Volume 1 Chapter 38-2 Call, Birth Cry
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
”Cloth soaked well in oil for the torch stick. Pine resin to coat the wooden sword blade just in case… Alright. For today, I only plan to scout, so this should be enough preparation for the ghost.”
In a rented room at the tavern ‘The Boar’s Trot Inn,’ Kian checks the contents of his backpack spread out on the bed, making sure he hasn’t forgotten anything.
Once he finishes checking, he puts everything back into the backpack.
He’s ready to leave at any time.
Kian pushes up the bridge of his glasses.
(There’s still a bit of time before meeting Serena, but maybe I should head out early.)
’…’
”What’s wrong, glasses? It’s unusually quiet this morning.”
’Don’t you remember what happened the day before yesterday with this me?’
”Were you causing trouble?”
Kian asked back suspiciously.
’You did the breeding press on her last night, didn’t you? Why do you sleep with her still attached? At least take this one off when you sleep! Every time I’m squished against the pillow, I have to prevent my shape from getting all squished and distorted.’
”Oh, you can change your shape? You’re surprisingly skilled. Maybe the reason there are no marks on either side of my nose after wearing it for a few days is that you fit me perfectly?”
’That’s right. But I can’t relax, so at least when I sleep…’
”Yeah, I get it. I’ll try to remember, so you can stop talking now.”
’You guy is so selfish…’
When glasses let out a pitiful voice, there was a gentle knock on the room door.
”Who is it?”
”Good morning, it’s Esther. Is it okay if I come in?”
”Sure, the door is unlocked.”
”Excuse me.”
The door opened, and Esther entered with a tray of bread and wine.
She was as neatly dressed as always, with no disarray in her collar or hair.
As she walked over, a scent of water and herbs wafted from her.
”Did you take a bath this morning?”
”Yes. I sweated a bit last night.”
Esther glanced down at her mini skirt and feet, seeming a little concerned about her outfit.
It seemed fine, and she looked up at Kian with a gentle smile.
”Here, this is breakfast. Please eat if you’d like.”
”Thanks. I appreciate it.”
”Hehe, you seem so polite like that, it doesn’t feel like Mr. Kian. I thought you’d say something like, ‘If you’re my slave, bringing food is a given’.”
”If you want me to treat you roughly like that, I could do it.”
”No, no, I prefer Mr. Kian just the way he is. I’ll leave this here.”
Esther placed the tray on the table and turned her back to Kian.
However, she quickly turned back again.
”Um, Mr. Kian. You’re going to work today, right?”
”Yeah, I spent yesterday recovering my strength and gathering necessary items, but today I’m finally heading to the ‘Labyrinth of Roses’.”
”I heard from my dad. They say a powerful evil spirit lives deep inside the ‘Labyrinth of Roses.’ Please, please don’t push yourself too hard. Your life is worth so much more than money or Guild points.”
”I know… Wait a minute, does Robert know anything about the evil spirit in the ‘Labyrinth of Roses’? If he does, I’d like to ask him for some information.”
”Well… it’s been over a decade since he stopped being an adventurer, so he probably doesn’t know more than you do, Mr. Kian. If you’re curious, should I wake my dad up?”
”…No, if I wake him up now to ask, I won’t make it in time to meet my teammates. I’m just planning to scout today and come back, so if he knows anything, I’ll ask him later.”
”Got it. Then I’ll let my dad know from my side too. Oh, by the way…”
”What is it?”
When Kian asked back, Esther furrowed her brows and continued.
”Actually, last night, I got a message from someone in the local Trade Association… It seems that 2 women have gone missing over the last couple of days. One was Ms. Matilda, who worked as a waitress on East Street, and the other was a woman named Sophia Schwarzer, who worked at the Guild’s reception.”
”What?”
”It seems Ms. Sophia was some kind of noble… A knight from her country came to look for her, but they couldn’t find her. All that was left in her room was a trunk packed for travel. Her wallet and everything were still there, and there was no note, so everyone is saying it might be a kidnapping or the work of a monster.”
”…I see.”
”Outside the town, Griffin has been appearing, and in the Eastern Forest, Spoon Wing have been swarming. Recently, things have been quite dangerous. Mr. Kian, please be careful.”
”Ah, I will.”
Nodding, Kian pressed his lips together.
Glasses chuckled softly in his mind.
’Are you curious? She was your former receptionist, after all.’
(No, I’m not.)
Kian slung his backpack over his shoulders.
(That woman has nothing to do with me anymore. I don’t care where or how she gets killed.)
’Hehehe…’
Kian felt a slight discomfort at the glasses’ cryptic laughter.
Just as he was about to ask why it was laughing, he heard a loud thumping sound coming from the hallway as someone rushed up the stairs.
Soon after, a bear-like giant appeared at the entrance of the room──Robert.
He wasn’t using a cane anymore and, for some reason, was wearing a thick inner layer under his armor.
”D-Dad!?”
Esther exclaimed in surprise.
”You shouldn’t be up! You need to rest!”
”Kian!”
Ignoring Esther, the bear-like man stomped over.
His hair was messy, as if he had just woken up.
Sweat covered his face, and he looked extremely anxious.
Robert grabbed Kian’s shoulder.
”Kian, I need you for a quest! Those idiots out there won’t do! You’re the only one I can trust with this request!”
”Calm down, Mr. Robert. What’s going on all of a sudden?”
When Kian responded calmly, Robert suddenly turned his gaze to Esther.
He froze for a few seconds, stiff as a board.
”…Dad?”
”Oh, no…”
Robert scratched his head and looked down.
He continued.
”I had a dream. A very important dream. I can’t tell you the details, Esther.”
”Huh…?”
”What do you mean by that?”
”Well, it might just be my misunderstanding, yeah. No, it can’t be. That person… I should have… done it…”
”What happened…?”
”I’m sorry. I just got a little panicked. I might have a fever from the injury. I’ll try to sleep again.”
Robert turned his back and said that with a downcast expression.
Esther seemed taken aback for a moment, but quickly regained her composure and bowed to Kian.
”I’m sorry for my dad being rude during the busy morning. I’ll take care of him for a bit.”
”Ah.”
”I’m really sorry. Good luck with work! …Dad, wait! Don’t go down the stairs by yourself! It’s dangerous!”
Esther’s clear voice faded into the distance.
Kian, left behind, finished his breakfast and hurriedly left ‘The Boar’s Trot Inn’.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
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