Chapter 92
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 92
Chapter Title: Flora
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I hadn't been able to tell Alensia that I'd gone to see Cain and turned down his offer because she was out of the mansion that day.
Instead, I'd headed straight to the Labyrinth, and the incident had delayed my return. So Alensia had assumed I'd accepted Cain's proposal and joined the Swordsmanship Guild.
"You rejected the offer? What kind of foolish nonsense is that? Go accept it right now. Do you have any idea what a golden opportunity that is?"
"No, I know it's a great opportunity..."
"No, you don't know! You have no idea how precious Master's teachings are..."
Wait, I turned it down for her treatment, so why was she getting so mad?
"Alensia. Do you not want the treatment?"
"...Of course not."
"Then just accept it graciously. Shouldn't you be happy if I keep treating you?"
At my words, Alensia bowed her head and fidgeted for a moment before muttering a single phrase.
"...Thank you..."
"Mm."
One of the reasons I'd accepted the offer was tied to lust, so I couldn't act too boldly. Still, seeing Alensia express her gratitude made me feel good.
"By the way... Ian. What was that question you asked earlier?"
"Oh, there was an incident on the 12th floor this time..."
Only then did I explain to Alensia what had happened on the 12th floor.
...Omitting the part about that 'voice.' For some reason, it felt like I shouldn't casually tell anyone about it or anything related.
After hearing me out completely, Alensia shared some unexpected news.
"The incident on the 12th floor? It's already been fully resolved."
"Pardon? Resolved? What do you..."
"Only a few people know, but... apparently someone from the 'Committee' stepped in personally. They handled all the undead that appeared on the 12th floor, along with the cause."
"...The cause too?"
The cause of the incident on the 12th floor... No matter how I thought about it, it seemed like the owner of that 'voice' was behind it.
"Yes. When the 'Committee' puts its name on it, you can trust it's not empty words. You don't need to worry about that anymore."
"...I see."
Well...
In my opinion, even the Committee probably couldn't have done much about the owner of that 'voice.' Guess I'd have to believe it for now?
"Oh, right, Ian. Are you free by any chance?"
"Pardon? Well, I wasn't planning to go into the Labyrinth for a few days, so I have some time."
"In that case, could you stop by the Temple of Light and see Clara? Whenever I visit the temple, she asks about you."
Clara did?
That wasn't a big deal. While I was at it, I'd check my condition at the temple just in case.
Whenever I needed to visit a temple, I always went to the Temple of Light.
There weren't just temples to the God of Light—there were ones for the God of Justice, the God of Fire, and various others—but thanks to Gloria, I ended up going to the Temple of Light often. Now, whenever temple business came up, it was my default.
"Ah, Brother Ian. Welcome."
As a result, I was on familiar terms with the priest greeting visitors at the Temple of Light's entrance.
His name was... Priest Oz, right?
"Hello, Priest Oz."
"Haha... Are you here to see Cleric Gloria again today? She's stepped out for a bit..."
"Oh, no. I'm here to see Clara."
"Clara?"
Priest Oz gave a puzzled look for a moment at my words, then called over a kid who looked like an errand boy and had him fetch Clara.
"Uncle Ian!"
Soon, a cute girl with bright golden hair came running out from inside the temple.
"Hey, Clara."
"Uncle, did you come to see Mom?"
"Nope, I came to see you today. To play with Clara!"
"Yay!"
Clara's eyes sparkled at those words. She was way more excited than I'd expected. All I'd done was make her some crochet dragons, a statue of the Goddess of Venus, and a crochet carousel.
"Oh, Uncle. Perfect timing. I have to go out today—come with me!"
"Huh?"
I'd planned to just take her inside and play moderately, but Clara brought up something unexpected.
Before I could protest, she grabbed my hand and dashed out of the temple energetically.
I glanced urgently at Priest Oz, but he just watched us with a pleased expression. Wait, you're okay letting a kid go off alone with an adult man?
"Hurry, Uncle!"
"At least tell me where we're going..."
It was an unexpected situation, but since I'd planned to spend the day playing with Clara anyway, I followed her lead.
"Gloria's birthday is soon?"
"Yeah. I came out today to pick a birthday present for Mom."
And just like that, I heard some unexpected news.
A birthday, huh... Come to think of it, I hadn't celebrated one since coming to this world.
"Got anything in mind?"
"Sort of, but help me pick, Uncle. Everyone at the temple just says 'it's the thought that counts.'"
"Ahaha..."
That wasn't wrong, exactly, but it was utterly useless advice for someone seriously trying to choose a gift.
"You got money?"
"Yeah. I've been saving my allowance."
Hm... a birthday gift. I'd received treatment from Gloria occasionally too—maybe I should pick one up myself.
Holding Clara's hand, I wandered through the commercial district, checking out various shops.
"Your daughter sure is energetic."
"Oh, Clara's not my daughter, she's..."
"...Hold on a moment. Could you come with me?"
I got mistaken for a kidnapper midway, but Clara vouched for me, averting disaster.
We browsed cosmetics shops, clothing stores, and accessory shops casually...
-Grrrumble...
"Waaah... I'm hungry..."
"No wonder after walking around so much."
Holding the hand of a hungry Clara, I looked for a suitable place to eat. Then a certain shop popped into my mind, and I headed there.
'Cradle of Flavor'
"Eek! Uncle! This place is super expensive! I can't afford to eat here!"
"I'm not making you pay, so come on in."
-Creak...
"Welcome... Oh, Ian."
"Pretty big sis!"
Inside the shop, I ordered Clara a kids' set, and then I ran into Lilian coming out of the kitchen.
"You haven't come by to learn cooking lately?"
"Ahaha... I've been busy with the Intermediate Adventurer promotion exam..."
"Well, doesn't matter. Come visit soon anyway. Lately, someone's been bringing in ingredients nonstop..."
"Pardon?"
"...Never mind, I'll tell you next time."
Lilian seemed troubled about something, but since she said it wasn't urgent, I made a mental note. I'd drop by soon.
"Whew... Uncle, that was delicious."
"I bought your meal—won't you call me big brother?"
"Uncle."
"......"
After finishing our meal, I took Clara—who was patting her belly—outside.
"Wow, Uncle, look over there. She has horns just like that big sis we saw earlier."
"Hm?"
I looked where Clara, still rubbing her belly, was pointing. A handsome man with black hair and two horns was prowling the area, his face scowled in dissatisfaction.
'...A demon? That's rare. Demons usually don't leave their own country.'
Lilian was the only demon I'd seen so far, so I watched with curious eyes.
The demon man wandered the surroundings for a bit, glancing around as if searching for something, then disappeared into an alley.
"Uncle, let's check this way next."
While I was staring in the direction the demon man had gone, Clara grabbed my hand and pulled me somewhere.
Following where Clara led, we entered the alley the demon man had taken—and Clara slipped into an antique shop.
"They say you can find hidden treasures in places like this!"
She started excitedly browsing through the knickknacks. I apologized to the shopkeeper, who was eyeing her oddly.
"Sorry for the noise."
"...Your daughter?"
"Pardon? No, just a friend's daughter..."
"Hmmm..."
"......"
What? His gaze felt cold for some reason.
-Thwack!
"Ow!"
While I was watching the old man's expression, something bumped, and Clara fell, rubbing her forehead.
I rushed to her side and checked for injuries.
"Clara, you okay?"
"Ow ow... Yeah, I'm fine."
She said she was okay, but her forehead was slightly scraped—a drop of blood trickled down.
"Hold on, potion..."
"No, Uncle. I can heal this much myself!"
Clara stopped me from pulling out a potion, clasped her hands as if in prayer, and soon emitted a faint light.
"Healing!"
"Ooh?"
The light from Clara swirled around her forehead, erasing the scrape before vanishing.
"Impressive."
"Hehe... Mom taught me when I had free time. The priests all say I'm a genius."
-Ripple.
'...?!'
"...Hm?"
"What's wrong, Uncle?"
What was that just now? The moment Clara released holy power, the air seemed to ripple briefly...
-...Sching...
"So what did you bump into, Clara?"
"Um... that thing sticking out. I thought I dodged it, but..."
I looked where Clara pointed.
A shelf protruding slightly. Given Clara's height, it made sense she'd bump there... but something... something felt off...
[Lust Hunter]
"Hup!"
"Hah!"
-Clang!
"What? A sword from where...?"
"Kyaa!"
I heard footsteps, and the moment [Lust Hunter] triggered, my body reacted faster than my brain. I shielded Clara, drew my sword from inventory, and deflected the dagger coming from behind.
Looking back, the shopkeeper—who'd given Clara that meaningful look earlier—stood there holding a dagger, looking flustered.
Still hugging Clara, I swung my sword a few times. After a brief standoff, the man dropped his dagger.
-Clink!
"Gahk!"
"What are you? Why'd you attack out of nowhere?"
"That's... Ptoo!"
I pressed my sword to his throat and demanded his purpose, but as he seemed about to answer, he spat something from his mouth instead.
I hurriedly turned to shield Clara and took the full brunt of the purple liquid he spewed.
"Haha! Fool! That's a deadly poison that fells even trolls! You handle a sword decently, but still... still... Huh?"
"Still what?"
The man laughed mockingly at me, drenched in the liquid, picked up his fallen dagger, and cackled. But seeing no change in my expression, his face slowly hardened.
"...What? How are you enduring it...?"
-Smack!