Chapter 65 – Variables (4)

“Sis… are you alright?”

In the quiet room, Hephaestus’ subdued voice echoed.

“Of course… I’m totally fine,” I replied, lightly patting my chest.

“…I’m sorry. You did all that to protect Rubia and me… but, I…” Her voice trembled.

“No, no, it’s okay…”

“But I… sniff… I… that kind of sister… sob…”

Hephaestus finally broke down, clutching my clothes tightly.

I wasn’t entirely sure what she was apologizing for, but I quickly soothed her, worried she’d blow her nose into my clothes again.

“N-no, don’t cry…! I-I’m really fine!”

Even though my body had been torn and punctured all over… I had cleaned myself up in the bathroom, and Rubia had dried my clothes, too. But if Hephaestus got snot on them… Well, not that I think Hephaestus is dirty, it’s just…!

I gently pried her hands off my clothes, just in case.

“I… I was scared of you… so scared, sis… hnnngh…”

“Really, it’s okay… Please don’t cry…”

For the twelfth time, the cycle of apology and consolation began.

It was fine if she cried, but… I really hoped she wouldn’t blow her nose on me this time…

“You feeling better now?”

“Sniff… yeah… I’m fine now…”

After about ten minutes of comforting her, Hephaestus finally calmed down, stretching her curled-up body slightly.

“Sis, but… earlier… was it the shard that made you act like that?”

She glanced at my greatsword as she spoke.

Honestly, it wasn’t just because of the shard; that’s just my usual hunting style… but hmm…

“Y-yeah, that’s right…”

“You… You’re not normally like that, right?”

…Creak.

Hephaestus stared at me for a long time before lowering her head, speaking with difficulty.

“I see… So normally, you’re not like that… It was because of the shard… Phew… got it.”

After a few moments of silence, she lifted her head again and shook it, as if trying to dispel her thoughts.

“Anyway, what do you think the princess and Rubia are up to? It’s so quiet.”

“Hmm… I wonder…”

Rubia and Charlotte had asked us to move to a different room after I finished my bath and Hephaestus woke up.

Well, it was more of a polite request to give them space for a bit… They’d told me not to use my perception to peek, so it was basically the same as being kicked out.

To be honest, I could totally sneak a look without anyone noticing, but I’d made a pinky promise with Rubia, so I was holding back.

“I was so shocked earlier… I woke up to find the princess staring at me.”

“Oh, really…”

I was shocked too. Who knew a princess could be such a weirdo…

Plus, the third princess was never mentioned in the game. There wasn’t even a hint that she’d become an adventurer.

It’s all so strange.

Just like how that person called Sirin became the tenth Master…

“But… do you think the rumors about her are true?”

“Rumors…?”

“Yeah. Haven’t you heard any rumors about Princess Charlotte?”

“N-no, I haven’t.”

Hephaestus glanced around cautiously before leaning in closer.

“Well… they say Princess Charlotte is really into women.”

“T-that seems likely…”

“And she’s had a ton of lovers!”

“I-I see…”

“And what’s even stranger… none of her lovers ever want to leave her. They say she treats them amazingly well!”

“Huh…?”

For a moment, I recalled all the times I’d seen Charlotte behave so far.

Eh…

“No way…”

That pervert?!

“It’s true…!”

What Hephaestus told me next was nothing short of shocking.

She recounted rumors about how Charlotte had kidnapped a woman who was happily married, locking her up in the royal palace while doing horrible things to her in front of her husband.

But then, it turned out the husband was actually the head of a crime ring that forced women into prostitution, and Charlotte had saved the woman knowing the truth all along.

Another story told of a knight she had humiliated, stripping her in front of a room full of people, only for it to be revealed that she had gathered magicians to lift a curse from the knight’s body.

There was even a tale of her robbing the royal treasury to hire hundreds of adventurers, leading them to completely wipe out an underground slave market that sold women.

And how she had executed all the nobles who had been exploiting women, dragging them into horrendous situations.

Every rumor painted Charlotte as a woman who acted without hesitation when it came to saving women.

“And apparently, she became an adventurer because one of her lovers passed away. Before she died, she said her dream was to travel the world, so Charlotte did it for her…”

“R-really…?”

Wait… that’s… kind of… cool?

“It’s just a rumor, but… considering the slave markets really did disappear recently, and a lot of nobles have been executed… not to mention—”

Hephaestus cut herself off, lowering her head before mumbling softly.

“Just looking at you… makes me think some rumors could be true…”

“Me…? I’m not like that…”

My rumors are ridiculous! A blood-drinking demon, or whatever… The Red Beast that tears apart monsters?

Ridiculous! At least treat me like a person!

Hephaestus gave me a strange look, her expression somewhere between curiosity and confusion, before shaking her head.

“Anyway, be careful, okay?”

“W-why me all of a sudden…?”

“You never know. Plus, you’re way too defenseless.”

“D-defenseless…?”

I tilted my head in confusion, and Hephaestus crossed her arms and thumped her chest in frustration.

“Yeah. It’s lucky Rubia is always with you… Without her, honestly… ugh.”

“W-what’s wrong with me?!”

“Just look at you right now. You’re sitting with your legs spread open in a skirt! Anyone could see your underwear!”

“U-underwear…? You can’t see anything…”

“What do you mean you can’t?! If I just leaned down, I’d see everything!”

I had been holding my skirt down with my hands…

But I quickly pulled my legs together as Hephaestus said that.

But… there’s no way she could see my underwear… Because I’m not wearing any…

“And having your underwear barely visible like that is more provocative, you know.”

“Ugh… R-really?”

“Yeah. It leaves things to the imagination. And the way you talk and act, there’s just… so many things. You need to be more careful.”

Come on… maybe if I had a body like Rubia’s, but with this scrawny frame of mine… and all the scars…

Plus, anyone who thinks of me like that is a total pervert, not a person… ugh…

“T-there’s no way… I don’t have a body anyone would want…”

After I said that, Hephaestus suddenly straightened up, adopting a more serious tone.

“Sis, there’s something you don’t realize.”

“W-what?”

“The person you need to be the most careful around… is Rubia—”

Click—

Just as Hephaestus was about to say something important, the door to the room opened, cutting her off.

And then.

Rubia’s calm voice drifted through the room.

“What kind of fun conversation are you two having?”

Hephaestus immediately froze, her face stiffening.

“W-we were just… Hephaestus was telling me to be more careful… Did you finish everything…?”

As Hephaestus trembled, unable to speak, I answered for her.

Why is she acting so strange?

“…Yes. I’m finished. I have something to tell both of you, and I plan to stay here for the night. How does that sound?”

“I’m fine with that…”

“I-I’m okay with it too!”

Rubia cast a suspicious glance at Hephaestus before nodding and opening the door wider.

“Then, let’s head to the other room.”

“Yes.”

I stood up, and Hephaestus timidly grabbed onto my clothes, trailing behind me.

“Hephaestus… I’d like to have a word with you before bed, alright?”

“Y-yes, of course…”

Creeeeak—

As we exited the room, Rubia led us into the adjacent room.

Charlotte was still sitting on the couch, smoking a cigarette.

But the bundle of stuff Charlotte had brought in earlier was nowhere to be seen.

“Phew… I’ve got a lot to say, but first, sit down.”

Nodding, I plopped onto the couch where Charlotte had gestured.

Rubia sat next to me, and Hephaestus, still trembling, took her seat before Charlotte began speaking.

“I’m sticking with you guys. At least until we find Yuria.”

Hephaestus gasped, her breath catching in her throat.

“I’ll give you both cloaks to conceal your presence, especially you, Pinky. Be extra careful.”

Charlotte stubbed out her cigarette and turned to Hephaestus.

“I figured I should let you know… there’s someone targeting Yuria.”

“Master Yuria…?”

“Yeah. And he’s ridiculously strong.”

Hephaestus’ breathing became ragged.

“The Black Knight, Kalt. He’s a Master, and if Yuria fights him… she’s going to die.”

“B-but why would someone like that…?”

“Beats me. But Yuria is his target, which puts you in danger too. I’d rather leave you behind in this village, but since we don’t know where Kalt is, we can’t take any chances.”

Hephaestus clenched her hand around the stone she was holding, trembling as she exhaled sharply.

“There’s more to talk about, but let’s leave it for tomorrow. Get some rest for now.”

Charlotte shook her head and pulled out a fresh cigarette, lighting it.

And just then.

“Hey, Pinky. Why’s that stone blinking?”

“Huh…? Oh, oh… the light… it’s blinking…”

As Hephaestus’ panicked voice filled the room.

Boom!

A thunderous roar erupted from the top of the Karahan Mountains, as if the sky itself had been torn apart.