Chapter 173 “The Crow”

"That's another unusual combination."

Why does this bear have a human with her?　

　Is it an emergency ration or something?

　It's a big bear, so it seems to eat a lot.

"I've had to work with her for a little while now, but she's a troubled girl who disappears as soon as I take my eyes off her..."

　I can't leave her alone, Yonomori added.　

　I tilt my head inwardly.

Human, doesn't that mean she's a reincarnated person?

　The questions are endless, but I'm putting them aside for now.

　I can't ask that.

　"I understand the story. In the meantime, are you sure you want to look for this companion later?"

　"Yes. That's all I ask."

　After a quick meal, we decided to go into town and start looking for her companion.

　Considering her size, I was somewhat concerned, but as beastmen vary in size, buildings and other structures are designed accordingly, and there were no particular problems with big bears coming in and out of any of the shops.

Yonomori is a big figure, even by the standards of this place, so she attracts rather a lot of attention from her surroundings.

The first time they passed each other, they were quite likely to catch a glimpse of each other, so at first she was a little embarrassed, but she got used to it and now she was walking with heavy footsteps in an imposing manner.

　"So do you have any guesses?"

　At my question, Yonomori groans and puts her hand to her cheek.

"If there's something interesting, she'll be attracted to it, so a place like that...maybe?"

　"That's a very fluffy explanation."

I know she's curious, but other than that I have no idea what she's talking about.

　"Do you have any idea what she looks like around here?"

　"But first, you need to tell me what she looks like."

　Then, to sum up what I've heard...

Sixteen years old. Height is estimated to be between 160 and 170.

Physique is rather slender.

Blonde hair, blue eyes. Gender: male. Moderately good-looking, apparently.

　Clothing is light.

　He is not equipped with any particular armour.

　Lastly, his name is Aspizal.　

　...Aspizar-kun, right?

　Well, you can tell by looking at his ears, so there's no need to describe him in detail.

　But still... it looks like the kind of place a teenager would go.

　A gambling den or - whorehouse? I don't think so, but it's on the list.

　The only other place left is an arena.

　If you look around the area in that order, you'll probably come across them.

　When I told her where we were going, she had a subtle look on her face when she heard it was a brothel, but she decided to go quietly.

　"I'm bored walking around in silence, so if you want, you can tell me about that one too."

　"As long as you can answer me."

As I was walking along, Yonomori unexpectedly spoke to me.

　Were you bored?

　"I haven't seen anyone but you since I came here, were you born this way? Or..."

　I knew you would come.

　"No, I'm a travelling man. I haven't been here that long either."

I expected it, so I answered with what I had prepared beforehand.

　"Then what's your language?"

　"It's a magical tool. It sounds like you can communicate, but in fact you can tell the other person what you mean and understand the meaning of what they say. Thanks to it, I have no difficulty in speaking."

　"Really? That sounds useful."

　"Yeah. I mean, I'd literally be lost without ......, so..."

　"Can I have a look?"

　I giggle.

"Give me a break. It's my lifeline."

　Well, I don't have one.

　"You were born in Urs Laguna, if you say ......?"

　"That's what I've heard, but I was already wandering the forest with my parents when I can remember. I don't know anything about the other side."

　"Where are your parents?"

　"Before I left the forest, I'm afraid."

　"Oh, um..."

　"That's all over. It's all sorted."

　The first time I saw her, she was a bit uncomfortable and I told her not to worry.

　She looked down a little and stopped mentioning the subject.

　It's a lie anyway, so don't worry about it.

　I don't want to get into it too much and have it come out, so I'll ask her this time.

　"If you like, you can tell me about the other side of the forest, can't you? I've heard that beyond the forest lies a mountain range."

I'd personally like to know what route they took across the forest.

　Depending on who this guy is, we'll have to take a lot of precautions.

　"It's true there's a mountain range, okay? But we bypassed them and came through the forest."

Bypass?

　Huh? Those mountains are supposed to cross the continent, aren't they? They don't?

　"Yes, my appearance is quite unusual over there and I'm a little bit out of the public eye."

　Well, you can't.

　If you don't belong to either Darzain or Gnosis, one of them will certainly do something about it.

　But still, a bypass.

　Unfold the map in my head.

　The three territories of Liard, Oratorium and Acothern are lined up, but further beyond - to the east and west of the continent - is still unexplored territory, untouched by human hands.

Maybe the Tierdras Mountains aren't that far in a chain, or maybe there are places where the altitude is lower and easier to pass through.

　Fatima and Abdullah don't have a complete grasp of the mountain range's topography, and there must be more than a few such oversights.

As I recall, the unexplored area is a lair of vicious monsters, and it is a place where people hardly ever go in or out.

　It would be convenient for people to pass through unnoticed.

　If you enter the forest from such an out-of-the-way place, then you can completely bypass the elves' territory.

　...I'll let them know later, just in case.

　"I see. I'd like to ask you for reference, how long did it take you to get through the forest?"

　Yonomori puts her hand on her cheek as she thinks a little.

　Is it a habit or something?

　"Well... about three months."

　"Three months...it doesn't even take half a year?"

... oops.

　"Months?"

　"Huh? Oh, sorry. Would you know if I said ninety days?"

　"Uh... ah."

　That's dangerous.

I wonder if this fellow is probing me.

　It might be my imagination, but I'm feeling some strange stares, and I'll be careful about a lot of things.

　"You're getting out of there so fast. As far as I know, that place isn't the kind of place you can get out of in such a short time... is there a loophole or something?"

　"There was no such thing."

　"Then how did you do it?"

　"I may look like this, but I'm strong."

Then she lightly waves her arm, which is as thick as a log.

　So it's a normal breakthrough.

Well, I know they are strong, so there is no doubt about that.

Is it at least confirmed that these guys are from Ursula Laguna?

　The potential of the reincarnated is high.

　I wouldn't be surprised if they could do that, but who human could keep up with them?

The more I hear, the more I wonder about the identity of her companion.

　...It's about time.

　While we were talking, a state-run gambling casino came into view.

　This type of facility is popular in this country, so there are always people... oh?

　For some reason, a crowd has formed.

　"Is something wrong?"

　I ask a nearby beastman what happened.

　"Oh, yeah, I don't know the details either, but some kid with strange ears won unbelievable amounts of money. It's made the dealers whitewash and some of the tables are out of order."

　Strange ears.

　When I told him about the characteristics of Aspizal, the beastman replied: 'I heard he was a kid like that'.

"Is he still in there?"

　"No, I heard he went somewhere else a while ago."

　I thanked him and left, returning to the waiting Yonomori.

　"How'd it go?"

"I heard he was there, but I think he went somewhere else a while ago."

　"I guess we must have been mistaken."

　"He couldn't have gone far. Let's go round the neighbourhood."

　Let's see.

　The nearest one is... a whorehouse?

I'd be a bit uncomfortable taking a female Yonomori with me, even though she's a bear, for a change.

　I'll make sure of that.

　"I'd like to check a few things."

　"What is it?"

　"Is this Aspizal-kun interested in the opposite sex?"

Yonomori, who had guessed just that, thought for a moment and nodded .......

"There's a row of brothels up ahead. Should we... check?"

　"Yes. We should take a look."

After receiving consent, I set my sights on the brothels.

The day was still high and the place was deserted compared to at night, but here and there, beastmen who appeared to be prostitutes were standing around looking for customers.

　I approached one of the prostitutes and spoke to her.

　"Can I have a word with you?"

"Oh, brother, would you like to play with me?"

　"Sorry, I'm not a customer. Have you seen a guy around here with ears like these?"

　I pull my own ears and show them to her.

　The woman looks a little disappointed, but when she looks at my ears, her eyes widen.

　"I think I saw a kid that Miss Holland took with her that had ears like that..."

　"Where's this Miss Miss's shop?"

　After hearing the location, I gave the woman a little money and thanked her, then called out to Yonomori before leaving the place.

"How did it go?"

　"We had a good haul. The prostitute from earlier saw someone who looked like him.'

　I followed the directions I was given and entered a rather large brothel.

　There was a male beastman who appeared to be the receptionist, so I approached him.

　"Sorry. Can I have a word?"

　"What is it, you? Are you a customer?"

　"Sorry, no. I'm looking for a friend of mine. I heard that a guy with ears like mine came here."

I pull my ears as before and show them.

　The man nodded his head and gave me a friendly tap on the shoulder for some reason.

　"Your mate's awesome!"

　For some reason, the respect in his eyes as he looks at me is mixed.

　"What are you talking about?"

"He's just broken Miss Warne's back, the most powerful sex worker in the shop."

What?

　"Oh no. I just tidied up the room and it was amazing. The top of the bunk was all messed up. And on top of that, Miss Catherine was convulsing like a sea monster that had been washed up, and there was a hell of a lot of--"

　"No, I already know. ...so do you know where the hell that fellow went?"

I break off what I don't want to hear from the man and ask him about the whereabouts of Mr Aspizal.

　He's quite that, by the way... he's in good spirits.

"I saw him leave with a refreshed look on his face just now... well, I guess it's refreshing after all that screwing!"

Slightly annoyed at the beastman, who laughs vulgarly with a gahaha, I patiently repeat the question, but he says he has only seen as far as the point where he left.

　Having heard what I wanted to hear anyway, I thanked him and left the brothel.

When I explained to Yonomori, who had asked me the same question as before, that he had gone elsewhere after a rough time here, she looked very uncomfortable, but I wanted to say out loud that I was not to blame.

　I'm not sure how much time has passed, and if he's gone to the arena, I'm sure I can catch him there.

...I didn't think he'd been through all the places mentioned on the list.

　"The next one is the last. If he's not there, I can't think of a few others."

　"Yeah, all right. What's the place?"

　"The arena."

　I saw Yonomori nod in agreement, and I turned my attention to the arena.