Chapter 12
Chapter 12
Translator : Elizabeth
“Not interested, probably?” “Liar…!”
Bang-!
Haley hitting the table lightly with her palm. A single word filled with conviction lingers in my ears. A gaze felt persistently is directed this way. It’s not that I’m completely uninterested in the job of an adventurer but…. That doesn’t mean I want to become an adventurer. Well, I did have such thoughts when I first came to this world.
‘Still, I need something to fight….’
But reality is not that easy. A cruel medieval fantasy where there are no skill windows or inventory which are said to be common. Betting my life first in a world that is not a game or world I knew, but like a complete stranger, was a suicidal act. If I were at least a human who exercised consistently, it might be different, but since that wasn’t the case, it was an option that disappeared from my head long ago.
Now Haley intends to make me an adventurer. Absolutely not; I point my finger at the opposite side and speak.
“I won’t do it, no… I can’t do it, don’t get weird ideas.” “Why, why! You have me!”
As I saw through such thoughts in advance and beat her to the punch, Haley, seemingly caught red-handed, stuttered and refuted. This little rascal, surely she’s not thinking she can keep me by her side and protect me because she’s an adventurer. Thanks to the body hardened by farming, I might be better than before, but it’s definitely not a level to challenge being an adventurer. If I could fight monsters with just this level, who would labor over farming?
“What does it have to do with you being here? And… even if I become an adventurer like that, I’ll just become a burden, won’t I?”
As if scolding Haley for coming up with a nonsensical idea, I spat out words containing a firm refusal.
“Hmph….”
Only then letting out a sullen sound, Haley gives up. I straighten my hand and place it on the blue hair visible opposite me at the voice mixed with grumbling.
“Besides, becoming an adventurer in that way is rude to others too.” “…Understood.”
A reasonable logic put forward with a gentle chop of the hand. Perhaps no words to refute came to mind separately, Haley just said she understood and became sullen visibly. Am I being too willful for a freeloader? Still, since that method could incur resentment if things go wrong, not accepting it was the correct answer.
Even so, it is true that recently I only caused Haley worry or received help. Seeing Haley become thoroughly sullen, I felt sorry inwardly, thought of words that might cheer her up, and soon spat them out.
“Instead, one realistic wish.” “Yes?”
One realistic wish. At the words coming out of my mouth, Haley was briefly flustered.
“Within the range I can do, I’ll grant you anything, just one.” “…Really? Without a time limit? Anytime?”
Following that, as I added the scope of the wish, Haley, with her sullen appearance gone nowhere, asked various conditions in succession with a surprised look. “Yeah, without a time limit, anytime.” “Rea… lly? Hehe.”
As I recited and confirmed each item methodically at the question checking again, Haley, though bewildered, couldn't hold back her laughter. What kind of wish did she think of to laugh like that? While shuddering at Haley’s mischievous smile, I felt relief at her face looking happy for now.
“Feeling better? Then let’s eat dinner.” “Yees~”
Leaving the timing and content of the wish up to her, I approached the pot for dinner and opened the lid. Today’s dinner is clear meat soup rather than stew. Vegetables that can be used as substitutes for potatoes or onions boiled together with chunks of meat. Of course, since there is no such thing as rice here, the characteristic is that much more meat is put in than vegetables so it can serve as a hearty meal. Ideally, I wanted to mix white rice generously and eat it like gukbap, but as a substitute, I eat with four chunks of meat on the spoon.
Similarly, Haley putting a spoonful of meat and vegetables and bringing it to her mouth. With a refreshing slurping sound, she chewed the large meat chunks munch munch a few times and spooned repeatedly.
“Delicious!” “Eat slowly, you’ll get indigestion.”
Like that, the enjoyable dinner time ended. Just when I was about to wrap up the day lying on the thick sheet next to Haley’s bed as always. Rustle, peeking from above the bed with a rustling sound. Haley was sticking her face out a little. Eyes blinking blue in the dark. She looked like she was curious about something.
“What is it?” “Mister, why did you become a slave trader?”
As she asked the business shortly towards the top of the bed, Haley was curious about the reason I chose to be a slave trader once. A job that couldn’t have a good perception even as empty words. As I hesitated to answer for a moment at the somewhat serious question, Haley, reading the room, says.
“If you don’t want to say, it’s okay….”
Did she think herself it was an out-of-the-blue question? She hides the head she stuck out from above the bed just like that. Since it’s late at night, presumably various miscellaneous thoughts occur in the dawn sentiment. There was no particular reason to hide it. Just that no one bothered to ask.
I nodded my head apathetically and said.
“Just, there was no other choice.” “Were there not many, other things to do?” “I mean there weren’t any….”
Haley asked if there weren’t other things to do, but since it was an expected answer, I answered immediately. Unlike now where I am somehow recognized as a citizen, my identity was unclear at the time. Thinking about it now, I could have been treated as a spy or informant from another country and had my head chopped off. Of course, I shouldn’t say even this kind of talk fluently.
Perhaps Haley also thought there would be various circumstances, she held her breath quietly without digging persistently.
“Well, it was a big deal at one time but….”
Omitting many things in the flow of conversation that was cut off abruptly, I proceeded straight to the conclusion. Sitting up and looking above the bed, a situation where Haley blinking her eyes is lying in the direction where I was. Twisting the corners of my mouth with a laugh bursting out unknowingly pfft, I stroked that crown to my heart's content.
“Seeing you turn out well like this, I feel proud for no reason and such.” “Hehe….”
The sound leaking out in time with the touch tickles my ears. Actually, becoming this strong might be due to her own talent too, but Grandpa Gent’s influence must have been significant.
‘Right, Grandpa Gent….’
Come to think of it, I didn’t visit the old man even after returning to the city. Honestly speaking, I mean I’m scared to visit. The village being in such a backwater was a problem too, but I never sent a single common letter fearing the location would be pinpointed. Probably he might be sharpening his knife to kill me. Shall I ask Haley once…?
“By any chance, how is Grandpa Gent doing?” “Ah, if it’s Grandpa….”
The moment I brought up the story of Grandpa Gent as if sounding her out. Haley’s complexion darkened in an instant.
“Mister, you… had better not visit.”
Rather than something bad happening to the old man, a few words and gaze treatment that seemed to worry about the future me no matter who looked.
“Yeah, I absolutely won’t visit.”
I answered with conviction at Haley’s hesitant words. As expected of the old man, seems he intends to kill me. I take my hand off Haley’s head at the eeriness. I should be more careful in the future when wandering the city. It might be different for people who didn’t know me originally, but I wouldn’t be able to deceive that seasoned old man with just changed hair color.
“Yawn, uh-ha….”
While thinking such thoughts, Haley yawning. Her clouded eyes were now on the verge of closing.
“It’s late, let’s sleep quickly.” “Ye, es….”
Soothing Haley who seemed to have reached her limit, I lay down leading my eyelids closing blink blink similarly.
The darkness that settled on the city lifts, and around the time the day brightens. Even in a drowsy state, as I regained consciousness and sat up, a faint breathing sound stayed by my ears. Haley still in bed even though she opened her eyes rarely. Holidays come even in medieval fantasy.
“Hmm, hm-hm~”
A short while later. Haley starting to walk the street with a cheerful hum. I was following behind such Haley, matching the schedule of the willful yet tomboyish lady. Hearing her talk, she said she knows some good restaurant…. Thanks to that, having skipped breakfast and come out, I am quite hungry.
Despite Haley’s appearance, the street was the same as always. Humans are creatures who unexpectedly judge others by appearance. Just by changing clothes and touching up hair color slightly with the Hat of Discoloration, there was at least no one here who could recognize that Haley is Haley. Thanks to that, a situation where Haley is also wandering the street revealing her appearance comfortably.
“Mister! Come here and look at this!”
Occasionally stopping and showing hairpins or rings at stalls; looking at her like this, she was a girl of that age regardless of being a Ruby-rank adventurer or whatever. More than that, where on earth is the restaurant? Isn’t this just a filial piety tour with a child?
‘She looks happy, so maybe it doesn’t matter….’
While feeling somewhat aged rapidly, I endured hunger watching Haley looking happy. Then at some moment, we happened to pass in front of a shop where magic books were placed in piles….
“Come to think of it, do you have mana, Mister?” “Huh?”
Perhaps suddenly curious while placing her gaze there, Haley asked if I have mana. A reflexive single word popped out at the out-of-the-blue question. Mana. The fundamental power and mystery enabling magic use. Also, a very unfair and partial guy.
Immediately after the short word popped out, scratching the back of my head awkwardly, I spoke as if it was new.
“That is… I haven’t measured it separately.” “Whaat? Wh…y? Didn’t you do it for all of us?”
Then asking the reason why I didn’t measure as if asking why on earth, Haley started arguing methodically saying didn’t I do it for all of them when they were slaves. I know it’s hard to understand. Measuring mana here was like scratching a lottery ticket only once in life.
“Well, your information had to be accurate, and besides….”
Since the price tag is divided according to this mana, gathering all information of slaves is essential. While explaining the reason for measuring mana for slaves one by one, I revealed the reason I wasn’t measured.
“It was a waste to spend the measurement cost on me.”
As I revealed such a somewhat apathetic feeling, Haley’s gaze suddenly cooled coldly.
“Let’s go do it right now, mana measurement.” “Ah, no… it’s okay.” “It’s okay about the money, hurry.”
Haley who has no intention of listening even to the words that it’s okay. Seeing her bring up money first, it seems she misunderstood that I sacrificed something like a dream because of them. I really did it because the money was a waste. Can’t we go to the restaurant first? I’m getting hungry now.