Kays Translations

Chapter 7: The Adventurer Named Rolo Mercia

After purchasing a souvenir cheese (it was cheap, so we bought a whole wheel), Rolo and I left the dairy farming city of Hilte on the same day and began our journey back to Malhas. After consulting with Rolo, we concluded that we should urgently share this information with the entire town of Malhas. Probably, the situation is worse than we thought.

"We planned to stay overnight, but ended up camping. Was that okay?"

While tossing branches into the campfire, I spoke to Rolo, who was sitting nearby. My childhood friend, chewing on dried meat he had grilled, nodded with his mouth full.

"It's fine. Besides, I had a bit of a bad feeling."

"I see."

Rolo's concern is probably the possibility of being unnecessarily delayed in Hilte. Our adventurer credibility score, which we had earned actively in the adventure city of Advante, is surprisingly high in this rural area. After all, the party we belonged to, 'Silhasta,' was recommended for the national-selected party. Naturally, we, as former members, also received considerable praise.

For the Adventurer's Guild, we are the perfect candidates to handle various troublesome requests that newcomers might find difficult to handle. Of course, as adventurers ourselves, we don't mind lending a hand in problem-solving. However, there are priorities.

First, we need to return to the village and start various investigations.

"By the way, ‘Mysterious Illusion Master' huh? It seems perfect for you, Rolo."

"If you make too much fun of it, I will get angry."

I reply with a wry smile as Rolo puffs out his cheeks.

"It's not like that. I've always thought you were amazing."

"You? No way!"

"You don't trust me."

Tossing twigs into the fire, I burst into laughter unintentionally. It seems that Rolo tends to overestimate me despite having low self-esteem. He thinks incorrectly that he's not that great.

"You're amazing. You came out from the countryside, self-taught magic, and can handle close combat with me."

"But I've never beaten you."

"Because I don't use magic."

Rolo has trained to the point where he can spar with me even without self-enhancement magic. Although I'm called Heavenly Break Strike and all that, I'm just doing things with brute force, but Rolo fights with a well-thought-out strategy. If we were to fight using magic, I would probably lose helplessly.

"'Silhasta' relied on you."

"That's not true. I'm just a jack-of-all-trades."

"I could leave Fimia and Saran in charge and step forward because you were behind me and had my back. Even those two could concentrate on their roles because you were there. Yeah... rather than a jack-of-all-trades, it feels more like being universally talented."

A top-tier magician and swordsman. That's the man named Rolo Mercia. I've always thought that this gentle man should be appreciated, but perhaps the world has finally caught up. By now, Albert is probably savoring the gratitude for Rolo.

"Is everyone okay?"

Contrary to my bad expectations, Rolo's words were words of concern. He's such a good guy or whatever. No, this is one of his good points.

"Well, Saran is smart, so he'll manage anything."

"Yeah. ...Jurg, don't you need to go back?"

Looking up at me with somewhat worried eyes, Rolo. Hey, stop it. What if you accidentally fall in love?

Are you into guys?

"As long as Albert carries the signboard, I don't plan on going back. If you're going back, I'll go with you."

"I see. And we’ve already formed a new party."

It's just the two of us, but it's easygoing. I'm not very good at socializing with people.

"If we're going to do a thorough investigation, I'm a little uneasy with just the two of us."

"Yeah. And maybe one more person... no, two more would make it easier."

Saying that, the faces of Fimia and Saran from 'Silhasta' come to mind. Fimia is an excellent priestess, so skilled with sacred magic that she carries the nickname Saint.' In terms of protective magic, healing magic, exorcism, and barriers, she's unparalleled. With Fimia and Rolo behind me, I can afford to do some reckless things.

If Saran is with us, it's even easier. As a scholar and magician from a noble family, he is also Rolo's magic mentor. Occasionally, his polite rudeness can be annoying, but... his depth of knowledge is a force to be reckoned with in the kingdom. Information investigated by Saran Zorak alone can be a trigger that moves various fields.

However, excellent individuals like them wouldn't be in such a rural area. If we're going to conduct a thorough investigation, we'll probably need to find someone in the dairy farming city who can handle it, or maybe we'll have to submit a request to a party. Even if they don't want to enter unexplored areas, at least they might be willing to handle a request from our party.

"If everyone from 'Silhasta' could come..."

"Yeah, except for Albert."

"I'm sure you will say that right away. Surely there was some reason even for Albert."

I let out a small sigh at Rolo's gentle smile.

How can he be such a good-natured person?

Everyone, except Albert, opposed Rolo's expulsion, but he used his leader authority to force it through. With the person who should be the most angry being so gentle, I wondered where I should direct my anger.

"...?"

While breaking a thick dry branch with a sense of frustration, I sensed someone approaching from the direction of the highway – towards the dairy farming city of Hilte. It was midnight, a time when even adventurers like us would stop and decide to camp. At this hour, the majority of things moving would either be monsters or bandits.

"Rolo."

"Yeah, I know."

We exchanged glances and brought our weapons closer. The approaching footsteps didn't sound like those of horses. However, they also didn't seem human. If that's the case, could it be a monster?

"Jurg?"

Calling my name, someone from the darkness beyond the road – in the direction of the dairy farming city of Hilde – spoke up. The voice was familiar, causing me to lower my weapon in surprise.

"No way... Fimia?"

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