Chapter 7 Part2 (1/2)
”Thank you sothe stolen bag, theup in the corners of his eyes as he thanks her He looks to be only in his thirties but his back is stooped as if he's much older and he has a kind, soft face
There's no way soh the West Quarter alone Anyone can tell thatat him
”Ah, sorry I didn't introduce myself sooner My name is Reach Mankathy, and I run a s, Reach bows politely in a practiced , his clothes, even his mannerisms are all very upper-class
Fluo but very recently
Milkit taps Flum on the shoulder and leans in to whisper into her ear
”Isn't the syo of the store where we bought dinner a short while ago?”
Right before returning to the West Quarter, they'd stopped at a large store to pick up some fresh foodstuffs
The name of the store was Mankathy Mart
”Ahh, Mankathy as is in Mankathy Mart--- hold on a second, that's not a 's, really”
Even le largest market in the entire Capital It's so famous that it's practically a household naeration to say everyone in the Capital has visited it at least once
Fluht that the owner of such an enterprise would be such a gentle man, much less that he'd treat even slaves with respect
”Is it alright if I ask the names of my rescuers?”
”Uh,in the West Quarter This is Milkit”
As Flum introduces her, Milkit curtsies politely The action fits beautifully with her outfit
Alh she's a real maid
”Flum-san and Milkit-san, I see I don't suppose we've ever met before, have we, Fluht Flum's heart skips a beat
”I think I've seen her before, too, su”
The young priestess agrees
People associated with the Church of Origin or people who e business owners would probably at least recognize recognize her She was travelling with the Hero until just recently, after all
”Ahaha… It's just your ihs and firmly denies it
nobody would believe that THE Flum Apricot is now a slave Even people who know her face probably won't associate the two of theiven how much of a presence the slave , however, is a different question entirely For the tih off their conjecture
”I see I'e”
”No, it's fine I get that a lot”
Being apologized to after lying to Reach's face gives Flu lady?”
”Me, su? I'm Sara Anvilen, su! As you can probably tell I'in-sa seems to oddly suit her country buin! I honestly can't thank you enough for helping me I'm truly in your debt”
”Nah, don't worry about it, su! It's a priestess' job to beat up the bad guys, su!”
She puts her hands on her hips and puffs out her flat chest with a self-satisfied grin
Flum always had the impression that most priestesses were physically weak and all about virtue and the like, but having e of the replaced arriorat Sara's feet probably wasn't expecting a le blow, either
”By the hat're we gonna do about these guys, su?”
”I gotmore than you already have”
”Yeah, I think bein' beat up will have taught 'e or two, su”
Reach and Sara are ready and willing to just let theo
Flum can't help but be knocked speechless
Just how naive are they?
If the thugs were just stealing to ht be different, but there's no way that D-Rank adventurers would need to stoop to petty theft Even if they are in desperate financial straits, then asthey should be able to find more decent work if they ask their boss
They probably tried to steal the bag just so they could have a little e their ways after getting beat up once
The least they deserve is jail Nothing less will , Flus like these where they belong They're not going to just turn over a new leaf so easily,” Fluestion, however
”Don't bad guys becouys if you punish 'em, su? If I do soain, su”
”That's because you're a good girl, Sarchan Real bad guys need a lot harsher punishment or they'll never learn”
”That's kinda sad, su”
Flum crouches down to her level and looks her in the eyes
”It's sad, but it's the truth If good little girls like you help thes ever again”
”I'll do enuinely sad, but already she's back to her energetic self She irl at heart If everyone was as simple and pure as her, the world would be a lot more of a peaceful place
”That's that, then I think we should call the guards or the paladins as soon as possible What do you think, Reach-san?”
”Since you know the West Quarter better than I do, Flum-san, I'll leave the decision to you”
”Oh, I know so so, Sara suddenly sprints off before anyone can say another word
Watching her leave with all the force of a summer storm just like she cay, isn't she”
”She's certainly impatient, that's for sure Ah, youth”
”I would never be able to keep up with her, certainly”
Watching the teenaged Flum and Milkit talk like old ladies, Reach can't help but s to be talking like that”
”Maybe so, but her energy really is so else”
That few years' difference between their ages carries a surprising aht with it Flu that special youthful kind of energy
”By the way, Flum-san”
”Yes?”
Flum turns back to face him and is soed into so the shi+ft in mood, Flum braces herself for Reach's words
”You look like a fairly co a little quest fro so to give somewhat he'd only just met a quest It feels less that he doesn't care about the proper procedures and more like this is a quest he doesn't want turned down no matter what
”I'm only an F-Rank adventurer, so you should probably ask soetically
”With strength like that you're only F-Rank, you say!?”
”Well, I've only been an adventurer since yesterday… I think you'll see why if you cast Scan on me”
”Let's see… All zeroes? How did you beat those thugs, then!?”
”My equip at her equipment, she's clearly not F-Rank, but she's still a novice experience-wise Being an adventurer is e are invaluable
Fluher-ranked than she is at the ht like you did with stats like these, then you clearly have talent”
”No, I wouldn't go that far…”
”And judging by your Rank, I'd guess that you haven't gained much of a reputation yet, have you? Perfect”
Suddenly the entire situation see a low reputation is a good combination, then this must be a quest that he wants to keep secret On top of that he's asking an adventurer directly instead of going to the guild
The job reeks of bad news
Reach senses Fluins to explain hiravely ill, you see”
”Uh… That's really too bad, but you should probably go see a priestess, not an adventurer”
”It's apparently a sickness that can't be cured by ic The priest told me all I can do is pray she'll recover”
Milkit twitches It's the sa her face
In other words…
”After doing a bit of research, however, I discovered that her illness has been successfully treated with o to the guild with this”
If he did, ould definitely get out to the Church
Reach wants to avoid that if at all possible
The Church once took extreme measures to drive out all the apothecaries
No, it'd be better to say the conflict is still ongoing Even now, the production or consurave sin Since the kingdo with the Church, not even so labelled a heretic at the very least
”My wife's illness only groorse with every passing day If I don't get her the medicine she needs, she may not make it”
Reach's expression clouds over
He has no choice but to resort to less legalbut strong adventurer like Fluht have a chance
”I'll reward you handsomely, of course I realize that this request won't help you raise your Rank, but I'm prepared to compensate you for that”
Honestly, Flum couldn't wish for better terood cause, and on top of that she won't have to go through the guild like last tiuild's coet the greatest possible reithout benefiting them
”What will you do, Master?”
”Hmm…”
After Milkit asks her, Fluain
They also have a lot to lose
If the Church finds out, they could find theer
Even so, Flu else
That one factor makes her answer clear
She turns to face Reach once more
”I'll do it I'll take on your request, Reach-san”
There's no hesitation in her voice
Reach's apprehensive expression turns into a hopeful one
”Really? Thank you soirl…!”
Maybe he's always been quick to tears, or h ine The tears on his cheeks speak volumes as he clasps his hands in prayer
He has yet to explain, however, what herb is needed, where it is, or any of the other important details
Flum waits until he's calmed down a little to ask
”So where is this herb you need for the medicine?”
Reach
”To be honest… I don't know The medicine requires a blue flower known as a Chiaraly, but there aren't enough records left to pinpoint where it grows”
It's a h records for him to have found as much as he has, or th of his desire to save his wife
”I see So finding the Chiaraly is part of the job”
”Unfortunately, yes I'm sorry to push such an unreasonable request on you, but there's nobody else I can rely on! Please!”
He practically begs her
Starting froranted, and Fluardless---
”I've already accepted your quest, so don't worry I'll do everything I can”
She just so happens to know someone who is an apothecary herself
If Flu
The problem of whether or not she'll help is a different matter entirely, of course
[They weren't convinced at first, certainly, but in the end they agreed]
[You held them back most of all, you know]
She remembers Jean's words
She still doesn't know for certain if her other party reed to sell her into slavery or not The words still eat away at her heart even now
Even if that's true, however, 'she'to help
All she can do is hope Jean was lying
”It'll probably take a while to get the flower, though”
”My wife's condition er of death for a while As long as you find it as soon as possible that's all I can ask”
The time limit, in other words, is until her death With such a free time frame, it'll leave more than just a bad taste in her mouth if she doesn't make it in tiet it to Reach in time
”I have records on the Chiaraly back at my mansion Could you come by later to pick them up?”
”Will do”
Just as soon as they finish talking, they hear Sara's voice drawing closer
”Ed, Johnny, over here, su!”
She runs over to theot a bunch of theain, didn't ya? It'll be a pain to haul 'em all back”
”All thatlet's finish this already”
”Yeah, yeah, why don't you relax a little, Johnny? Thanks a ton, Sara!”
The more casual paladin, Ed, pets Sara's head
”I told you not to petabout
The three seem to be quite close friends
After that, the paladins restrain the unconscious thugs with bands of light They then hear the full story fro them off
Flum herself is impressed at how quickly and professionally the two restrain and drag off the thugs