Chapter 15
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 15
Chapter Title: Search and Subjugation Request (7)
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Tap tap tap—
"Ugh......"
Tap tap tap tap tap—!
"Ughhh!"
"What's wrong, Rosa?"
Hakapia territory, the city of Pedros.
Sitting by the window at a fancy restaurant, Rosa fidgeted restlessly, her leg bouncing up and down.
Cecilia tilted her head at her close younger comrade, who had suddenly started acting strangely in the middle of enjoying some delicious pasta.
Today was a joyful reunion with her old friend after a long time. They had planned to eat and catch up on everything they'd missed.
Just a few hours ago, she'd hugged Cecilia tightly, saying how happy she was to see her. But now, midway through the meal, she had abruptly started shaking her leg.
Her expression looked terrible, too.
Worried that something might be wrong, Cecilia gazed at Rosa with concern.
"Ah, well... Sis......"
Rosa, with her striking blue hair and haughty features, wore an expression full of anxiety. Cecilia urged her on, meeting her eyes as if to say, Go ahead, tell me.
"It's just... How do I put it? I have this really bad feeling. It's overwhelming."
"A bad feeling?"
"Yeah."
A bad feeling.
Cecilia stroked her slender chin with her hand. If an ordinary person had said it, she might have brushed it off. But with Rosa, it was different.
She'd had sharp instincts since she was young.
When she felt uneasy, something bad always happened around her. Conversely, when she felt good, something fortunate would occur.
It was practically a superpower. Cecilia asked,
"What kind of feeling?"
"Like... something unknown is squeezing my body tight? And I can't escape it at all—in fact, it feels like I'm slowly being pulled deeper into it...... That kind of feeling. It's really unsettling. I don't quite get it myself."
Rosa rambled on.
Something squeezing her body tight, impossible to escape from.
She could imagine the sensation, but had no clue what it meant.
Cecilia tilted her head and asked,
"Hmm, anything come to mind?"
"Well......"
Rosa trailed off, then let out a sigh.
"Actually, two of my comrades left on a request this time. To Luis Village."
"Ah, Luis Village. I heard it's peaceful. Is it not?"
"Yeah, it is. But two villagers went missing, they said."
"Missing......"
Cecilia made a thoughtful hum, her face pensive. Rosa continued,
"The mission is to check on the missing people and protect them. And subjugate whatever's behind it. Subjugation requests are dangerous, but since it's Luis Village, I figured it'd be fine and let them go while I took it easy......"
"And?"
"But after they left, this uneasy feeling started creeping up on me. It was minor at first, so I ignored it, but now it's gotten huge......"
Cecilia nodded at Rosa's words.
In other words, something bad was likely happening to her two comrades on the request.
Cecilia asked,
"Hmm, so? What do you want to do, Rosa? Want to go find them now?"
"Huh? Oh, no. That's not it."
Rosa shook her head.
"I do want to, but it'd be too nosy...... I'm just anxious. Hoping they're safe...... Haha. That's about it?"
"I see. Those two are Piona and Amy, the ones you introduced me to last time?"
"Yeah, that's right."
"Hope they're okay. Hmm, how about I pray for them?"
"R-Really? I'd be so grateful!"
Rosa brightened at Cecilia's words.
Cecilia's prayers held special power.
Many people had found peace after receiving them.
Gazing warmly at Rosa, Cecilia clasped her hands together. Rosa followed suit, closing her eyes.
Cecilia, dressed in something akin to saintly robes, had her ample bosom—responsible for her voluptuous figure—squished against her arms.
"Alright, let's begin."
"Okay."
The prayer lasted about five minutes.
After receiving it, Rosa looked much calmer as she gazed at Cecilia.
"Haa, thank you so much. And sorry. We finally meet after so long, and I made the mood heavy."
"No worries. Caring about your comrades is the most important thing. Don't sweat it."
"Yeah......!"
As expected of Sis Cecilia. She's such an angel. How can she be so kind and beautiful?
With that thought, Rosa quickly shifted the topic.
The two dove back into their food, chatting animatedly once more.
As they laughed and exchanged stories,
Crack—!
"Huh?"
"What?"
Suddenly, the necklace Rosa wore cracked.
At the same time, her face drained of color.
"Wh-What? Th-This......!"
Her expression turned paler than Cecilia had ever seen. Cecilia asked,
"What's wrong? Is that necklace important?"
"This necklace...! It's the one Piona, Amy, and I bought to celebrate promoting to C-Class. We promised to stick together forever, and agreed to break it only if we faced a dire threat or crisis......!"
"Ah!"
Cecilia instantly grasped the situation from Rosa's explanation.
She'd heard about those necklaces before. Incredibly expensive, but in high demand.
She'd even seen one. Different version and style, but similar.
They were popular gifts for lovers, symbolizing shared destiny.
Piona, Amy, and Rosa weren't lovers, but as comrades who shared life and death, wearing them was perfectly natural.
One of Rosa's comrades was now in danger. Cecilia looked at her.
"Then we have to go, quick!"
"Yeah! B-But if there's a threat, we need to request help at the Adventurer's Guild first. How do we even do that......? Forming a party will take forever......!"
Rosa's concerns were valid.
Piona and Amy were in danger. She wanted to rush there immediately, but that wasn't feasible.
They were C-Class adventurers. Trouble for two C-Class meant something powerful was involved.
In the forest near Luis Village? How?
Questions aside, Rosa alone might not resolve it. She could even end up in danger herself.
Minimum: three C-Class adventurers. Or one B-Class. That would be safer.
But finding them quickly wasn't easy......
"What do you mean it'll take long? Of course I'll go with you!"
Rosa's eyes widened at Cecilia's words.
"Gasp! You, Sis? But we don't know how long it'll take...... You're on vacation, right? Don't you have to go back tomorrow?"
Cecilia shook her head firmly.
"Ugh, who cares about vacation right now? Your comrades come first."
"Sis!"
Cecilia chided her gently, and Rosa looked deeply moved. Shaking her head at the look in her eyes, Cecilia flicked Rosa's forehead.
"Save the for later. Let's move. Do you know which forest near Luis Village they headed to?"
"Yeah! I do."
"Good. Then let's go!"
"Okay!"
Cecilia tossed some money on the table—more than enough for the bill—and bolted.
The anxiety and nervousness had eased from Rosa's face. With Sis Cecilia coming along, nothing could be more reassuring.
Normally, assembling a rescue team for adventurers took considerable time.
Gathering people, heading out, searching for Piona and Amy—it could take over a week.
But with Sis Cecilia, it was different.
She was an A-Class adventurer. On another level from B- or C-Class.
She'd even gotten a scouting offer from the famous Lily Guild, and had friends there. Not your average adventurer.
Her tracking skills were far superior, too. They might find Piona and Amy in a day, not even days.
Hope was in sight.
The passing waiter spotted the excessive payment and gaped.
"Huh? Excuse me! Your change......!"
"No need! It's a tip! Keep it!"
Cecilia shouted as she barreled past with tremendous momentum.
"Ah, thank you......!"
The waiter beamed gratefully.
Shing—
"Eek!"
"Coming through!"
Ignoring him, Rosa leaped up and followed Cecilia out.