Chapter 5: Problematic Day

The moon shines behind a cloud as the wind rustles intensely. We halt at the edge of the forest water stream and form a campfire in front of the running water. The gentle breeze slapping through my face and the calm sound brought upon the quietness of this forest is the perfect tranquil atmosphere that I need.

I advise Meles to cleanse herself in the river water, where she does, while I begin to wash the blood sticky on her clothes.

“Meles, don’t go too deep!”

Meles starts swimming prior to my consent, as if she was a child again.

Looking at our abundant harvest on my side, Meles managed to hunt twenty seven goblins in such a short amount of time. At first I thought adventuring would be full of excitement and leisure, but I guess everything have its dark side too.

For a guy who lived in peace all his life, it’s hard to stomach the cold reality in one go.

“Brrrrr…”

Coincidentally, after I’m done washing her clothes, Meles finished bathing. But since we still have to dry her clothes, I lend her my shirt instead.

“Here, just use this for now.”

“But… What about Kansouke?”

“Don’t worry, I'm fine.”

After she donning my shirt — which seems to be too big for her — she begins to warm herself in front of the campfire. I sit in front of the fire myself and cross my legs, mesmerized by the smell and comfort of the burning log.

Come to think of it, I still don’t know anything about Meles. Thinking about it like that, a question unexpectedly leaves my mouth. “So… what were you doing before you got involve in the smuggling?”

Hearing my tone, her eyes travel from the fire to my eyes. She hugs her knees and speaks in a melancholy tone. “Is it really important?”

“Well, if you’re feeling uneasy about it, you can just ignore my question.” I scratch my head while wearing an idiotic smile. “Or if that question is a sensitive spot, then I apologize. Please forgive me.”

But Meles just turns her gaze upward, as if she was reminiscing someone important. Sadness coats her voice when she opens her mouth to speak again. “Kansouke knows how the war just ended twenty years ago, right?”

“Umm, does that have something to do with it?”

Although I’m fortunate enough to be born after the war, I heard that while it did end most of the suffering, it sparked a few problems on its own. Like the returning soldiers ended up being homeless in the streets, while the other unfortunate ones resulted in thievery and banditry. Not because the war ended, the problems it inflicted would somehow resolve themselves.

“It’s nothing…” As if she remembered something horrifying, her face turns pale and her whole body quivers bit by bit.

Witnessing her reaction, I decide not to press the subject any further despite the multitude of questions circling in my head. Maybe when the time is right, she’d open up on her own.

“How about the current demon lord? Do you know anything about her?”

Meles raises her head and looks up to me with eyes filled with confusion. “The demon lord?”

“Yes, I’m curious to know if the rumors surrounding her is true.”

She looks puzzled, as though she wondered just how weird my curiosity would go. Then she laughs. “The current demon lord is very flighty. She did not even attend her own coronation eight years ago.”

“Ahh, that sounds very irresponsible indeed.” We both giggle at my words.

I hope the demon lord wouldn't mind us talking crap behind her back. And though it’s rather late at night, we manage to have a pleasant chat for a short while.

* * *

As we return to the guild first thing in the morning, carrying a handful of goblin ears in both arms, the receptionist lady answers us with a wry smile. “That sure is a good amount.”

“I apologize.”

Although I expected her reaction, I couldn’t do anything to prevent it. Since Meles worked hard gathering this much goblins ears, it’s only appropriate for me to deliver all of them.

All in all, we have a total of twenty-eight pairs of goblin ears on top of her table. An amount that’s enough to disgust a trained professional like her.

“W-Well then, Kansouke, here’s your new and official guild card.”

After accepting the guild card from her hands, she hands me a small pouch full of coins.

*Ting, ting, ting, ting, ting, ting!!!*

The sound of money resounds in my ears.

“Since you’ve hunted this much goblins for us, the guild is entitled to pay you a copper coin for each pair of ears. If you have any other questions, I can answer them for you right now.”

“I see. Can you teach me the easiest way to make some money—”

*Bam!*

Another set of adventurers approach the desk and force me away from the counter.

“My bad! We didn’t notice you over there! Hahaha!!”

All of his friends laugh along with him as he lets out a hearty laugh. On his left is a fatass, on his right is a thin tall man, while he himself looks like a typical grumpy old man. A group of hoodlums without a doubt.

“Kid, don’t stand in my way, you hear me?”

His haughty attitude is really starting to piss me off, but I still quietly stand my ground, passing his words off as if it were thin air.

I shrug my shoulders and walk away when I hear a loud voice filled with anger boom inside the building.

“You three must have a death wish!!”

It’s Meles. Ah, I seem to have forgotten about her.

“It’s alright.” I reach my hand out to stop Meles from protesting.

“But they just…”

“I’m fine. Let’s just go.”

Her complaining eventually drags the men’s attention. The man’s eyebrows twitch after glancing at Meles, as if he saw something disturbing.

“……A-A demon?” His eyes widen with fear as he take a step back.

Then a surprise, speculative murmur instantly ripple inside the building when the crowd hear the man murmured the word: Demon.

“Demon? In the guild?”

“What does it want?”

“Just look at her horns…”

Since Meles is wearing a gigantic hood that concealed her face, we avoided attracting attention until now. But I guess once you look at her up close, you can’t hide the two menacing horns sprouting out of her forehead.

“Wait… isn’t that the demon who wreaked havoc near the plaza a few days ago?”

“Yeah, now that you mention it.”

I instantly grab Meles’ hand and tug her along with me to the exit. Attracting hostile attention like this won’t do us any good.

“W-Wait…”

“Nope. We’re going out.”

The moment we turn our backs, horrible insults fly out of the man’s mouth. “Bring that demon bitch back here!!”

……………Ah?

As soon as my ears catch the insultive remark he gave about Meles, something inside me snaps. I let go of Meles, who’s furiously fighting back from my grip, and face them.

I don’t know what kind of problems they have with me, but if they badmouth Meles one more time, I’ll…

A frustrating hot sensation swells up in my chest.

“Old man…”

“What?! You gonna do something about it?” The man draws his sword, and his companions beside him follow suit.

“Stop, stop!” As I silently fumed, the receptionist lady steps in between the four of us. “Hai hai!! That’s enough, all of you.” She bows her head, as though apologizing for the man’s rudeness, and addresses me in their stead. “I’ll take care of the things here so you can go on ahead.”

“Thank you.” I quash the wicked thoughts rising in my mind and answer her with utmost politeness. The busty receptionist bows at me again while catching a side long glance at the displeased men.

“Alright everybody!” She loudly clasps her hands together while she gives me a naughty sign to go. After seeing her wink, I take that chance to leave the crowded area with Meles.

Finally, a breath of fresh air.

“Ummm…”

“It’s not Kansouke’s fault.”

Meles cuts me off before I can even say what I wanted to say. But she’s right on the mark.

“Because of me, you have to deal with those sorts of things… I’m really sorry.”

“I just said it’s not your fault!”

Waaa!!!

She suddenly grabs my hand and starts walking away from that place.

“Revenge…”

“Haha, we should go grab some food at the marketplace.”

“Umu, if that’s what Kansouke wants to do…”

Now, for a single moment, she fascinates me. I should be the one comforting her, but I end up getting comforted instead.

Meles has a small and lovely tender hands. As we walk along hand in hand, I can feel a faint warmth passing from her hand to mine. It’s a really pleasant feeling.

However, just when I thought everything is over, a familiar voice calls out to me from the busy crowd. “Vermin… W-What did you do to that girl…?”

Turning my head to inquire, I see a blonde bombshell with a disgusted look pasted on her face. She wears a plain but well tailored dress of pale green that looks like a mixture of armor and robe. Her short mini skirt fails to hide her lovable thighs from my hungry eyes.

“Remi…?”