Chapter 3: The Red-and-White Handguns
Author: Kurohitsuji
Raw: https://ncode.syosetu.com/n2086fk/4/
Translator: Lilia v4
Editor: Yuriko AYA
What I’ve figured out so far: apparently no one but me can hear Ring’s voice.
I tried hanging it from a chain around my neck, and at breakfast and during laundry, nobody reacted to it at all.
Is this thing really not a ghost. It’s pretty suspicious.
Well, for now, I should probably leave that part out when I explain to Sister Naria.
“So anyway, there was a ring and two handguns in it.”
“…I’m sorry, I don’t understand.”
“Yeah, I don’t either.
And apparently there’s someone at the Adventurer’s Guild in the capital who might know what’s going on.”
According to Ring, the sender, Glad, is there.
I’d like to ask for the details, but it isn’t a distance you just pop over.
“Ah, the sender.”
“I’d like to hear the story from that person, but it’s the capital. So I’m stuck on what to do.”
“…Hmm. What did the letter say?”
“‘I hereby return your fate to you,’ I think.”
“…Fate, is it.”
She looks like she has no idea.
Well, of course. I don’t either.
“Hmm. All right—why not go?”
“Eh. To the capital?”
“Yes. You might learn something about your parents.”
“Hmm. I don’t really care about that, though.”
Frankly, I have no interest in the people who abandoned me.
Besides, my mother is Sister Naria.
The person who raised a heretic with black hair and black eyes this far. My benefactor.
I’ll never say that out loud. Too embarrassing.
“I mean, the capital’s like a week round trip? You’ll be in trouble if I’m not here, right?”
“We’ll manage among ourselves for a while. And it’s a chance for the other children to learn to do more.”
“Unnyu. I see…”
I’m glad she’s saying that. But. Hmm.
Those who-knows-what ring and handguns are my fate, huh.
Sounds like nonsense to me.
“And, Ouka. You said ‘handguns’ just now, didn’t you?”
“Eh, yeah. I did.”
“Ouka. What is a handgun?”
Eh, what is… wait?
What is a handgun?
I don’t know any such thing.
“Eh, wait? Why…”
Why do I know the name of something I’ve never seen?
“See? Strange, isn’t it? Why would you know the name of something even I don’t know?”
“Eh, what is this, that’s scary!?”
A name I’ve never seen or heard, and for some reason I know it.
What is this. It feels weird.
“It’s probably something you learned before you came here.”
“…Nunu. That makes even less sense.”
“Including that. It might be worth going to the capital once, don’t you think?”
I don’t remember anything from before I came to this church, and I wasn’t that interested.
Or so I thought.
I hereby return your fate to you.
…This is probably something I ought to know.
Together with Ring, I have a vague feeling.
What I am. Why I have the same black hair and black eyes as the heroes of salvation.
That is something I’ve wondered about.
“…All right. I’m going to the capital.”
“Yes. That’s good.”
“If that’s decided, I have to tell school and the owner.”
“Yes. Go on and let them know.”
“Then I’m off!”
School first, anyway.
I’ll tell the teacher I’ll be out for a while.
Not that I think it’d be a problem if I didn’t, but still.
∞∞∞∞
Result: school was no problem at all, as expected.
One “I understand,” and it was over.
I have to wonder if that’s too casual, but it was easy, so I’ll take it.
The slightly bigger problem was the bakery that employs me.
The wife said “Take care,” but the owner came out in fierce opposition.
A girl traveling alone is dangerous, what if something happens before she’s even married—he worried about all sorts of things.
In the end it went as far as the wife smacking him quiet with a tray while he wept like a man because he’d be lonely.
She’s demure most of the time, but scary when you make her angry.
I also got all sorts of things that keep as farewell gifts from the greengrocer and the butcher I always shop at.
Hmm… people are really good to me.
I want to repay them someday, but the debts just keep piling up.
Maybe I’ll buy souvenirs in the capital.
The baker’s wife told me about a good sweets shop there before. That might be the place.
∞∞∞∞
“So that’s the plan. I won’t be here for a while starting tomorrow, so you all keep that in mind.”
Over dinner I tell the little ones what we talked about today.
They answer with a lively “Okaaay!”, but do they actually get it?
Especially the older group. Starting tomorrow you have to cook with Sister Naria.
“But you’re leaving food made ahead, right?”
“Well, yeah. I’ll stock a few days’ worth.”
“Then we’re fine. You worry too much.”
Shut up. Cooking’s a hobby of mine too, so let me.
“Ah, right. Souvenirs, please!”
“I don’t need you to tell me. I’ll buy everyone’s. I have that much saved.
More importantly, you listen to Sister Naria, you hear?”
“We already do, normally.”
…True. You do, normally.
You just push back on everything I say.
The usual noisy night went by, all chatter and clamor.