Chapter 32
Chapter 32
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 32
Chapter Title: The Starry Cluster in the Night Sky is Said to be the Tears of God (9)
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Pippin was gauging my reaction. I’d thought he barely changed expressions, but now I could see that wasn’t true. He looked like he might cry one moment, then frowned as if angry the next, then smirked...
Phoeve’s spirit seemed more interested in the statue Pippin had made than in Pippin himself.
[He’s my brother, but his handiwork is just so lacking...]
Unable to hear Phoeve’s lament, Pippin cleared his throat and spoke.
“Sis. I had such a tough day today. I don’t think I’ve ever encountered and slain so many magic beasts in one day. Still, it was great seeing so many kinds. Fighting the wolves was rough, but doing it alongside the Duke made it worthwhile. I’ve gotten close to Master. I ate magic beast meat, looked through the magic beast bestiary, and now I’ll be joining magic beast hunts too.”
Pippin sniffled slightly, wiping his nose. Phoeve’s gaze turned toward him.
“Thanks for waking me up every morning. Thanks for sharing your snacks. Thanks for teaching me how to play the grass flute. And I’m sorry about spilling the salt jar that day. I’m sorry for making you go fetch water.”
Pippin clasped his hands together, picking at his nails as his voice grew choked.
“I’m sorry for not finding your body. I’m sorry for not pushing Master Kaku harder to keep searching. I’m sorry for not making your grave first.”
Finally, a sob crept into his gruff voice. Tears streamed down Pippin’s cheeks.
“I’m sorry for surviving alone. I’m sorry for planning to live happily just watching magic beasts from now on.”
Even as he bawled his eyes out, snot and all, no pitiful wail escaped him.
Watching Pippin hold back his sobs like that, Phoeve slowly raised a hand. Then she balled it into a loose fist and smacked his shoulder hard. Good thing she was a spirit—if she’d been solid, it would’ve sounded like a baseball bat hitting a ball. It was that forceful. But instead,
[It’s fine.]
Phoeve magnanimously forgave her brother’s foolishness. Pippin couldn’t hear her response.
“Hey, your sister says it’s fine.”
I stood up and patted Pippin’s shoulder reassuringly—the exact spot where Phoeve had struck. Even if it was a spirit...
I touched it just to check if it was caved in or punctured, but thankfully, it was fine.
“Let’s go now.”
Phoeve smirked, lifting one corner of her mouth in an annoying way. She even flicked a flower at me.
To Pippin’s eyes, it must’ve looked like the flower on the grave suddenly fell to the ground. He grabbed my sleeve like someone who’d witnessed an ominous portent.
“Master...”
“Aren’t you tired? I’m exhausted. After all that chaos, it’s already dawn. We need to head out before the sun’s fully up. This damn village—I want to leave as soon as possible.”
Phoeve cackled at my words before vanishing.
“Acting like it’s nothing.”
I grumbled pointlessly, glaring at the grave before dragging Pippin away.
***
By dawn, a large crowd had gathered in the small square in front of the village hall. They’d come to see me off as I headed to the Duke’s Castle. The carriage parked in the center of the square was far too ornate for a humble village like this.
It had gotten a bit damaged when Veridis showed up, but they’d repaired it and slapped on all sorts of decorations.
Aesthetically? Not really.
Still, I could feel their sincerity in the crude but earnest family crests of the ducal house, the twisted vine ornaments, and the crisp white fabric awning.
The moment Dandel spotted me, the villagers rushed over in a swarm. It felt like arriving at an airport as a celebrity. Pippin did a fine job as my bodyguard, brushing them aside indifferently.
“Lord Duke! They say you saved our village!”
“Long live the Duke!”
“Take me to the Duke’s Castle too!”
“Please take our kids as laborers!”
“Look this way, Lord Duke! Lord Duke!”
Gifts came pouring in too. Dandel, overwhelmed holding them, called on Pippin for help. He’d already started seeing Pippin as my attendant. As Dandel and Pippin fumbled with the presents, praise for Pippin rained down.
“To think that fool Pippin pulled off something like that!”
“I knew it! I believed in him, even if no one else did!”
“Who knew his meat-slicing skills would turn into such bravery.”
“Amazing, Pippin!”
“You did great! Good work, Pippin! Considering what the village chief did all this time...”
Pippin kept his usual stoic, dull expression, but his ear tips flushed pink—he clearly liked the praise deep down. It was amusing, so I watched for a bit, but suddenly the area went dead silent.
Parting the crowd like slicing bread was none other than Kaku.
“Well, if it isn’t...”
I crossed my arms and leaned against the carriage at an angle. Kaku strode toward me, briefly locking eyes with Pippin. Pippin’s pupils seemed to waver for a moment, but he was soon lost in the throng.
“Lord Duke.”
Kaku stood before me. I craned my neck forward and whispered just loud enough for him to hear.
“Isn’t this the former mercenary captain? The one who loves magic beasts.”
“......”
Sensing the tense atmosphere, Dandel dispersed the crowd amid the gifts. Whether cowed by Kaku’s presence or unnerved by his grim expression, everyone stepped back and gave us space.
Which made the scene even funnier—we faced off while the villagers formed a ring around us, watching.
“......”
“What is it? If you’ve got something to—”
Before I could finish, Kaku dropped to his knees with a thud.
The unexpected move left me speechless. Dandel gawked at me as if demanding an explanation, and I just shrugged slightly.
Feeling oddly guilty, I glanced at Pippin. He stared at Kaku impassively, showing no agitation.
“Lady Sierra Gluttony, Duke. I’m sorry. Thank you.”
“......”
Kaku kept it brief. I didn’t pry into exactly what he was sorry or thankful for.
There was a secret between us that we couldn’t share with others anyway.
I kept my necromancy hidden, and he wanted to bury his role as the former mercenary captain who’d caused this mess.
Above all, what Kaku most wanted to hide was probably the fact that Phoeve had died due to the Sloth Mercenary Corps’ choice. For Pippin’s sake, and for his own reluctance to remember Phoeve, it was a secret he could never voice.
“I’ll atone for this for the rest of my life.”
Still on his knees, Kaku continued in a voice thick with regret.
“I heard the story. You’re taking Pippin to the Duke’s Castle. He’s not quick on the uptake and a bit slow, but he does what he’s told well. He’ll make a good servant by your side.”
“Yeah. That’s what I thought. He’s useful.”
“Please take care on your journey. And I beg you, look after my worthless son.”
There was an odd weight to Kaku’s voice.
“Master.”
Pippin, who’d been silent with lips pressed tight, finally reacted—looking stunned. I gave the two a cursory glance and snorted.
“Hmph. I won’t let you regret it.”
That was all I had to say. I hopped into the carriage and shut the door.
I couldn’t completely tune them out, though. It felt awkward to open the window I’d just closed, so I cracked the curtain instead.
Their voices didn’t carry well, but it looked like Kaku and Pippin were huddled together, murmuring.
Soon enough, Pippin approached and knocked on the carriage door. Pretending I hadn’t been peeking, I calmly opened it.
The moment it swung open, Pippin plopped down across from me without permission. These little presumptuous acts made him seem a tad dim and spaced out. I could see why Kaku worried.
“Master. I’ve been thinking...”
Pippin dragged out the end of his sentence, eyeing me cautiously. His wishy-washy attitude irritated me, so I shot him a sharp glare. He flinched—probably prepping something I wouldn’t like.
What’d he and Kaku talk about? Was he thinking of staying in the village now?
“What? Regretting it and want to stay? Sorry, but that peaceful option’s off the table. Choose: follow me or die by my hand.”
Pippin shook his head vigorously and leaned forward. His unkempt bangs fell, covering his bright blue eyes. Even that made him look a bit out of it.
“No, that’s not it. I’ve been thinking... and what Master Kaku said earlier too. Should I keep calling you Master? Or Lord Duke? Or maybe Master... as in owner?”
That was his big prepared question.
I let out a long, deflated sigh and leaned back against the carriage cushion.
Pippin tidied his bangs while waiting for my answer, his pretty eyes sparkling like a puppy’s.
“Call me whatever.”
Peeking out the window, I saw Kaku handing a bundled package to Dandel—Pippin’s stuff, no doubt. I felt like an idiot. This was all Pippin’s fault. Yeah, definitely Pippin’s.
“Then I’ll keep calling you Master. Since I’m used to it.”
“Do what you want.”
Even that short exchange drained me. I spaced out, staring out the window. The villagers watched the carriage from afar before scattering to their own paths, though quite a few stayed to see us off.
On the way to the village, Dandel had told me Kaku would temporarily act as village chief, recognized for repelling the magic beasts.
A man who’d once led a mercenary band. Village chief might suit him better than butchery. He probably felt immense guilt, but it wasn’t even his direct doing, and he could make up for it going forward...
Phoeve’s spirit swirled around Kaku. Spotting me, she gave a light wave. I just nodded—unsure if she saw.
Looking back now, Phoeve had been a pretty small girl. The hulking mercenary and tiny spirit looked like father and daughter. It annoyingly misted my eyes.
Just then, a knock sounded, and Dandel rapped on the door.
“Lord Duke! We’ll be off soon. I’ll ride with the coachman until full light, so please rest easy. There’s simple bedding on the overhead shelf.”
“Got it.”
“And in case you’re hungry, I brought some food...”
Dandel tilted his head sheepishly.
“But with those hands, it’ll be hard to eat yourself.”
He was right. My hands were wrapped in bandages like giant cotton swabs. I grumbled that it was fine, but Pippin chimed in cluelessly,
“Shall I feed you?”
I kicked him in shock before I could stop myself.
“Say something gross like that again, and I’ll leave you for the afterlife.”
“Yes...”
“If you’re bored, read the magic beast bestiary.”
“Can I really read this valuable thing again?”
“Yeah. Go read that instead.”
Dalia’s magic beast bestiary. Who knew it’d come to this.
Oh, right—most important thing.
“One warning: break this, and it’s instant execution.”