Elqueeness [EN]: Chapter 48

48.

“T, Tro…?”

“Shh, you should call me Matthew.”

As I was about to call his name without thinking, he immediately cut me off and whispered.

“…Matthew?”

“That’s the name I use for my games. It might not be familiar, but please call me that. I knew you were summoned by someone, but I never expected to meet you in a place like this. How have you been?”

I nodded, still dazed. I was just as surprised to meet him here. Besides, a mercenary? It was a job that didn’t suit his usual image at all, which made it even more unexpected.

Meanwhile, Isana was quietly holding his breath next to me. He probably sensed the unusual atmosphere between me and Trowell and guessed his identity to some extent.

And although it meant something a little different to them, Hussen’s group also seemed shocked by this unexpected reunion.

“What? You two really know each other?”

“Oh my god. I’ve never seen Matthew smile like that.”

“Me, neither.”

“How do you know each other?”

Unlike me, who hesitated at the sudden question, Trowell lied without a second thought.

“We’re hometown friends. We lost contact a long time ago, but we’ve met again by chance like this.”

“Hee, hometown friends?”

“Hoo, has someone finally appeared who knows Matthew’s veiled past?”

I flinched, shrinking my shoulders at the probing gaze. Just being looked at made me feel like I was surrounded and interrogated. Then, as if he couldn’t help it, Trowell shook his head and stepped in front of me, saying,

“El is shy. Don’t bother him too much.”

His voice was gentle, but I could feel the warning in it. People reluctantly backed away, clicking their tongues with regret.

“Hey, El, was it? What’s your relationship with the guy next to you?”

The person who asked the question was Herol, the biggest man in the group. After it was revealed that he was Trowell’s acquaintance, the way they looked at me had become much more friendly than before. I carefully watched Trowell’s reaction and answered.

“He’s my brother…”

“Hoo, brother? Are you two brothers traveling together? Seeing as the leader brought you along as an errand boy, it seems like we’re heading in the same direction… Is your destination Clamor? Or somewhere near there?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“Aha, I see. Then that’s good. Now that things have turned out this way, why don’t you come with us?”

“Yes? Ah, we…”

“Yes, El. Let’s do that. It’s a shame to part ways like this after meeting for the first time in so long.”

I closed my mouth at Trowell’s voice, which followed the moment I was about to answer. I couldn’t easily refuse his invitation, even if it was anyone else. Reluctantly, I looked to the side to ask for his opinion. Then Isana nodded slightly, as if telling me to do as I pleased.

“…Um, okay. I will.”

“Really? Good thinking, El.”

Trowell was delighted like a child and held my hand tightly.

“Then wait here for a moment? I need to let the client who hired us know that the group has grown. Leader, I’ll go and tell them.”

“Ah, okay.”

As Hussen nodded, Trowell disappeared somewhere as if he was flying. The faces of the group watching him were all dumbfounded.

“Heo, are my eyes playing tricks on me? Matthew somehow looks his age.”

“Don’t worry, you’re not the only one. It looks like the sun will be rising in the west tomorrow.”

“It’s amazing how happy he is. Were they really that close?”

“Ahaha…”

I gave an awkward smile at the gazes that were pouring in again. I felt like a rabbit in front of a predator.

At that moment, Hussen cleared his throat briefly and looked around at everyone.

“Ahem, anyway, now that it’s been decided that we’re going together, let’s talk about the rest inside. Um? But Iril, why isn’t your partner here? I told you to come out without fail, didn’t I?”

He seemed to be talking about the remaining female member who wasn’t visible now. Iril, who received the question, twirled her purple hair around her finger and replied indifferently.

“Are you talking about Sherry? She’s not here right now. She went out early this morning.”

“What? Where to?”

“Who knows? The Eagle Mercenary Corps is nearby, so she probably went there.”

“Eagle Mercenary Corps?”

“Didn’t you know? I think she’s dating a member there.”

The one who reacted most strongly to her words was the red-haired man (I think his name was Mighty). He shouted with a flustered face.

“What? Sherry’s dating an Eagle Mercenary Corps member? Uh, since when? With who?”

“Well, I don’t know. She seemed to be going out with him frequently these days, so I just assumed that was the case.”

“Ah, I’m going crazy! Why are you telling me that now? Damn it, how long has it been since I separated her from that bum!”

But he was the only one who was angry, and everyone else had indifferent expressions. It seemed like they were already used to this situation. Herol gave Mighty a pathetic look as he fell into despair.

“Tsk, tsk, shouldn’t you give up now that you’ve done that much, Mighty? It’s no use no matter what you do. How high are Sherry’s standards? Do you think she’d even give you a glance?”

“What, man? What’s wrong with me? I’m a promising mercenary, you know?”

“You’re still the same rank as Sherry. Shouldn’t a man be stronger than his woman? That way, even in dangerous moments, he can confidently say he’ll protect her. Especially since you’re short.”

“Wh, who’s short, you bastard! I’m average among the Imperials!”

“You only reach my shoulder.”

“That’s because you’re too big! Honestly, are you an ogre or a human? I’d rather be me than be as bulky as you. You’re so full of muscles that even your brain is full!”

“What? You son of a bitch!”

“Both of you, stop it.”

Just as the atmosphere was about to turn violent, a low voice cut in and stopped the fight. It was Hussen, the leader. The two people, who had received his sharp gaze, hesitated and withdrew their fists that they were about to throw at each other.

“You guys haven’t changed at all in years. Isn’t it time to stop this childish fighting?”

“Leader! More than that, do something about Sherry! How long are you going to let her hang out with men indiscriminately like that?”

“Sherry’s not a child anymore. She’s old enough to decide and take responsibility for her actions. Especially when it comes to dating, it doesn’t make sense to interfere.”

“But she’s a girl. What if something happens to her? In the first place, the reason Sherry’s acting like this is all because of…!”

Mighty, who was shouting with a frown, bit his lip when Hussen stared at him silently. His face was filled with anger, but he seemed to be suppressing it because he was conscious of our gazes.

“Ah, anyway, I can’t stand it anymore, so say something. If the leader doesn’t take care of his members, who will?”

“…Okay, I understand. Iril, tell Sherry that I want to see her when she gets back.”

“Okay.”

Iril nodded with a bitter expression at his words, as if he had finally given up and sighed. The atmosphere felt strangely heavy for a trivial conversation. It seemed like there was a hidden story.

* * *

The Champagne Mercenary Corps was scheduled to depart for Clamor early the day after tomorrow. Since I and Isana needed a place to stay until then, we got a new room at the inn where they were staying.

“Here, take this.”

As soon as we unpacked our luggage, Trowell suddenly handed me something. It was a round wooden plaque the size of a palm with a leather strap attached. A crude drawing of a sword and axe crossed was engraved on the surface of the plaque.

“What is this, Trowell?”

Only Isana, me, and Trowell were in the room. He had given us some time alone so we could enjoy our reunion to our hearts’ content. Since I didn’t have to worry about anyone around, I called him by his real name without hesitation.

Then I felt Isana anxiously looking back and forth between me and him. I heard that the existence of spirits had been buried like legends after a long drought. Even if he heard the name, he didn’t seem to realize his identity yet. Trowell explained without paying any attention to his gaze.

“It’s a wooden plaque that symbolizes temporary mercenary members. It’s a kind of identification card that means the Champagne Mercenary Corps is responsible for your identity. You’ll need it at the checkpoint.”

“Eh? Checkpoint?”

“I guess you didn’t know. There are more than three major checkpoints that you must pass on the way to Clamor. People without identification cards can never pass through the general paths.”

“Oh, I see.”

I didn’t know there was such a thing. Isana also seemed to be unaware of this and was examining the wooden plaque with a curious face. Well, there’s no way he, as an emperor, would know all the details. He’s never had to hide his identity and travel or be checked at a checkpoint.

We almost had a big problem. Was that why he asked us to come with him? When I glanced at him, Trowell smiled and nodded.

“That’s also part of it, but I thought I could help you a little since it’s your first time experiencing the game. I also wanted to meet your contractor, who was the first human to summon Elquines.”

With his answer, Trowell gazed at Isana next to me with an interested look. Isana, who was noticeably stiff, flinched at his next words.

“Nice to meet you. As you might have guessed, I am Trowell, the Spirit King who rules the earth along with El.”

“Ah…! It’s, it’s an honor to meet you. I am…”

“Isana Lanne Swart. You mean the Emperor of this Empire? I know without you having to explain.”

“Oh, how did you know that…?”

I quickly added an explanation to the flustered Isana.

“Trowell can read other people’s minds. Don’t be too surprised, Isana.”

“Ah? …Ah, I, I see.”

He nodded, but that didn’t mean his hardened face disappeared. No, rather, he seemed more surprised by the fact that he could read people’s minds. Trowell burst into a light laugh.

“Kukuk, are you surprised that the Earth Spirit King looks like such a kid? Well, being deceived by appearances is one of the biggest weaknesses of humans. Thanks to that, it’s easy to play games.”

Isana’s face turned red in an instant. He must have thought of him as a kid in his mind when he saw him. Well, if you only looked at his appearance, Trowell looked like a young boy, so it’s not unreasonable to think so.

‘I should have told him in advance.’

I felt a little sorry, but there was nothing I could do about it. Thoughts in your mind are not so easily controlled.

Moreover, human mental strength can never beat Trowell’s power. Rather than struggling meaninglessly to avoid having your mind read, it would be better for your heart health to get used to this situation quickly. …From experience, it’s not that easy to adapt.

“By the way, Trowell, what about your contractor?”

“Huh? My contractor isn’t here. He’s a dragon, so he hardly ever looks for me.”

“Hee, I see. How did you get to know those people [the Champagne Mercenary Corps]?”

“Um, it was a bit of a funny situation. I was looking around to check on the state of the continent when Hussen suddenly dragged me to a restaurant. He must have thought I was an orphan.”

“O, orphan?”

“There were a lot of children abandoned during the drought. Honestly, I was a bit embarrassed at the time. I was wearing shabby clothes on purpose to avoid being noticed.”

Hmm, so Hussen was more interested in the clothes he wore to avoid being noticed? As if he had read my thoughts, Trowell smiled faintly at the corner of his mouth and said.

“In these times, there are hardly any people who pay attention to wandering beggar children. He’s a human with an unusually good heart, even among mercenaries, let alone ordinary people.”

“But how did you become a mercenary?”

“He kept worrying about me even though I said I was okay. So I showed him that I was capable enough to protect myself. Then he bothered me, asking me to become a colleague.”

“What did you do?”

“It wasn’t a big deal. I just lifted a rock next to me.”

…That was definitely worth chasing after. How shocked would they have been to see a child they thought was young and weak lift a rock in front of them without a word?

Oh my, we must scout this child! I could see their burning will.

“Actually, I was worried about you all along, so I tried to find Lapis Lazuli in my own way. But I didn’t get much out of it. I’m sorry, El.”

“What? No, it’s not Trowell’s fault. Besides, I already have such a great contractor.”

“That’s right. I didn’t know you were summoned by a human. It’s a rare thing, even if it’s mixed with luck. Besides, an emperor—I’m looking forward to the future of this land.”

“You, you flatter me.”

Isana answered with a reddened face this time as well. For a moment, the smile around Trowell’s mouth deepened.

“You don’t get easily excited. You don’t overestimate your abilities unnecessarily. You have a good personality.”

“…”

“I don’t hate smart guys. Most of the king’s contractors have lost their lives because of their own foolishness. From now on, it’s better to rely on the power given to you, but not to use it. If you don’t want to turn the good fortune you’ve had into a curse.”

“…I’ll keep that in mind.”

I could feel that Isana was stiff even without looking at his expression.

In fact, I was nervous too. He can be strict at times, but he’s basically kind and friendly. It was hard to imagine him pressuring someone and making them scared. But the man in front of me now was fearlessly revealing the dignity of the Spirit King and showing the aspect of an absolute being without regret. Just like I felt when I first saw him as Matthew, it was like he had become a completely different person.

However, the icy gaze turned into a soft gaze again when it reached me.

“Then I’ll go out now, El. I have a lot of work to do as ‘Matthew’. I’ll come to call you for dinner, so rest until then.”

“Ah, uh-huh! Okay, Trowell. Oh, right! The inn fee here is…”

“Ah, don’t worry about that. It’s already been taken care of. Usually, in a guard contract, all the expenses used by the mercenaries are borne by the client.”

“Is that okay? We’re not formal mercenaries.”

“Haha, it’s okay. Even if it’s temporary, you’re now a member of our mercenary group since the plaque has been issued.”

“I see.”

I admired and looked at the wooden plaque I was holding again. Then a black hand suddenly stretched out in front of me. Trowell was asking for a handshake. When I looked at him questioningly, he smiled playfully and said.

“Then shall we say hello formally? I’m Matthew from the Champagne Mercenary Corps. I look forward to working with you, El.”

“Uh-huh? Ah, yes! I look forward to working with you too… Matthew.”

I hurriedly grabbed his hand and answered.

The moment our eyes met, he and I burst into laughter at the same time. One thing was certain. Even if there were hundreds of Trowell’s appearances that I would see in the future, the one I knew would be only one.