"Hiro-sama. That woman just now, is very strong you know….?"
After Lyla took her acquired goods and had finally left, Kurotsuchi who has been hiding with 'Invisibility' skill all the while has come out stealthily. Hiding her presence so that she wouldn’t be noticed, is she that cautious against Lyla?
I look at at her face. She looks very serious with cold sweat on her forehead. Well, she does inherit some clairvoyant instinct from her mother.
"Well, if Kurotsuchi puts it like that, Lyla must be strong then. Having someone like her live in the vicinity…. should I feel safe or fearful….?"
"Hiro-sama, are listening? Do you take words seriously?"
Kurotsuchi starts to raise her voice. Her bitchy attitude if something doesn't go her way is a critical issue I have with the granddaughter of the ninja lord.
"Don't worry. For now, we need to stay low, so no one will get intimidated by us." I am persuading her while my palms gently caressing her cheek and chin.
"If you say so.." Kurotsuchi puffs her cheeks out.
For Kurotsuchi to give such a high assessment, it means that she is definitely far stronger than those hoodlums you see on the streets, but I have a feeling that she is very strong even when compared to actual knights. I didn't peek at her Character Profile using ability.
Considering our best fighters recently lost to that Ferelden warrior back in Arkland border, I don’t think we would be able to defeat her in a direct confrontation based on strength alone, if his strength is anyway near that man.
I truly appreciate the fact that we are actually neighbors and not someone who are hostile to one another.
The receptionist, Jill Enel Gustav, may actually be acquainted with Lyla, I should ask her when I have the chance.
***
Evening. The Merchants Guild.
Jill sits behind the counter, irritated. Her shift is supposed to be from morning until noon, but she has to work overtime until dusk as her colleague couldn’t come. She is in a sour mood. But that isn’t all.
She expected the man who registered more than a week ago to be nobody and looked down on him but she was shocked on the spot when he bought a 3,000 gold coins worth of properties, and even the mayor has an eye on him. And yet, he never come to visit the guild office after that occasion. Only his female servant, the red haired mercenary came here twice. The adventurers’ guild reception desk is a place where all sorts of information passed through. Therefore, Jill knows what the man, Hiro is doing with his business. Any info about the man would never slip by her. Perhaps he was offended by her rude attitude towards him.
"Aaaah. Why did I jump to conclusion too soon?"
She slightly hit her forehead onto the desk.
Jill has a secret. Her grandmother was a witch specialized in spirit. Her grandfather, Count of Gustav at that time, took that witch as his concubine. Her uncle inherited the title while her father serves as warrior under House of Blare. Her father drilled into her the ways of sword but she has never been interested to be a warrior.
Having inherited a bit of the witch's blood, she has a talent.
She could sense others’ ulterior motives. Endowed with good looks, men full of ulterior motives swarm her. At the young age of eighteen, she was already looking ahead in the long term. She had concluded that men were there to be used.
So what Jill looks for in men was their status. Status meant their wealth, social standing, and their strength. Since men are only after her for her good looks, then she in turn would only look at their status.
"Excuse me."
"Should I visit his shop? But what would I tell him?"
"Hey, are you listening?"
He’s here. The man from last week, right in front of her.
"Wait, he’s here?" Jill’s head is in turmoil.
"I bet you have been playing around with girls and think of me as a pest! You have the nerve to show your face around here!"
Jill’s voice rings throughout the guild.
"What are you saying?"
"Being a merchant is not a game! People like you ruin the reputation of the Merchants Guild!"
Jill doesn't even what she is saying anymore.
"I get it. It’s not a game. But I visit specifically to see you."
That shocks Jill and brings her to reality.
The man, Hiro is standing in front of her. Behind her, there is that cute teenager with short voluminous black hair with bang covering part of her forehead. Her pink eyes which are accentuated by her eyelashes running upwards at the corners.
She swallows the rest of what she is about to say.
Hiro nods, placing a thin bag on the counter. Jill’s eyes widens once more. He takes out two items, one looks like a small brush with long stick. Another one is small packet containing some medicine.
"Toothbrush. Toothpaste." That words come out subconsciously from her mouth. She knows these things and the method to use them as her colleagues and relatives bought these. They brag to her about them. She doesn't go to but as she is being embarrassed to Hiro for her rude behaviour during their first encounter.
"So you already know about these. I want these to present to you as gifts." He smiles.
"Why are you getting flustered?" The girl behind him intercepts with sharp glare.
"I’m not flustered!" Jill's face becomes red.
She swallows her saliva and utters,
"I-I uhh have… something to tell you. I…"
Jill seems to hesitate. Hiro smells trouble.
Jill flashes him a smile.
"This is not good… Honestly, I really don’t want anything to do with her, but she’s still a beauty. A smile from someone beautiful is just too effective." Hiro thinks.
Jill seems to have calmed down and speaks.
"Thank you for coming here again. I thought you wouldn’t come back."
"Why not?"
"I-I was kinda mean…"
"You sure were." Hiro replies with a smile.
"Well, if you were aware of it, you shouldn’t have been mean in the first place." Kurotsuchi interrupts with stern voice.
"Eh. It doesn’t matter how a receptionist treats me. I’ll keep on coming back if I have business with the guild."
"…Hiro. I bet people call you arrogant." Jill starts to call him without honouric.
Hiro simply shrugs.
"Ah, I want to ask you."
"Ask me what?"
"Why did your attitude towards me change all of a sudden?" Hiro's interrogation starts.
Jill is silent for a bit, clearly not expecting the question.
"Wh-Why would you want to know?"
"I want to know why you’re apologizing." Hiro interrogates.
"Well, to put it simply… I realized I shouldn’t have taken out my frustrations on others just because I was too busy and having a hard time."
"Yes, any decent human being shouldn’t do that!" Kurotsuchi retorts, Jill furrows her eyebrows but still continues.
"Okay."
"Also, your actions are genuine. You simply speak your mind."
"…Genuine?"
Hiro doesn’t expect Jill’s words. She continues on.
"Other men have ulterior motives like making me fall for them or make me their woman. It’s even worse with women. I could see their malicious emotions. They’d be like “quit making eyes at men” or “don’t let things get to your head just because you’re cute.”
"……."
"The heck? Sounds scary as hell." Kurotsuchi interferes but Jill ignores her.
"But you’re not like them, are you? You’re honest, you don’t lie… It looked like you carefully considered your actions." Jill explains.
"Oooh.."
"I think I have a good eye for people, if I do say so myself."
"Really? You could’ve treated me better the moment we first met, then."
"I said I was sorry! Give me a break."
Hiro couldn’t help but grin broadly at Jill’s reaction.
"Anyway, you look exhausted."
"Yeah…"
Dark clouds seem to settle around her.
"Next time don't look down on others. Don't treat customer rudely." Hiro teases her.
Pouting, Jill glares at Hiro, eyes watering. She must really feel bad about it.
"Uhh, sorry."
"It's fine. I already forgot about it. Let start new book." Hiro smiles gently.
"…So do you have anything else you want to know about the town?"
"Nah, I’m good." Hiro says, and considers something for a moment.
It seems Jill looks stressed and tired. He wanted to ask about the female knight, Lyla as Kurotsuchi keeps pressuring him about her.
"For now, this is my gift to you. I will meet you next time. Have a nice dream tonight." Hiro then exits with the girl is pressuring about something.
