Chapter 169: Underground, undiscovered, part 6
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Translator: Denryuu; Editor: Ryunakama
I told Iris everything the next day.
「…and so this researcher is developing new technology to be sold to mages. The creatures spotted by the people nearby are none other than his pets.」
Leafing through the report that I had compiled, she nodded.
「I see that they’re harmless?」
「Yes. I confirmed it for myself. Their raw power is restrained by a collar specially designed by their owner.」
「And if they have to fight, their power exponentiates through an evolutionary incantation.」
That’s correct, I said.
「That is some astounding technology, isn’t it?」
「The inventor doesn’t seem to have much personal ambition. He’s also making sure that his technology can’t be misused, so unless he has a change of heart, I don’t expect to see it being weaponised anytime soon.」
「I see.」
She straightened out the report by thumping it on her desk and placed it into a drawer. I wondered if Warwick would have willingly lent us a hand if he had managed to develop his technology during the war.
「I’ll leave you to follow up with our clients.」
「Already done.」
「Really?」, asked Iris, smiling. 「That’s impressive. Oh, and… isn’t it your rest day?」
「Is it?」
I had indeed come without checking — a bad habit of mine.
「You’re… back to your usual expression, too.」
「My usual expression…?」
「Yeah. You seemed on edge for the last month that we were in Vadenhaag.」
Thanks to Rodje, she knew nothing about my missing arm other than that it had been an ‘accident’.
「It’s not for me to know, is it?」
「It’s a trifle, really… not important enough to tell anyone about. Just… family matters.」
I turned around, leaving the confused branch chief to speculate on her own.
「Roland –!」, she suddenly called out, to which I stopped walking and turned my head.
「Yes?」
「Sorry for the late notice, but we who returned will be having dinner together. You’re invited too, of course!」
「Sure.」
Fufufu, chuckled Iris.
「You’ve changed.」
「I didn’t mean to… but have I?」
You have, she replied.
I told her that I would return near closing hours and left.
Instead of going home, though, I headed for Rina’s orphanage. It had been a while since my last visit, and I wanted to see how things were at present.
Rina noticed me immediately and bounded towards me.
「Roland!」
「It’s been a while.」
She looked so young that I found it hard to believe she was Meiri’s age. It was almost as if all her nutrition had gone into developing her magicka.
「What happened to your arm?」
「It’s gone.」
「Do arms just disappear?」
「Sometimes.」
Huh, exclaimed Rina, staring at the spot where my right arm should have been. Taking my other hand, she showed me around her home. I noticed that the number of children had increased since I last came.
「Aru-chan said that things are bad…」
「Sounds like her.」
「She said that we have to employ ‘widows who are unable to perform their duty as mothers’!」
Pretty steep requirements, I must say.
「Come back here!」, rang out the bright voice of a headmaster.
Speak of the devil. Almeria was chasing children around the courtyard, laughing all the way.
「You look like you’re doing well, Almeria.」
「Oh, Roland. I-If you were gonna come, you could’ve said so!」
She looked away, twirling her long, golden hair with her fingers.
「I’m doing well… all thanks to you.」
「As long as you are.」
The princess had come to visit me once while I was recovering, but I had spent most of her visit talking to King Randolph and she wasn’t able to talk much.
「But don’t mention it」, I continued. 「I can beat you even with one arm.」
「You’re as confident as always.」
「I have ample reason to be.」
「Uguu…」
At that moment, two boys snuck up behind her and flipped her skirt upwards.
「Fuhyaa!?」
The boys scarpered.
「Don’t think you can get away with that!」, yelled the princess in exasperation before giving chase.
As long as she’s having fun, I thought.
Rina told me that most of the princess’s duties as headmaster involved taking care of the kids.
「I wonder if she needs helpers now that the number of children has increased?」
I had proposed to educate the orphans in the past, and the orphanage seemed ready to start. Thanks to the constant flow of funding by the king himself, they had ample supplies and their cafeteria was well stocked.
「Roland…」, muttered the young mage, rubbing her knees together.
「Do you need to go?」
「N-No! Rina wants to, uh… teach magic…」
I looked at her again in surprise.
「That’s an interesting proposal.」
「I taught everyone a little bit, but I wasn’t able to do much… it’ll be great if they can learn it properly though!」
「It’s very tough to relate your innate ‘sense’ to someone else. But even attempting to do so is a good learning experience for yourself」, I replied, ruffling her hair. 「Maybe you’ll nurture another prolific mage like you.」
「If I do, I won’t lose to them!」
「That’s the spirit.」
Perhaps Aimée had felt the same way.
Guiding someone else makes you realise things you’ve never thought of before. After all this time, I still can’t imagine myself losing to Almeria. I was aware that she thought it her fault that I lost my arm. It was more of an internal struggle for her than for myself.
I went to stop Aimée of my own accord and lost my arm due to my disregard for my own wellbeing — I don’t regret that in any way. If only Almeria knew my history with her. But what’s done is done, and the loss of my arm became the price I paid to protect her from her point of view.
I can see why she feels guilty.
「My right arm…」
Maybe I should feel a little guilt too.
Another child started wailing and Almeria immediately rushed to his attention. Looking from a distance, it seemed like a dispute had arisen. Instead of a Heroine or a princess, Almeria was just a normal onee-san here. It might be a more fitting role for her, I thought, bidding her and Rina farewell.
「Isn’t it your rest day?」, asked Lyla as soon as I got home.
She sat on the couch pouting while Milia sat to the opposite of her, chuckling.
「Apparently. I wasn’t aware until the chief told me.」
「You have to get your schedule right, Roland-san～」
Milia probably has her day off too, and came over to have fun. I guess she told Lyla about it?
「I wanted you to bring me to the capital to shop on your next day off!」
「Don’t you have something to say to Roland-san, Warawa-san?」
「Mm, right. I forgot… welcome back.」
I don’t know what I was expecting, but it certainly wasn’t that.
「Yeah, I’m home.」
「There’ll be a drinking party with the others who came back from Vadenhaag, so make sure you go on an empty stomach! Shall we head over soon?」
「A party for people to drink?」
「Yes! Chief will be treating us～」
Resting her chin on her hands, she let her legs swing back and forth excitedly.
「Then I’ll go too」, said Lyla.
「You’re not involved, Warawa-san.」
「But I’ll have to eat dinner alone!?」
「Yes. Or are you trying to tie Roland-san down?」
「N-No, I’m not!」
「You say no to this and that and want to go wherever he goes… you don’t know when Roland-san will run out of patience with you!」
Lyla frowned with the knowledge that Milia was right. The Demon King was evidently no match for an ordinary city girl. Let’s go, said Milia, taking my hand to drag me outside.
「It’s a celebration, so let’s not hold back!」
「N-Not allowing me to join you… that’s just plain unreasonable!」
A lot of talk for the one behaving that way, I thought.
「We’re not being unreasonable」, said Milia.
「I’ll be back as soon as possible. Just wait.」
「Fine… that would be excellent.」
Though reluctant to send us off, she nevertheless did and we headed for the guild. Expecting Lyla to be waiting for me without eating at all, I decided that I would buy something and try to make a quick getaway.
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