Chapter 25

After finishing the dissection of the Redhorn Rabbit, Ravia hung the organs and headed towards "Pasta Magic."

As expected, the bear-like owner was very pleased and said, "I can't treat you to a full meal like last time, but I'll give you plenty of service!"

They were led to the same booth as before.

This was certainly not a place where two young boys would come, so the guests who were already there cast curious glances at them. However, perhaps due to the owner's attitude, no one approached them to talk.

"I'm happy. Having a meal with Hikaru at a restaurant like this..."

Hikaru recalled, "Now that you mention it, all our meals so far have been from street vendors."

He had wondered about the nutritional balance, but surprisingly, there were many varieties of street food. Fish, meat, vegetables, and fruits.

He had never felt a lack in his diet, but perhaps eating at a "proper restaurant" was also necessary for a balanced mental diet.

"——Impressive."

"? What's impressive?"

Ravia, who was eating the first cold appetizer, sat up straight, and her handling of the knife and fork was beautiful.

"I don't have any manners. ——Well, I have the knowledge, but..."

Roland's knowledge.

But knowledge is just knowledge; it wasn't ingrained in his body.

"…Do I not look like an adventurer?"

"Probably."

"Should I loosen up a bit?"

"No. Just as you are."

It was fine to have an adventurer who moved so beautifully.

Moreover, Hikaru found it pleasant to watch.

"I'll try it too."

"If you have the knowledge, you'll probably get it quickly."

"I don't think it's something you can learn overnight."

They talked like this while eating.

Perhaps the change in location altered their mood, and the conversation was different from usual.

They talked about Ravia's favorite foods and fruits, and the adventure novels she was reading, and the topics continued to be enjoyable.

"Welcome. ——Oh? It's been a while, hasn't it?"

However, the pleasant conversation ended there.

At the bear owner's voice, Hikaru glanced at the entrance of the shop.

Then he groaned.

"Mr. Hikaru. Good evening."

Gloria was there.

"Master Hikaru!"

"…Eh, eh, good evening."

"Here again."

Moreover, she was accompanied by Pia, Pola, and Priscilla.

"…What's your plan?"

Two more chairs were brought to the booth where Hikaru and Ravia were sitting.

Gloria sat next to Hikaru, and Priscilla next to her.

Pola sat next to Ravia, and Pia next to her.

"Oh, Pia and the others said that Hikaru saved their lives, so I brought them here to thank you."

Gloria said with her usual cheerful smile —— yes, Gloria was the one they didn't want to give information to.

"…You guys."

An unexpectedly cold voice escaped from Hikaru's mouth.

"I told you not to tell anyone, didn't I?"

You told Gloria even though I said not to —— and once he realized it, he couldn't stop it.

The atmosphere in the room suddenly froze.

"I'm sorry!"

Pola bowed deeply, her hands on the table.

"While I was in the restroom, Pia started talking…"

"Sorry! But, you know, we can't defeat a Forest Barbarian. When someone pokes at that, we can't help it… Plus, if it's a guild employee, they'll keep it a secret, right?"

"That's right. I'll keep it a secret. But why? Hikaru is a capable adventurer who can save others. I didn't think you could defeat a Forest Barbarian, of course. It's not a bad story, so it's fine not to keep it a secret, right?"

"Right!"

Pia agreed with Gloria's words. When Hikaru glared at her, Pia tried to hide behind Priscilla.

"…You're not cut out to be an adventurer. You should quit."

"What? Why…"

"There are things that must be kept secret in a quest. Just because you're a guild employee doesn't mean you can tell anyone. Did you think it was okay to tell because it wasn't a bad story? Or because I'm just a kid, it's okay to tell me?"

"That's not… it's not like that…"

"Master Hikaru! I'm very sorry… I'll make sure to tell Pia sternly."

"Sorry, Hikaru. I admit it was careless."

Pola and Priscilla tried to mediate from the side.

Pia was already pale, with tears in the corners of her eyes.

But Hikaru thought it was unforgivable. Once someone leaks a secret, they will do it again and again. If that happens, not only would Hikaru be in danger, but Ravia would be too.

Ravia, who was sitting across from him, was sipping tea with her hat pulled down over her eyes.

"Mr. Hikaru."

Gloria said with a cheerful smile —— yes, Gloria was the one they didn't want to give information to.

"Since she's apologizing, can you forgive her? Besides, Mr. Hikaru, you plan to raise your adventurer rank, right? If so, your abilities will inevitably become known to other adventurers and guild employees. Of course, I think you'll often be questioned about how you can take on quests in 'Civilians.'"

(There you go, probing.)

Hikaru sighed inwardly.

(Gloria's guess is that I have a special "job." And that I defeated the Forest Barbarian thanks to the benefits of that job.)

"They say she appraised the materials from the Forest Barbarian and wants to give all the money to Hikaru."

"I don't need it. It's pocket change to me."

"…Is that so?"

"You couldn't buy a weapon to kill a Forest Barbarian with that amount of money."

"……"

Gloria's eyes narrowed for a moment.

It was a lie Hikaru had planted.

He wanted them to misunderstand that he defeated it thanks to a "high-level weapon" rather than the benefits of his "job."

Of course, the truth was the "Soul Board," but he absolutely didn't want that to be known.

"But, you guys must be feeling down. How about I treat you to a meal here?"

"Of course! That would be great!"

Pia jumped at the offer.

"If you treat us, there will be no hard feelings. Being thanked and apologized to repeatedly is uncomfortable for me too."

"Got it! ——Owner, the menu!"

The tense atmosphere relaxed.

Pia thought Hikaru would forgive them —— Priscilla was relieved.

And,

"……"

Pola, who tried to maintain a bright facade but still had a shadow of unease.

But Hikaru didn't feel like following up any further.

He could have rejected them and left, but he didn't want to cause unnecessary friction. Also, there was a sense of guilt that the Forest Barbarian he had left alive might have been one of the ones he had missed.

He thought it would be best to avoid any further contact with them.

The meal progressed. Pia tried to keep the conversation light, and Pola joined in. Priscilla was as usual, but Gloria was also good at steering the conversation. Since the only common topic was about adventurers, Gloria's extensive knowledge was evident.

Hikaru and Ravia occasionally joined the conversation, neither being cold nor forcing it. The food was delicious, so if they ran out of topics, they could always talk about the dishes, which made it easy.

"——By the way."

Gloria clapped her hands lightly.

"A Rank C adventurer came to Powned the other day."

"C!? Amazing!"

"Amazing, isn't it? There are no Rank C adventurers in Powned."

"What's he like?"

Gloria explained to the excited Pia.

A three-person team. They had accepted a request to escort a noble's daughter. And they failed the mission.

"Vanished like smoke… The daughter was a mage, right?"

"Teleportation magic is being researched, but there has never been a successful case. ——What do you think, Hikaru?"

"Hmm?"

"About the daughter."

"That's simple."

The word "simple" piqued the interest of Pola and the others. Gloria's eyes sparkled. Ravia was also staring at him intently.

Ravia, you're staring too much. Try to act more normal.

"Three adventurers kidnapped her. They probably received a double request from another noble."

"…That seems too sloppy. They reported to the capital that they 'vanished like smoke,' didn't they?"

"If the purpose was to make it seem that way, what do you think? They are Rank C adventurers. No one would think such capable people would admit to such a childish mistake."

"Interesting…"

"The truth is usually simple."

"What about this story?"

Gloria told the story of Knight East being attacked.

On the same day, the location was close to where the noble's daughter was kidnapped.

Pola was surprised.

"A thief who can defeat a knight one-on-one? He must be incredibly skilled."

"That's right."

Gloria nodded in agreement, so Hikaru interjected with a question.

"How strong is a knight?"

"Oh, are you interested in fighting a knight, Hikaru?"

"No… I was just wondering if a knight is stronger than an adventurer, in a simple sense."

"Sure. I think even a squire is about as strong as a Rank E adventurer. Of course, that's just in terms of raw combat power. Adventurers have more diverse teamwork and dungeon exploration skills."

"If a squire is Rank E, a regular knight would be Rank D, right?"

"Yes. Of course, just like adventurers, not all knights are the same."

"Hmm…"

Hikaru thought.

"1-2" in [Weapon Proficiency] would be a squire, Rank E.

"3" would be a regular knight, Rank D.

"Is the captain of the knights the strongest?"

"He's also called a 'Sword Master' or 'Sword Saint.' He's incredibly strong. I've heard he's even won mock battles against Rank B and A adventurers. Below the captain are the squad leaders, then the regular knights, and finally the squires."

"4" would be a squad leader, Rank C —— Nogusa was "4."

"5" would be the captain of the knights? Rank B?

"6" —— Unken was "6" with a "Short Sword."

"How strong is Unken?"

"…Unken? Is he strong?"

"Ah, if you don't know, it's fine."

"Mr. Hikaru, please tell me!"

She grabbed his arm and pressed her chest against it.

…It was quite bouncy.

Hikaru tried to keep a calm face, but he could feel a cold aura coming from the opposite seat and couldn't look in that direction.

(It's not cheating! It's not like that! Calm down, Ravia!)

His silent plea seemed to work, as the cold aura gradually dissipated.

"Um, well… He's not normal. Plus, he's the guild master, right? If you think a skilled adventurer became a guild employee for some reason and then became the guild master, it makes sense."

"Hmm. I didn't know Unken was strong at all."

She really didn't know, Hikaru thought.

Then, Gloria suddenly said,

"By the way, Knight East said the one who defeated him was a child."

Eh? Or, huh? No one could react.

Pia, Pola, and Priscilla all thought of the same person when they heard "a child who defeated a knight."

"There's such a strong child. I'd like to see him."

Hikaru had anticipated this kind of question and reacted without changing his tone.

"Do you have any idea, Hikaru?"

"No. If a child were that strong, they would stand out, wouldn't they?"

"Of course, they would stand out a lot."

"But if even the guild employees don't know, then… it's probably not an adventurer but a thief, or a short adult?"

"That's right… Unken also said that's the most likely possibility."

"Short races?"

"Hobbits and Manoim races are short, but they are rare."

"See. In any case, we need to be careful if such a person is on the road."

"Yes… But it's also a pity for the knight, isn't it?"

The phrase "a pity" struck Hikaru as odd.

If the knight was defeated in a fight, it was simply a matter of the knight being inexperienced.

"Is there something more to it? Besides losing to a child?"

"Yes… The child let the knight go. He didn't take his life. But the knight doesn't understand anything about knights, I guess."

"What do you mean? I don't understand anything about knights either, not just me, but Pola and the others too."

Pola and the others nodded in agreement.

"If a knight loses to a thief, it's a disgrace, and the death penalty is certain."

"…What?"

"The child who saved the knight's life will end up killing him —— that's what's so pitiful, isn't it?"

Hikaru couldn't speak for a moment.

After the topic changed, Pia, Pola, and Priscilla also returned to the conversation.

Thus, the meal at "Pasta Magic" came to an end. As agreed, Pia and the others paid.

"Well, we'll be going."

"Thank you for the meal."

Hikaru and Ravia bowed. In front of the shop, they parted ways with Pia and the others, who were going in a different direction from Gloria.

After walking a bit and turning a corner —— Hikaru grabbed Ravia's hand and activated "Group Block."

"Hikaru?"

"Let's tail Gloria."

"…You really think she's suspicious of you?"

"Ravia, you felt it too. She's suspicious… Yes, she's either considering it as a possibility or using it as an excuse to probe my secrets. Either way, she's a troublesome person."

"What's the purpose of tailing her?"

"I want to know who's behind Gloria. She must be reporting or writing a report or something after gathering information."

"She might just be in regular contact."

"Of course, but she'll make some kind of note. If there's nothing, then she was just investigating me out of her own interest."

"…What a bad hobby."

(I have a worse hobby, but that's beside the point.)

Gloria was drinking lightly, but her steps were steady. No, they were a bit light. She seemed to be in a good mood.

She walked for about ten minutes from "Pasta Magic" and arrived at an apartment building.

It was three stories high. There was one common entrance, and from there, an internal staircase led to each room.

The front side only had windows. There was probably a balcony at the back for drying clothes.

"~♪"

She hummed a tune as she opened the common entrance and closed the door behind her. Hikaru didn't have a chance to slip in. The door was locked immediately.

Gloria went up the stairs.

"What do we do?"

"Shh."

Hikaru pressed his ear to the door.

The sound of footsteps going up the stairs —— it was long. She seemed to be heading to the third floor.

"Let's go to the back."

The back of the building was a small square.

There was a large tree and a well. Benches were placed around the well, probably for well-side chats.

There was a communal stove. It was designed for the convenience of nearby residents.

It was quiet by 9:00 PM.

"…That room, I think."

Sure enough, there was a balcony.

A faint light from a magic lamp was on in one of the rooms on the third floor.

The shutters were not down. Only a curtain on the glass door.

"Stay here."

"What are you going to do?"

"Climb."

Hikaru ran over and jumped towards the second-floor balcony under the lit window.

He managed to catch the edge with his fingertips, thanks to his "Explosive Power."

He was able to pull himself up with just his fingertips, thanks to his "Strength."

He jumped from the railing of the second-floor balcony to the third floor.

"Huff, huff, huff, huff…"

He managed to climb, but without "Stamina," he was breathing heavily. He had gained a point when his soul rank went up in the afternoon, and he wanted to save it for his "ideal" skill set, as he didn't know what he might need later.

Even with heavy breathing, he wouldn't be noticed thanks to his "Stealth" skill and "Stealth Deity: Cloaked in Darkness."

Hikaru crouched on the balcony and peeked inside through the lace curtain.

"!?"

He couldn't believe his eyes.

He hadn't expected this at all.

If she was writing a secret letter to someone, that would be understandable.

If someone was waiting for her to give a report, that would also be understandable.

But it was neither of those.

Gloria was alone in the room.

And she was taking off her clothes.

Her ample chest, her slender waist, and the curve of her hips —— he couldn't see below her navel because of the sofa. If she had stood up, he would have seen, but before that, Gloria quickly walked into the next room.

Her bouncing chest and long hair.

Her well-shaped buttocks moved away.

There was a thud. She probably fell face-first onto the bed.

"……"

He