“Ugh! What is this stuff!”
Ren made a bleegh sound and stuck his tongue out as far as it would go.
The medicine he had just swallowed was so fishy and disgusting that sour bile nearly rose in his throat. Ren thought it was honestly impressive that he had not thrown up.
“Things good for the body are bitter on the tongue! Eat it all.”
The old apothecary chuckled and reminded Ren not to spit it out.
The two of them were out on the street now. Today, the streets were livelier than ever. Everyone seemed to believe without a shadow of a doubt that those who had marched out would return with victory in hand, and the mood was already as festive as if they had won.
“It tastes awful......”
With a sickened face, Ren barely managed to swallow the chunk of meat.
The old apothecary had repeatedly warned him that it was precious and that he absolutely must not spit it out. Otherwise, Ren might have spat it out on the spot and run away.
“Enjoy your meal!”
Clatter.
A deeply simmered stew, bread to go with it, and well-grilled meat were brought out. The hot, rich, salty smell made his mouth water. Compared to meals at the royal castle, it was incredibly simple food, but Ren liked this better.
Ren was huffing over a hot potato that crumbled softly in his mouth when he lifted his gaze.
“Aren’t you eating?”
“I had a little something while we were looking around. Don’t mind me. Eat plenty.”
The old man laughed cheerfully. Ren nodded at that kindly smile and buried his nose in the stew, then suddenly lifted his head again.
Snow-white hair, a broad and sturdy build, and eyes as bright and intelligent as any young man’s. If one looked only at those eyes, regardless of the wrinkles on his face, he almost felt like a young man.
“Old man.”
“What is it?”
“Um......”
‘Should I ask? Should I not?’
As Ren hesitated, staring at his broad shoulders, someone limping past suddenly staggered.
“Old man...!”
Screeech, bang!
The table the man crashed into looked like it might topple over, and then it collapsed with a violent crash. The stew Ren had been eating so happily and even the food he had not touched yet rolled across the restaurant floor with shards of broken plates.
The table was not the only thing that fell.
The old apothecary, whom the man had practically shoved down with his body, could not dodge with his aged body and went crashing to the floor.
Ren turned deathly pale and rushed to the old apothecary, checking him over.
“What, what was that!?”
“Gasp. It’s that man again!”
Murmurs spread through the restaurant. A flustered employee cleared away the broken dishes, and Ren, worried that the old man’s bones might have been injured, touched him all over.
“Old man! Are you hurt? Does anything hurt?”
What if he broke a bone! Old people’s bones are so weak!
“Ren, I’m fine.”
The old man tried to push away Ren’s hands, but there was no chance of that. Ren slapped his hand aside and snapped in irritation.
“Hold still for a second!”
This was serious! An old man’s knees already hurt so badly he needed a cane......
“Ren?”
Ren’s hands, which had been kneading the old apothecary’s arms, legs, chest, and neck as if checking every part of him, stopped dead.
“Ren? What is it?”
“Sir, are you all right? Can you stand?”
“Someone help this man up. He’s completely wasted!”
And the man who had crashed into their table was sprawled across the floor, apparently fully unconscious. He reeked of alcohol, and a couple of sturdy men came over and lifted him by his limbs.
“Sir, I’m so sorry. Were you hurt? We’ll bring the food out again. Please wait just a moment!”
The woman who had brought their food spoke with an apologetic face.
“Do you want to eat more before we go?”
Ren shook his head hard. His appetite had completely vanished. The old man laughed that it was fine and sent the woman away, then borrowed other people’s hands to stand up.
“Could you stop there for a moment?”
Ren, who had been watching the old apothecary groan as he struggled to rise despite his sturdy build, turned his head.
‘That voice?’
“Hugh?”
Ren blinked blankly at the person blocking the sturdy men’s path.
Grayish hair, a slender body, and gentle eyes......!
“Hugh?!”
“Ren, please wait a moment.”
Ren called out to him in surprise and blinked, but Hugh did not look surprised. He told Ren to wait a little and even greeted the old apothecary with his eyes.
“What is it? What’s going on?”
“Come here, Ren.”
After thanking the people who had helped him up, the old apothecary tugged Ren by the arm.
“What’s happening? Do you know?”
The old man wore a slightly bored expression, but when Ren asked, he quickly smiled kindly.
“Those men stole my money.”
But his eyes were cold enough to chill the bones. Ren, startled and staring only ahead, would not see it today or ever.
“Wow!! Hugh! That’s amazing! You noticed at a glance, then?”
Ren accepted the bundle Hugh held out, his eyes sparkling. It was the old apothecary’s bundle, and what was inside was not gold coins or anything like that, but medicinal ingredients for Ren. That strange piece of meat had come from that pouch too.
“That was something precious. We nearly lost it. Thank you.”
“......Not at all, sir.”
Hugh paused for a moment before answering.
“No, but he just looked like a drunk. He reeked of alcohol. How did you notice?”
“I saw him walking directly toward the table where you were sitting.”
“Ooh! Wait, why did you come to the restaurant? Did you know I was there and were watching me?”
Ren, who had been admiring him, tilted his head as he looked at Hugh.
Hugh’s expression stiffened in panic, and he opened his mouth while trying to maintain his composure.
“My lady often sends me out into the streets.”
“......Is that. To watch me?”
That was very, very suspicious. When Ren glared at him with an almost certain look, Hugh avoided his eyes.
“It is not exactly that. And certainly not surveillance.”
But Hugh could not give any convincing answer.
“So that means there is a little surveillance in it, doesn’t it? Coco, you brat!!”
Ren trembled and glared fiercely, and Hugh moved his lips with a troubled expression.
“Would you like to go to the mansion?”
“Can I?”
Ren did not press him further. Honestly, when he remembered Coco sitting him beside her and pouring out all kinds of stories while worrying over him, it was not surprising that she had been watching(?) him. It felt less like she had deliberately had him followed, and more like she had simply been diligently(?) checking whether he was around.
At Ren’s question, the old apothecary nodded.
And so the three of them left the restaurant.
As they walked for a while in the fairly warm breeze, they heard many people talking.
Most of the conversations were about today’s departure, or about the “oracle.”
“So what’s the treasure? The Heroes, obviously?”
“Who knows! I heard mercenaries are flocking to the border regions because of it. They say they might be able to obtain it during battle.”
“That could certainly happen.”
‘The oracle.......’
Ren’s steps slowed a little.
Among the things Riperoman had told him, there had been something about the “oracle.” Maybe because of that, Ren thought it might help to hear even a little more.
When Ren pricked up his ears and slowed his pace, the old apothecary and Hugh matched him.
“Pleased to meet you, sir. My greeting is late. I am Hugh, the sword of Lady Coco Gannion.”
While Ren was eavesdropping on the people’s conversation, Hugh belatedly introduced himself.
“Hoho. No need to be so formal. I’m truly grateful for your help earlier!”
The old apothecary laughed and nodded.
“My name is Veron. Call me as you please.”
At the kindly old man’s smile, Hugh smiled as well.
Soon after, the carriage he had called arrived, and the three of them headed toward the ducal house.
In the old man’s black eyes, which looked indifferently out the window, a figure following behind them was reflected.
***
The magnificent mansion stood tall, as if meant to overwhelm them.
Its splendor was in no way inferior even compared to the royal castle. They passed through the front gate that opened on its own and crossed the wide garden. When the servants saw the carriage, they each stopped what they were doing and bowed.
Ren, who had been looking out of the carriage, felt awkward and quickly hid his head.
When they reached the main building of the mansion and the carriage slowly came to a stop, Hugh got out first and helped Ren down.
Afraid he would look unsophisticated, Ren hid his admiration in his mouth and looked around the mansion with shining eyes. He could hear the old apothecary muttering softly too, as if startled by the mansion’s grandeur.
Hugh smiled faintly and waited so the two of them could look at the mansion as much as they liked.
‘It’s amazing!’
Ren had known Coco was a high-ranking noble, but he had not expected it to be this much.
He was looking around in a daze when small footsteps sounded from behind.
