CH 213

After successfully restoring the monster repelling magic circle, I return to the building where Kalin’s office is.

There’s a lot of commotion here.

I return Hipopo to its scroll, and approach the entrance while wondering what all the fuss is about.

Ahri and Roa are standing in front of the entrance, like they’re guarding it. Both are blocking it with their spears, seemingly to stop people from carelessly rushing in.

“Hi, Ahri and Roa. I told Kalin I’d come back, but… What’s going on?”

Roa looks at me with a stern expression, but Ahri responds with a smile.

“Good evening Master Rust. Lady Kalin has been expecting you for a while. This commotion was caused by all the surprised citizens of Putaresque, who rushed over here to ask Lady Kalin why buildings all over town suddenly started shining. That is all. Roa, take Master Rust to Lady Kalin at once.”

“Yes, Ahri. This way, Master Rust.”

Ahri gives Roa instructions with an even bigger smile on her face. Roa then opens the door slightly, and tells me to go in.

My backpack gets kind of caught in the door, but I manage to go in.

Roa then slides inside too.

As the door closes, I see Ahri standing outside by herself, and pressing the butt end of her spear on the ground. I can feel a powerful pressure coming from her back, that should keep everyone away with just a look.

Roa walks forward without saying a word, and I hurry to follow her into Kalin’s office.

◆◇

“Rust! I was waiting for you!”

As soon as I enter the room, Kalin runs towards me and grabs me by the shoulder.

“Yes, I just got back. Sorry about all the commotion outside. I think I rushed things a bit too much.”

“Then I assume the monster repelling magic barrier has been repaired. That’s all that matters! There’s no problem with it, right?”

“Of course, no problem. I used the link to Eve’s magic circle and re-activated…”

“Hold on, I have to go give everyone an explanation. Wait here Rust. Sorry Roa, but I’m counting on you too.”

“Yes.”

Answers Roa. Kalin then hurriedly leaves as she talks to the people that were already in the office with her.

“Lady Kalin, here is the manuscript.”

“Thank you, but I’ve memorized it.”

“Your cloak. The second floor terrace is ready for your speech.”

Roa and I watch this as we are left here by ourselves.

Roa then puts her spear on her back, and starts doing something in a corner of the room.

I decide to just sit down on the couch and wait for Kalin to come back.

“The people gathering outside have all come to the Admiral dominion recently. In order to make them feel at ease, simple and easy to accept facts coming from an authority figure are better than a complicated explanation.”

Says Roa while leaving tea in front of me. I guess that’s what she was doing.

“Thank you, Roa.”

“I’m sure you haven’t eaten anything.”

Now that I think about it, I think I’ve only eaten a portable ration… Grass brick this morning.

Roa moves to the other side of the room, opens a cupboard, crouches, and opens a hinged door at the bottom.

From what I can see from here, the cupboard is packed with sweets.

“You can have some of mine, just a little, as a thank you for fixing the magic barrier. That was close.”

She holds a bunch of stuff with both arms, leaves some in front of me, and starts eating the rest.

I imagine she’s saying that because she saw monsters closing in on Putaresque with her long-distance sight.

It looks like I made it just in time. It turned into a bit of a mess, but I’m glad I fixed the magic barrier as quickly as I could. And then, I graciously accept Roa’s invitation to join her and start eating.