CH 148

Episode 148 – Lie and Compensation

TL Note: Sponsored chapter (2/2). Thanks again for your support!

For about an hour, I continued to answer questions while surrounded by the members of [Azurite]. After several dozens of seconds of silence, as if they finally had nothing more to ask, the man with the stitches spoke.

“I’ve heard a lot, but I just don’t understand. It seems like she treats her current party members badly, but they still seem to like her.” (Patchwork Man)

“Kekeke. When I heard that she went to go save this boy, I thought that she had matured a bit after being driven out of town. But she still hasn’t changed at all, huh?” (Tall Man)

“I’m… a little relieved to hear she hasn’t changed.” (Patchwork Man)

The tall man and the patchwork man spoke with a regrettable expression on their faces. On the other hand, Leila was smiling provocatively.

“It was nice to hear all about Ahmed. Kid, you can go home now,” the one-armed man said while making a shooing gesture with his hand. I was glad to be released from this place, but… I had yet to receive any answers to my own questions.

I waited patiently for Leila to take action, but she showed no sign of saying anything at all.

“Oi, can’t you hear me? I told you to go home, I don’t need you for anything anymore!” the one-armed man, who was previously in a good mood, shouted angrily at me when he saw me standing there instead of leaving. My body jumped in response to his sudden explosion of anger, but I didn’t want to just get lost when they one-sidedly took up my time and didn’t give me any answers yet.

“U-um, I followed you here after you said you would tell me about Ahmed-san’s whereabouts, but… aren’t you going to tell me?” I said without being discouraged by the one-armed man’s menacing expression.

The other three, who were chatting happily, turned to look at me.

“Hah? Who promised you that?” (One-armed Man)

“Leila-san did.” (Lewin)

“Oi, Leila. Did you promise him that?” (One-armed Man)

When Leila, who had been silently looking at me, heard the words of the one-armed man, she sighed in annoyance.

“Yeah. I certainly did.” (Leila)

“Then quickly tell him and send him on his way,” the one-armed man spat in a displeased tone. When she heard that, Leila clicked her tongue in irritation, as if she hated my presence so much, and walked up to me. When she stood right in front of me, she paused strangely…

“My bad. I actually don’t know.” (Leila)

“Eh…? No, please wait a moment.” (Lewin)

Even though she uttered a word of apology, her attitude didn’t show any sign of remorse. When she was about to turn around and go back to talking to the others, leaving me there frozen in shock, I hurriedly called out to her. When she turned around again, the expression Leila had was once again that unpleasant face she had shown when I first called out to her in front of the Adventurer’s Guild.

“Kekeke. Well, there’s no way Leila would know about that. We had a big fight and separated, you see.” (Tall Man)

“That’s right. It’s only because we didn’t have any information about Ahmed that we were tormenting you with all these questions.” (Patchwork Man)

I had vaguely noticed that fact as well, but for them to really not know anything…

“Any information would be fine, even if you only have a slight inkling of a place where Ahmed might’ve gone, could you please tell me?” (Lewin)

“…Tch, I already told you I don’t know!!” Leila finally lashed out.

I had spent so much time answering all of their questions, but it was a total waste of time in the end. But if she had no clue, then there was no point asking what she didn’t know. I should just be glad these people were letting me go and just get out of here.

“…..I understand. Then I’ll be leaving,” I said faintly to defuse the tension and then turned around and left the room. After this matter, I could see why Ahmed would have a big fight with them. It might have been good to get a chance to talk to the people of [Azurite], but I wouldn’t want to get involved with them again if I could help it.

I suddenly felt someone grab my shoulder, and I nervously turned around to see the patchwork man. He had a smile across his face, but the stitches on the corner of his mouth were coming off a bit.

“My bad, my bad. Did I scare you?” (Patchwork Man)

“….Yes, just a bit. Um… Marlon-san, was it? Did you have any more questions for me?” (Lewin)

“No, no, I just came after you to apologize for everyone’s bad attitude.” (Marlon)

He was probably smiling at me to try to soothe me a bit, but when added with the background of the dark backyard, it only made me feel more afraid. But this patchwork man had a much more gentle demeanor than the other three, and he also came after me to apologize to me, so I thought that he was probably a good guy.

“Thank you for your concern. But I’m fine, so you don’t need to worry about it.” (Lewin)

“I’m glad to hear that, but how about I compensate you for your time? How’s this as an apology gift?” (Marlon)

The patchwork man pulled something out from his breast pocket… It was a plant.

I immediately held my hand over it to appraise it, but nothing came up, which meant I hadn’t appraised this plant before… Just what kind of plant is it?

I told him he didn’t need to worry about it, but when it came to unappraised plants, it was a different story. I wanted it really badly.

“Haha, I knew it would catch your eye. Last year, I found a massive number of plants in your luggage, so I thought you would like it. Looks like I was right. It may be difficult, but please accept my apology.” (Marlon)

I accepted the plant that Marlon handed to me without hesitation. The terrible mood I was in earlier was rapidly disappearing, and I could feel my spirits being lifted. I knew I was being way too simple, but I couldn’t help myself after receiving an unappraised plant.

“Marlon-san, thank you!” (Lewin)

“No need to bow your head so deeply. It’s compensation for your time,” Marlon said with a smile. Even though his face was full of stitches, I didn’t feel that scared of him anymore. Rather, I felt that the stitches instead gave his kind expression a unique charm.

“And also, about Ahmed’s information…you could probably ask the Chief of the Adventurer’s Guild. I don’t think she stopped being an adventurer, so the Chief could probably tell you the name of the city she’s in from her quest commission completion history. We wouldn’t be able to get him to tell us, but he would probably be willing to tell you.” (Marlon)

“You’re right!! Thank you so much for all that information! Then, I’ll go ask the Guild Chief about it right away!” (Lewin)

“In the end, I didn’t really give you any information, so you don’t need to thank me. I’ll be heading back now, so if you end up meeting with Ahmed, please give her my regards.” (Marlon)

I bowed deeply again to Marlon, who went back into the room. In my mind, my impression of [Azurite]… no, of Marlon, shot up.