Chapter 992 – Curiosity Cannot Be Stopped

000

Cleon walks out to the village of the Eastern Country with Herti and Zita.

As Zita looked around, all the sights she saw were unfamiliar to her, but perhaps because they piqued her curiosity, she could barely see what was in front of her and kept looking to her side.

＂Zita. She should walk forward and not bump into others.”

When Cleon gently scolded her and spoke as if to soothe her young child, Zita answered in a lively voice without looking at Cleon.

“It’s okay! Because I am able to perceive space through the flow of magical power, vision exists even in places where the front of my face is not facing!”

However, Zita will respond as if there is no problem with Cleon’s words.

“Well, that’s convenient. No, you want to blend into human society, right? If that’s the case, you have to keep in step with people.”

“Hehe. It’s full of things I’m seeing for the first time. I don’t think there’s anything we can do about it.”

Unlike Cleon, who tried to stop Zita, Herti smiled as if she understood Zita’s feelings.

Herti seems to have a tendency to be a little lenient towards Zita, but when she thinks about it, she realizes that even though Zita is what she appears to be: an adult woman, inside she is a woman who came up from underground with a yearning for human society. It is a metal life form.

So, in terms of human society, we can say that she is still an untainted and innocent child.

Herty seemed to think that although it would be important to teach such beings the common sense of society, it would also be important to prevent them from losing their innocence.

＂Well, that’s true too…＂

Cleon responded to Herti’s words as if there was nothing he could do, but the fact that the eyes of passers-by were turned in this direction was something that inevitably bothered him.

There may be two reasons.

One is that Zita’s foreign atmosphere and behavior, as well as her style of clothing that is difficult to find in Eastern countries, attract people’s attention.

And another one…

That is, Hertie, who people would be familiar with, was walking down the street with her eyes open.

In this eastern country, especially Asteris, there are many people who do not know of Herti’s existence, and there are many who have never seen her face.

Even when Herti was uncomfortable with her eyes, she loved to accompany Kaliana Bahamut around the stores and do things face-to-face with people.

If you are a member of her store, you would naturally know her face, and considering her reputation and status, it wasn’t that difficult to see her.

So, most of the residents of Asteris will know.

The fact that Herti is blind, that is, she is a woman who always closes her eyes because she cannot see.

However, because of her work underground, Herty’s vision was blurry, and she seemed to think that she needed to get used to the sight, so she opened her eyes and walked around looking in front of her. 〉

In the past, it was easier for her to walk with Bahamut’s assistance, and she still had to be careful, so her steps were a little more leisurely than those of an ordinary person.

But now she proudly straightens her back and walks around the streets with eyes open like they’ve never seen before, and people glance at Herty with expressions like ‘What’s going on?’

However, it seemed like she couldn’t easily talk to her and ask questions due to the presence of Cleon behind her and Zita walking in front of her.

Actually, she didn’t seem to care that much.

But at least it would be fortunate that her changes would not have any negative effects on those around her.

The miraculous recovery of her eyesight is definitely a good thing for her and those around her, and something worth celebrating.

Or, even excluding such human sensibilities, her recovery is clearly good news for the Dark Dragon Company.

Considering that the Amryong Merchant Association brought considerable benefits to the Eastern countries, even if we simply weighed the benefits and losses, the benefits were greater.

The concentration of attention from those around you will definitely subside over time.

But if she’s worried about anything, it’s about herself.

If she starts to find the cause of her vision, she may also learn about her secrets hidden within herself.

For her own sake, she must avoid it…

As Cleon thinks like that, she turns the engine in her brain with the thought, ‘What should I do?’ –

＂We have arrived. This is the real estate that Kalia recommended.”

When Herti’s voice sounds like that, and she stops walking, Cleon and Zita also stop.

What was at the end of Herti’s gaze was an ordinary private house in an eastern country.

It wasn’t that big, it was close to the market, and it was clean enough that you could see from the outside that the inside wasn’t that old.

“This is going to be our ‘home’!”

“Hey. It’s not bad.”

As Zita and Cleon each expressed their impressions, Herti smiled and looked back at Zita and spoke.

＂Because this house is located close to the market, it is next to a street with many people passing by. I think it’s the perfect home for Zita, who wants to know more about us humans.”

“That’s why!? It’s Herti, after all!”

Zita’s eyes sparkled at Herti’s explanation, and Cleon also nodded his head and spoke to Herti.

“I think it’s a good idea. But it’s surprising that a house like this is empty so close to the market.”

“Because this house is a property that is not generally sold.”

If Herti answered Cleon’s question like that, the two people would look at Herti because it was a question that was really troubling.

“… Is there some special circumstances?”

Could this be what is commonly called a ‘house with a story’?

When Cleon asked, looking a little anxious, Herti smiled slightly and shook her head.

“Ahaha, of course Cleon. That’s a good insight.”

As she says that, she tells them to go inside the house, and she leads the two of them and opens the door.

It may have been a while since no one lived there, there was no furniture, and it didn’t seem to have been maintained very thoroughly, but it was still large enough for one person to live there without any inconvenience.

It was a fairly comfortable house with a bathroom and a fully equipped kitchen (though Zita might not need it).

It can be said that it is a house with no problems in leading daily life.

However, if there is anything you are concerned about-

Cleon looks down at his feet and frowns.

After entering the house, Cleon felt a sharp needle irritating the soles of his feet when he walked in the yard or on the floor.

However, that does not mean that there was a strange device on the floor or something protruding from the floor.

Therefore, since the cause is unknown, Cleon will ask Herti a question.

＂Here… The floor is strange.＂

＂Oh, you noticed?＂

“Well, after coming in, if you feel like you’re stepping on the acupressure plate.”

Even if you don’t want to, you will notice, Cleon thought, shrugging his shoulders.

＂Zita. Did you feel anything after coming into this house?”

“Now that I think about it… After coming into this house, I felt light!”

In response to Herti’s question, Zita said that and moved her arms around or sat down and stood up repeatedly.

“I don’t really feel that way.”

When Cleon said that, Herti laughed and revealed the secret of this house to the two.

“It’s because this house, even in Asteris, was built in a place where spiritual magic leaks out through the ground.”

In other words, the tingling sensation felt under the feet is caused by the magical power flowing from the spirit vein.

To the average person, it may only be perceived as an unpleasant stimulus, but for Zita, who moves her body with magical energy, she can easily recover the magical energy necessary for activities just by staying at home.

＂The amount of magical energy is higher than that of the surroundings, to the point where it affects the human body, which is not resistant to magical energy… Wouldn’t the person who built this house also be able to naturally retain magical energy in his body by using that magical energy at first? It seemed like he had thought about it, but he ended up getting sick and selling the house to our company.”

＂Well, such a story…＂

When Cleon heard Herty’s words, he could not help but express his condolences that only the man who had built the house suffered a loss.

“But when it comes to Zita, the more magic power you have, the better, so I don’t think it’s a bad thing. What about it? “

When Herti asked her Zita, Zita smiled brightly while raising her arms in a cheer.

“Great! Even if I don’t have magical powers, I’m just grateful that I can live in such a wonderful place!”

“Hehe. I’ve decided on this place as my home, so I think it’ll be okay. Regarding the furniture needed for daily life, I contacted the company to immediately move it…”

Just as Herti was about to say that, smiling as if she was satisfied that she had safely introduced Zita to the right home.

A ‘Clang!’ Sound of breaking glass was heard from outside her.

If Herty, startled, shrugs his shoulders, Cleon will frown.

It would have been okay if it had just been the sound of glass breaking, but then there was the sound of a person yelling.

It may not be that rare in Asteris, but this kind of trouble happened just before Zita’s first steps on earth, who came to learn about humans, ended safely.

“I’ll go and take a look. Herti and Zita… Zita?”

As Cleon was about to say that to Herti, Zita, who had been standing there a moment ago, was no longer there.

“The cow must have jumped out as soon as it heard the sound.”

“What, what are you thinking!?”

When Cleon heard Herti’s words, he thought, ‘This is a big deal’ and immediately followed Zita outside.

Of course, with Zita’s physical abilities and durability, she will not be defeated easily, no matter who her opponent is.

There was no way a weapon that could cut adamantite was that common.

But even more so, Zita needed to be careful about her actions.

The power she possessed was the power to easily hurt people.

If her inquisitive nature were to cause serious injury to someone, it could become difficult for her to live with others.

＂Zita! Wait!”

When Cleon runs out of her house and raises his voice like that, Zita looks back at Cleon.

Then, there, just as Cleon had thought, Zita was standing between the two drunken men.

＂What are you doing, coming out all of a sudden!?＂

“Don’t worry about other people’s business and get out of there! It’s an outfit I’ve never seen before, so I guess he’s a charlatan dressed like that!?”

Her drunken men did not see her as a charlatan, but they ignored her and told her not to interfere with them.

“Screaming in front of someone else’s house is against manners!”

However, Zita does not give up and speaks while putting her general knowledge into her mouth.

Well, she’s right, but where did she get that knowledge?

“Say! It was in the teacher’s memory!”

＂What is this guy… Is there something weird about his head?＂

In response to Zita’s response, one of her drunken guests said, “She will push Zita inside her house.”

I put my hand on her chin and tried to push her shoulder but-

＂…＂

Strangely enough, she didn’t move from her spot and wasn’t pushed at all.

＂W-what is this guy?＂

“Port! You can’t even push a single girl properly, so you’re picking a fight with me! You poor bastard…!”

And, the man, who thought that the reason he couldn’t push her away was because the other person was weak, tried to push Zita away this time while provoking her like that.

Likewise, he must be embarrassed by Zita’s body that doesn’t move from the spot.

Just when I was thinking, “She doesn’t have that good of a physique.”

＂Hey.＂

When they saw Cleon walking out from behind Zita, their faces slowly turned pale.

Speaking of being a young man from the Dark Demon clan, he was now quite famous in this city.

Both as a charlatan and in other ways.

“If you want to fight someone, I’ll fight you.”

When Cleon said that with a smile on his face, the two men stumbled and tried to back away.

“Oh, I’m sorry. I never would have guessed that your brother was a woman…”

“Ooh, we’ll quietly go somewhere else… Just take a look…”

Cleon sighs at the attitude of the two who quickly give up.

Then, as if he understood, he waved his hand and told him to take a look.

That was the time when the drunks were about to leave.

Thump! And then, Zita grabbed the wrists of those two people.

＂What, what!? “Didn’t you mean to send it to me?”

When the drunks are embarrassed and talk to Cleon and Zita, Cleon is also embarrassed and talks to Zita.

“Zita? Because those two will now go somewhere else…”

＂I have a question!＂

However, Zita’s eyes sparkle.

Ah, these eyes are the faces I saw last night when my curiosity was aroused, and I said, ‘I’m curious!’.

Cleon felt a bad feeling coming and was able to anticipate what Zita would say next.

“Why did you two fight!? Please let us know to help us understand humans!”

When Zita’s bold voice echoed through the market floor, the people watching the fight and even Cleon looked at Zita.

Also, Herti, who walked out of the house a little late, and the two men who were caught by Zita.

Everyone looks at Zita with an expression like ‘What are you talking about, you guy?’

It must have been rare for people’s hearts to become one like this.

＂?＂

Only Zita was looking this way with curiosity and a smile on her face.