Monica.
"Isn't it unfair for only one person to be special?"
Monica scoffed. However, holding the basket and pressing down on Mei's head with one hand, her pose wasn't very imposing.
"Hah! Just be satisfied with the chicken-bastard's leftovers. No one else is complaining."
That was true.
Even if they said otherwise, the content was almost the same.
However, the one who didn't stay silent was Shannon.
"Hey! If you eat it, Liel's dessert won't make it to me!"
Hearing that, Monica shouted.
"You brat! Are you also a vulture aiming for the chicken-bastard's lunch!? I won't forgive you! This is a meal with an exquisite balance optimized for the chicken-bastard!"
Mei retorted.
"Just hand it over. It's the same once you eat it!"
Monica yelled.
"It's not even lunch time yet! How much do you people eat from the morning!?"
Eva was writing various things in a notebook in the noisy cargo bed of the Porter. Perhaps a lyric had come to mind, as she was writing with a serious expression.
Since Clara was operating the Porter, she was in the ceiling amidst the prickly atmosphere.
In the midst of this, Aria sat next to me.
"It's noisy, isn't it? Do something about it, Leader."
Told by Aria, I looked at the three people rampaging inside the Porter.
(The Porter is quite sturdy, isn't it.)
That was the thought I had.
Or rather, I didn't want to get involved.
If I intervened, the fire would definitely spread to me.
The Fifth Generation had also said... to leave it alone. But the village chief's wife told me to be attentive. I didn't know what to do.
"I think a moderate amount of venting is necessary."
Monica, holding my meal in her right hand, was threatening Mei and Shannon with a drill equipped on her left hand.
The two of them were cooperating, surrounding Monica in an attempt to somehow obtain my lunch.
"Moderate? That?"
A new member had been added, but Mei had already blended in.
I had told everyone that Mei was a Kirin. And I kept the reason for Mei's cooperation as simply repaying a debt to my ancestors.
I had strictly told her never to mention wanting seeds.
"What?"
Aria looked at me as if she wanted to say something, so I asked.
"You certainly have a knack for recruiting complicated people. In a sense, it's an amazing lineup."
It was true that Mei the Kirin and Monica the automaton were unusual.
The other members also had a quirk or two compared to ordinary adventurers.
"I want to ask why it turned out like this, too."
That was my honest feeling.