Chapter 158
Provocation
Translator : PolterGlast
About two weeks had passed since that first training
session. During this time, I stuck to the schedule: completing requests four
days a week, hunting monsters in distant regions two days a week, and
dedicating the remaining day to training.
It felt like I was the only one working without a break, but
the weekly training day served as a respite, making my days feel incredibly
fulfilling. Additionally, whenever I head out to distant regions to subjugate
monsters, I keep an eye out for children like Gree and Anne, though I
haven't managed to find any so far.
Zero of such children would be ideal,
but that would leave Ria and the others without a job. If there were children in
need, I intended to actively take them in.
With those thoughts in mind, I arrived at the Adventurer's
Guild today to pick up a request. With Ginia and Aoi's skills
improving, I’d been racking my brain recently over the lack of challenging
monsters in this vicinity.
I wanted to let them fight a strong monster soon—hoping for
an emergency request that might fit the bill, I stepped into the guild... but
the moment we entered, a guild staff member rushed over to us.
"Graham-san! We’ve been expecting you! The Guild
Master is calling for you!"
"Is it urgent?"
"Yes! A Guild Master from another town has come to
visit and specifically asked to meet you, Graham-san!"
"I see. I'll head to the Guild Master's office
immediately."
"Graham, you're really popular with Guild
Masters, aren't you!"
"Being popular with middle-aged men doesn't make me
happy in the slightest."
Exchanging light banter, I headed to the office as
instructed. Still, a Guild Master coming to see me?
There were several candidates, but the most likely one was
the Guild Master from Lightmira. The runner-up would probably be Salis.
Speculating on who it might be, I entered the room... only to find someone
completely unexpected.
"Graham-san, you're finally here. ...Guanza
has come all this way to apologize."
Sitting next to the Guild Master was Guanza himself—a
face I’d never forget. His once-plump frame had thinned significantly, and with
his head shaved bald, he looked so haggard he was almost unrecognizable... but
it was undoubtedly Guanza.
"...Graham-san. I am truly sorry for what
happened in the Royal Capital. You saved my life despite my rude behavior; I
have nothing but gratitude and apologies to offer."
Guanza
transitioned fluidly from his seat into a dogeza, apologizing as if he
were a completely different person. I was certain it was him, but his attitude
had changed so drastically I almost suspected a body double.
"Well, if you’re remorseful, I have no intention of
blaming you further. I believe I made my point clear enough back then,
anyway."
"Thank you so much. And again, I am truly sorry."
"Well, I don't forgive you! Blehhh!"
Like kicking a corpse, Aoi stuck out her tongue and
mocked the prostrating Guanza. I understood how she felt, but it was
getting pitiful, so I decided to stop her.
"I was pissed off too, but now he’s just a middle-aged
man with nothing left, having been kicked out of the Adventurer’s Guild.
He even came all this way to apologize, so let's just let it go."
"It's his own fault! Blehhh!"
"Aoi, that's enough. Ginia, handle
her."
I asked Ginia to take Aoi, who was now making
funny faces to provoke him, outside. Giving a wry smile at Aoi, who
continued making faces until the very last second she left the room, I turned
back to listen to Guanza.
"So... how exactly did a demon end up hijacking your
body? Was it some kind of scheme?"
"My memory is hazy because I was heavily drunk and then possessed... but I believe it happened when I was
drinking at a tavern. Someone suggested taking revenge on you, Graham-san,
and in my drunken state, I agreed to it."
........................ Yeah, there’s no defending that.
Just as Aoi said, this is entirely Guanza's
own fault. An urge to stick my tongue out and mock him welled up inside me too,
but as an adult, I exercised self-restraint.
"Looking back now, I realize how foolish I was. But at
the time, my pride was wounded, and I acted out of hatred for you, Graham-san.
It’s no excuse... but please understand that I never intended to conspire with
a demon to lead the Demon King's Army in an attack."
"............Well, I want to believe that you didn't
intend to conspire with the Demon King's Army. You were probably
targeted when your guard was down due to the alcohol and then
manipulated."
Thinking back to Guanza at that time, I felt he might
have gone along with it even if he were sober... but I decided not to mention
that.
"I am truly sorry! This isn't much of an apology, but I
brought my entire fortune. Please accept it!"
Still in a dogeza, Guanza held out a large,
decorated box toward me. I felt a bit guilty leaving the unemployed Guanza
penniless, but I was extremely curious about what was inside. Leaving aside
whether I would accept it or not, I decided I would at least take a look at the
contents.
-----
Thank you for my Patrons !!
[Platinum]
-
[Gold]
B random
Nepheos
ShitaiNoKootoRyuu
[Silver]
Corey Hicks
Creris
Frédéric Bertrand-Hudon
Jake Seagraves
Matthew Fraser
Xavier O'Donoghue
Alan Sharman
Anton Lim
Austin Lorenzo
Ctdela
Curious Panda
Didntpassit
nick nasca
openope
SD Fox
Yosua Lumbangaol
Read Advanced Chapters only on my Patreon
-----
