kscans

Chapter 21 - Conversation and Questions

The ones following me were the members of 'Beautiful Sword'.

I wondered what they could possibly want, but the only thing that came to mind was the matter of me snatching the Orc King kill during the Monster Uproar. I had proposed the solution to the Guild Master, he had approved it, and it was supposed to have been settled as their achievement. Could it be that they were like Bardos, that they just liked to fight? I'd heard they were model adventurers, but rumors aren't always reliable. There's often more than a kernel of falsehood mixed in.

In fact, I was lying about this very matter. As I considered this and looked at them, I saw that none of them had any killing intent. They looked like they wanted to say something. The red-haired woman at the front, in particular, was glaring at me with an intense gaze.

Was she really that offended that I had yelled at her back then?

After a moment, the blonde woman began to speak.

"My name is Leona, a member of 'Beautiful Sword'. First, I apologize for following you. It is only natural that you would be displeased."

As she spoke, Leona bowed her head.

A high-ranking adventurer, admitting her own fault.

That's not something you see every day. On Earth, there are countless older people who refuse to admit their faults, let alone bow their heads, and instead just become defiant. I wish they could learn a thing or two.

As I was thinking this, I said, "No, you didn't have any killing intent, so I figured you just wanted to talk. So, is there something you need from me?"

I used polite language, but I wondered if it got through to her. Leona replied, "Yes, it's not so much that we have something to say, but something we want to ask. Why did you handle the Orc King matter in that way?"

Her question was perfectly reasonable.

To give away such an achievement to someone else—it's a waste for anyone who lives for money or status. To that question, I replied, "Everything I told the Guild Master is the whole story. I couldn't think of anything else. That's all."

To this answer, Leona said, "…Forgive me. That's not what we wanted to ask. We want to know why you came up with that idea and carried it out. Why do you go so far for the sake of others? That's what we want to know."

I had a feeling I knew what she was getting at. No matter what status or how much money a person has, very few would use it unstintingly for the sake of a complete stranger. It's basic human nature, and a fact of modern life, to ignore anyone who isn't yourself or a relative.

It's a sad state of affairs, but that's just how rotten the world has become. I pushed those thoughts aside and said, "I didn't just recently arrive in this area. Two years ago, I was wandering in the nearby forest when I came across an old man being attacked by wolves and saved him."

"I could tell at a glance that he was an experienced hunter, and since I was still inexperienced back then, I became his apprentice. The training was tough, but I knew my master was trying to make me strong. That master passed away from an illness about a week ago."

"I swore at my master's grave. That I would become a strong man. A man with a strong body and a strong heart. The body can be strengthened through training, but I don't know how to strengthen the heart. So, I thought that unless I'm in a truly desperate situation myself, I should do what I can for others. That's what I believe will make my heart strong."

I gave the best answer I could come up with.

Those words I spoke at my master's grave—there was no lie in them. But it was precisely because I didn't know how to become strong that I had resolved to take any action I could think of. When I looked at the four of them, the magician and the kunoichi-like girl had wide eyes, and Leona was trembling slightly. And the red-haired woman had her face down, as if to avoid looking at me.

After a moment, Leona said, "That is a wonderful philosophy. I have never heard anything like it before, and I wasn't sure how to react, but you have the mindset of a knight. I, Leona, am deeply impressed."

With that, Leona bowed her head slightly again. Then, "Regarding the recent matter, we have received the reward from the guild. But we owe you a debt for saving us. If there is anything we can do for you, please do not hesitate to ask."

At those words, the red-haired woman twitched.

Seeing this, an idea came to me.

"In that case, would it be alright if I had a close look at your armor, Leona-san? I'm a blacksmith, you see, and I make weapons and armor. Your armor is truly beautiful, a magnificent piece. Would you mind if I took a look for reference?"

At my words, the red-haired woman raised her head, a look of astonishment on her face. And Leona, hearing my request, replied, "Eh? My armor? Well, I understand if you're a blacksmith, but what about our leader Tina's armor?"

She said, turning her face toward Tina. I replied, "Well, Tina-san's armor is also magnificent, but she doesn't seem to like me very much. Even if it's to repay a debt, I won't force someone to do something they don't want to. It would make me feel bad, too."

Hearing my words, Tina's mouth opened and closed as if she wanted to say something, but nothing came out. Seeing this, Leona, with a look of exasperation, said, "That's not a problem. Tina doesn't dislike you. I can guarantee that. When would be a good time?"

Hearing that, I said, "Ah, well then, when we both have some free time. It would stand out at the guild, so let's arrange it through the receptionist."

There were various ways for adventurers to communicate. Letters, notices on a board. Using the receptionist was often for when you were taking a long break from work. Hearing this, Leona said, "Understood. In that case…" and with those brief words, the four of them left.

That was one thing settled. Talking to high-ranking adventurers is tough. I was on edge the whole time, worried that if I said the wrong thing and offended them, they might just attack me.

But it seems the rumors about them being a well-disciplined party are true. However, during our conversation, when I talked about my master, I remembered a question that had been bothering me. The story my master told me on the night he died, about an incident from 100 years ago and a black-haired person. At first, I thought he was telling me to protect me, but since coming to this town, in conversations at the tavern and tool shops, I found that people were completely indifferent to any 'great massacre'.

In my daily conversations, I had tried to ask about the history of this town.

I figured being too ignorant could get me into trouble in an emergency.

And what I heard was all rather mundane. The founder was a hero's companion, an adventurer who earned the city the title of 'impregnable fortress' feared by monsters—all good stories about the town. I tried asking about the great massacre incident at a tool shop. I thought they would know since the incident was caused by poisonous herbs, but their reaction was along the lines of, 'Was there such an incident?' If the tool shop owner didn't know, then others probably didn't either, and asking around too much could arouse suspicion.

But an incident that even a merchant whose business was deeply related to it didn't know about.

Why did my master tell me such a story?

I had thought about this question, but at the time, I was so focused on learning everything I could to survive that I had put it on the back burner. But now that I think about it, it feels strange. If my master was going to say something on his deathbed, it should have been about the current situation. For him to talk about an incident from 100 years ago that no one cares about is strange.

As I thought about it, an idea came to me.

Perhaps my master was trying to tell me something.

But he couldn't say it directly, so he chose a roundabout way. That kind of thing happens in political anime. But for that master to do something so convoluted… perhaps there's some kind of conspiracy, something deeply involving the Guild Master, no, the lord of this town. If that's the case, then an indirect way of speaking makes sense. If he had said it directly, he might have thought I would become guarded and be discovered.

I'm a suspicious person. If my master thought that and did it so that I would realize his true intentions, then… having reached that conclusion, I decided to stop thinking about it for now.

Because if this conclusion is correct, I could end up making an enemy of not just an organization, but the entire town.

For now, the town has accepted me as one of its own. As long as that's the case, I should just quietly work as a hunter and adventurer, and if they make a move, I can act then. It's a rather slow and poor hand to play, but with no evidence and only speculation, this is the best I can do.

In fact, it would be best if it didn't come to that, but maybe that's too optimistic. With that thought, I decided to head home.

Meanwhile, after 'Beautiful Sword' had parted ways with me. After returning to the house where they were staying, Leona said, "…Tina, why didn't you say anything? He's your destined one, isn't he? And yet you made me do all the talking, while you said nothing. What's that about?"

Before they had followed Shinsuke, Tina had told the other three that she had met her destined one and asked for their cooperation in getting closer to him. At first, the three of them were like, 'Huh?', but seeing the serious look in Tina's eyes, they had agreed to cooperate, for the time being.

However, the person in question, Tina, had said nothing in front of him, and in the end, Leona had to carry the conversation. To the exasperated Leona, Tina said, "…Because, I didn't know what to talk about, and I thought it would be bad to ask something strange and make a bad impression, and I was overthinking what kind of face to make, and now, I don't know what to do at all?!"

What's with those pure, maidenly words? the three of them thought. They remembered how, when she was active as an adventurer in the royal capital, she would be so composed, dignified, and polite, without a hint of nervousness, even when meeting with kings and princes. Where did that person go? they wondered. As Tina spoke, she brought both hands to her cheeks and started to squirm. She was the very picture of a woman lost in love.

As Leona thought this, her mind turned to Shinsuke.

Why would a man who follows the path of chivalry team up with Bardos? She felt a sense of doubt about this and was thinking that she would ask him if she had the chance, when Tina, with a fierce look in her eyes, said, "Leona, he is my destined one. I have no intention of handing him over, not even to you. If you try to take him, then I will challenge you to a duel."

To Tina's dangerous words, Leona replied, "I won't take him, and you don't have to hand him over. I was just wondering why he's partners with Bardos. I won't do anything, so don't worry."

Hearing those words, Tina's face relaxed, and she went back to squirming. To an outsider, it was creepy, but their leader's wish had come true, so the three of them decided to watch over her warmly.

Addendum: I'm writing this just in case they don't come up in the story again. About the magician Milfy and the scout Rumily. As they spent more time together, Milfy and Rumily had developed a relationship where they loved each other. In other words, a yuri relationship. The reason this happened was that they both respected and admired Tina and Leona, so they joined the party at different times. When the two of them learned this, at first, they were rivals, competing to see whose respect was stronger. But they felt that their feelings were equal and ended it in a draw. However, even after that, as they continued to talk and act together, and before you know it, they began to think of each other, and eventually, they came to love each other. Their relationship is such that they even sleep together at night.

By the way, Tina and Leona, seeing the two of them getting along so well, just think they're like sisters and have no idea that they're in love.