Chapter 107: Balmoa
“Is it really a bad idea to walk around with Rishu?”
“It might attract too much attention,” the Butler replied with a smile.
“Rishu seems to dislike crowded places too, so it can’t be helped.”
I crouched down and gently petted Rishu’s cheek with my fingers.
“You…”
Dinoss looked like he was suffering from a headache.
“Must be nice. I want to pet too!”
Dean, clearly a dog lover, looked enviously at me.
“Dean, you really should work on your tendency to zone out around things you like…”
Retze seemed a bit tired too, and it felt like Dean was the cause of it.
“Is it alright for me to stay here?”
Chris asked, unusually fidgety and anxious.
“I called you here.”
I looked up at Chris from below.
It was unavoidable that my gaze landed on his chin from this angle.
“Thank you. I, Chris, will do my utmost to meet your trust!”
I knew Chris was a good guy, but his gestures made me wonder if he had sparkles or flowers in the background, which gave me a slight sense of unease.
“By the way, what does a suitable Spirit look like?”
If we’re judging by size, Rishu is small too.
“…Should I return Az?”
“No, it’s better for me if he stays there.”
Sometimes Az would come to my shoulder, but his usual spot was on Ash’s head. At first, the contrast with his scary face was a bit funny, but now it looked quite cute.
“I often hear about Fire Spirits among Adventurers. Should I introduce you?”
Retze said in his usual tone.
I see, I could use Dean’s Spirit as a model. But still, judging by size is the only way I know how… How am I supposed to discern the presence or anything else?
“Ah, sorry. This old man is Dinoss, and this is Retze.”
“Don’t call me old man!”
Dinoss complained as he shook hands with Retze.
“Nice to meet you… Wait.”
Retze kept his hand out even after the handshake ended.
“…I apologize if I’m mistaken… Balmoa?”
“Yeah.”
Dinoss replied lightly.
“Eh?!”
“Wait a minute, isn’t King Wolf Balmoa the one who went missing in the Labyrinth?”
Dean and Chris approached, nearly screaming.
With just a single candle, it must be hard to confirm anything without getting closer.
“I’m going back to being an Adventurer starting tomorrow, so take care of me.”
“I-I want to shake hands…”
Dean wiped his hands on his pants and extended one.
“Name’s Dean.”
“Chris Ease, it’s an honor to meet a legend!”
It seemed like they understood each other, and they introduced themselves, shaking hands.
“Dean, your way of speaking is weird.”
“Shut up! You’re talking to Balmoa, Balmoa!”
Not my problem.
“He’s a character in stories. Only those raised in a very sheltered House wouldn’t know him. The only ones who know his face directly are Adventurers from the same generation or older.”
Retze explained.
To me, he’s Dinoss. A kind-hearted father who’s weak against his wife and kids. Well, the Dragon Form Spirit was pretty cool.
Alright, I should look for a Dragon Form Spirit somewhere. It must be in the south where the Dragons fly…
“For now, if you don’t want to stand out, it’s best to avoid walking around the city with that Spirit.”
“Okay.”
Dinoss waved tiredly and left through the back door.
“Even King Wolf Balmoa carries bread, huh?”
Dean muttered with a strange expression.
“Let’s get back to eating. Note, the main dish is meat, but should I cook it? Or do you want to?”
“I’ll do it.”
We moved to the dining table, and the Butler began grilling the meat in the Fireplace, moving the firewood with a poker.
“I’m already overwhelmed with too much information,” Retze sighed as he drank the wine he brought.
“So, if we go to the Guild tomorrow, we can see Balmoa?”
Dean continued to be unsettling.
“Gene, I think it’s a bit odd to casually pet a Spirit… No, but if it’s a strong Spirit, it can touch you as well. Either way, be careful.”
Chris elegantly tilted his glass. His usual exaggerated movements stood out, but his eating and little gestures were graceful.
“Still, it seems the Guild will be lively again. A class like Balmoa would likely go to the Labyrinth instead of here. Is it because Gene is around?”
I clarified Retze’s question.
“Eh? Balmoa has kids?!”
“Dean, you’re acting like a lovesick Maiden, and it’s creepy.”
“Can’t be helped! He’s just a bit older than us, but he’s legendary! Any man would admire him!”
Retze and Chris didn’t seem to feel the same way.
“A lovely young lady and twin brothers. I wonder if he trains just the twins?”
“No, I think he mentioned all three.”
Ash’s face turned serious, as if he was deep in thought.
“Is his wife really Shiva of Ice and Snow?”
“I don’t know if it’s Ice and Snow, but it’s definitely Shiva.”
So, Shiva has a title too.
It seems to be related to the Spirit she has, but she might also use ice-type magic. If so, I’d like to learn some magic from her.
“Wow! A strong and beautiful wife! That’s awesome!”
“I can agree with that.”
A beautiful woman who cooks well and subtly supports Dinoss.
“Is that your type…?”
“Not just my type; I’m envious of their family, including Dinoss.”
It wasn’t a peaceful farm family, but I still thought they were a good family. Not just the wife, but the relationship with the kids was enviable too.
“If Balmoa and Shiva are around, it should be fine, but I’ll keep an eye out to make sure no weirdos bother the kids.”
At Retze’s words, Dean and Chris exchanged glances and nodded.
“Please.”
I bowed my head to the three of them, who would handle it far better than I could.