Chapter 324: What is Necessary
The next day, I used Teleportation to Kanum. The temperature difference from my House made me fumble with my coat as I stoked the fire in the Fireplace. It was dark without opening the Shutter, but if I opened it, it would be cold, and I still thought about putting in some Glass to avoid being too conspicuous.
I set the kettle on to boil some Hot Water. Since I had already eaten breakfast, this was just for coffee. Boiling it with Firewood seemed to make the water taste softer.
I brought a chair in front of the fire and sipped my coffee while basking in the warmth. With nothing much to do, I started weaving a basket. I diligently crafted a bellflower weave using mountain grape vines and walnut branches.
“Jean?”
A voice called from outside. It was Retze.
“Good morning.”
“Yeah, good morning.”
“Good morning.”
Behind Retze stood Haulon and the Butler.
“Is Retze joining us today?”
“On Note’s recommendation, I’m here to support.”
As I invited them in, that was the answer I received. Support?
I offered them a seat, and they sat down, while the Butler, being familiar with the routine, began preparing tea.
“What about you, Retze?”
“Ah, I’m fine with coffee.”
Now that I think about it, it turned out that the people of Kanum are sensitive to caffeine. Although tea has started to circulate, many feel nauseous or dizzy if they drink too much. Well, I can’t really tell if it’s tea or sugar water anyway.
Chris is probably the only one who can drink a lot of tea without any issues. It’s probably rare for Retze to be okay with coffee too.
The Butler, adept at brewing both herbal tea and coffee, had everyone seated with warm drinks in hand.
“Well then. I have a lot of questions, but should I start with a lecture?”
“Why?”
Haulon smiled brightly.
“You must have some idea, right?”
He crossed his legs and rested his chin on his hand, giving me a pointed look.
“Is it about Teleportation?”
Maybe it was because I Teleported without any preparation.
“No.”
Retze denied it.
I could hear Haulon muttering that in my case, that was correct, but it seemed Retze had something else in mind.
“What is it?”
“It’s not ‘what is it.’ You’re too careless with someone you just met.”
Retze set his coffee cup down on the table and turned to face me.
“Well, it’s because of Note and Dinoss’s recommendation.”
I thought I needed to show them something to understand what was lacking.
“Even so, you should verify things properly first.”
“They seemed friendly, and I had a good impression from our conversation.”
Also, maybe it was simply because of my fond memories of my grandparents that I’m weak against old people.
“Once you recognize someone as family, you let your guard down too much. To give a clear example, I once sold King Wolf.”
“Eh?”
In my mind, I pictured Dinoss wrapped up by the Butler being sold to Haulon—though I couldn’t imagine Dinoss in his younger days when they were adventuring together, so the image remained that of an old man.
“Oh, you’re surprised? To me, it feels quite normal. I was actually surprised that the atmosphere was so much softer during this reunion.”
Haulon said.
Wait, wasn’t Haulon the one who bought him? If it was against Shiva, would it be peaceful?
“I feel like Jean is definitely thinking about something off-topic. Like, did you leak information to the enemy or something… right?”
“Yes, that is correct. It makes me feel a bit uneasy to confirm it, but…”
Retze and the Butler wore troubled expressions.
“Is that what you meant?!”
“What did you imagine instead?”
“Straight-up human trafficking.”
An awkward silence fell.
“Well, Haulon—sorry, since you’re a legendary figure, I got carried away and called you by your name.”
“It’s fine, it’s a hassle.”
Haulon waved her hand dismissively toward Retze.
“Haulon is excusable, but you should be a bit more cautious.”
“Yes.”
I’ve indeed been a bit lax lately; I need to tighten up.
“So, what exactly are you? You’re not as fluffy as a Spirit, are you?”
Haulon asked, glancing at the half-finished basket.
“I’m an otherworlder who came to this world due to the Hero’s influence. But my body has been remade to fit this world, so it’s just my mind?”
So please don’t dissect me for research.
“Hmm? A being under the protection of a god-level Spirit, a nurturer of gods, a being endowed with special abilities, a bringer of different cultures or a promoter of them, a being that alters the balance of Spirits, one that gives power to Spirits and consumes them, flourishing and self-destructing—am I right?”
Haulon counted off the characteristics of a Hero on her fingers, finally looking at me.
“Roughly? I’d like to present the last one to the legitimate Hero.”
“Is that the ability of Teleportation?”
“Yeah.”
“I’m a bit relieved, though I still have some doubts—but I don’t understand why Spirits like you so much, why they don’t misinterpret human wishes in their own way, or why there’s no cognitive dissonance…”
Haulon leaned back in her chair and closed her eyes.
Maybe it’s because I’m trying hard to name things, or because I’m a Retainer. But it does seem like there’s not much fundamental misunderstanding between Spirits and humans. Despite the rough communication, I’m not being nitpicked.
“—It seems like Retze has something on his mind?”
The Butler said, but Retze’s expression remained normal.
“What is it?”
“How much are you going to reveal? What was supposed to be acting guidance has turned into an interrogation for you.”
When I looked at his face, he asked back.
Now that I think about it, that’s true.
“‘Acting guidance’ is quite an apt description.”
The Butler was impressed by Retze’s line.
“Hey, isn’t my existence a bit off here?! I’m still called a Great Mage or Great Sage, you know?!”
Haulon seemed dissatisfied.
I was starting to feel like “acting guidance” was indeed fitting. It seems I need to know the basics of magic to differentiate the spells and situations I use.