Vol 2 Chapter 5.1 (1/2)

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Chapter 5.1

Volume 2 Chapter 5: I listened to the Guardian Deity’s wish  (part 1)

Ten days have pa.s.sed since that day.

Since my ban had been lifted, I had gone to see Cecilia several times within that timeframe. I did not pay her a visit today, however. Instead, I went to the guild to report to Clayman on a request that I had completed.

“Hey, how many more requests do I have to take before I get promoted to A rank?” [Youki]

“Hah? Why are you asking that all of the sudden?” [Clayman]

Clayman asked in return as he processed my work in an exasperated manner.

“No, that’s because I managed to achieve B rank from an F rank easily. But, I have done quite a fair amount of B rank quests already, right?” [Youki]

“Stop being so demanding! It’s actually rare to find someone who can even achieve B rank in just less than six months.” [Clayman]

“But I want to be an A rank adventurer as soon as possible.” [Youki]

“When it’s impossible, it’s impossible. I mean, just think about it. Once you become an A rank adventurer, you’ll be receiving more troublesome jobs. At the same time, there will be more troublesome processing work that needs to be done as well. As a result, my workload will also increase; making it even more bothersome. Do you understand?” [Clayman]

“For now, I understand that Clayman is just being lazy as usual.” [Youki]

This guy… So he didn’t want to raise my rank for his own sake? Is it acceptable for an a.s.sistant guildmaster to be behaving like that?

After that, I tried to carry on for a little longer to talk it out with Clayman, but he changed the subject every single time. In the end, I wasn’t able to bring up the subject about my promotion to A rank.

“d.a.m.n it… I want to take up A rank quests as soon as I can.” [Youki]

I muttered as I was on my way back to the inn from the guild.

Clayman had said that my promotion would increase his workload, but that shouldn’t be the only reason for his refusal.

He did mention that he had rarely seen someone who could achieve B rank in less than six months. That would mean that the number of people who achieved A rank would be even fewer. Thus, there was no doubt that it would be very conspicuous if someone managed to do so. Clayman might have refused promoting me to A rank for the sake of my own well-being.

…Although, it might also be true that he had refused to do so because he was afraid that it would increase his workload.

“Well then. What should I do today?” [Youki]

I went back to the inn and mulled over my plans for the day, as I walked towards my room. I didn’t feel like taking up any guild request, since if I had intended to do so, I wouldn’t have returned to the inn. That said, I didn’t have any appointment with anyone today.

I entered the room, feeling distressed as I couldn’t decide on what to do.

“I’m back, wait there’s no one around… no, there is.” [Youki]

The stone statue, which had received a high appraisal from all of the visitors, was present. I had simply changed his form as payback for giving me such a dangerous dream after he cast 《Nightmare Sleep》 on me the other day. However, his appearance ended up receiving overwhelming approval instead.

Considering the result, it could no longer be considered revenge anymore.

Nonetheless, I couldn’t figure out what had gone wrong so I gave up in frustration in the end.

“Gai, are you awake? Or rather, get up!!” [Youki]

Since I couldn’t decide on what I should do today, I woke Gai up just to kill time. When I gave the stone body a light tap, I could hear a soft echo re

sounding through the room.

“Mu… What is it, brat? You’re surprisingly early today.” [Gai]

“Well, I lost my purpose of leaving today, I guess.” [Youki]

I couldn’t bring myself to tell him that I left the guild without taking up any job, since I failed to negotiate with Clayman.

“Hmph, so you went even though you had no plans… Anyway, that means you’re free now, right? I have something that I need to talk to you about.” [Gai]

“I don’t mind it. Is there anything wrong?” [Youki]

“It might be easier to show it to you before I explain… Mnn!” [Gai]

The instant Gai raised a strained cry, the layer of soil that masked Gai’s appearance burst into a cloud of dust and scattered around the room.

“Uooi!? What the h.e.l.l are you doing?!” [Youki]

I complained to the perpetrator as I s.h.i.+elded my face from the sudden burst of dust a.s.saulting my eyes.

Since the clouds of dust enshrouding the room couldn’t be dissipated, I opened the window for ventilation. After ensuring that the room was fully ventilated, I turned towards Gai to question him about his action.

“Wha–!?” [Youki]

What greeted my sight was Gai in his original appearance. It had been a long time since I last saw him looking like this. It was his demon form after he lost both pair of wings and one of his arms due to Mirror, the hero from Gallis Empire.

However, what caught my attention in particular, were the cracks that spread from the portions where his wings and arm were missing.

“…The damage I received at that time was more serious than I thought. My body is gradually crumbling away.” [Gai]

“Why didn’t you say so earlier? You must have noticed it, right?! Does Tiel-chan know about it?” [Youki]

“Even if I were to tell her, what can she do? That would only serve to prolong the moment of her sorrow. That’s why, I’ve decided to tell her only at the very last moment.” [Gai]

Was it because he wasn’t afraid of dying? He was saying it nonchalantly as if the matter was totally unrelated to him.

“There should be a way to restore your body, shouldn’t it? Even Tiel-chan was working hard at Cecilia’s mansion because she was desperately looking for the means to cure you!” [Youki]

“Sigh… It’s unfortunate but I don’t have much time left. The crack will spread and my body will crumble into pieces in probably five days time. That’s why, brat. I’d like you to take care of Tiel for me.” [Gai]

He was worried about Tiel-chan even though there was a possibility that he might die in five days time.

“Gai, you…” [Youki]

“Don’t get the wrong idea! It’s not because I’m that ‘rorikon’ or something, alright?!” [Gai]

“No, I understand that.” [Youki]

Gai glared at me.

I would’ve have teased him that way normally, but I wouldn’t be doing such things at a time like this.

“Then it’s good. I’ll be more direct about this. Tiel is probably is in a condition where she could collapse at any time. That’s why, I want you to save her.” [Gai]

Even though Gai was on the brink of death himself, he gazed at me with a serious look on his face as he lowered his head.

“Tiel-chan is… Wait, are you serious?!” [Youki]

“I could tell, since I’ve been watching over her since her childhood. Her condition is obviously strange when she came by recently.” [Gai]

“Since her childhood… Exactly how old was Tiel-chan actually when you first met her?” [Youki]

“I have known her ever since Tiel’s grandmother started believing that I was the Guardian Deity of that village. She often brought the young Tiel along when she came to my place. They would leave food as offerings and put their hands together to pray, even though I am merely a demon who had taken that village as my residence.” [Gai]

For some reason, he appeared forlorn when he recounted what happened in the past.

Although Gai was nothing more than a freeloader to me, I would be still troubled if he were to disappear.

“…Leave the matter about Tiel-chan to me. I will ask Cecilia and Sheik about her condition.” [Youki]

“I see. Sorry for troubling you. With this, I won’t have any more regrets…” [Gai]

“But, I will also try to save you. No, I will definitely save you!” [Youki]

I decided to flash him a smile that I was proud of and struck my usual pose, causing the initially serious atmosphere to s.h.i.+ft 180 degrees.

At the sight of me – who had flipped my chuuni switch – Gai was rendered completely speechless. Come to think of it, it was the first time Gai had witnessed me turning into a total “chuunibyou”. If that’s the case then it would be a good time as any to brace myself to face any complaints that he might throw at me.

“Brat, what’s gotten into you all of a sudden? Did you hit your head somewhere? No… most importantly, did you just say that you’re planning to save me? My body could only last at most five more days, so it’s definitely impossible.” [Gai]

“How would you know that it’s impossible if we’ve not even tried it yet?! Do you have to make me spout out such a cliched line, Gai?” [Youki]

Good grief. I shook my head in annoyance.

“It has already become troublesome the moment I consulted you about it, brat… but, certainly, what you said might be true. However, does that mean that you’ll find a way to restore my body within five days?” [Gai]

Though I had ended up blurting out something that got me entangled in a mess, I wished he wouldn’t look down on me. One shouldn’t make light of my mentality once I entered my chuuni mode.

“Ah, leave it to me… If you’re gone, this lonely room will only get even lonelier. Besides, I still need you to a.s.sist me in creating a masterpiece, so I’ll be troubled if you’re not around. I will definitely find a way restore your body.” [Youki]

“Heh, well I’ll be waiting for it, but I won’t be expecting anything. I’m going to sleep. Even if it’s just a little, I might be able to prevent my body from collapsing if I remain still. Brat, even if you couldn’t find a way to save me, you don’t need to feel bad about it… I’ll entrust Tiel to you.” [Gai]

Gai fell asleep after saying so.

“Well then. What should I do?… I guess it would be best to ask Duke about it since it’s a matter relating to demons. I think he said that he will be patrolling the town today.” [Youki]

He might be together with Raven or that elven knight that I had caught a glimpse of the other day.

“First of all, I should find out where he’s at. If that elven knight is with him, I guess I could make up some sort of excuse to pull Duke away… but before that.” [Youki]

Using my magic, I changed Gai’s appearance into something that would be fine even if it was seen by someone. I didn’t do it indiscriminately this time. I tried moulding the shape while imagining the appearance of a cool looking samurai.

“Look forward to it once you wake up.” [Youki]

Though I knew that I wouldn’t receiving any response, I delivered such words to him and left the room.

I turned around momentarily when I closed the door. I could see the new Gai with a samurai appearance through the gap between the door and frame.

And also…

“Geh!” [Youki]

…a room that appeared devastated, with piles of dust scattered all over the place.

I should clean the place up once I return.

For now, let’s look for Duke.

“I don’t know where he is though.” [Youki]

There is no such convenient magic that would enable me to look for a specific person in this world. I couldn’t use the same method as the time when I was in Cecilia’s mansion either, since it would be impossible to look for someone by strengthening my senses in the middle of the town. It’s not like I’m a dog, so I can’t possibly distinguish the scent when there are too many people.

“The fastest way would be to grow my wings and look for him from the sky, but…” [Youki]

I would cause an uproar in the town if I were to do so.

Although, that might not be a bad idea, actually. All the ruckus would probably lead the knights here. Thus, Duke would also come to subjugate me. Wait, am I stupid or something?

“I wish Raven’s here at a time like this.” [Youki]