Volume 2 Chapter 1 Rumi – Part I
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
This is Rumi’s perspective.
Early in the morning, I woke up in Nanna’s room. As usual, I tried to cuddle with Rob as my pillow and go back to sleep, but strangely, no matter how much I reached out with my hands or legs, I couldn’t touch Rob’s body.
(Huh? …That’s weird)
So, I finally opened my heavy eyelids and decided to look over at Rob.
(…He’s not here… Maybe he’s in the bathroom?)
I thought that and waited for a while, but he didn’t come back. Rob always wakes me up before his early morning training, so I couldn’t think of any other reason for him to be gone. …But no matter how long I waited, he still didn’t return.
No, today we had promised to take the shared carriage to Somirkas together, not for training.
I felt a bad feeling creeping in, so I quickly sat up and headed to the dining room. Ms. Emma was probably already awake, and I wanted to ask her where Rob was.
In the dining room, I found Ms. Emma. She had a frown on her face and was staring intently at a piece of paper.
(…Is it a letter?)
I approached Ms. Emma and greeted her with a smile.
”Ms. Emma, good morning!”
Ms. Emma looked like she was forcing a smile and returned my greeting.
”Ah, good morning, Rummie. …This is from Rob, do you want to read it?”
”…Huh? From Rob?”
I took the letter from Ms. Emma and looked at its contents. It definitely looked like Rob’s handwriting, but the things written were so amazing that I wondered if it was one of Rob’s pranks. But the important thing was that Rob was missing.
Rob is not the kind of person who would do things on purpose to make me uncomfortable. …So, is this real?
But, a goddess… and modifications… it all sounds like a lie.
What should I do? I don’t know if I can believe it.
”This is a problem. …Rob wouldn’t pull such a complicated prank, right?”
I asked Ms. Emma for confirmation.
”Ugh… that’s true… and to teleport Rob somewhere else without me noticing, that’s beyond normal. If it were a lie, it would be something easier to understand. …So, I think I’ll choose to believe it. …But it’s unacceptable for a goddess to modify Rob’s body without my permission.”
Ms. Emma said this with irritation and went back to preparing breakfast.
Just then, Mr. Izana seemed to wake up and came into the dining room.
”Good morning, Emma, Rummie. …Is something going on?”
He seemed to sense the strange atmosphere.
I handed Mr. Izana the letter from Rob.
”Mr. Izana, good morning. This is a letter from Rob.”
”Huh? …Thanks. Um… ugh… a year sounds suspicious… Rummie, my party has one spot open right now, do you want to join?”
Mr. Izana seemed to believe the letter’s content right away.
”…Yes, please! Until Rob comes back!”
Then, rubbing her eyes and still looking sleepy, Nanna came trotting into the dining room.
”Brother Rob, where are you? …Papa, Mama, where is Brother Rob?”
It seems Nanna also noticed that something was off…
”Nana, this letter is from Rob. …It has some pretty outrageous things written in it, so I think you’ll be surprised.”
Mr. Izana said this and handed the letter to Nanna.
Nanna stared at the letter and began to read its contents.
”…It matches the handwriting of my brother in my ‘Fountain of Knowledge.’ Also, this paper is made of a material that doesn’t exist in this world, so the goddess might actually be real…”
Even after saying that, Nanna continued to gaze at the letter.
”Well… let’s have dinner. Izana and Rummie need to make sure they don’t miss the carriage.”
* * *
After breakfast, Mr. Izana and I quickly got on the carriage.
…I never thought that the adventure I had been looking forward to with Rob would not be starting yet. A growing anxiety spread deep inside me. I wish this was just a bad dream. …Since I woke up this morning, I haven’t felt real, and I don’t want to think about anything.
”Ah… ugh… sniff…”
Mr. Izana looked at me with concern as I let out a small sound.
”…What’s wrong? Rummie?”
”…Rob is gone… I want to be strong, but why is this happening… sniff…”
Tears overflowed, and my vision became blurry. I really hate being weak at a time like this.
”Ah~… I’m sorry for my precious child to make you cry. He’s a terrible son.”
Mr. Izana’s gentle voice eased my heart a little. But still, the sadness deep inside me didn’t go away.
”…N-no… it’s not Rob’s fault, and I will become strong… ugh, sniff…”
My tears wiped away, I lift my face, but I don’t know how to face the emptiness left in my heart. With Rob gone, I feel like I can’t face this alone.
”Rummie, it’s okay. Rob will definitely come back. Until then, I’m here for you…”
Mr. Izana says this. His kindness helps a little, but I still can’t shake off the heavy feeling in my heart.
As the carriage sways, I just stare blankly at the scenery outside. The feeling of the wind brushing against my cheek reminds me of Rob’s warmth.
(Rob, come back soon…)
Those words repeat in my heart over and over. No matter how much I wish, it feels like my feelings can’t reach him. But for Rob, I will become stronger.
* * *
We arrived at the dungeon city of Somirkas.
Walking through the lively town, we entered the Adventurers’ Guild.
”Ah! Mr. Izana! How are you today… um, who is that?”
The receptionist girl, blushing as she spoke to Mr. Izana, noticed me and turned her gaze my way.
”This is my son’s girlfriend, Rumi. I’d like to ask for her adventurer registration today… Can you help with the process?”
Mr. Izana glanced at me and kindly smiled while asking the girl to help with my registration.
I was so nervous that my body felt stiff, and the forced smile I made to hide the loneliness inside me probably looked strange…
”Yes, leave it to me. …First, could you please place your hand on this crystal for the aptitude check?”
The girl said this as she took out a large crystal ball.
I nervously approached the counter and placed my hand on the crystal as instructed… Suddenly, a faint blue light lit up inside the crystal.
”Okay, that’s good. Now, could you please lightly prick your finger with this needle to draw some blood?”
I took the sharp needle that the lady brought out.
At that moment, I felt a lump in my throat, and my hands wouldn’t stop shaking.
”Y-yes.”
I tried to prick my finger with the needle as she said, but my trembling hands made it hard to do it properly…
Mr. Izana, who was watching from the side, gently took the needle from my hand and lightly pricked my finger for me.
”Alright, here we go, Rummie.”
His words gave me a little comfort.
”Now, please touch this plate with that finger.”
I touched the black metal plate with my bleeding finger… and then, blue letters began to appear on the black metal plate. The sight was magical, and my heart raced.
Then, when the lady placed a small silver plate on top of the black metal plate, the blue letters were absorbed into the small plate.
”With this, your adventurer registration is complete. Thank you for your hard work. Do you need an explanation about accepting requests or receiving rewards here?”
The lady smiled and kept talking.
…I don’t think I can remember so much information at once.
”No, I’ll learn about the guild little by little from my party members. So, it’s okay to stop here for today.”
That’s right… I’m joining Mr. Izana’s party. …I hope I won’t be a burden to them…
”I see. Well then, we look forward to seeing you again.”
The lady’s smile was warm, but the loneliness in my heart didn’t go away.
My expression was awkward, and I could only hide my tears by forcing a smile.
(What will happen from now on… Rob…)
Hesitating to take the next step, I still pictured Rob in my mind.
My heart felt like it was being crushed by loneliness and anxiety, but I was trying my best to look forward.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.