novelraw Chapter 95 : Farewell, Second Hometown
Chapter 95 : Farewell, Second Hometown
Farewell, Second Hometown
Red Wolf Tribe.
The moment I heard those words, I felt my mind reel.
"R-Red Wolf Tribe... that name sounds familiar."
"That is our homeland."
At my words, Serena clapped her hands together with a loud snap! Then she jumped in surprise.
"What!?"
Serena, so flustered.
That was exactly how I felt, too.
Why would the Red Wolf Tribe target us? If they were our people, shouldn't it be natural for them to support us?
Is it because we veered off course and didn't finish the 'Journey of Proof'?
"Rugar."
I murmured once more the name that Miriam had mentioned.
"Barkal, do you know a name called Rugar?"
"Hmm."
At my question, Barkal let out a deep sigh. Through the skull helmet he wore, his eyes trembled violently.
"I think... I know, but I can't remember."
"Then you don't know, brother."
"No! Wait! I'm sure it'll come back to me!"
Barkal started squeezing his head with both hands. But as if he still couldn't recall, he reached out the "World's Precipice" to me.
"I need some stimulation, brother!"
"Stimulation?"
"If you bonk! me with this, it'll go bam! and I'll remember, brother!"
If I bonk!
and then
bam!
... would it not split in half instead?
"Hurry!"
Despite my worries, Barkal looked quite serious.
"Rather than that, just focus a bit more on the name 'Rugar'."
"Uh, uhhm."
"Brother Dmihtan, is it a name you've never heard before?"
"That's right."
I really don't know it at all.
To begin with, I don't even know the names of the barbarian friends, so I just called them things like Geodude, bulbasaur, cubone.
"Rugar, rugar... Ru, gar?"
Yes, rugar.
But 'Rugar' sounds like some kind of PokéX, too. Did Geodude or Bulbasaur evolve without me noticing?
"I remember, brother!"
Barkal was fiddling with the handle of the "World's Precipice."
He suddenly shouted as something came to him.
"Who is it?"
"Rugar! That's the name of the priest of the Red Wolf Tribe!"
Priest?
Now I remember who he was. He was the one who tried to kill me, saying I reeked of the necromancer's magic and necromancy.
Honestly, when he tried to hang me, I didn't have anything to say. The priest was right, after all.
"Kuhahaha! Priest Rugar! It's been ages since I've heard that name! How nostalgic!"
"Barkal."
"What is it, brother!"
"He's the one who requested the Disguiser to kill us."
Barkal's eyes shook fiercely.
"The priest! Why!!!"
* * *
Barkal looked terribly dejected at the thought that the priest had tried to kill him.
It was surprising, of course. The priest of the Red Wolf Tribe seemed to have acted as priest for quite some time.
"Being a priest... that's a high position among the Red Wolf barbarian, right?"
Seeing Barkal so downcast, Serena asked out of curiosity.
I nodded.
"He is. A position second only to the chieftain."
"Someone like that... why on earth?"
"Hm."
I let out a short sigh.
I don't know the reason.
But it's a bit hard to just answer like that.
Maybe, the priest was truly thinking of the tribe, and, unable to cast off his suspicions about me being a necromancer, tried to kill me.
"From even before we left the tribe for the Journey of Proof, the priest saw us as a thorn in his side."
"Was there a reason for that?"
"He said my brother reeked of vile magic!"
Barkal took over the explanation.
"He said he smelled the magic of the necromancer and pointed out the Sage precisely!"
"To Brother Dmihtan!?"
"That's right!"
"What a strange person!"
As soon as talk of necromancers arose, both of them started shouting in angry voices.
"There's no way Brother Dmihtan could be trash like a necromancer!"
"That's right!"
"We killed a necromancer together, and even a lich!"
"That's right!"
"And if you are a necromancer, does that mean you murdered a companion, a shameless act?"
"Indeed!"
Ahem.
As they exchanged pointless words back and forth, I let out a fake cough.
Serena.
You really don't know, do you?
"To get back to the point, because of that misunderstanding, the priest tried to kill me."
"Do you suppose this request is an extension of that misunderstanding?"
"That's..."
I can't be sure.
"Miriam."
"Yes?"
"Who exactly was the target of the request?"
"Uh..."
At my question, miriam hastily flipped through her notebook.
"It says... Dungeon God."
The target was the adventurer party Dungeon God.
That means, the priest didn't just want only my head.
It's not certain. This is probably just my guess.
"Still, we've gotten something out of this."
The Second Finger's warehouse.
We'd come all the way here with a wagon—if we'd gotten nothing out of it, that wouldn't do.
As I said that, Barkal's face brightened.
"As expected, you can always see the good side, brother."
Barkal turned to the new "Erindal."
Saying honey was dripping from his gaze wouldn't be too much.
"Let's go back."
With those words, we headed back to the wagon we'd come on. Krunga welcomed us as if to say "let's return."
Everyone except Barkal, that is.
After all, getting a new axe meant an increased burden for him.
Because of that, krunga glared at Barkal with eyes almost human-like.
"Kuhahaha! Even the beast recognizes it? What a worthy weapon!"
No, Barkal.
It really hates it. Krunga even shook its head side to side, as if it understood Barkal's words.
Even so, Barkal could only burst out laughing.
I can't tell which one's the real beast.
* * *
Having finished our business, we boarded the wagon and returned to Odheim.
When we arrived at the Golden Chain merchant guild, lendorn came out to greet us. It seemed, since we'd been gone so long, he thought we might have already left.
But there was nothing left to do in Odheim or the Rozelia region anymore.
We'd gotten clues about the Player.
We'd found the fragment.
Things with Serena had also been settled for now.
"At dawn, we'll return to Iushil."
"A-at last...!"
Marcus, who'd been listening beside Lendorn, let out a sigh of relief.
Is he so eager for us to leave the merchant guild? I wanted to ask.
"Kuhahaha! A banquet! I'm in such a good mood today—prepare twice as much!"
Thinking of Barkal's appetite, I suddenly felt sorry.
Even at the Bearded Cat Inn, the owner Hordi had been amazed at how much Barkal could eat.
Well, it was nice for me, since it meant less spending.
"T-then, I suppose I'll get going too."
Arriving back in Odheim, miriam also started getting ready to leave.
I approached her and quietly asked,
"Are you going to see to First Finger's business?"
"Huh? Ah..."
At my question, miriam trailed off.
"I don't really like working as a Disguiser... hehe."
Miriam gave an awkward smile.
"For me, it's easier to just obey some noble, get by, maybe even open a modest shop and live off that."
"You really are rather frugal."
"That's right. This suits me best."
Again, she smiled bashfully.
"If fate allows, I'm sure we'll meet again!"
Miriam held out her hand. It seemed she wanted a handshake.
I took her hand. Although there'd been a lot of incidents, it wasn't enough to form a grudge.
* * *
Finally back in Odheim, miriam felt as if she had returned to her real hometown.
It was only natural—Miriam didn't really like working as a Disguiser.
The reason she'd left her home city, armandie, in the first place was to give up her obligations as a Disguiser, even if just a little.
Thus, with a light heart, she headed again to the noble who had hired her—Balthazar de Rancher.
"Seize that wench."
But as soon as she arrived at Balthazar's mansion, what greeted her was a cold voice, like a dagger.
"What?"
Caught off guard by this incomprehensible situation, miriam was bewildered.
"L-Lord Balthazar?"
"Do you even know what crime you have committed?"
So shocked, miriam could only shake her head with no answer.
No way.
Has he found out I'm First Finger? Or, that I'm the Disguiser?
No.
Miriam was sure she'd hidden her identity thoroughly.
The only reason the Dungeon God adventurer party saw through her disguise was the unexpected event where her mask was forcibly removed—otherwise, she would have hidden it still.
So why, then?
"How dare you deceive me and collude with Elenora."
Balthazar murmured, lips quivering with anger. But what he said was something Miriam couldn't easily understand.
"W-what are you talking about, Lord Balthazar?"
"I heard it from Roan, heinrich's confidant. He said the Dungeon God's barbarian tested you at the training ground."
At first, she didn't understand, but after a moment, she realized.
It was about when Barkal had trained her, along with two errand boys, at the Golden Chain's training ground.
"I heard that when the test ended, only you and Elenora's side's errand runner remained."
Balthazar narrowed his eyes and glared at Miriam.
"So why did you not report a single thing about Dungeon God?"
Miriam was speechless.
She absolutely couldn't explain that she had duties as the First Finger.
Then what excuse could she make?
"The answer is simple."
Balthazar, itching to speak, brushed his hand over his lips.
"Did you act as a mediator for Elenora's side?"
"No!"
"Hm."
Even at her denial, balthazar didn't seem convinced—his eyes remained narrowed to slits.
"I'm telling the truth. Please believe me, Lord Balthazar!"
But as Miriam pleaded with heartfelt earnestness, balthazar's gaze began to waver.
"I want to trust you too."
"My Lord..."
"So, I'll send someone to Elenora's side to ask. I'll hear directly from their errand runner what conversation took place with Dungeon God."
"If that's so, I...."
Miriam sighed in relief, thinking maybe this would resolve things.
She thought,
Elenora's errand runner, ebel, was actually the Disguiser, and Elenora's side never sent anyone.
Trouble.
If it is revealed that Ebel was the Disguiser, more and more irritating issues will arise.
So, miriam decided.
"If I can prove my innocence, I'm fine with anything!"
Run away.
Before he finds out anything!
As soon as possible!
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