Gather Divine Coins and Gacha! - Chapter 69

 "See ya."

"Yeah. Say hi to the Red Ogre for me!"

We exchanged farewells and parted ways with the adventurers.

That finishes the errand.

Several days had passed since I completed Liesel’s request, and I still hadn’t gone to the dungeon—I just couldn’t work up the motivation.

It wasn’t like I was simply slacking off.

With one mistake, I could die in the worst-case scenario, so I’d been waiting until I was in perfect condition.

…Or so I told myself as an excuse while I lazed around, when Alec asked me to run an errand.

He’d been steadily making connections with influential adventurers in the royal capital, and his dungeon exploration was going smoothly.

But his original role was as Seriana’s guard.

Today was the reward distribution from the expedition, but an urgent escort duty came up, so I went in his place to collect his share.

By the way, “Red Ogre” is Alec’s nickname.

The club and shield left behind by the Demon.

The shield was presented to the royal family, and since Luban and the others declined the club, it became property of House Müller.

I don’t remember it clearly, but I was the one who took it down. Still, something that huge and heavy is unusable for me, so I refused it too, and Alec is the one using it.

Because he carries the 【Red Shield】 and swings around a club like an Ogre would, they call him the Red Ogre.

He doesn’t change his expression much and doesn’t talk much either, but I know he’s actually happy about it.

"Hm?"

Thinking about whether I should tease Alec about it next time, I was drifting back to the estate on a 【Floating Orb】 when, just before the noble district, I felt something—not a gaze exactly, but something.

It doesn’t feel unpleasant…but have I finally learned to sense presences?

I could ignore it, but…now I’m curious. I’ll probe a little.

I gained altitude and headed in the direction that bothered me, and soon arrived at a large building on the edge of the commercial district.

A wall ran around it, and while they didn’t look especially motivated, there were guards stationed at both the front and back.

Peeking over the wall, I saw several wagons stopped inside.

A warehouse or something?

I can’t just barge in, but…

"Hm?"

I was still debating what to do when I spotted something like a black rope hanging down from the gutter.

…This feels like it might be “that.”

I looked around.

The adjacent buildings were all wall-side with no windows.

This warehouse-like building was the same—on the wall-side, and in a blind spot from the gate guards.

No pedestrians, either.

I can do this!

I vaulted the wall in one go, then climbed up the exterior like I was crawling along it and got onto the roof.

Keeping low so I wouldn’t be seen from outside, I approached the target.

"What is this?"

A black rope dangling from the gutter.

It’s about a meter long, but what is it?

There’s a strange feeling coming from it…

"Wah⁉"

Safe…!

I somehow swallowed the shout.

I reached out to pinch it for a closer look, and it suddenly moved, slipping straight into my shadow in an instant.

Not something blown by the wind—this clearly has intention.

It’s probably a living creature, and something this weird is likely a monster, but it doesn’t feel unpleasant at all.

What in the world is it?

I peer into the shadow spreading beneath my body, but I can’t see it.

Still, I don’t know why, but I can tell it’s there.

I tap at it—pesh, pesh—but nothing in particular changes.

"Uuummm……Eek⁉"

I didn’t feel anything, but there’s a black shadow crawling over the hand I’ve braced on the roof.

The moment I noticed it, I let out a sound this time.

◇

I wasn’t discovered, but I couldn’t exactly stay stuck to the roof like that, so I headed back to the estate—though I hesitated between here and the guild.

Since I didn’t know whether it was dangerous, I didn’t go inside. I dropped into the backyard and rolled up my sleeve, exposing my skin.

"It’s a snake, right…?"

A snake-like shadow is tightly coiled around my arm, but it doesn’t hurt.

I try touching it, but it’s my own skin.

My arm also feels the sensation of being touched.

I wonder if the snake can feel it too; it wriggles restlessly.

…It’s not like I dislike snakes, but I don’t exactly like them either—yet it doesn’t feel unpleasant.

Strange.

"Sera"

"⁉"

Elena called out to me from behind.

This is the backyard—and I’m even at the far edge—so how did she notice me?

"Young lady is calling for you. Come on."

Ah…right, she has that radar-like skill.

She’s definitely noticed this snake too…

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Sera・【Hideout】【Prayer】【Mira's Blessing】・【Floating Orb】【Shadow Sword】【Scarlet Bee Needle】・6 cards

Seriana・【Area Identification】・【】・19 cards

Elena・【】・【Green Fang】・0 cards

Alec・【】・【Red Shield】・1 card