CH 65

After cleaning up, everyone gathered in the living room, so I decided to tell them today’s schedule.

“I’m going to go shopping for clothes for Mia and the kids today. I don’t know the size of the clothes if it’s just me, so Mia and the kids can come with me. Ares too…”

As I spoke, I heard a knock on the front door. Who is it?

“Is it a guest…?”

Ares said as he looked toward the front door.

“Should I check?”

“No, I’ll handle it. Ariamel, you take care of Nina and the others.”

I picked up Nina who was about to run to the front door while saying “Okayakushan!” (visitor) and handed her over to Ariamel.

Stella and Ratz have already been secured by Iska and Fio. As expected.

“Yes, I understand. Come on, Nina, be quiet.”

Ariamel gently holds Nina, who is flapping her arms and legs.

“Just be good children and wait for a little while.”

All three of them become quiet when I say so while patting their heads. They all quiet down.

As I move to the front door, I prepare to pull out my sword at any moment. This is an old habit that I still can’t get out of.

This was before I came to this city of Bastok, because I was attacked the moment I opened the door. When I fulfilled a request to avenge one of a man’s daughters, I was told by  the remnants of the gang that they had come to avenge their friends.

“Who is it?”

“I’m sorry it’s so early in the morning. I’m Sasha, a guild employee.”

“Hmm, ah”

It was Sasha’s voice coming from the other side of the door. What in the world does she want?

I took my hand off the hilt of my sword and opened the door.

“Good morning, Gray-san. I’m sorry to interrupt you out of the blue.”

Saying that, Sasha lowers her head.

“No, it’s fine. Besides, what do you want?”

To be honest, I have a bad feeling about a guild employee coming to my house…

“Mr. Tarales wants me to call you, Gray-san”

Sasha says this while fixing her glasses.

“… Tarales. What on earth does he want with an adventurer like me?”

Tarales is the name of the master of the Bastok Adventurers’ Guild. He may look small and good-natured, but he’s a former A-ranked adventurer.

It’s not unusual for a former adventurer to act as a guild master. In order to manage hot-blooded adventurers, the person himself needs a suitable ability.

And it must be really troublesome.

“…In the past few days, there have been incidents of children from neighboring towns and villages going missing. Our guild has also received several requests from parents of missing children to search for them.”

“…”

The children going missing, is it a human abduction or a monster with such a nature? Either way, it’s a horrific story.

If that’s what you’re talking about… I think, but I was planning to go buy clothes for Mia and the others today.

“What do you think? Of course you can refuse, but…”

Sasha spoke in a matter-of-fact manner without changing her expression as usual.

“I suppose…”

“Gray-san”

As I crossed my arms and worried, I heard a voice calling me from behind. I turned around and there stood Ares with a serious look on his face.

“I’m sorry… I overheard what you said. A request…is it?”

“Oh, but you…”

“Would you accept that request…?”

Ares opens his mouth further while I’m wondering for a moment whether I should say “It doesn’t matter…” or not.

“Why?”

There must be some reason why that meek Ares said such a thing. But if the victims are children, then my children are in danger.

“It’s very painful to be forcibly separated from the people you love. If there are people who feel that way for someone else’s personal gain, I want to help them. But I can’t do anything right now.”

But…Ares continues.

“I’m sure you, Gray-san, will be able to help those people. I know it’s selfish of me to ask you to do something like this after you helped me and Mia and the others.”

Saying that, Ares lowers his head deeply. Turning to his side, Sasha also bowed her head in the same way.

“Ares”

“yes…”

“I don’t know if I’m going to take it yet, but I’m going to ask for more details. After that, I’ll go shopping. Until then, take care of everyone.”

Ares raises his head with a surprised face. Then he tightened his expression and replied, “Yes.”