CH 116

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Finishing with the guild’s procedures, I quickly went to try visiting the requestor’s home.

To speak well of what’s at the lakeshore, she has peculiar tastes, to say it poorly that person’s address is an old isolated house.

It’s not something that’s all that large, I suppose it might be just about right for living alone.

As there aren’t any other homes around, she goes to hang out at a lake favoured by fishermen.

In fact there’s also a wharf set up there.

There’s even some small ships connected to it.

「Here?」

「Seems like it.」

Ilya having checked the map went there’s no mistake, and nodded.

There’s guild work after all this time, so I need to focus and get it done.

My enthusiasm is sufficient.

I revved myself up in front of a door with traces of having been repainted countless times.

No, but visiting unfamiliar people’s houses makes me nervous doesn’t it.

Using work that involves unsolicited visits as an example, I feel like I’d end up circling my destination 3 times……Until I resolved myself.

「Ojousama.」

「Ha, haii.」

「Giving birth is easier than worrying, you taught me said proverb right?」

「Hai.」

Ilya heard my miscellaneous knowledge one way or another.

Whether that’s words or customs, she regularly listens to my hometown’s……that is my previous world’s matters but, in any case, it seems she has an interest in that.

Since I’m also very interested in this world, I don’t not understand that feeling.

「I think, I get it. It is okay, considering when ojousama gives birth.」

「……Gives birth?」

Huh……?

Lumina-chan is……Eclair’s, right?

To begin with there’s no mistake since I’d already withdrawn from that world.

「……Elves, give birth?」

「Of course. How did you think they were born, ojousama?」

「I, I suppose so.」

They’re brought into being by the world……I wouldn’t say that.

However in the case of elves, I guess there’s also the sort of problem of which gives birth, u～n.

My interest in children has come out for now but, I just can’t accept that as natural.

I suppose that’s the difference between having actually been a girl to begin with, and when that isn’t so.

I guess it could be called resolve.

「……Un, maa, I’m not sure what to make of standing around and talking in front of a stranger’s house so, let’s resolve ourselves and visit.」

「That is indeed so is it not.」

The door nob was an item with an old brass ring form.

I try taking that in hand and knocking lightly.

The wooden door and brass ring played a muffled note.

「……Who could this be?」

Whoever it was reacting to that, she was someone rather hoarse.

It didn’t come from inside the house but, from the dead angle behind the building.

As it seems she was somehow busy with laundry, an old lady with deep wrinkles carrying a basket showed her face.

I suppose she came to check since there was an obvious ruckus out front, I’m sorry.

There’s a pure white dog at her feet, who seems to nestle up to her.

……Yosh.

So as to release my vigilance, I created a smile as best I could.

「I am called Alice, we came for the guild’s request.」

How’s that.

But what came back was a sharp glare as if she was scowling at us.

Strange isn’t that.

「The guild’s……?」

But, the worth of a smile is priceless.

The strongest magic that makes the world peaceful.

There’s no mistake in that.

「……I’m sorry after you went out of your way but, you should go back.」

It seems that wasn’t the case.

Letting out a sigh like she’d given up somewhere, the old lady shook her head.

「Etto……」

「You’re not in the wrong, it’s just……I suppose it’s that. I’ve, been waiting.」

The old lady’s turned her eyes to the sky as if she’s thinking back to the past.

I unintentionally gazed at the sky as well but, of course only the blue sky stretches out there so there’s nothing at all.

Fumu～n, turned away at the gate is it.

I returned my gaze and, the old lady is rubbing her head and going yare yare.

Her laundry basket might be heavy.

Staying here too long also seems rude.

「I understand, then we’ll come another time.」

Withdraw honorably.

I have a sense that it appears ordinary methods really won’t work.

But even if I say that, as long as the requestor doesn’t withdraw the request I also have no intention of abandoning this.

The quiet dog sitting at the old lady’s feet stared at me steadily as, I began to turn my back.

I tried waving.

It suddenly turned its tail on me.

……You too then?

「Kusu.」

What is this?

And as I tilted my head, it’s that sort of thing, ojousama.

Together with Ilya as she expressed a lukewarm smile that seemed very much to want to say that, we left that place.

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