Chapter 8
Chapter 8
Translator : Elizabeth
“Wh-Why!? Is it that bad?!”
Haley, who burst into tears out of nowhere like that. Startled, I asked if it tasted bad, but Haley shook her head vigorously again. Turns out, she was crying because it was too delicious.
‘It’s just bread with nothing special, though.’
Honestly, even from my perspective, I thought the exaggeration was a bit much. Since she became a Ruby-rank adventurer, she must have gone around eating foods called delicacies here and there.
Anyway, after finishing the meal and calming Haley down somehow.
“The basement, stuff, you can, use as you please… and.”
The tearfulness remained as it was, becoming an obstacle to the conversation. Haley teaching me the future living policy while sniffling. Rubbing her head at the nasal sound that rarely stopped, I spoke as if there was no need to hear everything right away.
“Now, let’s talk about that a little later for now.” “…Yees.”
Haley, who was trying to explain this and that, becomes quiet quickly at a single touch. Come to think of it, she was hungry for praise even when she was young. So she used to bring anything to me whenever she finished it. Wait, but can I call that praise? I just responded appropriately and patted her.
‘It doesn’t seem much different even now, though….’
I thought while looking at Haley receiving the touch with her eyes closed as if savoring this moment.
Time passed, and around when Haley’s tearfulness subsided. We decided to set the future living policy. The first thing to ask was decided. That was none other than the range of items I could touch.
“Earlier, you said I could use the items in the basement, right?” “Yes.”
While sitting gathered at the table having the postponed conversation. A short answer returned when I asked about the food ingredients in the basement. No matter if I was a benefactor in the past or whatever, looking at the current position, I’m eventually a parasite or a freeloader living off her. By now, the fact that I was a slave trader must have spread in the village and then some. In this situation, I decline doing something unasked for no reason and earning Haley’s dislike.
“Weren’t you planning to use them throughout winter?” “It’s okay, if we use it all, we can just buy more….”
Asking again as if to confirm if they weren’t ingredients intended for winter use, Haley gives an answer truly clearly that we can just buy more if we use it all. The expenditure to buy food ingredients in winter wouldn’t be easy. Such thoughts were soon scattered by the following thought.
‘True enough….’
Being Ruby-rank, there’s no way she would care about trivial food expenses. Rather, it’s refreshing that she still has the idea of buying ingredients and putting them in the basement. Probably, it’s a level where money remains even if we eat out every day. Looking at it that way, maybe it’s admirable again. The basement that could have been useless also changed into such excellent storage.
“More than that, how did you get the money to buy meat…?”
As I was shutting my mouth for a moment due to various thoughts, a question came in from Haley’s side this time. A question asking where I got the money used for the meal just now. I immediately took out the money from my pocket, showed it, and said.
“There was money I left behind without spending when I left the city.” “Aha….”
One deflated money pouch placed on the table just like that. Haley let out a sigh mixed with understanding as soon as she saw it.
“Then, please use this from now on.”
Then soon, one heavy pouch placed on the desk.
“Huh?”
Along with a questioning interjection, I untied the string at the pouch opening without any suspicion.
‘Gasp….’
Breathing sound blocked as if the heart stopped. The contents of the pouch that looked like it would burst were a tremendous fortune that would make even half-opened eyes flash wide. Surprised momentarily, I hurriedly tied the opening of the pouch. At least if the contents were all copper or silver coins, there wouldn’t have been reason to be this surprised. A vivid yellow color that was momentarily pleasing to the eye. At the very least, what was seen at the top of the pouch was undoubtedly all gold coins.
“No, no no no no… this is too much.”
Freaking out at the amount I hadn't even imagined, I quickly returned the pouch to Haley opposite me. An amount of gold coins sufficient to provide business capital if presented to anyone right now. It’s not a level that can be handed over readily saying ‘Please use it’. Haley, whose sense of money is far lower than I thought. Surely I taught her the value of money properly in the past…. Even though I am in the position of receiving, I decided to give stinging advice.
“You, what are you going to do if I run away with this? It’s money of an amount that would make anyone think such thoughts… do you know?”
My voice heading towards Haley as if rebuking. Despite the words said while holding my index finger straight up as if imploring, Haley answered immediately without shaking.
“I know.” “Whaat…?”
At the bold answer, the index finger held straight up bends inward. The momentum of the voice I was putting strength into also breaks along with it. If you know, why on earth are you doing this. Before I could spit out that thought, Haley spoke first.
“Because if it’s Mister, you wouldn’t do that.” “Ha….”
A dejected sigh flowed at the following few words. The trust is so heavy it’s suffocating. I understand that Haley trusts me. Although I don’t know well what is so trustworthy about a middle-aged man who abandoned her once…. Naturally, I have no intention of casting her away twice either. Right now, I have nowhere to return to even if I leave here.
Still, I declined taking this pouch myself.
“For now, you keep this pouch.” “Huh? But still….”
Haley is surprised at the pouch being pushed away along with refusal. Perhaps thinking I would accept it eagerly, Haley blurs the end of her sentence sullenly. Still, it wasn’t that I wouldn’t receive Haley’s support at all. Living in the city simply requires money. And I have no means to earn money in the city. I straighten the index finger that had bent at the bold answer again and speak.
“Receiving one occasionally is enough, I don’t need this much.” “Is, that so….”
Even so, Haley’s face where regret remains. Does she think I can’t accept all her sincerity? I want to do that too if my heart allowed it. Where in the world is there a person who hates money? However, if I managed that, it would become a big problem.
“You might not know well now because you are sufficiently strong, but if you carry around this much money, your life is in danger….”
Swish swish, pretending to slit my own throat with the sharp nail tip, I explain to Haley’s sullen face. Not a joke, I’m saying this sincerely. Before discussing the law, fists…. No, an era where it’s natural for swords to come out first if things go wrong. If just a middle-aged man like me carried around such a fortune, it wouldn’t be strange to be found as a corpse on the street. Rather, I should just receive a tiny amount of money, and leave the management of the rest to Haley, the natural safe.
“You understood, right?” “Ah, yes….”
Seeming not to have thought that far, Haley backs down obediently when I explain even the reason. If you look at the world with the gaze of the strong, it can’t be helped. Since she became too accustomed to her current life, she forgot that just carrying around that kind of money is dangerous.
…Somehow the talk got long, but the living policy starting from the money problem to be used in the future is roughly organized. Although it was a bit awkward to end the conversation from the position of a freeloader, I reached out my hand toward Haley and said.
“Anyway, let’s get along well from now on.” “…! Yes!”
Lest she miss even that, Haley jumps up from the chair hop and grabs the extended hand abruptly. That appearance was like a golden retriever only slightly smaller in size.
Anyway, living together with Haley began in a form unknown whether it was the best or the worst.
Like that, one more day passes. I was walking the street as always. Even if I came to live with Haley, the time zone where our actions overlap is at best after the evening. Compared to Haley who has become a respectable member of society, the jobless unemployed middle-aged man can only do about as much as wandering the street and worrying about the dinner menu.
While wandering the street blindly like that. I hear the conversation sound of a group that is armed.
“Ah right, come to think of it, heard that kid called Ruby or whatever returned?” “Yeah, besides, heard she’s staying quite long this time.” “What wind blew?” “Well, how should I know.”
A group strutting down the street calmly while armed. They were errand solvers called adventurers. The topic of the adventurers’ conversation was none other than Haley. Even hearing just one characteristic called Ruby, it seemed I knew who they were talking about. My feet stop as the story of someone I know comes up for no reason. Stealthily, pretending to wander the street without them noticing, I approach the adventurer group and listen. Just when I thought naturally only Haley’s story would go back and forth.
“Heard she brought some middle-aged man too?” “What? That’s something I’m hearing for the first time.” “It’s certain! Heard it from the horse guys, said his hair is pitch black.”
For some reason, I could accidentally hear myself being mentioned in the adventurers’ conversation topic.
‘Huh…?!’
While slightly surprised at the few words of the adventurer talking while tapping his own head, I keep a distance. Fortunately, they seemed to have no interest in this side as they were talking amongst themselves. Like it or not, Haley is a Ruby-rank adventurer. Naturally, whatever she does, she is prone to receive attention, and the surroundings were no exception. Above all, black hair is not common here. Although it wasn’t to the extent of being ostracized or considered heterogeneous, it was enough to take as a characteristic of a person.
“Wonder what relationship the two are.” “Well, if we happen to see them, shall we grab them and ask?” “That would be fun.”
Stealthily, conversation sounds heard even while keeping distance. They didn’t know the target was right behind them, and the parties involved were continuing jokes they couldn’t laugh at.
‘Let’s absolutely not stand out.’
Judging by the adventurers’ conversation, now that Haley’s settlement and even me beside her are becoming topics of discussion. I thought to leave the place before becoming a target for no reason.
“You there, could you wait for a moment.”
Until suddenly a cold touch came up on my shoulder.