SIDE:
Zinal’s Confusion
ZINAL OF ZEPHYR’S PERSPECTIVE
I LOOKED BACK AT DRUID and Ivy walking behind us. They really were close. It was clear how much they cared about each other, and that was why I needed to set the record straight.
I had no negative impressions of them whatsoever. Ivy’s rational approach to the anomaly in the forest was beyond her years. And since her maturity seemed natural, not forced, Garitt and I were both impressed by it. I also got the feeling that Druid was a good father from the way he supported her. After seeing them together like this, I was honestly surprised to hear they weren’t related by blood. Even though they clearly looked different on the outside, their auras didn’t give me that sense. That was why I had associated with them without much hesitation.
But the more I saw of them, the more my suspicions of Druid himself deepened. Based on his aura and the way he picked up on the anomaly in the forest, he had to be an elite-level adventurer. At first, I thought it was odd that there was such a high-ranking adventurer I’d never heard of, so I consulted my comrades to make sure my memory wasn’t just playing tricks on me. Neither of them had heard of Druid, either, yet I still thought that perhaps we had all just forgotten about him. When I first met Druid, I assumed he was an elite-level adventurer. Simply put, he had the skill level for it. So when I found out he might not be one, I was honestly shocked. I thought it was impossible.
“Mr. Zinal, is something wrong?” Ivy asked.
“Oh, everything’s okay. Sorry I worried you.”
She was probably concerned by all my staring. Druid cast a wary glance at me. Even though his facial expression was calm, there was an iciness in his eyes. I’d noticed it the second time we met.
I discovered that Druid was not an elite-level adventurer when I realized he hadn’t delivered an obligatory report to the adventurer guild. Since breaking that rule resulted in a string of fines to pay, everybody made sure to follow it. But even with all these problems in Hataka Village, Druid didn’t make a report. If he didn’t need to do so, that had to mean he was not an elite-level adventurer. Garitt had casually suggested they go to the guild together to report, but Druid answered it wasn’t his job.
But he was so strong. Surely the guild master of any town or village would have set their sights on him. He was missing an arm, but from the way he wielded his sword, it clearly wasn’t a handicap. There was another possibility: Sometimes a guild master might erase the name of a registered elite adventurer from the record due to injury or age. Thinking I might have overlooked this, I looked it up after I returned to the inn that night, but the name Druid had never been in the records.
“Right over there. We have a room on the first floor.”
We entered our inn, Michelle, and escorted our guests to our room. Druid quickly examined his surroundings and then sat down in a chair. Meanwhile, Ivy took her time having a leisurely look around the room before sitting beside him.
“Here you go.” Garitt set out some tea and snacks on the table.
“Thank you.” Druid reached for the plate of snacks in the middle of the table and gently pushed it toward Ivy, who was still glancing around the room and didn’t notice. I looked at Druid, and our eyes met. Again, not a bit of warmth from him.
Sometimes criminals stole an adventurer’s identity to hide. If they were successful, it was the perfect cover. But if they tried to masquerade as elite-level adventurers, they were always exposed. People like us would sniff them out. That was why people with sketchy pasts tended to hide their powers and stay inconspicuous. But Druid didn’t conceal his powers, and that was the source of my suspicions. He didn’t attempt to hide his superior abilities, yet he wasn’t an elite-level adventurer. Hadn’t anybody ever offered to promote him? Or had he declined a promotion? Did he have more than enough money already? But with Ivy in his life, he shouldn’t mind having too much money. Besides, if he became an elite-level adventurer, he would be better equipped to take care of her. The more I thought about it, the less sense everything made.
But one thing was clear: If he was a criminal, we would need to protect Ivy. Or at least that was what I thought, but from the look of them, it didn’t seem like that would be necessary.
“So, what did you want to talk about?” Druid looked at each of us one by one. He was wary of us, especially me. That confused me a little. What did I ever do to him?
“I want you to answer my question honestly.”
“If it’s within reason, sure.”
Yeah, I guess that’s a perfectly normal reaction to have…
“Dad, I think we should just tell them,” Ivy said. “It’s probably okay.”
Druid sighed in reply, which confused me once again. Does Ivy know Druid’s secret? Does that mean it’s not that serious of a problem?
“Druid, you are clearly powerful enough to be an elite-level adventurer. Has anyone wanted to promote you before?”
“Yes, but I declined.”
So I was right. That must mean he’s always been open about his powers.
“Why did you do that?”
“My skill…there’s a problem with it.”
“What?!”
His skill? There’s a problem with his skill? I was so confused. I hadn’t even considered that answer. Does he have some sort of new skill? One that he doesn’t want anybody to know about? No, then he wouldn’t register as an adventurer to begin with. If he did, the guild master in the town or village where he registered would have to know about his skill.
“Explain yourself.”
“Uhh, yeah, before I do that, I think you need to answer my question.”
Druid’s tone took on a sharp edge. He almost looked like he was suppressing a chuckle, even. What was so funny?
“What’s your question?”
“Zinal…”
Now there’s no “Mister”?
“Zinal…are you interested in Ivy in a deviant way?”
“Bffft!”
“What?!”
Fische spat out a mouthful of tea next to me. Ivy jumped out of her seat with a gasp. And since Fische had been sitting in front of Ivy, he probably spilled tea on her. The poor girl.
“Whoa…no! Me? And Ivy? What?!”
“Easy, Zinal. Druid, what gave you that impression?”
“He always wants to be alone with Ivy, so I just assumed he had his eye on her.”
“No! In the name of all that is holy, you’re wrong!”
I felt dizzy. Is that what he thought about me all this time? Could it be…that’s why his gaze was so cold? Wait a minute…the first time we visited them in the plaza, I had Fische and Garitt distract Druid so I could get some answers from Ivy alone. Is that what did it? Was that wrong of me?
“Thought so. See, Dad? I told you he was safe.”
Wait a minute. The way Ivy just reacted…did she also think I was a pedophile? No, she just said, “I thought so.” In other words, she didn’t think I was a pedophile. Right…? I’m right, right? Ugh, I am so confused.
“Ack, ya know, Zinal, based on how you’ve been acting, I don’t blame them for thinking that. The way you prowl around an innocent child like a—”
“Shut up!”
Fische, you bastard, what are you even saying?! Wait a minute…did it really look like that? I’m starting to think it did…
“Agh, sorry, Zinal. You okay, buddy?”
“Do I look okay?”
“Ha ha ha! Well, can you really blame them? Even though you barely know her, you were really clinging to Ivy there.”
“Clinging…” I murmured pitifully.
Fische burst out laughing, and Garitt followed suit. Druid, who was sitting in front of them, clamped a hand over his mouth and started staring at the wall. Ivy looked at the three and heaved a little tired sigh. Then she glanced over at me, her eyes full of guilt.
“I’m so sorry, sir.”
“No, I’m sorry. I hope I didn’t scare you.”
“Oh, no, sir, it’s okay.”
Aaagh. If my son hears about this, he’ll laugh at me for days… Wait a minute, what were we talking about before?
No Comments Yet
Post a new comment
Register or Login