Chapter 10
The rain from the search request finally let up late in the evening. A bright full moon had risen, but thick clouds made the sky dim and murky. Guess we'll have to crash in the cabin after all, I thought—but then...
"Sleep under this blanket all night? Fuck no."
Bella flat-out refused to cover herself with the blanket soaked in her fluids and mine, so we decided to head down the mountain. Going down in the evening wasn't the smartest choice, but...
We'd run out of firewood for the campfire anyway, and even if Bella hadn't balked, the blanket was too drenched and filthy to use. The rain had cooled everything off, and the cabin had holes everywhere letting in gusts of night wind. Our clothes had dried at least, so we could've forced ourselves to sleep, but I wasn't guaranteeing we'd wake up feeling normal.
Thus, the descent began. I led the way, while Bella clutched her waist and shuffled along behind. For her first time, things had gotten pretty intense, so it must've taken a toll on her back. And not on a soft bed, but the hard wooden floor—no wonder it ached like hell.
Feeling guilty, I turned to her. "Bella, want me to carry you?"
"No way. Carry me? You think that'd make going down easy? The path's slippery and dark—if we fall, we're screwed. And..."
"And?"
"I know you'd just use it as an excuse to grope me all over."
"...Ahem."
I couldn't deny the temptation entirely, but I'd asked out of genuine concern. Now I felt wronged. Still, guilty as charged, so I cleared my throat awkwardly and changed the subject. "How about a buff, then?"
"What? Then you'd be the one hurting."
"Uh, yeah... Guess so?"
"I'm warning you upfront—no thinking I'll carry you. I know you'd just cop a feel of my tits as an excuse."
"Jeez. You make me sound like some registered sex offender."
"Aren't you? Why do you think my back hurts like this, you jerk?"
"Uh... Lack of exercise?"
Cheong-ah ran around with me every day without issue, so it wasn't wrong, right? Come to think of it, Bella mostly just drank, or lounged in her room or the backyard watching us train.
But she took it as an insult and bristled. "Lack of exercise my ass—you wanna die? I'm hurting because of you, and you're cracking jokes?"
"...Never mind."
Why snap at me like that? You're scary, lady. I shrugged and picked up the pace.
Luckily, the magic tool I'd brought "just in case" proved a godsend again. The lantern-like thing in my hand emitted a steady light—a simple light spell enchanted into it. I'd bought it for about three gold coins. Magic tools really do come in handy when you pack 'em.
"Bella, glad I brought this, huh?"
"So?"
"Don't complain when I pack magic tools from now on. See? All that prep earlier made shit easier, right?"
Like fighting the orcs, or in the cabin. Bella grumbled but couldn't argue. "Tch... Fine."
Cautiously navigating the slick mountain path for what felt like forever, we finally reached the closed gates.
...How the hell do we get in?
"Hey, Bella—the gates are shut."
"Yeah? It's about that time."
"How do we get in? Camp here?"
"Camp my ass. Follow me, dummy."
Shuffling ahead, Bella bypassed the massive main gates for a small side door nearby. Small being relative—it was just big enough for people.
"Bella, isn't this for knights and guards? We can't use it, right?"
"Quit worrying—this big sis has it covered."
Unlike my fretting, she marched up and kicked the door hard. "Hey! Anyone there?!"
A clunk sounded from the center, and a tiny peephole slid open. "Who is it?"
"Adventurer working in the city—gates are closed."
"Past curfew. Come back at dawn."
Clunk. Peephole shut.
"Bella, what was that supposed to show?"
"...Fuck. Embarrassing."
She pounded the door again. "Hey, come out, asshole."
"Jeez. I said come back tomorrow."
"Keep that up, and it won't end well for you."
"Hah, who do you think—ngh? That's..."
Bella fished out her adventurer badge from her bosom. A gleaming platinum plate.
"Platinum? Wait, that platinum... Holy shit!"
The guard read it, then freaked. Eyes bulging, face paling—he must've heard the rumors. "R-Right away! Just a moment, please! I beg you!"
Bella glanced back at me smugly after he shut up. "See?"
"Yeah."
Oh, right—Bella was Platinum-rank too. I'd forgotten. Platinum adventurers from the Guild got near-noble treatment anywhere. Not full nobility, but the Guild's continent-wide clout, plus only proven elites reached that rank...
Nobles didn't complain much about it. Hell, they'd try to recruit such powerhouses. Though this guard seemed less shocked by the rank and more terrified of who she was.
Clunking sounds, then the side door creaked open. The on-duty guard bowed as politely as he could. Bella chuckled like it was natural and strode in.
"P-Please, come in."
"Thanks."
"...Ahem. Good work out there."
We nodded politely and passed through. I ignored his relieved mutter behind us: "Whew, glad that went without incident."
What the hell had our Bella been up to all this time? Gotta look into that "Platinum" notoriety someday.
On the way to the inn, the Guild lights were still on. Did they stay open this late? A racket echoed from inside—decent soundproofing, but that familiar voice carried.
"Hurry...! We have to go find him now!"
"The sharp-tongued girl's words ring true to me as well!"
Bella and I stared blankly at each other.
"Hey, Ian—that Cheong-ah and Dina?"
"Seems like. What're they doing here?"
I shrugged and pushed open the Guild door. Receptionist Karen was alone at the counter, with Cheong-ah and Dina hammering it, pressuring her. Cheong-ah was tall enough, but tiny Dina was on tiptoes just to peek over—kinda hilarious.
"P-Please, everyone, calm down a sec..."
"How can we calm down?! My husband's missing! He was supposed to rest at the inn, but he's not in his room!"
"Indeed! Yeonja has vanished! File the missing person report at once, receptionist!"
Bella and Dina desperate to find me—too frantic to notice us enter.
"N-Now, ladies, maybe he just stepped out..."
"Stepped out where?! My husband has no friends—he's got nowhere to go! And he took his crossbow and magic tools—something happened for sure!"
Ouch, that stung a bit. Bella gawked at me. "Yo, what's going on?"
"No idea."
"Hold up—watch this."
"What're you—"
"Looks fun."
Grinning mischievously, Bella snuck behind them, slung arms over their shoulders, and joined in. "Yo, what's up, you two?"
"Oh, Bella—you finally awake?"
"...Kinda."
"Typical beast—lazy as ever. Hole up in your room sleeping all day off."
"You little brat—why the attitude?"
Dina's barb furrowed Bella's brow.
"And I wasn't sleeping—I went out. Didn't you notice?"
"Hm? You did? Sorry then. Wasn't paying attention to the beast-girl!"
"Why you little—"
"Quit calling me little, you arrogant bitch!"
They snarled, ready to brawl. Cheong-ah intervened frantically. "Not now, you two! Ian's missing, Bella!"
"Oh, right! Beast-girl, sharp-tongued girl's right—no time to fight! Yeonja's gone!"
"For real? Ian?"
Bella feigned shock. Cheong-ah and Dina rushed to explain.
"Yes! He should've been in his room, but after the quest—he's gone! Our Ian... something happened!"
"Sharp-tongued girl and I returned from the quest, and Yeonja vanished!"
"Oh? So? Just find him, duh."
"Bella, how can you be so cold...!"
"Beast-girl! How are you so calm?! Yeonja's missing!"
"Well... obviously I'm calm."
Bella shrugged and thumbed at me. "Ian's right there."
"Huh?"
"Yeonja?"
They finally spotted me behind her. I waved awkwardly, embarrassed. "Uh, hi?"
Cheong-ah and Dina's eyes flicked between me and Bella.
"...Husband?"
"...Yeonja?"
§
Short hiccup later, heading back. Suddenly Cheong-ah sniffed the air like a hound, zeroing in on Bella.
"Sniff sniff... Y'know, Bella—you smell like my husband."
"Uh, wha? Ian? Really? No idea. Anyway, starving—let's hit the inn."
Bella dodged her gaze, sweating bullets. Cheong-ah narrowed her eyes knowingly.
"Hold it right there, Bella."
Her gentle pressure hit hard. Bella cracked and bolted for the inn. "G-Gonna head back first!"
"I said stop, Bellaaa...!"
I watched them dash off, then slowly looked up. The clouds had cleared, and a clear full moon bathed the sky in light.