Chapter 33 – Large Cities Have Problems Too
“…And why should I do that?”
Menew asked the obvious question.
If he helped every person who bumped into him, there would be no end to it.
“I cannot tell you. But I can be of use.”
The boy said as he bowed his head.
There was something almost machine-like about his voice. As if he was determined to keep this secret no matter what.
“Who are you hiding from?”
“I cannot say that either. …But I can help you.”
He said without raising his head.
Menew turned to Ralph for help. Ralph did not look amused at all. Surely you don’t mean to help him? He seemed to say with a cold expression.
“Totto, was it? If you really need help, you should probably go to the Knights Guild…”
“I can’t go to the guild! They will capture me…”
Captured at the guild? That sounded ominous.
It was Ralph’s old workplace. And he was trying to understand what could make the boy so desperate.
“Hmm… Why not, then? While we are in this city, anyway.”
“Ralph??”
Normally, he would have objected stubbornly.
In fact, his expression had been completely different just a moment ago.
Perhaps this notion of being caught at the Guild had made him think about something. He might have suspicions of his own.
“Hmm. I see… And your home?”
“…I don’t have one.”
It did not really matter for Menew.
Paying for a room and meals was not a problem.
As for taking him to the Knights Guild, that also seemed like the right thing to do. Like taking a lost child to the police station.
There was not much they could do otherwise. But if he had no home, then what could they do? Well, he would not think about that. Let Ralph handle it.
“Fine. Since my companion has agreed to it, you may stay here for a while. We will be going on a gathering quest tomorrow. Would you like to come with us?”
“I will!”
Totto raised his head happily.
Can I talk to you? Ralph said as he poked Menew lightly.
And so Menew asked Stan to stay with Totto, and then he and Ralph left the room. They were careful to be far enough so they would not be overheard.
“There is a rumor that this city’s Knights Guild is under the control of a lord.”
“I see…”
“But no proof was found, leading to a reform. Also, this city has one other problem… The circulation of illegal magic potions.”
Menew supposed it was like illegal drugs in his old world.
However, he did not want to become acquainted with such details, and so he nodded as if he understood.
“I don’t know if it’s related, but…if it is, then I would hesitate to return the boy. But if we stay together, then we might learn something eventually.”
“Ralph, you’re bolder than I realized.”
He was usually the one to try to keep Menew from straying from a normal path, and would rather avoid getting involved in any kind of trouble.
Menew was genuinely curious, but Ralph just averted his eyes.
“…It is something I left undone. And so if I can solve it, I want to.”
“Then I will do what I can to help.”
Menew said casually.
Ralph was a little surprised by this. He had been an enemy to Menew at first, but Menew never seemed to hold a grudge.
They say that you forget the heat once it is passed. But was Menew a little too forgetful? Ralph was worried.
“If we want to continue to travel together, without issues, then it is only right for me to help with your problems, instead of you just getting involved with mine…”
They would help each other. That was what he meant, but Menew had never been good with words.
Ralph chuckled and then cleared his throat.
“So, we’ll try to figure out this problem while raising our Adventurer rank. That can be our objective for now. Is that fine?”
“We’ll go with that.”
Totto, who was playing with Stan, had no idea at the time. But the two strongest people in the city had just become his allies.
It would surely be the beginning of a change in his series of misfortunes.
I stan Stan.