Chapter 432: No News is Good News
“Haulon~! Should I deploy some pill bugs here?”
Before heading back to the House, I stopped by the rental house and called out to Haulon, who was in the living room on the first floor.
“Spit! Why would you say that!?” He shouted, spraying the wine he was drinking and hurriedly wiping the table while turning to face me.
“Isn’t it fine to have two or three around for safety?”
By the way, Shiva had given me a rather chilling request during our first meeting, smiling with an absolute zero-degree smile, “Please keep them at least ten meters away from me, okay?”
Why is it that women tend to dislike bugs once they reach a certain age? Right now, it’s fine since I’m playing with my younger brothers, but I wonder if Tina will eventually feel the same way.
“Of course not! Pill bugs are demon beasts! They actually pose a threat to safety!”
“This pill bug is safe, though. How about placing it near the stairs?” I suggested with a cheerful smile.
In this house, while the first floor is fine, the upper floors only have stairs as passageways. I’d prefer to have two exits for emergencies.
If we were ambushed from the stairs, we’d either have to fend them off and reclaim the stairs or jump out the window. But I think the stairs, which are always passed when going to the private rooms on the second floor and above, would be a good spot for the pill bugs.
“There aren’t any tenants here who would suddenly be attacked, right!? What are you talking about? And use polite language!”
Haulon made an exasperated face and pulled out a water pipe.
“Well, we might be attacked in the future…”
Right? I should really fix my language.
“What kind of future are you talking about!? It’s not like I’m personally hated by anyone except maybe demon beasts or black spirits! If anything, the pill bugs are the ones who might hold a grudge against me!”
When I asked Haulon if I could release the pill bugs into the rental house, I got shot down.
“Pill bugs let bygones be bygones.”
“Please don’t try to communicate with them!?” Haulon exclaimed, eyes wide.
“Ugh. If you want to keep the pill bugs so badly, just put them in Retze’s room. There’s a nice flowerpot there that would be perfect for them.”
He sighed, sounding utterly exasperated.
“……”
The bottom of a flowerpot would indeed suit the pill bugs well. But I can already see a future where my cheeks are violated…!
“Alright, alright. If I can’t put them in Retze’s room, I’ll give up. So, what’s with the sudden interest?”
Haulon inhaled from the water pipe and exhaled a puff of smoke.
In the glass part of the pipe, several herbs were floating in the water. It seemed that Haulon inhaled his favorite flavors mixed into the round glass section.
“Well, I heard that Shulm is looking for someone with [Storage]…”
“En still isn’t known to Shulm, and as I mentioned before, the countries that had information are busy fighting among themselves, so it’s fine. Besides, it’s not like we’re on Shulm’s side—so what were you doing before coming here?”
He tapped the end of the pipe once and asked.
“Uh, today—”
I talked about playing with the kids while going around Kanum and setting up spirit security. Including the pill bugs!
“Wha… what kind of magical city is this!?”
Haulon buried his head in his hands.
“Eh?”
“Don’t ‘eh’ me!”
He suddenly turned to me and shouted.
“I think it turned out quite naturally.”
“The more natural it looks, the more troublesome it is!”
“Isn’t ignorance bliss?”
The trouble only comes from those who meddle.
“I’ll run away the moment I notice something!”
It seemed that the pill bug security was not a good idea for Haulon.
“Guess I have no choice. I’ll give up… But I wonder where Retze and the others are right now.”
I scooped some hot water from the kettle leaning against the fireplace, took a moment to relax, and brewed some coffee. Normally, it would be Retze who brewed coffee here, while the butler would prepare tea or herbal tea. Alcohol was handled by Dean and Chris.
“Has the spirit attached to the girl said anything?”
“Well… Apparently, among the companions, there’s a high probability that someone can ‘see’ and ‘sense’ things. So, no regular updates this time!”
When Ash returned to the country before, we communicated through the spirit’s gestures twice a day, morning and evening, at set times.
“I see. If that person finds out about the bracelet, it could be troublesome, so if we don’t hear from them, it might actually mean it’s a dangerous situation. How lonely.”
Haulon chuckled.
“No news is a sign of good health, right?”
It’s lonely, but…
I took a sip of my coffee.