Chapter 369: A Day of Complete Rest (5)

　A day of complete rest.

　As usual, Tauro felt someone’s gaze on him.

　This was always the case since Tauro was a prominent figure.

　Although he is only a 13-year-old child, he is a D-rank adventurer with a silver tag around his neck, which is said to be attainable by skilled people.

　Moreover, in the city of Caxart, he played an active role in subjugating the monsters of the salt lake and greatly contributed to the subsequent reconstruction, so it is no exaggeration to say that he is the center of attention.

　Recently, Tauro has often been able to feel  the gaze of these people through his ability ‘Presence Detection’, so during his rest period he purposely blocked his ability and tried to become insensitive to it as well.

“…… I’m feeling a lot of stares today even without using my ability. But I’m sure it’s just those kids that are causing it.”

　The children that Tauro mentioned were local children who looked at him with envy from afar.

　There were five or six of them, ranging in age from as young as six to as old as Tauro, watching his every move.

　When Tauro entered a weapon store, he heard them say, “Cool!” And When he entered a herb shop, they would check the items in the storefront, as if they thought he was selecting an essential item for adventurers.

“What are those medicinal herbs in front of him?”

“I don’t know.”*

“I’m sure it’s something you need to exterminate monsters!”

“Wow!”

　The kids  know that if they go into a store, the staff will scold them, so they don’t go there.

　However, they were so loud that Tauro could hear them perfectly.

“…… haha. It’s hard to buy…”

　While the children were looking at him with envy, Tauro couldn’t even tell them that the medicinal herb he was looking at was a type of spice used in curry.

　Tauro thought that if he called out to them once and listened to them, they would stop following him around, so after shopping, he turned around in the street and spoke to the children.

“Do you guys know who I am?”

　Tauro asked, an obvious question, but one that he asked in case he got a tail wind answer.*(to exaggerate)

“Yes. You’re a hero! You’re the hero who saved this city!”

“ You destroyed the monsters that scared even adults!”

“You also defeated the evil mayor and saved everyone in this town!”

“And you arrested the bad adventurer!”

　The children began talking as if they had been dammed up when they were approached by the adoring Tauro.

“I heard you’re a prince from another land!”

　That last one!?

　At first, Tauro nodded his head yes to the rumor, which was surprisingly untailed, but was surprised to find that the last piece of information had a complete tail spin.

“What? I’m the prince?”

“Yes! That’s why my mother said I shouldn’t talk to you!”

“She said if I was rude, I’ll get killed with bare hands!”

　I’ll fight you …….*

　Tauro smiled bitterly at the children’s gossip and denied them.

“I’m from the same commoner background as you, (though I was adopted by a nobleman). I’m not a prince, so make sure you give those around you the right information, okay?”

““”Really?”””

“That’s right. So you won’t get hit by a hand-to-hand combatant.”  

“Well, then, then, you’ve defeated lords and scoundrels and vanquished monster!”

“Is that…is it true?”

　Tauro didn’t want to be seen as a hero by the children, so he didn’t want to say yes, but the truth was that he had no choice but to answer honestly.

“…… My dad said that you have to grow up to be an adventurer, right?”

　A small boy at the edge of the group of children uttered this.

“…… Hmmm, you’re right. Maybe your father isn’t wrong. You need a lot of money to become an adventurer, and you have to be good at it to last, so I think it’s best to grow up first before becoming one. I was desperately trying to survive, so I ended up being around your age.”

“…… I see!”

“Then I’ll be an adventurer when I grow up!”

“I’ll have to follow in my dad’s footsteps. ……”

　The children listen to Tauro’s response and shared their thoughts one by one.

“What is your father doing?”

“He’s making salt in the salt lake! My father says that Tauro-dono is an ijin!” 

　Great man is too much praise, this kid’s dad.……!

　Tauro would rebuke as he laughed inwardly.

“Well, thank you for the compliment. I’ve got some business to attend to, but you guys should go back home. Oh, let me give you guys something special for today.”

　Tauro took out a steamed bun from the magic storage for each of the children and handed them out.

“What’s this?!”

　The children are intrigued by the sweet smelling object.

“It’s a steamed bun filled with red bean paste that soothes the tiredness of adventurers. Don’t tell anyone, okay?”

“““Yes!””””

　The children nodded cheerfully and ate the buns as they pleased.

　Some children ate it in one bite, while others ate a little at a time.

　Some of them put it in their pockets without eating it.

　The boy who told me earlier that he’d become an adventurer after he grows up and becomes an adult.*

　While the children were impressed by the deliciousness of the buns,

“Aren’t you going to eat it?”

　Tauro asked, intrigued.

“I want to give it to my dad who is always tired when he comes home…”

　…… good kid!

　Hearing those words, Tauro felt tears overflow like a flood.

“Then, I’ll give you a portion for your family, including your father’s, so you can eat it. I’ll give everyone a portion for your families too, so please take it home with you, okay?”

“““Yay!”””

　The children were buoyant and bursting with joy.

　Tauro wrapped up the child’s portion and the family’s portion and handed it to each child one by one so that the children could eat with their families at home, and then sent everyone home.

　The boy stays until the end and bows to Tauro.

“…… I’m going to be an adventurer like my big brother when I grow up!”

　The boy replied and ran after the others, carefully holding the package containing the steamed buns.

“……I feel like I’ve done something good ……”

　Tauro let out a sigh of relief and headed for the mayor’s residence to take care of some errands.

TL Note:

Teuchi’d- capital punishment given personally by a feudal lord after a disrespectful act* what the  little girl  was saying her mother told her.

Ijin-When the Tokugawa shogunate was made to open Japan to foreign contact after two centuries of self-isolation, Westerners were commonly called as ijin (“different people”), a shortened form of ikokujin (“different country person”) or ihōjin (“different motherland people”).

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