Chapter 439: No Explanation Needed
What should I do…?
Standing under the eaves at the entrance of the House, I gaze at the garden, lost in thought. The snow falls silently, somehow appearing warm.
Before I call Haulon, I should take care of something that shouldn’t be discovered. For now, I’ll just ask the Spirits at the Temple in the Fortress City to be a bit lenient when I drop the black ‘Fragments’.
The black Spirits should be chasing after the Adventurers who incited the Demon Beasts against the Lord’s daughter and Ash, leading them deeper into trouble.
It seems Dean and the others have taken care of a few, but there are still some left. The man I was watching didn’t remember the Adventurers who were hired being wiped out. In fact, the leader is still alive.
So, I sent the black Spirits to harass them, but the man I was observing only saw him handing out powder to attract the Demon Beasts, so I only know his face. I’m sure there’s still one or two left.
Since the man was keeping his distance in the Forest, I couldn’t make out the faces of the participants… They were all wearing similar cloaks, too.
Because I haven’t recognized the targets, even the Adventurers who just ran away will get caught up in this. But well, even if they don’t get possessed by the black Spirits, they’ll still be affected. If they’re mentally weak enough to run away, the black ‘Fragments’ will naturally decrease when they return to the city.
I won’t let them drop it immediately, though. They’ll have to stew in their dark emotions for a while. The black ‘Fragments’ not only make one aggressive but can also lead to self-loathing.
With those malicious thoughts, I used 【転移】. I’ve been to the Temple in the Fortress City before, so I headed straight to an empty room.
It’s the time when ordinary people are fast asleep, but as expected in a bustling Fortress City filled with Adventurers, light spills from the rooms where healing and Spirit Dropping are taking place.
“Good evening~. I have a little favor to ask. Please take a bit of Magic Power and be lenient when dropping the black ones~.”
I called out in my mind. It seems that Spirits are more likely to help if I speak aloud, as they enjoy rhythmic sounds.
“What is it~?”
“Oh, it’s you from before! Good evening~.”
“You from before~! Good evening~.”
The Spirits gathered around, chattering. Since there might be people visible in the Temple, I can’t stay long. It’s harassment, so it doesn’t have to be perfect.
I gave some Magic Power to the Spirits who agreed to help and immediately 【転移】ed to fetch Haulon. The city of Kanum is, of course, dark at night.
“Knock, knock. Haulon, are you awake?”
“Is there any point in adding sound effects to a knock? —I’m awake.”
Haulon is usually awake, after all.
It seems she’s been resting her body little by little while awake, claiming that short sleep is fine. I’d like to gift her the phrase “sleep is a form of worship.”
“Retze told me to bring you, do you have time?”
“…There’s already something to comment on, can’t we do something about it?”
Haulon looks like she’s about to sigh!
“Would it be better to explain in detail first?”
“No, I’ll listen to Retze or Note’s explanation.”
With half-open eyes and a disgruntled expression, Haulon quickly denies it.
Isn’t that a bit harsh?
“Ugh. I want to involve the King Wolf, but going to a family home at this hour feels a bit much… Fine, just do it.”
Haulon tightly shuts her eyes.
Great Sage, why are you afraid of 【転移】 when you can do it yourself? I don’t get it, but I 【転移】 anyway.
“Alright, we’ve arrived.”
In the House in the Forest, in a room on the second floor.
“You can still 【転移】 anywhere, huh? —It’s fine, I’m getting used to it. I think it was a secret technique of my clan, but if I cling to the past, I won’t develop. Yeah.”
Haulon seems emotionally unstable already; is she alright?
“Wait. This bed frame— and the nightstand, and the chest, and the chair!”
She starts off sounding a bit dazed, but by the end, her tone is strong enough to see exclamation marks.
“Wait, wait, wait. This is made by the Earth Folk, isn’t it…? And it looks new since it was carved out.”
Haulon crouches down, nearly pressing her face against the nightstand.
“Yeah. I had it made.”
“…”
Haulon freezes up.
“All the furniture here was made by acquaintances from the Earth Folk.”
I conveyed the style I wanted, and they crafted it. The bathtub on the first floor is also made by the Earth Folk!
“…This is your House, isn’t it?”
“Yeah.”
I wouldn’t just suddenly barge into someone’s home. Temples and public facilities don’t count.
“Uuuuu. Let’s hurry and regroup.”
Just as she groans, she suddenly looks up and turns to me.
I can’t help but think that it wasn’t Haulon who was taking time, as I descend the white stairs coated with plaster, made of stone.
Haulon is big, so it looks cramped for her, but it can’t be helped. The Forest House was designed to be small.
“Oh, they’re sleeping.”
Haulon stops in her tracks.
The flickering fire from the Fireplace casts shadows over everyone sleeping on the floor.
“I see an unfamiliar face. Let’s wait until this child wakes up after everyone else is awake and we’ve talked.”
Saying that, she chants some spell.
“May you fall into a deeper slumber, and until I speak the words of awakening, you shall not rise until tomorrow evening.”