The Traveling Hero Won’t Let the Innkeeper’s Son Escape

Ruth woke up at the usual time, turning her shoulder feeling distorted because she slept on the couch.

The sun is already rising because it is the season of Zenobia, but it was dim outside if it was still foggy.

(Another dream from a previous life today……)

Since Alec left the village again, the frequency of dreaming in his previous life seemed to have increased slightly.

But it wasn't a shocking scene like before, it was usually a peaceful day.

Changes also appeared in the perspective we were looking at. I used to dream from Takashi Tanisaki's point of view, but lately I've been asking about it from a little further away. It's like watching a movie or a drama. It's a sight I wonder if Takashi Tanzaki is away from Ruth.

(Besides, Takashi seemed to care about her............... something a little different?

Takashi Tanzaki seems to have slowly gotten close to Miyamoto since she met him at the dojo. But that seemed a lot different from what Ruth had in mind.

Ruth wondered whether that was the relationship between the two, and whether Takashi Tanzaki had a strong preference for the light. So I was surprised that the contents of the light were men.

But when it was a dream I've been seeing away lately, I kind of didn't think so.

They seemed to feel strong trust and bond with each other, but they didn't see it as anything like love or love. I don't see how I can remember strong emotions like I used to dream. Takashi Tanzaki was inclined to the actions of the light, but it seemed like a younger - worried brother.

(I wonder what this is... previous and present dreams, why so different...?

To the difference in how things were so much, it seemed as if Ruth was deliberately distorting events so that she could feel happy at someone's hands. - To cover up the truth.

(... but who gets it for doing that?

Ruth became ridiculous to think about, realizing that no one would gain from rewriting her mediocre past life dreams.

Maybe the light was so beautiful that my desire to think I was somewhat happy in my previous life came into my dreams, and vice versa, because I realized Ruth liked Alec, I could see the difference between normal favors and love. Either way, I'm talking about a world I can't go back to, so I don't know the answer for the rest of my life.

"Let's get up."

When I woke up from the couch, Celine came into the living room.

A little before breakfast, Rossa was called to the village chief and left.

I wonder what it would have been like to have a call on purpose so early, finishing the breakfast Beverly made me while the three of us left talking. But I don't know why unless Rosa comes home, so Ruth and the others started preparing breakfast for the inn as usual.

By the way, I've asked him a few times about the house next door, but Chester hadn't left yet. Beverly does so, even though she was at home for Chester when she came back, but also about her belly child, who has lost Celine's persuasion to make a big deal out of her at the Blau family. If you get hurt, you can get the priest to cure you, but there are no people in the village who can handle an accident of pregnancy just fine, so it's a basic prudent treatment in the village.

(Even so, it's still a terrible mist today...... is tomorrow's festival okay?

I went outside earlier but the fog felt darker than yesterday. I left the lamp on even though it was in the morning because the room was also dim.

Luckily all the guests staying at the inn are here as of yesterday, but I thought if I tried to come today without even booking at the inn, I might get lost in the mountains without anyone knowing.

When I was about to catch up with breakfast, guests gathered in the dining room. Around the same time, the back tent area of the Blau family is getting a little noisy. Ruth began to serve breakfast in turn.

"Ruth, I have a set of breakfast left, is anyone here?

"Ah... Speaking of which, Master Lara may not be here"

Lara is supposed to come to the dining room because she's staying at the inn, but she hasn't seen her yet. Ruth spoke to Celine and headed to the back room on the third floor where Lara was staying.

"Lady Lara? Breakfast is ready, isn't it?

I knocked and tried to speak up, but I didn't hear back. I try to turn the door knob like I did yesterday, but it just doesn't open today. I'll explore the signs on the other side of the door, but it wasn't there either.

"... I thought I told you yesterday about the time, did you go out?

The cost of breakfast is included in the cost of the accommodation, so you don't have to eat it, so you are automatically charged. Because it's a hassle at the Blau family to pay for a meal. Because of this, if you don't eat it, you will lose so much money, but if the customer says it's okay, there is no reason to stop it.

Ruth decided to go back to the dining room, even though she was a little worried that she would be okay.

"Ed, I'm late, but I brought you breakfast. Can I get dressed again?

Upon finishing distributing the meal to the dining room and tent guests, Ruth took Ed's meal to his room. Ed didn't seem to want me to get involved with Ruth, but I can't afford not to give him more breakfast than he's getting paid for the inn. Besides, breakfast is convenient because I'm concerned about how things are going.

But knocking on the door didn't answer from Ed. I tried to speak up, but there's not even any sign of people moving.

"…… Ah, it's open"

The door that was locked yesterday opened so much today. Looking indoors, the lamp has been turned off and it is dark because of the windows and curtains. But it doesn't even look like there are people. Hurry up. Ruth turned on the lamp as he entered the room.

"Ed?... no"

There was no sign of Ed on the bed. I looked in the room just in case, but he didn't look anywhere. But I noticed an unrecognizable piece of paper on my desk.

'Thank you for everything yesterday. The rice was delicious. Goodbye. Edvard.'

The paper said goodbye words in beautiful letters that way. Next door is a bandage wrapped around my leg yesterday.

"Uh... Ed, are you kidding me? In this fog?

Ruth opened the window and looked out. The fog occurs not only in the village but also in the mountains.

Even villagers accustomed to the mountains would never go out hunting if there was such a deep fog. Because I'm almost certain I'll get lost.

Besides, since there is no fog or demon missing, it is also possible to just run into each other even though they are approaching. If you encounter the most powerful demons and bales around here, that's the big deal. Without knowing that, Ed seems to have left with that little body.

Ruth rushed down the stairs, telling her mother what was going on and leaving the inn. I wish I was still in the village and start looking from the square.

(I'd prefer an adult like Lara, but Ed...)

If you are an adult like Lara, Ruth cannot worry about walking in the mist. It would rather be annoying.

But Ed was a child, even though he spoke like an adult. I don't know how old I am, but I didn't seem to really understand the risk of foggy mountains from yesterday's mouthfeel, so I had no choice but to leave them alone.

There was also a thick mist hanging on the square, so that I couldn't see the house on the other side. People walking in the village also seem to feel it's dangerous to walk as usual, and at the end of the white mist you can see some lamps like a night walk. And since it is the Zenobian season, it is not enough to freeze, but the air was cold enough to feel the cold on my skin when I had short sleeves.

(Has the fog gotten thicker and thicker……?

I've never seen a fog so bad since Ruth was born either. I thought I had to find Ed extra quickly.

"What's wrong, Ruth?

"Ah... Mr. Remias"

"Yes, yes. Uncle Lemias."

It was Lemias who walked out of nowhere who spoke to Ruth as he tried to get to the high ground. Yesterday he got something like a xel that he didn't have, and he was walking as loose as ever, wrapping around a laid-back atmosphere as if he hadn't seen this unusual fog. If you look closely, you don't even have a lamp, the lights on the xels were the only source of light.

There are a lot of things I think about that look, but Ed was ahead of it now.

"Actually, the boy who was staying at the inn has been gone since morning... he's also a cute girl who looks like a girl with water hair, haven't you seen Mr. Remias?

"Pretty boy with water hair. Mm-hmm. I've been walking in the morning, but I don't know if my uncle's seen it."

"Is that so…………"

I wasn't expecting it, but Ruth was disappointed with Remius' response. We will still have to go to the high ground and, in some cases, look for rivers and mountains.

But as Ruth tried to leave the scene in thanksgiving, Remius raised his voice 'Ah'.

"Speaking of which, I can't see it in the fog right now, but there's a little big house behind the village, right?

"Is this the village chief's house?

"Yeah, well, the old ladies who were on their way there, they said," I got the kid who was trying to get to the dungeon, "or something."

"What, children!? What kind of kid?!?

"Come on, I don't know that far. But this village boy goes to a dungeon in this fog?

Ruth, who was so told, hurried to the village chief's house to thank Remius.

In the village, it is said that dungeons should not go alone until they learn to hunt. It is also known that demons will come out, so there can be no one of the age of 'children'. Then it was more than likely Ed was the talking child Lemias heard about.

There were already lights on the road to the village chief's house, and even the deep fog never lost its way. Ruth knocked and had him open when he reached the front door in a hurry.

It was the help fa 'er who came out. But with a fluffy smile, she pulls back before Ruth tells her what the errand is about.

What came out instead was Marianne, who was in a very awkward relationship right now. As always, it seems that Fanny's little one is not healing.

"What? Something to do?

Marianne's response to Ruth, who is no better than before, is about to screw up her mind, but she manages to get her mind up if not the other way around.

"Um, sorry. I didn't need Marianne..."

"…… let's see. You're Mr. Fanny again.... So what?

"Heard about a boy with water hair coming to the village chief..."

"A boy with water hair......? Oh, that pretty boy is a boy, isn't he? I'm here."

"Good! Oh, that kid, he was protecting us yesterday, and he was gone and I was looking for him. Can I see you......?

"……… go ahead"

Marianne listened to the situation from Ruth and guided me inside. The two of us walk in silence down the long hallway where Marianne's chatter continued before. Marianne inadvertently stopped her leg as Ruth, unable to speak, took her silence seriously.

"Rossa, my little father told me. You picked up a strange kid in the mountains yesterday and brought him home?

"Ugh, yeah."

"Pick up a kid with no idea what his identity is, take care of him, if that kid gets lost, desperately go out and look for him, and show me his face too, which is really hard to see...... as usual, he likes you. I'm not an idiot."

Looking back, Marianne glanced at Ruth with a look that was both angry, sad and frightening. Ruth's gaze was about to drop in his reprehensible glance, but Marianne meditated her eyes earlier than that. And take a deep sigh.

"............... so I can't really hate Ruth anymore"

I couldn't see any more anger towards Ruth in Marianne's face, who shrugged so much. Instead, he seems to be stunned by himself.

"Marianne......"

"I want to be angry with you right now. Because they were lying about Alec. You said you'd back me up, but in the end, you're gonna take it all. It's really cunning and terrible."

"Sorry......"

"You said many times you didn't want to hear an apology, did you?

"Yes, please……… yes"

I almost apologize again and rush to fix the words. But looking at Ruth like that, Marianne's expression loosened slightly.

"... When the Spirit Festival is over, I'll bake you a cake. Bitter than that. If you eat all that, I'll put an end to this situation for you. Don't forgive me, just end the fight. … it's a pain in the ass not to talk to Ruth normally."

"…… Thank you, Marianne! I'm gonna grab some delicious tea leaves from your brother."

"We'll stay like this until the Spirit Festival is over. And I don't eat cake... I'll get some tea."

"Yeah. I'll eat it all."

"Then fine. Then we're done talking about this."

With that said, Marianne hurried to the village chief's room. And when I glance at Ruth, I go straight to the back. He said, "Keep going until the Spirit Festival is over," so I guess he's still not willing to talk.

(But good......... don't end up like that with Marianne......)

Ruth doesn't really care if he's ignored by unfamiliar people. But Marianne is a friend who left Ruth temporarily when she remembered her previous life, but has remained close ever since. It was just hard to keep being ignored by such a friend. But Marianne herself made the end of it. I would have to thank her for her adult response.

(Anyway, leave Marianne alone, it's Ed now)

Ruth, who followed him in front of the village chief's room, took a deep breath in front of the door to change his mind.

"Excuse me…… the boy…………."

When Ruth knocked and opened the door to the room, he saw a water-haired boy, Ed, sitting in a chair on the side of a desk where village chiefs and central figures gathered.

It still seems that what Remius was saying is true. On that evidence, two adults were on the side to monitor around Ed.

Ruth, who was all gazed at simultaneously by everyone, was wondering whether to come in, and Rossa, who noticed, called out to me.

"What's up, Ruth?

"Oh, Dad. Pick up the kid..."

"Oh well, you know I'm here a lot. I was thinking about taking you to the inn, but it was just fine. Both of you, let him go because our Ruth is taking you home."

While Rossa says so, she speaks to the adults who were on Ed's side. When they told Ed, 'Don't go to the dungeon alone', he stepped away from the side of the chair. Then Ed, who had grown up like a figurine, jumped up and ran to Ruth.

"Ruth, brother!

"Hmm!?... hey, eh, Ed?

Surprised at Ed's unexpected reaction, he jumped straight into Ruth's leg. And when I put all my strength into my arms, I bury my face in my thighs. It's like saying, 'Horrible eyes, help me'.

(Is that it, Ed...? Right?

Ed and I had a completely different attitude and confusion yesterday when we were flirting with Ruth in a grown-up tone and trick. I've only seen Ed in rare colors like water hair, but I suspect he's someone else. Or was Ed a hallucination that Ruth saw yesterday?