Chapter 27
Chapter 27
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 27
Chapter Title: Rapella City
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Rapella City
"You've had a hard journey. Here's the final payment."
"Hahaha, no need to mention it. We'll be staying in the city for a while, so feel free to call on us if you need anything else."
I paid the mercenaries who'd escorted us to Rapella City and bid them farewell.
Thanks to this group, we'd made it to the city without any major issues.
"So this is Rapella City... It's huge."
Diana clutched Aaron's hand tightly, marveling at the sights as she looked around.
It wasn't even comparable to Azantu City, and among all the cities we'd passed through, this was by far the largest.
"Probably because it's close to the capital. Thalia Kingdom's capital, Talaria, is just a few days' ride from here."
Even for a small border kingdom like Thalia, the capital was on another level in terms of scale.
The surrounding cities couldn't help but be influenced by it.
"I'm worried about how we'll find Uncle here..."
Diana sighed, her voice laced with concern.
I shrugged lightly at her needless fretting.
"We know his name and what he does for a living. What's there to worry about? It won't take long."
By now, I'd gained enough experience in the Outerica dimension.
Gathering that kind of information was a piece of cake.
Three days after arriving in the city.
That was how long it took to track down Diana's uncle through an information broker.
"...You found him so quickly."
"What can I say? With enough money, nothing's impossible. We weren't in a rush, but I could have done it faster if needed."
The first day, we sold the carriage, found lodging, and let the kids rest. The second day, I commissioned the broker.
And today, the third day, we got the intel.
"Your uncle runs a grocery store in the southern commercial district. Seems like he's doing fine, no major issues."
"I'm just glad it wasn't a wasted trip."
On the way to the grocery store, Diana kept taking deep breaths to steady herself.
"What's wrong? You seem really tense."
"...It's been so long since I last saw him. Back when I was really little. Do you think he'll even remember me?"
I chuckled softly at her worried expression and gently stroked her head.
"You're worrying over nothing. A few years is nothing to adults. He'll probably be shocked at how much you've grown and welcome you with open arms."
Diana stared at me silently as I patted her head.
Feeling a bit awkward, I cleared my throat and pulled my hand away.
She beamed and fiddled with her hair.
"Uncle's still Uncle, after all. I was worried because you seemed to change a lot lately."
"...Changed? Me?"
"Yeah. Your speech is different. More serious and calm? It's cool, though."
She stuck out her tongue playfully with a smile.
...I hadn't realized it at all, but thinking back, she was right.
I knew exactly when it had started.
'Is it the influence of Persona? It happened so naturally I didn't notice.'
Arc Lich Hans had been given negative emotions like loneliness and pain, along with a craving for recognition—a bit of an exhibitionist streak.
Vampire Heinz 2nd, on the other hand, seemed to have developed a cold, composed personality.
'It manifests naturally based on the entity's traits... Not a bad thing.'
I could control it whenever I wanted.
I just left it alone because it felt natural and convenient.
How long had we been walking and chatting when we finally reached our destination?
A plain, unremarkable grocery store.
"Welcome~ Looking for anything in particular?"
As we approached with the kids, a middle-aged man who seemed to be the owner came out from the back, calling out brightly.
"Uncle! Hi! It's Diana. And this is my little brother Aaron..."
"...H-Hello..."
Diana stepped forward, holding Aaron's hand, and greeted him.
Aaron hesitated shyly before bowing awkwardly.
It had been over five years since they'd last met, so to young Aaron, he was practically a stranger.
"Huh? Diana? Aaron? You've grown so much! But how did you end up here...?"
I explained the situation to the bewildered shopkeeper, Bolt.
I skipped the vampire parts, saying their parents had passed away in Azantu City, they'd struggled on their own until meeting me.
And that I'd brought the homeless siblings here.
"...Sniff. I-I see. Brother and sister-in-law... You've been through so much. Good job... You've done well..."
Tears welled up as he listened, and he pulled the hesitant siblings into a hug.
"Ah... N-No. We're f-fine... Sob!"
"S-Sis... D-Don't cry..."
The kids stiffened briefly in the warm embrace, but soon tears brimmed in their eyes, and they clung to him, sobbing uncontrollably.
'Good thing he's a decent guy.'
The info from the broker included his reputation.
I couldn't hand the kids over to a villain.
If he had been, I'd have lied to Diana that we couldn't find him and made other arrangements...
'Now I just need to grease the wheels a bit.'
I explained things to his wife, who'd come out at the commotion, and we went inside.
Right after entering the living space behind the shop, my eyes met those of a three- or four-year-old girl playing with a doll on the floor.
"...Sniffle."
The little girl looked up at us with big, round eyes, sniffling.
Startled by the sudden visitors, she squirmed to her feet and toddled over, burying her face in her mother's skirt.
Then she peeked out cautiously, observing us.
Her eyes sparkled with interest at the siblings, who weren't much older.
"Oh dear... These poor children, how much they've suffered..."
The wife scooped up her daughter expertly, patting her, then looked sympathetically at the siblings. She took them inside to wash their tear-streaked faces.
"It must not have been easy bringing the kids all this way. Thank you so much for looking after them."
Once we were alone, Bolt bowed his head in gratitude.
"No need. They've helped me a lot too, and traveling with them was enjoyable."
But our chat didn't last long.
He had a business to run.
"Shopkeep, you there~?"
"Y-Yes! Welcome~!"
At the sound of a customer outside, Bolt rushed out to attend to them.
I planned to stick around the city a few more days to observe anyway, so I said I'd return later and parted ways.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ "I-I can't accept this much money. The kids are already such a burden..."
The next day, I spoke with Bolt privately.
To provide funds for raising the children.
"Please do. As I said before, they've helped me in many ways. This is no burden at all. I hope it helps with their care."
It was a lot for ordinary folk, but pocket change for me after devouring those city wealth-hoarders.
'It's thanks to Diana's help anyway. I feel bad not giving more, but too much wealth can be dangerous if it can't be protected.'
He hesitated but eventually accepted the coin pouch reluctantly.
He'd refused at first, but two more mouths to feed was surely a strain.
"I've grown attached to the kids during our time together. I'll visit occasionally."
I hinted that I'd provide ongoing support.
In exchange, I asked him to fully support any education they wanted.
"Of course! I'll treat them like my own, no different from my daughter."
Whether he'd truly show no favoritism was uncertain, but the funds were meant to prevent that.
With promises of steady support, he'd be too wary to mistreat them.
A week after settling in Rapella City.
I was saying goodbye to the siblings.
"U-Uncle... Th-Thank you so much. Sniff! I really..."
"Waaah~ Uncle!"
Diana fought back tears while Aaron wailed and hugged me.
After nearly two months together, even my nose tingled.
"It's not goodbye forever. I'll visit often. Listen to Mr. Bolt, and stay healthy, okay?"
Diana had started learning shop work, Aaron minding his four-year-old cousin.
I hugged them both and patted their backs.
"How often is often?"
"Hm?"
"You said you'd visit often. How frequently?"
Uh, I hadn't thought that far.
I gathered my thoughts at Diana's sharp question.
"Hmm... At least once a year."
"...Once a year. Can't be helped. If you can't make it, don't push yourself. Just drop by when you can."
Not wanting to burden me, she forced a smile through teary eyes.
Teleportation circles made it easy, but her thoughtfulness warmed me, so I patted her head again.
After final goodbyes, I dragged my reluctant feet away, waving back repeatedly.
The kids kept waving until they were out of sight.
'Kinda bittersweet. Hope they turn out great. Gotta check in often.'
I'd grown quite fond of them.
They were my first connections in Outerica, after all.
'Time to head to the capital, then?'
I'd given Bolt the support funds and Diana plenty of emergency cash, so I was low on money...
But Heinz traveling solo didn't need much coin.
I left the city and walked aimlessly until sunset.
As time passed and darkness fell...
Flutter flap!
A flock of bats crossed the night sky.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ At dawn, after traveling all night, I reached Talaria—a journey that would've taken days on horseback.
"So this is Thalia Kingdom's capital... Wonder if I can get in."
I'd hidden my identity so far somehow, but the capital might be tricky.
'Should I summon Heinrich here?'
I'd come to the capital for him, really.
I'd been impressed by the holy knights I'd encountered as Hans recently.
Their sacred swords, the honor of being revered in the light.
While gathering city intel, I'd researched the Church too.
Weighing it all, I concluded it was feasible and came to enlist Heinrich.
Talaraia had the Church of the Main God's temple.
As I gazed at the capital from the hill—
That moment.
"Hmm... Who might you be?"
A woman's voice suddenly made my skin crawl.
'No presence at all...!'
I whirled around in alarm, creating distance, but she just stared at her fingertip.
A fingertip dotted with blood.
Drip—
A sharp sting hit my nape.
I hurriedly controlled the blood to staunch it and raised my guard.
'Damn... Things were going too smoothly.'
She eyed the blood on her finger, then slowly brought it to her lips and licked it.
"As I thought... You're definitely one who inherited our clan's blood."
A stunning woman in her early twenties, golden blonde hair pinned up to bare her pale neck, holding a parasol over a lavish red dress.
Her identity: likely a True Blood vampire of the Brocoslak Clan.
"I caught your scent on the wind and wondered. You've devoured your own kin, haven't you? Even from the same clan?"
Meeting her blood-red eyes froze my body.
"How was that possible? Reveal who your direct progenitor was. Looks like they didn't properly restrict the inherited blood."
Her crimson eyes glowed ominously, binding my limbs.
My mouth tried to open against my will.
"You've broken the clan's laws, so you and your direct bloodline will be punished. ...If they're still alive."
'I see. So this is a Magic Eye.'
Her eyes, glowing red with blood magic, compelled obedience.
No ordinary person could resist.
"Resistance is futile at your level. Speak."
Of course, it didn't affect me.
'Sigh... Same pattern repeating. How many times now? Gotta get stronger faster.'
Every time I thought I'd powered up, someone stronger appeared.
It'd keep happening until I reached the top.
Nothing for it now.
"...You're holding out longer than expected. But even so..."
I ignored the rambling vampire and activated my universal escape: avatar dismissal.
I'd achieved my goal anyway, but it was a tad annoying.
'Tch, next time.'
And that time wouldn't be far off.
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