Kays Translations

Chapter 5: Fearless Mother

"Welcome back, Jurg. You seem to have gained a more manly appearance, don't you think?"

"Give me a break, Auntie."

As Rolo's mother looks at my face, she smiles, and I awkwardly scratch my head. She is someone I thought I would never meet again, a person who doesn't easily yield. It feels somewhat embarrassing.

"Come in, come in. And what’s that delicious smelling soup?"

"I just whipped up something; I don't know if it suits your taste."

"I'm just surprised that the troublemaker here cooked something by himself!"

Lightly dismissed with a laugh, I drop my shoulders. With age comes understanding. Rolo's mother is truly a great person. At least, I wouldn't welcome someone like me.

“Ah, that's right. we've already hunted down the monsters, so don't worry."

The lady's eyes widen at Rolo's words.

"Even if you hunted it, Rolo, it was a dangerous monster, right?"

"There's no way it could withstand a blow from Heavenly Break Strike."

"What's that? Some kind of skill?"

"That's Jurg’s title. He's a celebrity in the city, you know?"

"Hey, Rolo. Don't exaggerate too much."

Rolo happily shares the information, and the elderly lady listens with a smile.

Nothing has changed here; it's just like the old times.

Because it hasn't changed, I can't help but feel that my presence here is not very welcome.

"Oh, by the way, I'll go report to the dairy farming city Hilte with Jurg tomorrow."

"You've become an impressive adventurer..."

"Well, sort of."

Rolo offers a dry laugh, creating an atmosphere that avoids mentioning the fact that he got kicked out of his party.

"Anyway, I'll be here for a while. If there's anything troublesome or unusual, let us know. We're more discerning than the country bumpkins."

"You're a country bumpkin, too! The troublemaker brat, your sharp tongue hasn't changed!"

With a ladle in hand, Auntie raises an eyebrow, and I respond with a wry smile. She scolds the uncontrollable troublemaker like me, but it's something only she can do.

"Still, it's strange, isn't it?"

"Yeah. Why are monsters coming out of the forest? And properly dangerous monsters."

Unexplored territories are still full of mysteries. But according to the scholars from the capital, it seems like it's a kind of labyrinth, integrated with nature.

There might be small animals or monster-like creatures appearing on the outskirts, but the 'Vampire Goat' we just hunted, it's a type of monster that requires subjugation orders. It's not the kind of monster that should be coming out into the open.

"Could it be some kind of overflow?"

"I don't know. It might be better to check in the dairy farming city Hilte, including that."

"Got it."

Rolo and I nod at each other. If it's just an irregular occurrence, there's no problem. Well, it's not without its problems, but it's not critical.

However, if monsters like the 'Vampire Goat' frequently appear from the unexplored territories into inhabited areas, the situation changes. It could be a sign of something unusual happening in the unexplored territories or, possibly, an indication of the 'Great Stampede' beginning.

If that happens, the village of Malhas will be devastated, and probably, the dairy farming city Hilte will face severe consequences. It's not a state of affairs that can be viewed optimistically.

"Jurg, what are you brooding about at the entrance? Sit down already, and relax."

"There's a lot on my mind."

"After the meal maybe. Come on, Rolo too."

Prompted like that, I step into the dining area, where Rolo's younger siblings are already gathered around the table.

"Ah, Jurg! Thanks for the souvenir!"

"Yeah, we were waiting for you!"

Rolo's younger brother, Bitz, and her younger sister, Arco, welcome me with smiles. They've always been fearless since they were little, but seeing them now, I feel a bit relieved.

"Hey, you two have grown up."

"I'm already twelve! I go into the forest and all!"

"I help Mom too!"

The Mercia family, without a father, supports each other in their daily lives. While there is the typical mutual assistance found in the countryside, this place, as I know it, is a bit impoverished. It was poor enough that Rolo decided to become an adventurer and work outside.

"You've become quite impressive."

"I was surprised too. But, Bitz... I think you should hold off on going into the forest for a while."

Bitz tilts his head slightly. Even if he understands how risky the current situation is, with their lives at stake, immediate agreement may not come easy.

"Why? It's about time for the Morboline grass to bloom."

"There might be an increase in monster creatures."

"Oh, now that you mention it, some villagers did say something like that."

This lack of crisis awareness is something I can't comprehend entirely. However, I can't deny that I also share this sentiment to some extent. This village relies on the income from the adjacent unexplored forest area. If access to it is restricted, it would impact not only the Mercia family but also the livelihoods of many others.

"Well, it's not like forever. But at least until we come back from the dairy farming city Hilte, endure it for a bit."

"Eeh... It feels like we're being abandoned."

"Your big brother has some money. We'll get through this winter at least."

Despite talking about Rolo’s pocket, I have no intention of just eating meals. Even as an adventurer, I've accumulated enough savings. It's not to the point where I'm considering submitting it to the country-selected party.

"Come on, let's leave the complicated talk for later. Let's eat!"

Placing the pot I brought on the table, Auntie laughs heartily. As the local dishes are served one after another, I feel a bit warmer inside.

"Oh, by the way, Auntie. Is there anything you want me to buy in the dairy farming city Hilte? I'll get it while I'm there."

As I ask this while enjoying the chicken tomato stew, Auntie looks surprised, her eyes widening. Did I say something surprising?

"Even the troublemaker who refused to water the garden is willing to run errands. Have you been eating something bad in the city?"

"I haven't eaten anything bad, but I've gotten older. I'm not a kid forever."

"You've become less cute in your words. Oh, but I suppose I'd like you to bring some cheese, a small one is fine."

With those words, Auntie smiles proudly.

"I want to make your favorite dish, you know."

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