Chapter 67 - A Small Thorn Removed

"Aoi, are you sure this idea of yours will work?" Saki asked to her while feeling worried.

"...Hmph," Aoi crossed her arms together. "Just stay there and watch me do it."

Aoi took a deep breath, then summoned a thin black tendril from her shadow that extended upwards to a tree at the backyard of the Sandy Fish. Putting intense concentration towards the control of the object the tendril slowly wrapped itself onto a ripe fruit, and picked it right from the branch.

"Wow! You did it, Aoi!" Saki spoke in excitement.

"...Heh."

Not satisfied with her accomplishment, Aoi summoned more tendrils, and picked all the fruits hanging from the tree and placed it in a basket beside her.

"...Done!" She announced after the tendrils returned to her shadow.

"Yeah, and in just a short time!" Saki added.

"Good job, girls. I never expected you'll volunteer to do the task, but I'm confident you'll find a way to accomplish it," I said to them, while giving towels for them to wipe off the sweat from their bodies.

"It won't be possible without Aoi's help, Brother Ren!" Saki replied. "Her powers are really amazing!"

"...A-Amazing? Well...hehehe..."

Trying to conceal her feelings, Aoi hurriedly looked away from us, her cheeks becoming red.

"Yeah, Aoi's amazing."

I let them pick as much fruits as they wanted from the basket, before I took the rest inside for me to start making preserves and fruit wine to be stored for autumn. Thanks to the Rainens, I got the hang of making those products as another way to kill time.

"Oh, you're getting better these days, huh?" Saku asked, as he looked at the jars of preserves I've just finished making.

"I'm a bit of a slow learner so it might be not as good as you think, but if I focus myself on mastering the process I think I could earn some money with this."

"Nn. For some reason the people of Plate Town likes preserves and fruit wine during the cold months," Saku commented.

He looked outside and saw Aoi chasing after Saki, trying to tickle Saki with the dark tendrils from her shadow.

"I still can't believe that your sister is a goddess, Ren, and an important one at that," he said, while observing how Aoi use her powers in their playtime.

I grinned at him. "You'll get used to it, someday."

He clicked his tongue. "Man, do you remember what happened five days ago? Those black things...she hung me upside down!"

Five days ago...

"Aoi, are you a goddess?"

Out of the blue--Saki asked that question to Aoi.

"...Yes," Aoi replied, possibly because she have already expected that question to arise anytime after what happened at the Bottom Row.

Caught in confusion with the situation, Saku asked his sister, "S-Saki, what do you mean by that? Aoi, a goddess? Did your head hit onto something?"

Ticked off with his reaction, Aoi summoned several thin black tentacles from the shadows and have them latch around Saku's feet.

"W-Wha-What the fu--WAAAAAAHHHHH!!!"

Hanging by the feet with his body upside down, Saku screamed at me for help.

"Ren! Tell your sister to stop--AAAAAAHHHH!!!"

"Hehe, I'm afraid I can't help you...but don't worry! I'll make sure Aoi won't kill you," I assured him.

"What?! WAAAAAAHHH!!! NOOOOOOOOOOOOO--"

"I puked out everything I ate on that day, you dumbass!" Saku yelled at me as he recalled how Aoi whirled him around the kitchen like a ball tied into a string. "Even right now, I still feel a bit nauseous whenever I remember that."

Though he said that, his impression of her didn't change at all. In fact, he insisted on keeping us here, as a way to protect Aoi's identity from leaking out into the neighborhood.

"Still, thanks to you and Saki for accepting who she is. It feels like a thorn has been removed from my body, and I don't need to make excuses anymore every time something strange happens," I said.

Aoi feels the same too. Just like right now she's more comfortable playing with Saki, and a lot more active than before. I'm happy that even though it's a very slow process, she's starting to grow more sociable with the people around her.

"No problem. As long as Saki doesn't mind Aoi being the Death Goddess, you two are welcome here," he replied.

While Saku and I are talking to each other I watch the girls eating the remaining fruits they've harvested under the shade of the tree. The two met my gaze, and they happily waved at me. I waved back in return, and told them not to stay outside for too long.

"Yeah. I believe those two will be much closer than ever," I remarked.

-----

Aoi and I went to the Guild Headquarters to inform them that we'll be away for at least a week. I'm worried that I won't be permitted to go outside of Plate Town since I haven't reported to them after my community service ended, that's why I have to ask for the approval of the management before continuing with the trip.

*ring*

"Oh, long time no see, kid!" Alisha the reception clerk greeted me loudly the moment she saw us enter the place.

"I only just finished my community service a few days ago, give me a break," I replied to her in irritation.

"Ahahaha! I know, I know," she laughed, "but make sure you start working immediately--you'll be removed from our roster if you stopped doing missions for more than a month."

She also said that there will be an evaluation for all the registered adventurers in this branch, and the accomplishments of every individual member will be assessed by a panel of evaluators that will arrive next week.

"Our budget for the rest of the year depends on the outcome of their evaluation, so everyone must complete as much missions as they can! By hook or by crook, I'll have you work 'til you drop, understood?!"

"""YES MA'AM!!!""" Everyone inside the headquarters immediately replied in unison.

"So, I'll expect you to return to work tomorrow, okay?", she gave a bright smile while tossing a knife in her hand.

I returned a wry smile and said, "I think...we have a problem."

"What?!" She stabbed her knife to the table, right at the space between my thumb and my pointing finger.

So close?! No wonder she's called 'Alisha the Cutthroat'!

"What problem?! Tell me!"

"T-The Rainens invited us to a trip to the capital, and we're going to leave starting tomorrow. I-I don't think I'll make it by then," I explained to her in a hurry, while looking at the knife on the table.

"Hrgh," Alisha rubbed her forehead while grumbling. "How long are you going to stay at the capital?"

"About a week, I guess."

"Knowing that bastard Saku, he won't let anyone ruin his plans especially if they're having a trip. Wait for a moment here, kid. I'll go ask my superior about this."

Alisha then went upstairs in a hurry. Judging from her reaction, they must be really in a pinch right now for them to be concerned about a low-rank adventurer like me.

A few minutes later she returned while holding a form in one hand and a brown envelope on the other.

"Alright, kid. Sign this form first."

"Oh? Alright."

The words [Special Mission Form 12] was written at the topmost part of the form. Skimming into the details as I fill up the blank boxes, I found out that this form is used solely for logistics purposes.

"Take this envelope with you to the capital and give it to the person named Dian at the Guild branch there. I'll have you know, we're supposed to have it sent there through a messenger but since there's members planning to go to the capital, we thought why not give the envelope to them and have them do the job instead? It's cheaper that way."

What to you mean by 'cheaper'? You guys won't pay me to do this?!

"Consider this as your mission. If you complete this without a hitch I'm sure you'll reach E-3 rank after this," she said as she handed to me the envelope.

"I-I got it," I gave her a bitter reply. I'll just give it to them, right? No problem.

"Also, take this." Alisha took out a small bag from her pocket and gave it to Aoi who's currently eating the snacks given to her by other guild employees. "The management might not reward you money for this special task, but since you're going to the capital I thought I should give you some pocket money to spend. After all I'm also an adventurer, and it's my responsibility to take care of my juniors."

Despite the stories I've heard from some people, many adventurers look up to her. Even now that she's an employee of the HQ now, the respect she earned from everyone never waned.

"Thanks, Alisha. We'll put this into good use," I said before we went for the exit.

"...Thanks!"

She waved her hand in return. "Take care--and have fun with your trip, you two."

Shortly afterwards we bid her goodbye, and walked back to the inn.

-----

"...Big brother, big brother! Look, meat buns!"

Aoi, who's currently on my back, pointed her finger towards a small stall at the corner of the marketplace that is selling meat buns.

"You want to eat again? Haven't we had our lunch just a while ago?"

She's also munching on snacks before we left the Guild, so how the hell she's hungry again?

"...I've been using my powers more frequently during these past few days that's why I have to eat more than usual, otherwise I have no choice but to proceed with that."

"What do you mean by 'that'?" I asked her.

"...You know it already, big brother. Buy me some meat buns or else--"

'I'll take everyone's life force and consume them.'

Looking around, I noticed that the street's became crowded with people at such an alarming rate, that it made me shiver while imagining this noisy and lively atmosphere turn into a sea of the dead just because of a goddess's selfish desire to eat meat buns.

However--

"You think I'll let you do that?" With her using that card a few times already, I have slowly learned not to be bothered by her threats.

"...T-Try me," she replied, noticing how quick I loosened up the tension in my body.

I waited for her to start doing her thing. Half a minute has passed, and still nothing happened.

"What's wrong, Aoi? I thought you're going to kill everyone here?" I looked over my shoulder to mock at her words about taking everyone's life force and consuming it. "It doesn't seem that buying you meat buns would satisfy your urge to kill people, so I decided to let you have some fun instead. What are you waiting for? Go."

"..."

With my words being a complete departure from my usual lines, Aoi soon started to feel uneasy.

"...That's not fair, big brother."

"Hehe, I just had a feeling that you don't mean to do that this time," I let out a short chuckle.

Still, it would be very bad if she did mean it.

"Okay, okay. Let's go buy some."

"...Really? Yeeeyyy!!!" Aoi exclaimed happily. I say, you don't need to threaten me just to have the things you wanted.

Traversing our way across the 'sea of the living', we finally reached the stall.

"...Five large meat buns, make it spicy!"

"F-Five?!" I gasped my breath in shock. Is this your way of getting your revenge at me?

"...Also, um...two regular ones for Saku and Saki!"

Seven meat buns, but the money I'm holding is only enough for two regular ones. Though it breaks my heart to do this, I have no choice but to use the pocket money Alisha had given us earlier.

The vendor, who's for some reason having his face hidden because of the wide-brimmed straw hat he's wearing, started wrapping the meat buns in a way that is enthralling and mesmerizing to watch, as if the buns are floating in midair.

"..."

After his quick but awesome performance, he handed over to Aoi the meat buns she ordered.

"It's in the house," the vendor spoke abruptly, looking down as he hide his face away from us.

"Wait, your voice--I think I heard that before..."

That deep, cold voice. If I'm not wrong--

"Tsk. I should've knew it from your actions."

The vendor then removed his hat, revealing a boar mask that covered his entire face. Despite the hot weather he's also wearing a black robe, with a black cloak over it.

"...Hrgh," Aoi's dark aura quickly surged around her.

"It's been a while, Death Goddess and you, Ren Mortel," he said with a tone implying that he knows we'll see him.

"I'm sure you've been watching us for a while now, so please drop the act already," I replied, feeling unpleasant with his sudden appearance.

"Hoho, you're wrong about that," he waved his finger at us. "I only returned here just an hour ago, so your allegations aren't true."

As a proof he showed me a receipt, indicating that he bought the large hat only about 15 minutes ago.

"Still, it's meaningless since your subordinates do most of the work anyway," I said to him.

"That's right. Having lackeys that follow your orders are the best part of my job."

"...I won't let you get big brother, you with the ugly mask," Aoi spoke at him bitterly.

"Ah, that's bad, Death Goddess," he replied in a calm manner, "you shouldn't think of everyone around you in a bad way all the time. To tell you two the truth, I'm not here for that reason."

'Hm?'

He then took a red bracelet out of his pocket and showed it to us.

I asked him, "What's that?"

"Wear it, and you'll know what it is for."

"...B-Big brother?! Wait, don't be fooled by him!"

Despite her warning, I took the bracelet from the boar guy and wore it on my right wrist. The red stone in the bracelet glimmered intermittently for a few seconds and a sound like static then resounded in my ears.

{Greetings, boy~ It's me, your big sister Myriel.}

"What the fu--k?!"

"...B-Big brother? What's wrong?!" Aoi, who have no idea about the voice coming from the bracelet, got startled at my reaction.

Myriel?! Why...?