Master and Slaves

The food that came out was stir-fried vegetables in large quantity, meat coated in red sauce, a potato salad-like dish in a huge bowl, and three bread loaves the size of my face.

There was no way one person could eat all of it.

"Ah, thank you."

"Ah, it’s fine to leave some. You can’t eat this much, right~."

The girl laughed.

She was about the same height as Tiria, with medium-brown hair tied up loosely at the back.

She looked like a countryside girl, but she was quite cute.

"Hey, hey, don’t you want to eat?"

The girl suddenly sat at the seat across from me, rested both elbows on the table, and asked.

"Y, yeah. I’ll eat."

I picked up the fork and started with the stir-fried vegetables.

"As expected~! And you’re eating right away. You’re no ordinary guy. So, how is it? Delicious?"

"Eh, yeah, it’s delicious."

"As I thought, as I thought~! I made it~!"

The girl puffed out her small chest.

At that moment, the landlady appeared behind the girl without any sound.

The girl must have sensed it; she froze for an instant and slowly turned around.

"Tea."

"Hii!"

The girl trembled slightly and let out a small scream.

"I’m sorry, sir. Please enjoy your meal at your leisure."

The landlady dropped a heavy fist on the girl’s head with a single "thud" and called her "Tea," then smiled politely at me.

"Ah, ahahaha. It’s fine~."

I forced a smile while my cheek twitched.

The landlady bowed and said "Excuse me," then grabbed the girl’s collar and dragged her away.

...Ah, right. Let me ask something.

"Ah, sorry. I’m looking for a girl. About twelve years old, height... like that young lady over there. Also... slightly droopy eyes... and... um..."

No way that description would help.

But there was nothing else I could think of.

"Ah, her name is Helma...."

"Ah, Hera-chan. I know her. She always plays around."

"Eh? Really? Where does she live?"

"Um, I don’t know. She always waits at the square, so she’s probably still there now. I came back early because I had work."

"Thank you!"

I stood up from my seat immediately and tried to leave the inn.

"Wait, customer! You haven’t eaten yet!"

"I’ll eat it when I get back. Please leave it."

I told the landlady that, then left the inn.

...

I had come in a hurry, but...

Where was the square?

For now, I headed for the center of the town.

Usually, the square is at the center of a town or village.

On the way from the royal capital to Rade Village, we had stopped at many towns and villages, and all of them had squares like this.

And my guess was correct.

After walking a little, I found the square.

Many children were playing.

I checked the faces of the children... this looked suspicious.

The children whispered among themselves and started leaving the square.

They must have thought I was a suspicious old man.

...Oh well.

I turned back the way I had come.

"Kyaa!"

When I turned around, I ran into someone.

"Ooh, sorry."

I called out to the girl who had fallen forward and reached out to help her.

"Ah, thank you."

The girl thanked me and took my hand.

She looked about in her mid-teens.

Her red hair the length of her shoulders was lightly tied up at the back.

Her eyes were slightly droopy and cute.

But in this world, there were no ugly girls.

I pulled her hand up.

"Thank you."

The girl thanked me again and bowed her head.

"Are you hurt?"

"Yes, I’m fine."

"I see. Sorry."

"Not at all. I was looking at something else...."

She stuck her tongue out.

"Ah, my name is Rina. I do acrobatics in the north side of this town."

"Eh? Ah, I’m Hiroyuki. I just arrived in this town today."

"Is that so? Ah, then please come watch the acrobatics. It’s the last show today. I’ll be performing from now... but are you busy?"

The girl named Rina looked at me curiously.

She was being strangely forward, but probably it was just an advertisement.

But acrobatics...?

Well, I had nothing else to do anyway...?

"Mmm, I’m looking for someone right now. ...Ah, right. Do you know a girl named Helma? About twelve years old...."

"...Why are you looking for that girl, big brother?"

Rina suddenly gave me a puzzled look.

What should I answer?

"Because Helma’s mother is looking for her."

"...Helma-chan’s mother...? She found her!?"

Rina leaned closer.

"Found her... what do you mean? And do you know Helma?"

"!!"

Rina hurriedly covered her mouth with both hands.

"Please tell me? I want to introduce you to Helma’s mother."

"...Where is Helma’s mother?"

Ah, maybe she thinks I’m suspicious?

Well, that’s natural.

I was a suspicious guy.

"Right now, we’re separated. We’ll reunite soon...."

The day was starting to get dark.

It was about time for Muriel to contact me.

"...As soon as my work is done, bring Helma’s mother to me. Come to the back of the stage and I’ll know who you are."

"Ah, I got it."

"Then...."

The girl bowed and walked away quickly.

"I’ll see you home. It’s getting dark."

"Ah, um, thank you. But...."

The girl looked around curiously.

At this time of night, there was almost no one left in the square.

It was dangerous to be alone with a stranger.

"Yeah. Then be careful."

"Yes. Thank you."

The girl bowed again, turned around, and walked away.

I think I’ve grasped a clue, but what now?

And what should I do next?

For now, I returned to the inn the way I had come.

—-

[A/N: Guys if you find any mistakes just let me know if you find any mistakes, I schedule Chapters ahead of time so there could be unintentional repeat Chapters or some errors but I’ll try to fix them as soon as I get notified about it. Hope you guys enjoy it :D]