Chapter 37
Chapter 37
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 37
Chapter Title: Can't Go On Like This
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I can't keep living like this anymore. Please don't look for me.
If you're not a devil, young master, I believe you'll understand my feelings.
I hate you, young master....
(Excerpted)
...Halon.
Thirteen letters forged from tears.
Even if he was dragged back and forced to stare at paperwork in this manor for ten years instead of five, Halon thought he had to get out now.
Some maids had said he looked better now, with a bit of the excess muscle gone for better balance with his face compared to before.
'That doesn't comfort me at all....'
That salty stench. The saltiness on his lips from sweat dripping down.
After long iron-pumping sessions, the smell of iron lingered on his hands even after showering.
The pleasure of lying in bed after overdoing training, body spreading out like freshly baked marshmallows.
Exercise and training never betrayed him. Lift something heavy once, and it came back as muscle in equal measure.
Unlike the endless paperwork that piled up no matter how many sheets he processed, muscles offered clear, visible rewards.
Which meant.
"Happiness is out there."
Halon swept up his olive-colored hair, now grown long enough to brush his nape, and flashed a bright smile.
'Time to run away.'
If anyone saw him running away, they might snitch to Adelrian.
As he slowly moved his feet, murmuring to himself that he never imagined using the infiltration and assassination training from the gold-embossed crow knights like this.
No need for luggage. Just grab cash and go.
Halon snatched the robe and small backpack he'd squirreled away bit by bit, eyes sparkling with excitement as he left the castle.
The inner keep folks knew full well he'd become a paperwork slave, so the outer gate guards linking to the outside wouldn't bat an eye if he left.
Even if they searched for him later, there wouldn't be much to go on.
Halon covered his mouth with his hand to hide his overly thrilled expression, walked slowly to stay out of sight while suppressing the urge to shout, then bolted like mad the moment he was beyond the guard's view.
Instead of the road to the castle village, he cut through the landscaped little forest into the village depths, quickening his steps even blended into the crowd.
'Change boats a few times first...!'
"Eek!"
Dodging a man walking slowly ahead by veering left, a girl coming from the opposite side twisted the same way, crashing into Halon. He caught the tumbling girl with an outstretched arm.
"Are you all right?"
Halon scooped her waist—bounced off his sturdy frame, nearly hitting the ground—and gently set her upright, picking up the dropped paper and handing it over. The girl lifted her bowed head to look at him.
"Ah, thank you so much!"
A radiant smile. Cute gray curls swaying, violet eyes like cornflowers.
Halon stared blankly, eyes glazing over, as she bobbed a quick curtsy, glanced back at the paper, and walked into an alley.
"So... the biggest house is...."
Had his heart jumped to his ears?
Could he hear his own heartbeat not just after running till he wanted to puke, but even standing still?
Lost, the girl kept popping in and out of alleys before Halon's eyes, slowly drawing his steps away from the harbor toward the depths.
"May I help you, miss?"
"Eek! N-no, I'm n-not a n-noble?"
Halon smiled softly at her wide violet eyes.
"I'm Halon. You looked troubled, so...."
"I-I'm Aria... no, Ari. Ari, yeah, Ari."
Such a cute name too... Aria.
Halon took the paper from Aria's hand, meeting her gaze.
"Um... do you know where the biggest house is? Luna said to go that way...."
Halon flicked his tongue against his palate, murmuring inwardly.
'Thank you, young master.'
* * *
After ordering Alkaido to investigate the woman he'd seen at the temple that day, Adelrian pondered her again—and the more he did, the more absurd it seemed.
Saw him and tossed out some foreshadowing line right away, then ditched the limping patient and scurried back to her lodgings... packing all her bags and hightailing it out that very day?
'Some swordsman, Louis the Sword.'
Slouched and grumbling, Adelrian looked up as Luna entered.
"Discharge day today, right, young master?"
"Come in, Luna. Yeah, finally out of the temple."
Supervisors had come grilling them, testimonies taken, playful pressure with "I'm a victim too" and a smile.
Truth be told, Adelrian's noble air from the start kept things from blowing up.
Ruby Party had tried gobbling a newbie group, after all.
'The dungeon collapse linked neatly to that explosion heard right before we left.'
No clue why, but infighting with a bomb potion inside smoothed it over even more.
Gazing at Luna's cheeks—gaunt from dungeon spins these past days like she'd overdone it—Adelrian poked with a finger.
"Ugh...?"
"Not skipping meals just 'cause I said so, right? You've lost weight."
"Nuh-uh."
Her mumbled reply came distorted from the poke, and Adelrian smiled back—then turned to Kane entering post-discharge, sighing at his sleeker, weight-shed frame.
"Don't tell me you two looped the dungeon on field rations alone?"
"Heh heh...."
"Mm."
...Good job, really. Discharge meant treating the kids to something pricey today.
Shaking his head as he headed out, a sudden thought made him eye them.
"Hit the magic tower first."
If his hunch was right, more attribute stones the better.
* * *
"None available."
Handing over the codex, Adelrian looked up at the magic tower clerk's words.
"No attribute stones at the magic tower?"
Not bulk like auction houses, but they sold some—why not?
The clerk looked sheepish at his puzzled face, taking the codex anyway.
"Lately, attribute stone listings dried up suddenly. Tough for individuals anytime soon."
He had a decent stockpile ahead, but humans always craved more when suddenly scarce.
'In the game, supply flows weren't that granular; original story had Kane sourcing elsewhere later, reasons vague.'
But who was he? Multiple playthroughs of game and novel—had to have a guess.
These shortages? Blame the evil god cult, half the time you were right.
Rest was Kaiman or whatnot.
"Fine, skip stones—enchant the magic instead."
Magic city prices higher than mining towns? Or wizards' pride jacking it up.
Same spells, pricier here—but no sweat. Paid upfront with a fist-sized gem and a few mana stones, then left.
"Heard this one?"
Eat to train.
Luna and Kane slowly averted eyes at his grinning words.
Look at those baby fats shed. Huh?
"Been thinking. Hustle a bit, we can make green juice on the road too?"
"My bad."
"I'll eat proper!"
Suspicion lingering, Adelrian gestured "we'll see," then quickened his now-unhindered steps.
"Discharge bash today—good eats. Rest up after dungeon loot check these days. Got it?"
"Yesss... sweet."
"Yep."
Home turf Laves ranked top for vice on the continent—massive entertainment scale, high-end auctions, casinos, restaurants.
Blunt to it, other spots felt lacking—but surprise.
Labyrinth City matched in size, money flow huge from dungeon drops, mana stones, adventurers' spends, plus tourism drawing massive transients.
Hence booming entertainment, solid dining scene, higher rich ratio—clustered upscale spots.
Some uniquely themed, like this one.
"Wow, amazing...."
Restaurant center: massive cylindrical saltwater tank.
That size should've burst from pressure—magic-held, a full ecosystem aquarium inside.
Man-sized clams parting to flash fist-sized rainbow pearls, flashy exotic fish schooling, car-sized baby krakens in/out shipwreck model amid corals, shrinking flat; giant jellyfish trailing tentacles languidly, iridescence shifting by angle.
Mermaids—almond eyes all blue unlike human whites/pupils, fins/tails over ears—swam leisurely in some tanks.
'No slave collars—regular staff, those.'
Light magic lit it dazzling from afar; mermaids fetched fish/shrimp for diners, pick-your-own apparently.
"What'll you have?"
Aria from mermaids echoed faintly through the restaurant. Adelrian asked Luna and Kane; they pursed lips.
"Hmm, menu's like... no clue what...."
"'Ingpalca fry'—what's ingpalca?"
Yeah, no idea either.
Pretending otherwise, he smiled knowingly.
"Order anything. Try new stuff to grow. One bite, you'll know ingpalca."
Thus, Ingpalca fry plus A-course all around.
C-course max—hit here steadily, sample all.
Mermaid sang from tank, voice magically dispersing evenly.
Jade wavy hair adorned with coral/shell, she swam the vast tank; Adelrian watched from third floor till food arrived.
Earth aperitif.
Amuse-bouche first: sip in slender glass, crisp dry white with subtle aroma, clean finish—hooked quick.
Set down, server placed spoon-bowl of scallop-white sauce beside him, Kane, Luna.
"Appetizer: pan-seared scallops with miso sauce and chervil."
Handy explanations.
Crunchy bite, creamy sauce with peppery zing fading to pleasant spice aftertaste.
Then terrine slice: minced fish/meat molded, thin-sliced.
Melted fats rich on tongue, chased by fish's clean savor.
Thin and small—one bite, wanting more....
Shrimp potage warmed insides, white wine sip, then grilled minnow—first time hearing the fish, steak-like shape.
Tart fruit sorbet palate cleanser.
"Tenderloin of twin-horned white-feathered basilisk."
Main: chicken.
Between breast/leg tenderness, fatty?
Knife glided tofu-like, yet chewy—not mushy—juices bursting per bite.
Stewed native fowl depth, no gaminess; mumbled "delicious" unwittingly, swallowed.
Palm-sized plate: fresh sea herb/veg salad to rinse meaty mouth.
True course: varied small portions, ingredient breakdowns widened Luna/Kane's horizons.
'Regular here awhile.'
Travel fine, but? Gourmand bliss too.
Basilisk tenderloin done—dessert/digestif next—but Ingpalca extra came first.
"Looks tasty."
"Weird...."
Dead ringer for dried squid fry.
Not crumbly fish fry—dried chewy strips battered. Near-identical to Earth's.
Diff: squid's sweetish funky whiff; this oily nuttiness pre-bite, then sweet-salty juices on chew.
Ingpalca downed, afters: chewy sweet sea-fruit pickles.
"So, spill—what'd you do while I was down?"