Chapter 985 – Lies for Whom

000

Once the request is completed, the day ends with a pleasant cold beer.

For adventurers, it may be a natural cycle of work, and even a hard day could be washed away with that drink and toast.

Ever since Cleon was able to drink, it had become a habit to end his day like that, as he had learned from Lampert, who taught him the basics of being an adventurer.

Even if he made a request alone without a companion, he had become so integrated into his daily life that he could quietly drink a glass in the corner of the adventurer’s guild restaurant.

＂Not today.＂

However, Cleon blinked as Kuon crossed his arms and spoke in front of him.

After seeing Selena and Diora off, dinner was ready and heading to the table, when Lila saw that there was no beer on her table, she asked, and that’s what Cuon answered.

“What? Why!? “

Ventuna, one of the people who had a hard time today, asked that question, and Kuon will talk about it.

“I feel like I’ve been drinking too much lately. Especially Cleon and Lila. The two of you drink until you pass out. If you keep doing that, your liver will be ruined!”

“That’s the same for Kuon.”

＂Ugh.＂

In response to Lila’s answer, Kuon remained silent for a moment as if she had nothing to say, but then shook her head.

“Oh, no. It also doesn’t work. Especially me and Lila! No matter how much she uses detox magic to prevent any negative effects from leaving her body, I am still worried!”

If there’s one thing that Kuon and Laila have in common, it’s that they both have Cleon’s child in their womb.

Although it is said to be in the early stages of pregnancy, drinking alcohol while aware of the fact that you are pregnant may seem dangerous.

It is said that they are using the ‘detoxification magic’ that Kuon can use and the protective potion for pregnant women that Lila can make to ensure that the baby is not affected as much as possible.

Since that was not Cleon’s specialty, she could only nod her head.

＂Does that mean we also-?＂

Even Bourbon, a drinker, raised his voice of dissatisfaction, probably because he was expecting to be able to drink something.

“Sorry. But we drank all the alcohol in our house yesterday.”

Then Kuon answered that coldly, and Sasha was actually surprised to hear that.

“Yes!? All that alcohol yesterday!?”

“Yes… The last bottle Sasha drank yesterday, who stayed up late, is the last of the alcohol she bought.”

When Cuon spoke like that, Bourbon sighed as if there was nothing he could do.

“Then, after eating, I guess I should go out and at least go to a store that stays open late.”

“Oh, if that’s the case, I know a good store, so I’ll introduce it to you. Let’s go out together.”

When Cleon said that, Bourbon smiled and answered.

“No. I’m sorry, but I know enough good stores. I’m sorry, but you should try to abstain from drinking as Kuon says.”

＂Kuh…＂

“First of all, I’ve been in the Eastern Country much longer than you, but it’s like wrinkling in front of a chrysalis.”

It was Cleon who couldn’t hide his anger at having everything figured out that he had pretended to introduce himself and then tried to go into the store with him.

“Cleon. What Mr. Flamme said, engrave it in her heart.”

＂… Which one?＂

In response to her story, Cleon turns to her and asks her question.

This is because none of the stories she heard from Flamme were helpful.

Then, Kuon sighs as if there really is nothing he can do.

“Of course. What I’m saying is that she should use her body carefully from the time she was young. Especially for adventurers, their bodies are their capital, right? From now on, rather than just gulping down a drink just because I’ve completed a request, I’ll try another way-“

“Now. Kuon. Because I understand. At best, all the food I prepared will get cold. First, sit down and eat.”

Cleon stopped Kuon, who continued to nag, and calmed him down for now.

When Kuon started nagging her, it was because she knew very well that it was going to be long.

Thinking the same thing, I shouldn’t be seen drinking for a while, Cleon sighed and sat down –

While gathered, she looks at Herty, who has remained quiet.

Why?

It’s clear that she’s closing her eyes, but I can feel her gaze coming towards her.

Normally, it wouldn’t be strange for her to say something to appease her Bourbon, but today she started earlier-

To be exact, right before Selena and Diora passed away, she had been quiet.

Was the work in the underground mine that difficult?

It would be very thoughtless to think so carelessly.

Come to think of it, she said she had something to say.

Is that still difficult to say?

She was just wondering if she should take the initiative and ask again.

Bourbon said, pointing to a condiment a short distance away from her seat.

“I’m sorry, can you pick it up for me?”

Due to the nature of the dwarf race, the arms are short, so it is difficult to grasp unless you lean forward.

The one nearby would have been Herti, who was sitting next to Bourbon, or Ventuna, who was sitting across from him.

＂Ah, is this it?＂

At that time, a hand reached out and grabbed the seasoning that Bourbon pointed to.

If you think about common sense – there was no way Herti, who was blind, could have known what Bourbon wanted, so someone else.

Here, it would have been natural to think of it as Ventuna’s hand, who was sitting next to Herti’s in the seat closest to the seasoning.

＂Yes, thank you.＂

Bourbon took the seasoning handed to him, moved it around his bowl two or three times, and then returned it to his table.

Up to that point, without noticing the ‘strangeness’ of what had happened a moment ago.

＂… Wait a minute.＂

The person who noticed it right away was not Bourbon, the person in charge, but Cleon, who had been looking at the place a little while ago, wondering whether he should talk to Herti.

When Cleon suddenly made such a voice, other people would naturally look in Cleon’s direction.

As if asking why.

“Herti… You just gave Bourbon some seasoning, right?”

＂Huh?＂

＂…＂

At Cleon’s words, Bourbon raised his head and blinked as if asking what he was saying-

Once again, he looked back at Herty and looked at the bottle containing the seasoning in turn.

“… It’s true. I received it so naturally that I didn’t even notice it…”

Bourbon looked incredulous, so he asked Herty.

“Herti, were you able to tell what I wanted and where the bottle was just by hearing the sound?”

＂Well, you can do the business of the business without any problems even when you are blind, so you can do that, right?”

When Lila asked as if it was no big deal, Bourbon shook her head.

“… What makes that possible is arranging the items without changing them from the arrangement set by Herti. You need preparation. “It’s difficult to pick up an item right away in an unfamiliar place like this.”

“Ah… And Herty just now. Without hesitation, I immediately picked up the item Bourbon wanted.”

When Cleon asks again in a tone as if he is not sure, Herti nods his head.

＂Yes… That thing over there… Actually, it’s blurry, but I can see ahead.”

＂What!?＂

As expected, it was Bourbon who was most surprised by those words.

Bourbon had known her longer than Cleon, and had heard time and time again that Herty’s eyesight was unlikely to recover.

So, she must be even more surprised to hear that some of her vision has returned.

Of course, Cleon also looked surprised at that.

As for why her eyesight became like that, I heard it before.

“Uh, since when!? Rather, if you don’t tell Calia too!”

“Calm down, Bourbon. No matter when I say it… It started a while ago, after I finished work and returned to earth.”

Herti was making her sit down, talking to her as if to calm her down.

“And even if you can see it, the silhouette is only blurry, so there is a possibility that your eyesight may not return any longer than this.”

Herty adds, “Actually, I should say that the possibility is greater.

“But where is it! If you can see even just a little bit of something that was completely invisible until now, there will no longer be any need to feel uncomfortable about not being able to see!”

Bourbon was shaking Hertie by the shoulder, sounding delighted as if her own sight had returned.

Hertie nodded her head at her reaction, but she looked a little troubled.

It was also a reaction that seemed somewhat embarrassing.

However, Cleon could not have been happier.

＂… Cleon. Maybe.”

＂Ah…＂

When Lila spoke to Cleon next to him, Cleon nodded.

The reason Herti’s vision returned was because a change had occurred in her body.

The reason may be that Cleon allowed her to use her ‘power to communicate with the earth’.

The source of that power is the power of Gaios, the earth dragon who was sleeping inside her and had to be kept from waking up in the future.

Perhaps, as a result of her actively using that power while assisting in the conversation with the adamants, the power of Gaios within her began to awaken under her stimulation.

If so.

＂…＂

I see. So she said she had something to say.

Perhaps, Cleon might have an idea as to why Herti’s eyes were visible.

And, Herti will ask Cleon for an answer.

Herti looked carefully towards Cleon, as if she knew that Cleon was thinking that way.

Then – Cleon had to decide.

Will she tell her the truth?

The power of Gaius resides within her, and when it is fully awakened, it will eliminate her ego and resurrect Gaius.

No – didn’t she decide and swear that she wouldn’t do that?

I could never let Herti disappear.

Unless you come up with some plausible excuse.

Even if you end up lying…

Although it was a white lie, Cleon opened his mouth cautiously, feeling guilty about lying to someone.

“Perhaps, while talking with the adamantites, I was influenced by that magical power.”

It wasn’t a complete lie, and Bourbon nodded at Cleon’s words.

“Obviously, it hasn’t come back in any way until now, but this is a change that came about when it got involved with the adamantites.”

When Cleon nods his head, as if agreeing with Bourbon’s words, Herti also tilts her head and thinks, ‘Is that so?’

“… That means, if I can continue to communicate with adamantites in the future, my eyesight may come back!”

It was the moment when Bourbon went one step further and raised his voice like that.

“That…! It’s better to quit…!”

That is why Cleon raised his voice as if to stop the Bourbons.

“What? “Why?”

Then, Bourbon asked, looking a little surprised.

At times like this, she resented the fact that without her imprint, it was difficult to convey her voice so that it would not be heard by others.

“… Magical power does not always have a positive effect on the human body. It may be that good results just happened to appear this time. When it comes to being involved in magic, it’s better to be cautious. Yes? Lila.”

“Huh. That’s right. As a wizard, I have the same opinion. It may be a bit harsh to say, but it would be better not to rely too much on such flukes.”

After Cleon and Lila brought up such a story, Bourbon sat back down in her chair and let out a sigh, as if she had calmed down a little.

＂Still… I could barely see in front of me… ＂

“… No, Bourbon. I also think that even just being able to see this much is a gift from heaven.”

Herti says so and nods her head.

＂Certainly, there must be some meaning to the return of my sight. ＂

With Herti’s attitude like that, Bourbon can’t say anything more.

However, she was only a friend, and her expression was not very bright, as if she could not hide her regret.

Later, she will have to tell Bourbon the truth.

Even more than that – it was Herti.

Herti… Maybe she thinks there is still a hidden part in Cleon’s words.

When you make eye contact, you can’t help but think that way.

001

In the end, Bourbon left the mansion, saying that he had to drink as he had said.

For some reason, I became friends with Ventuna and Melusine.

After telling Melusine not to drink too much and to be sure to return to the mansion, Cleon quickly felt drowsy even though he had not drank.

The swords are still recharging their magic power, and Cleon himself thinks it would be a good idea to get some rest early, so after lying down in bed-

It would have been inevitable for him to fall into sleep as the water horse wrapped around his body in an instant.

However, that sweet rest did not last that long.

The sound of a door opening and closing.

That’s because Cleon’s eyes widened at that sound.

… The same pattern, I don’t know how many times it’s happened since I’ve been living in this mansion.

Cleon also had to get used to it.

Jump up! He would raise his upper body and talk to the uninvited guest who came to his room.

“I’m sorry, but please let me rest today. I also have physical limitations…”

While Cleon was talking like that, he couldn’t help but be taken aback by something suddenly pressing down on his body with a strong force.

Should I say it’s not magic attribute or anything like that, but pure strength or mass?

＂What…!＂

And, seeing what has oppressed him like that, Cleon is even more astonished.

Giggeek, Giggeek.

The thing that grabbed Cleon while making a sound like metal rubbing against each other was-

That’s because he was an adamantite golem, ‘Zita’, that he had tied up in the yard.