Chapter 20
Chapter 20
I finally got us out of the guild.
“Hey… could you back off a little? Everyone’s staring.”
“No.”
“Aren told you to step back. …Hey, back off! I said step back!”
Squash.
“I’m not letting go.”
Seeing that, Yeriel tried to pull her away, but she still held firm.
She’s really stubborn. Doesn’t it tire her?
Maybe if I just close my eyes, pull my hands away, and slam her onto the ground, she’d let go? No, she’d just cling back anyway.
Even if I forcibly removed her now, we’d still have to go to the guild tomorrow. If we stayed holed up inside, it’d just get worse before any training even began.
I have to resolve this today, one way or another.
I held her up and thought it through slowly.
Reading that system window earlier, I get why this is happening…
Probably because the darkness that’s surrounded her since birth senses my trait and reacts by vanishing, and she feels it. She’s desperate because if she lets go, her curse might activate again and spread misfortune.
But that’s still someone else’s problem, isn’t it? It’s sad, but clinging like this out of nowhere… that’s a bit much.
Ha. Tomorrow at the guild, word’s going to spread fast. I must’ve looked ridiculous earlier.
Looking around, passersby were either disgusted or clicking their tongues in disdain at my state.
“Oh my, two grown adults hugging each other outside, what are they doing?”
“What’s with the black hair and cat ears? Isn’t that Arar? They say just being near him brings bad luck… geez, I feel uneasy. I’ll just stay in the inn today.”
“That guy’s gonna die if he stays glued to her like that. Tsk tsk. No matter how much he likes girls, this is stupid.”
Damn it… they hear everything, these bastards.
Huh?
I felt a tremor and looked down—Lumia was clinging with all her limbs, trembling softly.
If she lowered her head, she’d probably press her lips together and act fine, but inside, she’s shaking from the hurt.
Huh… I can’t be cruel to her. Let’s calm her down first, then let go and hear what she wants.
“Sigh.”
At my exhale, Lumia looked up at me.
Ignoring the stares, I held her trembling body close.
“…Huh?”
Her body stiffened and her eyes widened.
Swish swish.
I gently freed one of the hands supporting her and started stroking her cat ears and hair.
“…Haa…”
Her trembling subsided, and the legs that had been wrapped around me loosened.
“U-uhh.”
Wait, why is she on the verge of crying now?
“Hey, don’t cry. Listen to me carefully.”
She nodded through a quiver.
“Right now, no one here can harm you. Likewise, no one will be hurt by your curse.”
I flicked one hand like brushing off dust and continued.
“So just forget the words people throw at you like garbage. Getting hurt over random strangers’ words is your own loss, right?”
I pressed her ears gently and tidied her messy hair.
“Now that you’re calm, can you let go? I won’t run off, so don’t worry. I promise.”
“…Really?”
“Really.”
“Then… promise.”
Lumia extended her pinky. She wanted me to link it. I met her gaze and intertwined our pinkies, sealing the promise.
Reassured, she fully released her limbs and stepped away.
[Now that the chaos is over, look beside you.] she said with a smile.
Beside me?
I turned, and Yeriel’s cheeks were puffed up like balloons.
“…Yeriel, why are your cheeks like that?”
“Hmph. Aren, you fool. You treat every girl gently?”
“No, I had to resolve the situation, and I felt sorry for her. Besides, you heard what people were saying earlier, right?”
“I know, I know! Ugh! Just give me your hand!”
Yeriel lifted her hand above her head and said:
“Pet me. More than you did with her!”
I stroked her wildly.
“Feeling better now?”
“Yeah! It’s just… meeting someone for the first time and hugging them, petting them, comforting them… it’s a bit overwhelming. Sorry.”
“It’s fine, really.”
Poke.
Just as the conversation with Yeriel seemed to settle, Lumia poked my side.
“Now, I guess it’s time to finish things with you. What exactly do you want from me?”
“First… speak comfortably.”
Yeah, I’d also been uneasy keeping up formal speech all this time.
“Okay. So why did you make such a scene at the guild? If the conversation gets long, do you want to continue where you’re staying?”
“Sure. Follow me.”
If we bring Lumia to the inn where Yeriel and I stay…
Even though my trait has deactivated her darkness, proving it immediately would be hard, and we might all get kicked out.
But if it’s her place, that won’t happen. Going there is safer.
Following her, we reached an unfamiliar place.
A carriage station?
Thinking back, even in the Fourth District, transportation should exist. I’d just been walking all this time.
“Are we taking a carriage? Somewhere else?”
“No. Just the edge of the Fourth District.”
Not too far, then.
“Five fairy tale coins per person.”
We each paid and boarded the carriage.
…
“We’ve arrived.”
An hour later, we disembarked.
The roads were well-paved, so it wasn’t the jarring, back-breaking carriage ride from fantasy stories—pleasantly smooth.
“This is it.”
Compared to the inn from yesterday, the exterior was slightly shabby.
Inside, an old man welcomed Lumia.
“Lumia. Did you handle things well? …Oh my, you brought guests! Two, even! How surprising.”
So he’s the innkeeper.
“Hello. I need to have an important conversation with Lumia. Can we talk in a room?”
“Well, no reason why not. Go ahead. If you need food, just tell me downstairs.”
We nodded and followed Lumia to a room on the second floor.
The old innkeeper seems like a good person. No discrimination at all.
“Right. Now, let’s talk.”
“Yeah. I’ll get straight to the point.”
Lumia pointed at me.
“I want to party with you. If possible, permanently.”
“Is it because your curse vanishes when your darkness is near me?”
She nodded once, then shook her head.
“At first, yes. But that’s not the whole reason.”
Then what?
“…It’s true that the darkness that killed my parents and ruined my life disappears near you. You have no idea how shocked I was.”
She came closer, and before I could react, she gently hugged me.
“W-what are you doing! Can’t you let go?”
Ignoring Yeriel’s startled shout, Lumia spoke.
“All my life, I rarely felt positive emotions. But today, when you hugged and calmed me, I felt something strange.”
“….”
“It was far warmer and more pleasant than any positive feeling I’d ever had.”
Lumia looked up at me.
“Everyone else is the same. They avoid even standing nearby or brushing against me. I’m treated like a walking disease.”
I can understand others’ perspective, but she must’ve felt miserable.
“Yet, you were the only one to treat me kindly, hug me, touch my ears, and soothe me. That’s why I want to stay near you.”
…She’s severely deprived. Thinking of what I overheard at the next table, it’s not hard to understand.
“I may be a witch specializing in dark magic, a catfolk with heightened senses, and competent in abilities, but I want to party with you permanently. Can I?”
What should I do?
With Yeriel already in the party, I can’t decide alone.
“Yeriel, what do you think? It’s just the two of us now. If you’re against it, I’ll refuse.”
Yeriel closed her eyes, thinking.
“Let’s speak casually first.”
“Alright.”
“I have one question. You said you use dark magic, right? Can you also use curse magic?”
Lumia answered immediately.
“Yes. Curse magic is part of dark magic. It’s not my specialty, but with a catalyst, I can cast most basic curses.”
“Then can you use the ‘Tracking Arrow Curse’?”
She thought deeply.
“…Yes. Barely within my level. But I need the target’s blood or hair. It has to be theirs exactly, otherwise it won’t work.”
Yeriel smiled at me.
“Aren, I was going to oppose it at first, but it seems better to accept. You heard, right? She can use the curse you need.”
I nodded.
“Honestly, I didn’t like her clinging to you at the guild either. But she’s exactly what you need right now. I approve.”
Yeriel’s depth… if she opposed it, we’d have no choice but to refuse.
“Alright, it’s decided then. Let’s start with introductions. I’m Aren. I wield a one-handed sword, front-line and DPS. Your name?”
“Call me Lumia. My specialty is dark magic.”
“I’m Yeriel, priest of the Light Order. …Hey, stop clinging to Aren so much!”
Since a new party member has joined, I want us to get along.
For now, we’ll just bond; tomorrow, we can get Isaac’s hair or blood for the curse after guild training.
That guy struts every day—maybe a light sparring match will teach him a lesson.
Anyway, to erase awkwardness, food and drinks are in order.
“Great! To celebrate Lumia joining, I’ll buy food and drinks. Yeriel, come with me first.”
“Sure! I was getting hungry anyway.”
“Lumia, change into something comfortable and come down. I’ll order food while you do.”
She nodded.
We went downstairs, ordered food and drinks, and sat at the table, talking with Yeriel.
“Thanks earlier, Yeriel. I thought you’d just refuse her as a party member, but you actually approved because she can help with curse magic.”
“No. I saw Aren looking disappointed; how could I oppose it? Don’t worry.”
Before I could say more, Lumia came down from the second floor and joined us.
…Is that her idea of comfortable clothing? Oh well, not my concern.
“By the way, Yeriel, can priests drink alcohol?”
“It’s fine! The Light Order isn’t that strict.”
“Really? Good. Then, glasses up! To our new party member, Lumia, and our future together!”
Clink.
Whew… the guild chaos seemed awful, but it ended with a new party member. Strange how things work.
Let’s rest tonight and start fresh tomorrow.