Chapter 10: Two Letters

Author: Kurohitsuji
Raw: https://ncode.syosetu.com/n2086fk/11/
Translator: Lilia v4
Editor: Yuriko AYA

The moment I get into my room at the inn, I lock the door, set down my things, and write a letter to the church at the desk provided.

Dear Sister Naria,

It has only been a few days since I left, but I hope you are well. I am well.
I came to the Adventurer’s Guild to hear the story, but I will be staying in the capital for a while, until I understand the details.
I will be late coming home, but please do not worry.

The capital is large in all sorts of ways, and I was surprised.
But everyone I have met is kind.
I have not been able to see the city at all yet, so I think I will take my time looking around another day.

I will buy souvenirs to bring home, so please look forward to that.

P.S. I became an adventurer.

All right. That’s about it for the church.
I hardly ever write letters, so I don’t really know, but… it’ll be fine.

The problem is the other one. The letter to Asura.
My name, and… that I received the ring and the handguns, and that I want to know what they are.
And that I’d like to meet in person and talk, if possible.
I’m interested in Ring’s previous Master too.

…Right. Yeah, that’s about it.
I’ll give them to Liza at reception tomorrow morning.

After writing the letters, I liked the motif on the handguns, so I tried making a quick hair ornament out of whatever materials I had on hand.
Yep. Not bad. Cute, if I do say so myself.

I change and flop onto the bed.
It’s been a while since I had a bed. It’s fluffy.

How do I put it. These last few days, too much has happened. I’m tired.

I pick up the ring hanging at my chest and stare at it vaguely.
It hasn’t even been a week since I met this thing.
And from there.
My first long trip, meeting people on the shared coach, fighting the orc pack, butchering and grilling and eating them, coming to the capital…
Then becoming an adventurer, taking a herb-gathering request, and ending up beating goblins and giant bats along the way.
…It’s been a really dense few days.

“Hey, Ring.”
“—How may I assist you?”
“Hnn… what are you, in the end?”
“—Answer: an interface for interpersonal communication.”
“I know that. That’s not what I mean. Ah… for example, do you have some kind of purpose?”
“—Answer: to support Master.”
“Nnn. That’s not it. This is hard…”

Ring answers what I ask, but it almost never starts talking on its own.
What it’s thinking, what it’s feeling.
It has no expression, so I can’t read it.
Frankly, it’s someone I don’t understand.
…I don’t understand, but.

“I’ll be honest, while we’re at it. For some reason, I trust you.”
“—”

“Why is that, I wonder. A talking ring is explosively suspicious.”
“—”

“Well, it’s fine. Anyway, I’m relying on you.
It’s thanks to you I can even do this adventurer thing.”
“—”

“Fighting, searching. Not being alone is nice.”
“—”

“…Hey. You listening?”
“—The highest-priority item configured in me is support of Master.”

“……Hoa?”
“—Paraphrase: I am on Master’s side.”

“…Haha. Okay, okay. I trust you…………”
“—Advisory: remaining as you are to sleep will harm your body.”

“…Nn. …Unyuu.”
“—Pleasant dreams, Master.”

∞∞∞∞

The next morning. I eat breakfast and head to the guild, and the moment I step inside I’m grabbed by the back of the collar and lifted.
Uwah, what!? Hey, my feet are off the ground!?
And don’t lift me, I’m not a cat!

“Yo, Ouka. I got a little something I want to ask.”

The face of the ringleader of evil, right in front of me.
…Haha. I’m in trouble.

“Uh. Morning, Glad. Could you put me down for now?”
“What did you do yesterday?”
“What… I went to the forest to gather herbs, and went to visit the house of a kid I met there.”
“…And?”
“I went to visit, got separated, got lost, and after that I found a lot of giant bat corpses. I am innocent.”
“…You. You’ve got the wrong idea about something, haven’t you.”

He sighs, fed up.

Eh, about what?
And don’t dangle me. Don’t swing me.

“What do you think the Adventurer’s Guild is for?”
“What for… to help people in trouble?”
“Ou. And I’ll add, adventurers are a bunch of idiots who put the reward second. Leave ’em and they’ll die in a ditch.
So the guild’s got to manage ’em.
Meaning: you’re free to take jobs without going through the guild, but at least report.”

Glad says it, fed up, a crease between his brows.

“…Eh. That’s okay?”
“If you can eat, that’s fine by me. But if you pull something, at least report it.
The guild has to send a completion report to the client, and sometimes we have to defend an adventurer.”
“Nu… sorry. That was on me.”
“As long as you get it. You’ll pull something again anyway. Be careful next time.”

I’m finally set down on the ground.
Muu. If my clothes stretch it’s a problem. I didn’t bring that many.

“Ah. Right, before I came to the capital I smashed an orc pack. And a goblin pack when I went herb-gathering.”
“I’m not going to be surprised at this point, but you don’t have the proof parts for those either, do you.”

…Proof parts? What’s that.

“Subjugation requests, see, when you take the reward you need a part that proves you killed the monster. Canines for goblins, the nose for orcs, like that.”

Heh. But yeah, you need proof you killed them.

“Ah… I don’t think there’s any left.”
“None left? How are you hunting?”

How, he says…

“When I find them I go boom.”
“…You. I’ll say this once: you’re standing out like crazy, you know that?”
“I know. I was born with the hair and the eyes.”

Black hair, black eyes. A color you don’t see at all, even in the capital.

“That ain’t all.
Giant bats, orcs—smashing a pack is a request a party takes. It ain’t something you normally do solo.”
“…Ah. That’s true.”

Now that he says it, it is.
I’d only been thinking I had to do it, but fighting multiple monsters alone is normally suicide.
…Why didn’t I get something that obvious.

“And you’re a young woman. The people in this guild are worried too.”
“Ah… yeah. Sorry, I guess.”
“I ain’t telling you to sit quiet, but keep it in mind. Or you’ll get pulled into trouble you don’t need.”

Oh. Is he… worried about me?
See, scary-faced people really are all good people.

“Nn. Got it. Thanks.”
“Then that’s fine. You’re sending letters, right.”
“Ah, that’s right. Liza, may I ask you?”
“Yes. One by coach, one by wyvern post, so twenty copper together.”
“Yes, please.”

Twenty percent of yesterday’s earnings. A fairly painful expense, but it can’t be helped. I’ll work harder at herb-gathering for it.

“Ah, while we’re at it. You, come out to the back courtyard.”
“Eh, what?”

While I’m handing over the letters, Glad grabs my shoulder with a nasty smile.
What? Did I pull something else?

“A test of your skill. The others are too worried to be any use.”
“Ehh… what are we doing in the courtyard?”
“Nothing much. Just a light spar with me.”

A grin from the fierce-faced muscleman.
Uwah. I really don’t want to. Why do I have to fight this muscle monster.
…But it seems I’m making the people around me worry. I guess I can’t not do it.