Volume 2 - CH 315

Chapter 7-36. Side -Houen- Thoughts

“What should I …… do ……?”

I have been worrying about this for a long time, even after a day has passed, and I am not sure what I should do now.

Before visiting Irza’s place, I entered the archives of Salettana Castle, but in the end I could not get anything and left.

Even from Irza, who had been our hope, we could not find any useful information.

I don’t know if she is hiding it or if she really doesn’t know, but from the looks of her, it seems more likely that she really doesn’t know.

I’ll bring him in when Reizen is awake.

I don’t think we can do that right now.

If there are witnesses, they may tell us something, so I’ll keep that in mind.

“Sigh……… But, you know~…”

It hurts the most to say that we didn’t know anything.

If we don’t have any information, we can’t move on to the next step.

Where should I go, what should I do? ……

The more I think about it, the more my head hurts.

All I can do now is to make a list of unresolved problems in my head.

No matter how I organize it, I can’t find anything that has been solved or can be solved so far.

“Hmmm. I never thought I’d walk in here unconsciously. ……”

When I looked up, I saw that I had arrived at the guild.

Even though I don’t have anything in particular to ask about, I’m not sure how I’m going to end up here …….

Including travel time, I could do another month of research here.

We can make preparations after that, but it would be better to send a messenger to Bamil territory and have him prepare for defense.

If they know that an attack is coming, there will be plenty of ways to deal with it.

But unfortunately, I do not have subordinates like that.

I always took requests alone, a soloist, if I may say so.

I have always wanted to gather a group of people when I become proficient in my own skills, but I never thought that they would be my friends.

I do like them, though.

They are former Earthlings with the same circumstances.

There is no reason why we can’t be on the same page.

Lately, I’ve been playing a little too many tricks, and I’m reflecting on it.

But I have no regrets at all.

We have to enjoy what we do.

I will apologize to him when he returns to his human form.

It’s better than being beaten up.

“Hmmm. I should at least report it.”

Is anyone available?

I don’t have a lot of contacts because I’ve been doing it all by myself to begin with.

I came here solo and got a lot of compliments. ……

Adventurers naturally come to me with admiring eyes.

But now I’m here, and it’s resonating with me!

It’s true that you never know what will happen in life!

“Ah, Houen-san! Thank you for your hard work!”

“”Thank you for your hard work!””

“Uhmm. …… Mm? Did you upgrade your equipment?”

“Oh, you can tell!”

“Of course I can tell. You must be very diligent so that you can get better equipment.”

“””Yes!”””

Mmm, this kind of thing is not so bad after all.

I’m glad I worked so hard to get here, and it’s when I feel adored like this that I can feel it.

In the beginning, I was treated like a freak because I cried so hard just because I ate!

But the food was delicious!

That was the first decent meal I’d had in several months!

I don’t want anything moving in my stomach anymore.

“Good afternoon!”

“Oh? Are you new here, boy?”

‘Yes! The guild’s lady told me to go say hello to Houen-san!”

“I see. Do not forget to take care of one request at a time, okay?”

“Understood!”

Do the entire people in this guild already know that I’m here?

Well, there’s nothing to be done about it if I say it’s inevitable because I stand out.

It is hard to organize the information when you are talking so much.

As I thought, I’m going to leave here and go to another place …….

“Oh? Isn’t that Houen-san?”

“Mm…….”

I guess I should have left earlier. ……

Well, I’m sorry to ignore him, so I’ll just talk to him for a little while and then go.

“Who would have thought that I would be approached by two of the Thunder Bow.”

They were there, Yurie and Roze, both are S-rank adventurers.

They were as beautiful looking as ever, but I was asexual, so I had no interest in them whatsoever.

However, there was something that still caught my interest.

Behind Yurie and Rose, there was a boy with a longsword on his back.

There’s also a weapon on his waist that looks like a hunting knife.

“…… Who is that boy? He didn’t seem to be there when I saw you before.”

“It has been a long time since we have talked like this.”

“Yes. I’ve been too busy with the monster attack to say hello, and I think the last time we really talked was when I was a C rank, right?”

“What a mean thing to say. I mean, we met once when you borrowed Roze’s flying dragon.”

“That’s true, but I couldn’t have a decent conversation. It’s been a long time anyway. And who is that boy?”

“My apprentice. And he is-“

Saying this, Yurie grabbed the boy by the shoulders and pulled him forward.

I wonder if I have seen this boy before.

I don’t remember.

However, I was surprised that Yurie, who had been refusing apprenticeships for so long, had a boy like this as an apprentice.

Well, it is true that there were no good ones among those who offered apprenticeships.

“What is your name, boy?”

My name is Jigal!

“…… Jigal?”

Ah, so this boy is that Jigal.

I was trying to keep Lize’s request under wraps by suitably matching it to Ouren’s story,…… but I didn’t think I would meet him here.

…..From what I’ve seen, he seems to be quite competent.

Although it is worrisome that he has a longsword that doesn’t suit his height,……, other than that, he is normal.

“Ah, uhm,…… is there something wrong?”

“Oh, my apologies, I’m sorry. It’s a little unusual you’re the one that Ouren was talking about.”

“By Nii-san! What did he say!?”

“Hmm, what…. did he say it again…”

Oh shoot, that was not what I meant.

Well, let’s just muddle through here so as not to be too obvious.

“He praised you for your hard work at the thunder bow.”

“””BULLSHIT!”””

“Huh!?”

What kind of relationship does he have with these guys, being told this by three people!

If I continue this story any longer, I’m afraid it will be exposed.

In order not to bring it up any further, let’s change the subject.

“Well, more to the point, ……. What’s going on? How did Yuri take on an apprentice?”

“Many, many things have happened!”

“I see. Then I shall not ask.”

Well, it’s good that she took on an apprentice.

I really hope he will use this opportunity to put more effort into his training.

“So, what are you doing, Houen-san?”

“I’m doing some research. I’m a little stuck.”

“Is there anything we can do to help?”

“Hmm? No, no, no, don’t worry about it. We don’t want to interfere with your training.”

“Oh, no, I’m fine, okay?”

“Why should I be concerned?”

I can’t tell these two what’s going on.

This is our problem.

The fewer people we involve, the better.

Well, there may come a time when we need their cooperation.

But we can still manage on our own.

Bamil territory is the territory of the Kingdom of Garrot, and it seems that Ouren is acquainted with the king of the Kingdom of Garrot.

This time, we will ask the other side to cooperate with us.

The Lightning Bow are S-rank adventurers, and there are only a few of them in the Kingdom of Salettana.

It wouldn’t be right to let them poke their heads into our affairs and pull them out.

“That hasn’t changed, has it? I also saw how you inspire everyone.”

“Ha ha ha, when you say it like that, it’s embarrassing.”

“But it was a tough time. We had a hard time when the centipedes came into the country.”

“Yes, it was. But they were weak.”

“Well, yes.”

…………They were weak, indeed.

“I’m sure they were weak. Do you remember Lequam?”

“Ah, that criminal.”

“I was surprised when his body was brought to ward. Do you know anything about it?”

“I do, but it’s not something I want to talk about here.”

Ah.

“T-that’s right! Lequam!!”