Elqueeness [EN]: Chapter 47

Chapter 47

Husen started walking as soon as he confirmed we were following, briefly explaining the mercenary group he led.

“Our group has six members: four men and two women. Two are about your age, but don’t underestimate them. They’re monsters who can easily take down ten people each. Don’t worry, though; everyone will be nice as long as you don’t cause trouble.”

“Um, well, I appreciate the concern, but we’re really okay on our own.”

“You’re lucky. Not to brag, but our group is quite skilled. There won’t be any threat to your lives.”

“…….”

He’s not listening at all. Am I not even worth a reply?

Like attracts like, and Husen seems just as stubborn as Zek. I followed him with a resigned feeling, planning to refuse properly at our destination.

After a while, we arrived at an inn with a sign that read ‘Rest Stop by the Tree Spring’. Husen told us to wait and went inside, presumably to call his colleagues.

As soon as he disappeared, Isana and I sighed and exchanged glances.

“Haa, things are completely messed up. Sorry, Isana. It’s all my fault. If I’d known this would happen, I would have ignored him from the start.”

“No, it was unavoidable. But he doesn’t seem like a bad person, does he? I’m impressed he takes care of traveling kids. Actually, I was a little impressed. I didn’t know there were mercenaries like that. I thought they only moved for money.”

“Really? I don’t know much about mercenaries. Anyway, no matter how good his intentions, it’s too dangerous for us right now. Let’s refuse when he comes out. We can’t join a mercenary group like this.”

Isana nodded in agreement.

Group life for a long period isn’t suitable for us, who have to hide our identities. We have to be careful about conversations, names, and using our abilities. Who would deliberately choose such inconvenience? Besides, we’re wearing hoods now, but it will be difficult to keep covering our faces if we live together. If someone recognizes Isana, it would be a disaster.

At that moment, a noisy sound came from the front door. Husen emerged with his colleagues.

“Haaam— Captain, who are you bringing with you?”

“Ugh, why the gathering order? I was having a good sleep.”

The people with him were three men and women in disheveled clothes. It was noon, but they looked like they had just woken up. Husen had forcibly woken them up and brought them out, hence their gloomy expressions.

“I told you to come and see. You’ve slept enough since early evening yesterday. Stop whining.”

Husen glared at his grumbling colleagues. The tallest and most robust man frowned.

“Until now? What time is it?”

“Lunchtime just passed.”

“Wow, really? Ugh, no wonder I’ve been so hungry. What’s the matter, Captain? Let’s finish quickly and eat. I’m starving.”

“Herol, you…….”

Husen looked dumbfounded, but Herol proudly raised his chin.

“Why, what’s wrong?”

“It’s absurd. All you care about is sleeping and eating.”

“Come on, don’t criticize natural needs. Is it a big deal to ask for food? Anyway, isn’t that what we do to make a living? By the way, what’s on the lunch menu today? Hey, Iril! Do you know?”

The person he turned to was the only woman with purple hair. I thought there were two female members, but one was missing. She, yawning, snapped irritably at the man’s question.

“Am I an employee here? How would I know?”

“Why are you angry? Tsk, girls never answer kindly.”

“What? A girl? Do you want to die?”

“You guys! Can’t you be quiet?”

‘They’re very chaotic people.’

The quiet surroundings had become as noisy as a marketplace. Husen yelled several times to be quiet, but even his shouts sounded like noise. I don’t know if they are a skilled mercenary group, but they don’t seem to have good teamwork. Herol and Iril seemed to be on very bad terms.

At that moment, a calm voice cut through the noise.

“Iril, Herol. Fighting again? You have a lot of energy as soon as you wake up.”

The voice was close to a boy who hadn’t gone through puberty. The two who had been growling stepped back quietly.

“Oh my, Matthew. No, we’re not fighting. I just said a word to this idiot because he provoked me first.”

“That’s a misunderstanding, Matthew! I was just asking about the diet menu. But this witch suddenly got upset.”

‘Matthew?’

I turned to where they were looking. Someone was slowly coming down the stairs. It was a boy with a slender build. His hair was soaked, as if he had just washed it.

“……Uh?”

But the moment I saw him, I couldn’t help but open my mouth blankly. His appearance was very familiar.

Dark skin, fine black hair, a slightly thin feeling, but a well-built body with muscles. Golden eyes that shone clearly as if to see through the other person’s heart.

He certainly looked like someone I knew.

“Trowel……?”

* * *

That’s right. No matter how I looked at him, he was Trowel. His skin color, eye color, height, and body shape were all similar. Even the unique, mysterious atmosphere that seemed to captivate people was the same. It was difficult to think of him as a different person.

But there’s no way he’d be in a place like this. I couldn’t take my eyes off him, even though I was half-doubtful.

He seemed to hear the sound I swallowed. The expression on his face, who suddenly turned to me, flashed with surprise for a very short time. It was definitely a look that recognized me.

‘What, what is it? Is it really Trowel?’

Unlike what I thought, I couldn’t be sure. His face, watching me again, was very indifferent. No, it wasn’t just indifferent, it was completely expressionless. It wasn’t the gaze of looking at someone I knew.

Also, it was a bit far from the Trowel I knew. Compared to his usual gentle smile and friendly impression, his face was as cold as ice now.

Was it just my delusion that I felt surprised a little while ago?

I hesitated, not knowing how to react. Then he asked Husen with an indifferent face.

“Captain, who are these people?”

As if realizing our existence, the others’ eyes changed. I tensed up at the gazes pouring out.

“What, are they the kids the captain brought?”

“Who are they?”

“Are they perhaps the captain’s hidden children?”

“There’s no way!”

Husen shouted and coughed. Then, regardless of our intentions, he said to everyone.

“Everyone, say hello. They are errand runners who will be with us on this request.”

“Huh? Errand runners?”

They stared at Husen with surprised expressions.

“I was wondering who you were suddenly taking with you, but it was an errand runner? What’s wrong with the captain? You hate that kind of thing.”

“That’s right, you used to say you didn’t like it even if we asked you to take them with you, right?”

“……There was a situation.”

“What situation?”

A red-haired man with messy hair chuckled softly.

“It’s obvious. Looking at them, they seem to be young children, so wouldn’t he be drawn to their pitiful situation? Our Husen is weak to children, unlike how he looks.”

“Shut up, Mighty!”

“Look at that, look at that. His face is red. Am I right?”

“Tsk, tsk, I was wondering when that habit would start again after being quiet for a while. But did you properly check with those kids about their intentions? You’re not forcing them to come with you even though they don’t want to, are you?”

“Well……!”

The moment he shouted, he closed his mouth tightly as if he had realized something. Still, he seemed to have a conscience, so he recalled the fact that we had not agreed.

As if grasping all the circumstances, a bewildered expression appeared on people’s faces.

“Wow! Really, Captain? What on earth did you do? That’s kidnapping!”

“N, no, it’s not like that…….”

“It’s not like that! Looking at it, you must have made a decision on your own again!”

“Hey, I’m really sorry. Our captain is unnecessarily nosy…….”

I smiled awkwardly at the people who were flustered and offering apologies.

“Ahaha, it’s okay. It’s also our fault for not refusing firmly.”

“What are you talking about? We know that human being, even if you refused properly, he would have ignored you and dragged you along, right?”

“Of course, it’s not even worth mentioning. In the first place, Matthew became our member that way. I mean, I know you’re worried because all the kids around that age look like Sherry. I’ve told you so many times to stop, but you can’t come to your senses. I think one day you’ll get reported for that.”

‘Matthew…….’

I glanced at Trowel (the boy presumed to be). Was he still watching me? As soon as I felt that our eyes met, he suddenly asked a question.

“Name?”

“……Uh?”

“Your name.”

He calmly asked me again, who was flustered. Then, his colleagues showed surprised expressions.

“What’s wrong, Matthew? You’re showing interest in other people first.”

“I know, you almost never ask for names, do you?”

“Do you know him?”

He didn’t answer any of the pouring questions. He was just staring at me more persistently. I didn’t know what his intention was, so I tensed up even more.

“Ah, well…… I’m, El…… what’s my name……?”

At that moment, his lips, which had been closed in a straight line, drew a clear curve. With just that, his impression completely changed. It was like a fully bloomed flower blooming in barren land.

“I knew it.”

“Uh?”

At the same time, I lost my balance for a moment. Something suddenly pulled me. When I came to my senses, he was hugging me tightly.

“It’s been a while, El. I missed you.”

“……!”

‘As expected! It was Trowel!’

I was so surprised that I couldn’t say anything. The boy, no, Trowel, gave me a playful smile with my eyes wide open and frozen. Now I could see the way he was.