Chapter 11: First Sparring Match

Author: Kurohitsuji
Raw: https://ncode.syosetu.com/n2086fk/12/
Translator: Lilia v4
Editor: Yuriko AYA

In the back courtyard of the Adventurer’s Guild.
Right now I’m facing guildmaster Glad.
Hmm. Fierce-faced muscleman with a practice sword and shield.
The intimidation is intense.

I mean, from the side, isn’t this a pretty bad look.
I’m pretty small. Glad is huge. His face is scary.
Having a sword pointed at me and getting glared at is pretty scary, actually.

“…If I screamed right now, I think you’d get arrested.”
“Funny. I was thinking something close.”
“Fuhe. You’re kind, but your face is scary.”

Why is that. The scarier the face, the kinder they all are.
He’s doing this for me right now, too.

“Drop it. All right, we doing this?”
“Uuh, for real… Ring, I’m counting on you.”
“—Yes, my master. Sakura-Drive Ready.”

“Ignition”

Continue reading →

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.

Continue reading →

Chapter 9: A Really Big Bat

Author: Kurohitsuji
Raw: https://ncode.syosetu.com/n2086fk/10/
Translator: Lilia v4
Editor: Yuriko AYA

About two hours out of the forest, we reach a small village.
Myura Village, they say.
A few houses dotted about, and otherwise lots of fields in rows.
A very peaceful village.

Seeing chickens and pigs in a fenced enclosure reminds me of my town.
The same quiet life as there. Normally children would be running around everywhere.
But the air isn’t very calm right now.
Everyone in the village is on edge.

…Well. If monsters have settled near the village, in the worst case you might have to abandon it.
You can’t spend your days as usual in that state.

The two who guided me look uneasy too, and watching them I can’t settle either.

“Hnn. Anyway, for now. I came to visit your house to play, and from here we get separated. Wait at home with your mother.”
“…Haa? No, wait. That doesn’t make any sense.”

Yeah. Well. It wouldn’t. It doesn’t make sense to me while I’m saying it.
But I can’t think of a good excuse. Can’t be helped.

“It’s fine, I’ll be right back.”
“…I don’t really get it, but don’t do anything dangerous. I want to introduce you to Mama too.”
“Nn, I’ll do what I can.”

I wave and part from the two, who look even more uneasy than before.

Now then. I was on my way to visit the house of two people I’d happened to meet, and I carelessly got separated.
What now. It’s an unfamiliar place.
For now, I have to look, right?
And that completes the excuse. Continue reading →

Chapter 8: Herb Gathering

Author: Kurohitsuji
Raw: https://ncode.syosetu.com/n2086fk/9/
Translator: Lilia v4
Editor: Yuriko AYA

Back in front of Adventurer’s Guild reception.
The same beautiful older girl is standing behind the counter.

“Ou, Liza. Register this miss for me.”
“Certainly. Can you read?”
“Yes, I’m fine.”
“Then please read this first.”

Uh, let’s see, Adventurer’s Guild regulations?
…Look, I get “refrain from actions that harm the guild,” but.
“Don’t do bad things as much as you can”—what is this.

“That’s because if we write it in detail, nobody reads it…”
“Ah, I see.”
“Keep those two. Then please fill this in.”

She hands me a white tablet a little larger than my palm.
What is this, I think, and letters float up on the board.
Ooh, amazing. Some kind of magic?
Ah, fill it in, right.
Name, sex, age… eh, that’s all?

“Miss, only three fields?”
“Yes, that’s all. Rewards and punishments and so on float up on their own.”

Oh. Super convenient. Then: Ouka, female, 15.
Is this okay… ooooh? Now the letters vanished. Magic is amazing.

“Yes, thank you. The tablet, please.”

I give the board back and am handed a copper-colored plate instead.
Ah, my name’s on it. Hoh hoh.

“That completes registration. I think gathering requests would be a good place to start.”
“Eh, that’s it?”
“That’s it. If you do something bad it’ll show on that plate, so be careful.
See the stacks of request forms there? Right is gathering, left is subjugation.”
“Then these on the right. Let’s see.” Continue reading →

Chapter 7: The Adventurer’s Guild

Author: Kurohitsuji
Raw: https://ncode.syosetu.com/n2086fk/8/
Translator: Lilia v4
Editor: Yuriko AYA

Clatter clatter, several hours of being shaken in a coach from morning.
At last we arrive in the royal capital, Eucria.

First impression. Huge.
The castle, the streets, the gate. Everything’s huge.
The gate guard is huge too, while we’re at it. I could hang off that arm.
…No, maybe I’m just short.

Anyway, everything I can see is big. How many times my town is this.
A place this amazing must have lots of delicious food too.
I’m looking forward to it already… no. The goal is the Adventurer’s Guild. That’s important.
…Well, a little detour might be all right.

This is where I part with the people from the same coach.
They were all good people. Nobody asked about my black hair. I’d like to travel with them again if I get the chance.

At goodbye, everyone thanks me for the food, pats my head, and the girl gives me baked sweets.
…Look. How old do people think I am.
I’ll have you know I’m fifteen.

As for the leftover orc meat, we talked it over and decided to give it to the merchants.
There’s no way we can eat that much, and better they sell it than it rot.
As thanks, they gave the girl and me candy, and copper coins to everyone else.
…I mean, I don’t mind.
I just feel like I’m not being treated as the same age.

I’m a bit put out, but I pull myself together and go to the gate guard.

“Excuse meee. Which way is the Adventurer’s Guild?”
“The Adventurer’s Guild? Straight down this road and you’ll get there.”
“Oh, I see. Thank you.”
“Ou, you’re a cute one, miss, so be careful.”

Continue reading →

Chapter 6: Orc Barbecue

Author: Kurohitsuji
Raw: https://ncode.syosetu.com/n2086fk/7/
Translator: Lilia v4
Editor: Yuriko AYA

When I get back to the coach, everyone is worried sick.
They fuss over whether I’m hurt; the old woman scolds me for being reckless.
The girl comes clinging, crying.

…I’m really sorry.
I’ll make food again today by way of apology.

“I was surprised, though. Miss, were you an adventurer?”
“No, I’m not. Just a town girl.”
“…Well, there are things one doesn’t want to talk about. I won’t pry.”

The father looks at me with very kind eyes.
That’s not it. It isn’t that I don’t want to talk. I can’t talk, because I don’t understand it myself.

“…Ah, right. Could we stop by the river? I want to butcher the orcs, so if someone could help, please.”

As for how to butcher, I had the butcher show me once.
I remember the steps, and I brought a knife, so that should do.
It’s good meat. If we don’t bleed it properly and break it down, it’ll go bad.

“Ah, then shall I produce water with magic?”
“Wow, that would help a lot. By the way, is there anyone else who can butcher?”
“Ou. I’m an adventurer, more or less. I’ve broken down orcs before.”

The adventurer raises his hand.
Oh, as expected of a veteran.

“Then let’s knock it out. Seven of them will take a fair bit of time, though.”
“We’ve secured food for the road. That’s nothing.
Oi, you lot, help carry as thanks. You didn’t have to dump your goods. That’s a light price, isn’t it?”

He tosses it to the merchants with a bright smile.
Both of them are looking this way with faces full of relief.

“Ah, if that’s all, I’ll help. Miss, thank you, truly.”
“Without this it would have been bad. Let me thank you as well.”
“Uh… you’re welcome.
Ah, driver, please wait a bit before we leave.”
“I heard. It helps us too; I’ll lend a hand.”
“Then shall we all go. I don’t like leaving the coach, either.
Is that all right with you, ma’am?”
“Of course I don’t mind. Thank you for thinking of us.”
“Nnh. Then let’s go.”

The driver leads the horses, and we all walk to where the orc pack was.
Looking again, it’s quite a scene.

“Ah… ma’am, could you wait in the coach with her?”
“Let’s do that. Come, this way.”
“Okay.”

It isn’t a sight I want a small child to see, so I have the two of them wait inside.

Now then. Let’s work.

Continue reading →

Chapter 5: A Pack of Monsters

Author: Kurohitsuji
Raw: https://ncode.syosetu.com/n2086fk/6/
Translator: Lilia v4
Editor: Yuriko AYA

Morning. I wake at dawn, same as always.
At this hour, it seems no one else is up yet.
Well, of course.
Careful not to wake the girl sleeping beside me, I slip off toward the kitchen.

I check the coach’s stores: still plenty of potatoes and beans.
Hmm. I’ll make morning and midday while I’m at it.
I crush the dried beans, mix them with mashed boiled potato, knead with water, and bake, and it stands in for bread.

The dried sweet potato is… yeah. I’ll chop it fine and mix it into the bean bread.
Better if it has some chew.

The rest of the beans I’ll stew with potato.
Ah, there’s dried meat left. In it goes.
Heh heh. That should give us a nice savor and salt.

Now then. No laundry to do. What now.
Nothing to do. Well, I’ll skim the scum while it stews.

Still, I left on a journey and I’m doing pretty much the same things I do at the church.
Well, I do feel like I’ve been swept along.
When there are hungry people, I can’t help thinking of soup kitchens.

When you have something to spare, be as kind to people as you can.
That’s what Sister Naria taught me.
Once you can take care of yourself, you help the people around you next.
The world turns by repeating that, she said.

It probably isn’t all that pretty in practice, but those words have stayed in the deepest part of me.
Pretty words are fine. If you live them, they become true.
That’s a secondhand line too, though.

Anyway, it should be about done; I should wake everyone… ah, they got up, drawn by the smell.

“Big Sis, good morning.”
“Morning. Food’s ready, so go wash your face. There’s a well over there.”
“Okaaay!”

Mm-hm. Energetic is best.

“Morning, miss. Ooh, looks good today too. Thanks.”

As the girl runs off, I see the adventurer casually pinch up a piece of bread, and I stop his hand.

“Hold on. We eat once everyone’s here. While you wait, would you get ready to leave, please.”
“That so. I’ll go pack the bags, then.”
“Please. Ah, you merchants too! Come over here when you’re done getting ready!”
“Ah, got it. We’ll be right there, wait for us.”
“Thanks!”

Once everyone is gathered, I put my hands together as usual, and they look puzzled.
I tell them about the church custom, and they say that’s nice and put their hands together with me.

All right. Itadakimasu. Continue reading →

Chapter 4: Birthday and Departure

Author: Kurohitsuji
Raw: https://ncode.syosetu.com/n2086fk/5/
Translator: Lilia v4
Editor: Yuriko AYA

—Specified date has been exceeded.
—Playing message.

—Happy Birthday, Dear Ouka.
—Blessing To Your Life.

—Sakura-Drive. Download.
—Ready: OK?

“…So loud… Do what you want… mngh.”

—Verified.
—Sakura-Drive. Downloading_Now…

—Installation Is Complete.

∞∞∞∞

I feel like I had a weird dream. I can’t remember it, though.
Something like a bard’s hero tale. A grand adventure.
…No idea. Anyway, get dressed.

A little earlier than usual.
The sun isn’t up yet. Even the chickens are still asleep, and here I am swinging a pot.
Heave, heave.

If you dry-roast grains like wheat and drive the moisture out, they keep.
But they’re heavy. Relentlessly heavy. I rest between swings.
Trying to do it all at once was a mistake.
Heave, heave.

At the same time I smoke dried sweet potato in my homemade smoker.
This is a lot too. Smoking dried sweet potato makes it keep even longer, and it tastes better.
It’s just incredibly billowy. Smoky, but kind of fun.

I’ve also made pickled vegetables, salt-cured fish, all sorts of things.
With this much, we should be fine for a while. I want to think so.

Morning prep will be hard until they get used to it, whatever else you say, and having things they can eat right away should make it easier on everyone.
I made my own travel share at the same time, so it came out to quite a volume, but…
Well, fine. It’s a pretty spectacular sight. I’m satisfied.

…Ah. I haven’t made this morning’s. Need to add soup. Continue reading →

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? Continue reading →

Chapter 2: The Mysterious Ring and Breakfast

Author: Kurohitsuji
Raw: https://ncode.syosetu.com/n2086fk/3/
Translator: Lilia v4
Editor: Yuriko AYA

What was that.
The ring glowed, and then it talked.

“Eh, what, a ghost?”

I would really rather not have ghosts in the church.
Ugh, my heart is hammering.

“…What even was that, seriously.”
“—Confirm. By ‘what,’ do you mean me?”
“It talked agaaaaain!?”

I scramble back.
Window behind me. Worst case, I go out that way.
Then around to the front and get the little ones out. Yeah. That’s the plan.

Ah, have Sister Naria exorcise it, or…
No, ghosts are probably too much even for her?

“—I am not a ghost: I am an interface for interpersonal communication.”
“…Ha? What?”
“—I am an interface for interpersonal communication.”
“Interpersonal commu… uh, so you’re not a ghost?”
“—Negative: I am an interface for interpersonal communication.”
“You’re not a ghost, then?”
“—Affirmative: I am an interperson—”
“No, that’s enough of that.”

An interface for interpersonal communication, huh.
You’ve said it enough times. I remember.

Anyway, I don’t really get what it’s saying, but… we can talk, apparently.
Also, apparently not a ghost.

“…Uh. Do you do bad things?”
“—Negative.”
“Are you on my side?”
“—Affirmative.”
“…Got it. Then I’ll hear the rest later. Can you wait?”
“—Affirmative.”
“All right… hup!”

I pick the ring up, gingerly. No problem.
It isn’t glowing anymore. Just an ordinary ring.
…Looking closer, what’s this even made of?
If it’s silver, maybe it would sell for a lot.

I set it on the parcel for now. No change. Hmm.
Well, for the moment it doesn’t seem to be a bad one.
I can’t imagine a ring could do much mischief anyway. First things first: do what I have to do. Continue reading →