kscans

Chapter 63 - Little One and the Kodoku Curse, Part Seven

"What’s wrong, Haya-kun?"

"I have something to discuss."

This was the Adventurer’s Guild.

The adventurers inside were very curious about the twin brother, who had come alone for a change. After all, the two had scored a major victory on their very first quest. Since then, they had achieved many feats, including subjugations, and had just recently become Iron-rank adventurers. Unprecedented single-digit-aged Iron-rank adventurers. It was impossible to be indifferent to children with such a promising future.

However, seeing Chihaya’s serious expression, the Guildmaster narrowed her eyes slightly and gestured with her chin toward the second floor.

"Let’s go to my office. I can at least offer you some fruit water."

With a bright smile on her red-lipsticked lips, the Guildmaster looked at Chihaya.

Instantly, the adventurers who had their ears pricked up let out voices of disappointment. Chihaya tilted his head in confusion and was led upstairs by the Guildmaster.

"So? What did you want to discuss?"

Holding the cup of fruit water with both hands, Chihaya repeatedly licked his lips and looked up at the Guildmaster restlessly.

"Um, can you promise this will be an absolute secret from everyone?"

A child’s secret. This was serious. Normally, a child’s secret is a very deep worry. Even if it seems trivial to an adult, for the child themselves, it is often a life-altering matter.

And this was one of the twins. Her heart pounded with anticipation about what kind of consultation it might be.

"Okay, I won’t tell anyone."

At the Guildmaster’s smile, Chihaya’s face lit up, and he began to talk about what had happened to him.

...I wish I hadn’t asked.

Who was the poet who said curiosity killed the cat? It’s really true.

"Someone is in your head, trying to take over your body and target Little One? That’s not a pleasant story."

"That’s right. They said, ‘Give me your body’... I’m scared. But if everyone finds out, I’m sure I’ll be separated from Hiro. I absolutely don’t want that."

His face crumpled, Chihaya desperately held back tears.

Resting her chin on her hand, the Guildmaster pondered, fumu, and asked about the events leading up to it. There might be a key somewhere. Chihaya haltingly began to speak, starting from Prince Marcello’s letter that had prompted this pilgrimage.

And the Guildmaster held her head in her hands again.

The revival of spirits? And there was a trap there similar to the one in the Queen’s Forest? And on top of that, magical tools and documents that seemed to be ancient relics?!

I shouldn’t have found out.

Chihaya looked at the speechless Guildmaster imploringly.

This young man didn’t understand what he had just said. Each and every piece of information was on the scale of a state secret, not something a mere guildmaster should know. He just wanted to be by his sister’s side. That was all.

With a long, thin sigh, the Guildmaster looked at Chihaya.

"According to your story, the blackish-purple magic crystal seems to be the key. As long as you don’t get close to it, you’ll probably be fine, don’t you think?"

And the spirits.

Everyone seemed to be happy about their revival, but the Guildmaster, who was not well-versed in such matters, couldn’t be so straightforwardly pleased. Because it seemed that Chihaya’s emotional state had started to crumble from that point. When the twins came to register as adventurers. When they came to report after finishing a quest. There was nothing out of the ordinary about them. They were the same heartwarming brother and sister as always.

And yet, in less than half a year, Chihaya had changed.

The wicked feelings that the mysterious someone claimed Chihaya had for Little One. The Guildmaster could certainly feel a hint of that. This was something that hadn’t been there before. Things had changed too rapidly.

In times like these, there is usually some kind of involvement.

"Hey? Was it a Salamander? Can you show me?"

"Okay."

When Chihaya flicked his finger, two spirits appeared there. The Guildmaster’s eyes widened slightly, and she narrowed them sharply.

"Hey? You two are on Chihaya-kun’s side, right?"

‘Kyau!’

‘Hou!’

The lizard and the Gnome replied cheerfully.

"Chihaya-kun is your absolute, right? There’s no existence higher than him, right?"

‘ ‘..........’ ’

The two of them fell silent.

The Guildmaster’s slender eyebrow shot up.

They are hiding something. She felt it instinctively. For them, their contractor should be absolute. Although it had been a long time since they had been seen, such literature remained here and there. The Guildmaster was no exception and had read through literature on magic and curses. And they had answered that he was not their absolute. Silence is consent. To not answer a question, despite it being a question, was a sign that it was not so.

If she pushed further here, Chihaya would become suspicious.

"Get along with Chihaya-kun, okay? They are my precious children."

At the Guildmaster’s smile, the two spirits replied with a big nod and vanished like smoke.

Spirits. Blackish-purple magic crystal. The being dwelling in Chihaya.

After a moment of looking up at the ceiling, the Guildmaster opened her mouth.

"There’s too little information. I’m sure we’ll find out more from now on. Haya."

Chihaya’s body flinched.

"You’re fine just the way you are. Nothing has happened yet. If anything, you’re the victim, aren’t you? There’s no need to be swayed by the words of some unknown person."

Chihaya’s eyes widened to their limit, his large pupils trembling.

"I know who you two have been until now. I know how much you loved and cherished your sister. I never felt anything wicked there. It’s okay."

"...Okay."

Large tears spilled from his eyes, poro poro, and Chihaya returned to the royal palace with Tarō-kun, crying.

Watching him go, the Guildmaster let out an exaggerated sigh.

"You’re there, right? That seems to be all of it."

In response to the Guildmaster’s voice, a shadow in the corner of the room swayed.

『You noticed.』

"Of course I did. I’m not the Guildmaster for nothing."

『I am grateful for your kindness toward the child.』

"You’re welcome. Keep it a secret from him. Take good care of him."

With a small nod, the swaying shadow became still as if nothing had happened.

The dark side of the royal palace. You’re still naive, Chihaya-chan.

With a small smile, kufuri, the Guildmaster headed to the library. Among the myriad of books, there might be information to break the current deadlock. Led by the Guildmaster, the adventurers began to move to save their small comrade.

"So?"

This was the royal palace, in Romel’s usual office, where a great deal of information had been gathered from multiple people.

"The problem is this ‘someone’ inside him. Who could it be?"

"More importantly, the young lady! It’ll be too late if something happens! We must separate her from her brother immediately."

"Are you trying to make him go on a rampage? Who do you think can calm that extraordinary obsession of his?"

Lined up and spouting off were the familiar faces of Commander Harold of the Knight Order, the commander of the Royal Guard, and the head of the covert ops, who rarely appeared in public.

Romel, having heard the report from the covert ops, had also summoned the commander of the Royal Guard.

"Honestly. We have no choice but to wait and see. As the Guildmaster said, there’s truly too little information."

The incident at the guild had given Romel a considerable shock. He had thought he was trusted by Chihaya. Despite their complex issues, he thought he was at least relied upon.

And yet, this is the sorry state of affairs. He couldn’t even cry.

He understood Chihaya’s feelings. He must have been anxious about being separated from his sister if those around him found out. However, he was offended that he was thought to be so foolish as to treat them in such a way.

After a moment of staring into space with a pained expression, Romel flicked his finger.

His spirits appeared with a pop. Ignoring the surprise of those around him, Romel questioned his own spirits.

"For you, am I your absolute contractor?"

‘ ‘..........’ ’

The spirits remained silent.

In the remaining literature, it was written that the contractor was absolute for the spirits, so Romel had never bothered to ask. He couldn’t converse with the spirits. Communication was the most he could do. So Romel guided them closer to the answer.

"Do you have another absolute master?"

‘ ‘..........’ ’

No reply. Was it a denial or an affirmation? Normally, silence is affirmation.

"Is it the gods?"

The atmosphere of the two suddenly changed. They looked up at Romel with a curious expression. While still suspicious of the two, Romel changed his question.

"Assuming there is another absolute master, is it possible for you to defy them?"

‘...Kyuu.’

‘..........’

The responses were divided.

The Salamander’s response, though passive, seemed to indicate a willingness to defy.

What in the world was going on?

The spirits had another absolute master besides their contractor. If this were the gods, it would make sense, but they had responded to that question with a puzzled look.

I don’t know.

Romel held his head in his hands, but after discussing it with those around him, the royal palace decided to take a wait-and-see approach, as Romel had instructed.

They were not yet aware of the pitfall being slowly dug at their feet.