hotmtlnovel Chapter 9
Chapter 9
Hiding Things, But Not Lie
As the light subsided, I cautiously opened my eyes, and a bright, outdoor scene greeted me. Though I’d thought of the rocky mountain as being outside too, this didn’t quite feel like the first time I was stepping out into the open after a long while.
While I was looking around with just my eyes, I saw a man running towards us from a short distance away. I couldn’t help but tighten my grip on Gil-san’s clothes a little.
“Gilnandio-san, you’re late! Welcome back! Um, by any chance...”
“...Yeah. The dungeon’s back to normal.”
“As expected...! I had a feeling it was back to its old self since last night, but I waited here just in case. Um... I apologize for asking this while you’re tired, but I’d like a report as soon as possible...”
“I don’t mind.”
“Much obliged...! Right this way, then.”
The man didn’t look at me at all. I really was invisible to everyone around... Magic is amazing. That said, I was actually here, so my heart was pounding.
The way the man was talking gave me the impression that Gil-san held some kind of high-ranking position. Being part of a special-grade guild... he really was someone important. I mean, he’d annihilated that lion!
Following the man’s lead (well, Gil-san was), we moved away from what seemed like the dungeon entrance and entered a simple building. Perhaps it served as a reception area. It was early in the morning, but there was already a queue forming... Did people love dungeons that much? No way, there had to be another reason. Like it was lucrative or something?@@@@
Well, it probably wasn’t a world that concerned me. Because why in the world would a little kid like me need to go to a dungeon! The fact that I’d just been in one was beside the point.
“Now then, I apologize for the inconvenience, but if you would please place your hand on this crystal.”
A small room with a simple desk and chairs. As Gil-san and the man sat down on the chairs, facing each other, the man gestured towards a crystal on the desk and spoke. ...Was it different from the one in the dungeon boss room earlier?
“A truth-telling crystal?”
“Yes. Not that I doubt Gilnandio-san would ever lie, but it’s merely a formality...”
“It did pique my curiosity. However, I have business to attend to and must return to the guild. I’ll be back to investigate further, but if you happen to find anything by then, would you mind letting me know?”
“Of course, of course. Understood. We’ll send the results of our investigation to Ortus.”
Come to think of it, while I’d been unconscious in that dungeon, something that strange had occurred without me knowing... but it’s thanks to that, that I was rescued by Gil-san, so I guess it all worked out in the end?
I have a feeling Gil-san found this request a little unsatisfying, though. He solved the dungeon problem, but the reason was still unclear. And there wasn’t even any noteworthy loot. If it were me, I’d be a bit disappointed. Though it’s definitely a good thing that nothing bad happened!
So these things happen, huh...? Maybe dungeons, along with monsters, also produce mysteries?
“Is there anything else?”
“...No, there’s nothing else I need to report.”
“...Alright, very well. No falsehoods detected. Thank you for your cooperation! That being said, we’ll be observing the dungeon for a few days to ensure it functions normally. If all goes well, we’ll send the additional reward to your guild. Would that be alright...?”
“That’s fine. I’ll leave it to you.”
“Understood. Then, Gilnandio-san, thank you for your hard work.”
Well, it seemed like everything was settled. Gil-san left the room with a brisk pace, not once looking back.
Even so, it was quite skillful of Gil-san to keep my presence a secret without resorting to lies. If it were me, I’m sure I’d have slipped up. What a dependable, handsome man... He’s definitely popular.
As for me? Of course, I was charmed by him and enjoyed looking at him, but that’s as far as it goes. You see, romantic feelings are troublesome. Romance is like a ritual to remind yourself of how unattractive you truly are. I’ll spare you the details.
In any case, this fine gentleman, this young lady will just admire from afar. If, by some miracle, I can get to know him a little better, that alone would be enough.
Apparently, I was somewhat tense, because I let out a sigh of relief as I thought such silly things.