Variable (4)

"Unni... Are you okay?"

In the quiet room, Hephaestus's subdued voice echoed.

"Of course... I'm perfectly fine."

I patted my chest confidently as I replied.

"...I'm sorry. You did it to protect me and Rubia unni, but... I..."

"Euuuh... No, it's fine. Really..."

"But, I... sniff... I... seeing you like that... hic..."

Eventually, Hephaestus started sobbing and clung tightly to the hem of my clothes.

I didn't really understand what she was apologizing for, but… more than that, I was worried she'd blow her nose on my clothes again, so I quickly tried to comfort her.

"A-Ah... No, don't cry...! I-I'm really fine...!"

Even though my clothes were torn all over and had holes in them...

I had washed them thoroughly in the bathroom, and Rubia had even dried them for me!

But if she gets snot on them... Uh... It's not that I think Hephaestus is dirty or anything, but... well, anyway!

I carefully pried my clothes from Hephaestus's grip.

"I... I felt scared of you, unni... I really did... sniffle..."

"It's really okay... So please don't cry..."

And so, my twelfth apology and reassurance began...

It's fine if she cries, but... I just wish she wouldn't blow her nose on my clothes... Seriously...

"D-Do you feel better now...?"

"Sniff... Y-Yeah... I'm okay..."

After about ten minutes of patting her back, Hephaestus finally calmed down a little and slowly uncurled her body.

"But unni... earlier... was that because of the shard...?"

She glanced down at my greatsword as she spoke.

Rather than saying it was because of the shard, my usual hunting style was just like that anyway... Hmm...

"Y-Yeah...?"

"It... wasn't always like that, was it?"

...Kkkreeeak—

Hephaestus, who had been staring at me for a while, suddenly lowered her head and spoke with difficulty.

"I see... So normally, it's not like that, and it was because of the shard... Hoo... Got it."

She kept her head lowered for a moment, then soon lifted it and shook her head vigorously.

"Well, anyway, what do you think the princess and Rubia unni are doing? It's so quiet."

"Hmm... Yeah, really..."

Rubia and Charlotte had something to take care of, so after I finished bathing and Hephaestus woke up, they sent us to the next room.

Well, rather than sent, they politely asked us to step out for a bit...

But since they told me not to use my perception to peek inside the room, it was basically the same as being kicked out.

Honestly... I could secretly peek with my perception, and no one would ever know, but I made a pinky promise with Rubia, so I'm holding back.

"But I was really surprised. When I opened my eyes... the princess was staring at me."

"O-Oh, really..."

I was surprised too.

I never expected a princess to be such a weirdo...

Besides, no matter how I think about it, the Third Princess never appeared in the game.

There was never any mention of her becoming an adventurer.

It's way too strange.

Just like that person Shirin, who supposedly became the tenth Master...

"But... do you think she's really like the rumors say?"

"Rumors...?"

"Yeah. Haven't you heard the rumors about Princess Charlotte?"

"N-No, I haven't...?"

Hephaestus cautiously glanced around before leaning in closer to me.

"You see... Princess Charlotte really likes women."

"T-That does seem true..."

"And she has tons of lovers!"

"R-Really...?"

"But what's even weirder... is that every single one of her lovers... never wants to leave her. They say she treats them so well."

"Hmm...?"

For a moment, I recalled all the times I had seen Charlotte.

Uh...

"N-No way..."

That pervert?!

"It's true...!"

The stories Hephaestus told me after that were utterly shocking.

Like how she kidnapped a woman who was happily married, locked her in the palace, and did horrible things in front of her husband...

But it turned out the husband was actually the leader of a criminal organization that forced women into prostitution, and Charlotte had known all along and was actually saving her.

Or how she forcibly stripped a newly recruited female knight and called a crowd into her bedroom...

But it turned out she had actually gathered a group of mages to break a curse afflicting the knight.

Or how she robbed the imperial treasury and stole a fortune...

Only to use it to lead hundreds of adventurers to wipe out the entire underground slave market.

Or how she rounded up corrupt nobles who abused poor women and executed them all...

All these rumors painted a picture of Charlotte charging in without hesitation whenever women were involved.

"And apparently, the reason she became an adventurer... was because one of her lovers was sick and dying. That person's dream was to travel the world, so Charlotte became an adventurer in her place..."

"R-Really...?"

What the heck...

She's... kinda cool...?

"It's just rumors, but... the slave markets did disappear recently... and a ton of nobles were executed... And besides—"

Hephaestus suddenly stopped speaking, then muttered quietly.

"Just looking at you, unni... makes me think the rumors might be true..."

"M-Me...? I'm... not like that..."

The rumors about me were completely ridiculous!

A demon who drinks blood, or... what was the other one?

The Red Beast that tears apart monsters...?

Jeez, seriously.

At the very least, they could treat me like a human!

Hephaestus stared at me with a strange, puzzled expression for a moment before shaking her head.

"Anyway, unni, be careful."

"W-Why suddenly me...?"

"Just in case. And you're way too defenseless."

"Defenseless...?"

When I tilted my head, Hephaestus crossed her arms and pounded her chest as if frustrated.

"Yeah. It's lucky Rubia unni is around... If she weren't, seriously... geez."

"W-What's wrong with me?!"

"Look at yourself right now. Does it make any sense for someone wearing a skirt to sit in seiza? If someone looked down from above, they'd see everything!"

"U-Underwear...? It's not visible, though..."

"What do you mean it's not visible?! If I just tilt my head down like this, I'd see it."

I had been holding my skirt down tightly with my hands...

Still, I heeded Hephaestus's words and carefully lowered my legs, sitting properly.

But my underwear really wouldn't be visible...

Because... I'm not wearing any. How can something be seen when it's not even there...?

"And the fact that it's just barely not visible makes it even more stimulating."

"Eek... R-Really?"

"Yeah. It leaves room for imagination. And besides... the way you act, the way you talk... there's a lot to be cautious about. Just be careful."

Ugh... If it were someone with an amazing body like Rubia, maybe, but...

What's so great about this weak-looking body...? Not to mention all the scars...

A-And anyone looking at my body and thinking that way isn't human—they're a beast... Ugh...

"S-Surely... I don't have the kind of body that would make anyone think like that..."

Hearing my words, Hephaestus suddenly straightened her back and spoke in a serious tone.

"Unni. There's something you don't know."

"Uh, w-what...?"

"The person you need to be most careful about is—"

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 rang out.

"What's the fun conversation about?"

At the same time, Hephaestus's face stiffened completely.

"I-It's nothing... Hephaestus was just giving me advice about... um, being careful about certain things... A-Are you done, Rubia?"

Hephaestus suddenly started trembling and could only open and close her mouth wordlessly, so I spoke for her.

Why is she acting like that?

"...Yes. I'm done. I also have something to say to you and Hephaestus, and I plan to stay here for the night. How about it?"

"Mm. I don't mind..."

"I-I agree!"

Rubia gave Hephaestus a suspicious look before nodding and opening the door fully.

"Well then, shall we move to the next room?"

"Okaaay."

As I got up from my seat, Hephaestus carefully grabbed onto my clothes and followed closely behind.

"Hephaestus... let's have a little talk before bed, shall we?"

"Eep... O-Okay..."

Creeeak—

As soon as we stepped out, Rubia immediately opened the door to the next room.

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

And the bundle of luggage she had brought in earlier... was nowhere to be seen.

"Hoo... There's a shitload I have to say... but first, sit down."

I nodded and plopped down onto the sofa where Charlotte gestured.

Then Rubia sat beside me, and a trembling Hephaestus followed suit before Charlotte finally opened her mouth.

"I've decided to travel with you guys. At least until we find Yuria."

Hephaestus gasped and swallowed hard.

"I'll give you both cloaks that suppress recognition, so make sure to wear them. Especially you, pinky head. Be careful."

After roughly stubbing out her cigarette, Charlotte turned toward Hephaestus.

"I figured I should tell you—there's someone targeting Yuria."

"My master...?"

"Yeah. A real fucking strong one."

Hephaestus's breath grew rough.

"The Black Knight Kalt. He's a Master. If Yuria fights him... she'll definitely die."

"...But why would someone like that—"

"Beats me. But since Yuria's his target, you're in danger too, so be careful. Honestly, I'd rather leave you behind in this village, but we have no idea where Kalt is... That's the problem."

Hephaestus let out a shaky breath and clenched the stone in her hand tightly.

"There's more to discuss, but for now, let's get some rest and continue tomorrow."

Charlotte, watching Hephaestus, shook her head and pulled out a new cigarette.

And at that moment—

"Hey pinky. Why the hell is that stone flickering?"

"Huh...? Oh, um... Th-The light is—"

A panicked voice escaped from Hephaestus's lips.

And at the same time—

Kwaaang—!

From the peak of the Karahan Mountains, a deafening roar rang out, as if the very sky had been torn apart.