Chapter 10
Chapter 10
Translator : Elizabeth
While a small misunderstanding regarding my hair was arising like that. After finishing the meal, a night when the sun had completely set. Haley and my secret operation began.
“This, might be a little small but….”
What Haley brought out and offered after rummaging through the wardrobe was a dark-colored full-body robe with a hood attached. Trying on the robe handed to me as a test, just as Haley said, it was a little small for me. It was a robe that should have come down to the ankles, but in this situation, it stopped near the calves.
Looking alternately at Haley’s back as she similarly put on a robe and outside the window, I spoke.
“It’s dark outside too, do we have to go this far…?” “There is a saying that preparations are better the more thorough they are.”
Compared to me who is anxious, Haley is relaxed. After wearing clothes that were somewhat gloomy, it really felt like going out to do something shady. Even at late hours, sounds of conversation are often heard from outside. Even so, since this place was on a quite secluded street, the presence of people stayed only for a very short while.
Just as the last presence of people was moving away. Haley spoke as if whispering inside the dark house.
“Let’s go now…!”
Haley wearing a playful smile recognizable at a glance even in the deep darkness. While looking at her bewilderedly not knowing the reason for such a smile, I obediently followed behind her.
The place we arrived at walking through the street where light had faded was a magic tool shop. The letters on the signboard shining softly added to the shop's unique mysterious atmosphere.
[Witch's Storage Box]
The name of the magic tool shop is Witch's Storage Box. It was the kind of shop dealing in expensive items I couldn’t even dare to enter, then or now. As if the shop was still open even at late hours, a pure white light stayed in the small lamp at the entrance.
Haley opens the door and enters without a shred of hesitation. Beyond the door that opened with a click, a languid and sticky voice was heard.
“Welcome, customers….”
A faint fruit smell wafting pungently yet refreshingly as if tickling the tip of the nose. I soon realized it was the scent coming from the long pipe tobacco at the counter inside the dark shop. A shop where not a single customer other than us is visible. As I was looking around at the mysterious and exotic atmosphere, soon Haley approached the woman at the counter and asked.
“I’m looking for, a tool that changes hair color.” “If it’s that, it’s over there, Miss Ruby.”
Tobacco smoke tilting to one side at Haley’s question. Even though she was abruptly called ‘Ruby’, Haley walked toward that place nonchalantly as if it was familiar. Following her steps slowly like a thread following a needle, soon Haley grabbed a certain hat and looked into it closely. It was an item characterized by thick volume, commonly called a beret or baker boy cap in modern times too. Why is something likely to be in a clothing store in a magic tool shop…?
“Why a hat…?” “Even if it looks like this, it is a magic tool for now.”
As I tilted my head inadvertently and said that, Haley explained that this is also a magic tool for now.
“This is?”
I threw a word as if asking back at the unbelievable answer. No matter how you look at it, it’s just one of the ordinary hats with nothing conspicuous. Just when I was looking at it with suspicious eyes, wondering if it was a new type of scam method.
“Ei-it!” “Ugh.”
Field of vision suddenly covered by darkness along with a trivial shout. Although I was startled by Haley’s sudden action and my body jerked, I returned the hand that shot out reflexively to its place. The moment the hat was forced on like that. A relaxed caution began to be heard from the counter.
“Customers? I’d like you to pay for the item before wearing it.” “Ah… S-Sorry.”
Only then did Haley seem to realize her mistake, and she hurriedly returned to the counter to calculate the price. Leaving behind Haley running to the counter in a fluster, I examined the price tag on the shelf where the hat was.
[Hat of Discoloration: 4 Gold Coins]
‘Four gold coins…?!’
Suddenly the weight of the item on my head felt remarkably different. What was written on the price tag was an amount beyond imagination. No matter if it’s city life, by commoner standards, it was a price sufficient without working for several months. At this price, I’d rather just use hair dye. Besides, paying that full amount in a lump sum. Indeed, people should succeed first and see.
After leaving the shop while admiring Haley’s financial power, an unintended moonlit walk began as we walked side by side on the deserted street.
“Mister, wait….” “Hm?”
Just when the secret operation also returned successfully. Suddenly Haley gesturing from below to come closer. Is there a story to share quietly? Thinking naturally it would be a whisper… I lowered my head, and soon the hat was lifted and the early autumn night breeze brushed by.
“Wow, pretty brown….” “Brown? Is it brown?”
Haley’s blue eyes widen in the darkness. Following that, Haley admiring it as a pretty brown.
‘Brown, brown huh….’
Regrettably, it wasn’t visible at all in my field of vision, but I imagined myself having become brown-haired. …Can’t do it, can’t imagine it at all. I should check with a mirror when I get back home.
Fitting to such a resolution, as soon as I returned home, I took off the robe, hung it up, and walked straight to the mirror. The familiar black color disappeared without a trace, and hair covered in bright brown as if it was this color from the beginning. Even seeing it with my own eyes, I was half in doubt, wandering in front of the mirror wondering ‘Is this right’.
“It really suits you well.”
Haley peeking from behind my back glance glance. Steadily added a few words like the whisper of a devil. Even in my view, it’s not to the extent of feeling completely strange. Still, difficulty adapting is unavoidable. After all, I lived for nearly 30 years with black hair…. It’s understandable to feel awkward seeing the dyed appearance now.
A refreshing yet dejected breath flows. For now, it feels like today is wrapping up like this too. While laying a separate sheet next to the bed and lying on it. Suddenly the events of the day crossed my mind. The conversation with Huton where I could hear news of Shane. Following Haley, even Shane, did the two have no interaction recently?
‘I didn’t hear Haley mention it separately either….’
I know the three were quite close when they were young. Perhaps, did they never meet each other after parting? With such curiosity, beyond the bed frame. I spoke toward Haley who was out of my sight.
“By any chance, have you heard anything about the other two?” “Other people?”
Then, peek, Haley sticking her head out from above the bed. Silky silver hair comes down and tickles my face. Pushing aside the hair that came down stealthily, I brought up the story about the remaining two.
“Why, you know? Like Shane, and there’s Valen too.” “…?”
Even so, Haley tilting her head doubtfully. Look at her, she completely forgot.
“Don’t remember? One brown-haired boy and a red-haired girl who played with you.” “Ah…? Um, I think I remember… maybe.”
Only then showing a strange expression and saying reluctantly she thinks she remembers; showing a typical reaction of a person who doesn't remember at all. This guy, she really forgot…. How could she forget when she even thought of buying this place?
‘Well, there must have been this and that happening.’
Even while thinking such points are doubtful, I soon think of Haley’s position and wrap it up appropriately. Right, there must have been many things until she became Ruby-rank. It wasn’t a position for me to dare argue about.
More than that, did he say he would send a letter to Shane? Since I gave the address too, he might come looking sooner or later. If this were my house, it wouldn't matter but…. This place is currently a building owned by Haley.
“That, what was it… the boy might come looking sooner or later.”
My state of reporting after taking action was regrettable beyond measure, but I decided to tell Haley for now.
“Come, looking you said?” “Yeah, I met the guard I entrusted him to and somehow such a talk came out.”
Haley momentarily flustered at the story that wasn’t agreed upon. Since the absolute superior in the current situation was Haley, I had to ask for permission one way or another.
“He told me to say where I live so I said it, would it be not okay?” “It doesn’t, matter but….”
As I explained wrapping it as unavoidable, Haley shook her head and permitted saying it doesn’t matter, albeit reluctantly…. Thump thump, she was stomping her feet as if crossing them on the bed with a voice mixed with regret somewhere. Is something not to her liking? Looking at Haley’s sulky face, I asked back shortly.
“Doesn’t matter but…?” “Nothing, it’s nothing.”
However, Haley just avoids the answer and hides her appearance beyond the bed with a dissatisfied face. Eventually, the day passed without being able to ask anything more.
Like that, the 1st day since my hair changed to brown. Fortunately, the unfortunate event of being caught by someone passing by on the street just by hair color didn’t happen anymore. Finally, I can look around the city with a comfortable mind. Just as I was climbing a gentle slope with such thoughts.
“Uaaah-! You there in front, move!”
What appeared in front of my eyes, countless potion bottles?
‘Uh.’
Without even a gap to react, they fell upon me. My body starting to tilt greatly backward due to the shock of colliding with something. If I hit my head first, my world ends. Reflexively covering my face with my arms, I bend my body forward even while falling.
Clang! Crack! Crash-!
Soon, glass bottles shattering and starting to make various sounds each.
“Ugh!” “Kyaak!”
Each scream overlapping following the noise of glass breaking. I felt sharp glass fragments grazing over my sleeves. My back touched the hard stone floor and my bones ached, but it was far better than the back of my head breaking. Charr, after the noise of fragments scattering and screams stopped. What was heard from beyond the forearm reflexively covering my face was a young woman’s voice.
“S-Sorry! Are you hurt?”
Probably the culprit who overturned these glass bottles. I thought today was passing quietly.