Chapter 682

Bear-san Talks to the Receptionist

We sat down nearby, and the receptionist began to talk.

Those knights think they are very strong and thus make fun of adventurers. They will try to get involved with adventurers who come here unaware of the situation, so be careful. (Receptionist)

Are they strong? (Blitz)

I saw them fight wolves yesterday, and I could tell that they were good at what they do. That didnt mean I couldnt win against them.

Yes, they are strong, so no one can raise a complain. (Receptionist)

The receptionist affirmed.

They are that strong? (Blitz)

If it was just one person, we could manage, but not against their numbers. (Receptionist)

It was true that it would be easier to deal with one person but not with all the knights. It seemed like not only those knights we saw possessed that power. It would be normal to think that there were more.

Maybe thats why the receptionist couldnt even get mad at the knights yesterday and kept quiet.

Its infuriating, you know. Its not even their own power. (Receptionist)

not their own power? (Blitz)

Blitz uttered.

I guess the adventurers in other places dont know. As I told you ladies yesterday, they are using someone elses power. (Receptionist)

You mentioned that yesterday, how can they do that? (Yuna)

I tried to ask yesterday, but was interrupted before I could ask.

The receptionist seemed a little distressed, and then started to whisper in a hushed tone.

Rumor has it that the fairies are said to be taking the magic of the towns inhabitants and pa.s.sing it to the knights. (Receptionist)

!?

At the receptionists words, we looked at each other, bewildered.

There are fairies involved? (Yuna)

Ive never actually seen them, so its just a rumor. But we have heard many times from the knights about fairies, and they call themselves fairy knights, so we believe that fairies do exist and are involved. Above all, I doubt that weak knights will suddenly become strong without the help of someone. (Receptionist)

Was Primmes sister granting power to the knights?

If we looked into those fairy knights, we may be able to get some information about Primmes sister.

But why are you asking about the fairy knights? (Receptionist)

Because (Yuna)

Perhaps you heard a rumor that there are fairies here and tried to ask knights about it yesterday? Then you shouldnt have done that. They are ones who like getting involved with women and children. Besides, even if someone asks them directly, they wouldnt tell. Sometimes they divulge it themselves, but if you ask them, they get tight-lipped. (Receptionist)

I was troubled.

Should I tell her the truth?

Also, I didnt tell you yesterday because I thought youd be leaving town soon, but you should get out of town fast. Especially the two magicians over there.

I looked at Rosa-san and Ran.

Why? (Rosa)

Because regardless of the towns inhabitants, if they stay in this town, they will be deprived of their magic power. Its not a problem if you just want to spend the day, but it will be a matter of life and death for those who dabble in magic. Thats why every single magician in this town has left. Well, its not only the magicians who are in trouble but also the craftsmen who use magic. (Receptionist)

So people are still being robbed of their magic power? (Yuna)

Not yesterday, not today. Every few days, at midnight, magic power is taken away. If you feel tired in the morning, you should think that you have been deprived of magic power. You might think youve become ill if you dont know any better. (Receptionist)

Well, you mean to say that the fairies themselves dont take away peoples magic power

directly

, but just by being in the town, your magic power will be taken away? (Yuna)

Well, Ive also heard stories of people saying that they have been robbed of magic power

directly

by fairies, but those might have been hoaxes, and in reality, they were simply deprived of their magic power by being in town. Thats why you guys should get out of town as soon as possible. (Receptionist)

I now understand why there were no adventurers in this town.

Being in the town would rob you of your magic power.

I also found out why those knights called themselves fairy knights.

There was a possibility that Primmes sister was the one who was giving these knights their power.

I wanted to ask the receptionist for more information, but I needed to figure out how much it was okay to probe around.

Sorry, but we cant leave this town. Actually, were looking for a fairy. (Blitz)

As I was wondering, Blitz asked.

Looking for a fairy? You shouldnt be. There have been others like you in the past, but none have returned. If you value your life, youd better get out of this town. (Receptionist)

Did that mean they were killed when they tried to look for the fairy?

What if I told you that we are here to take down that fairy? (Blitz)

No, you cant do that. We dont know where the fairy is. If you want to defeat the fairy, those fairy knights will come to you. (Receptionist)

It meant that to find Primmes sister, we had to deal with those fairy knights.

Excuse me, may I have a word? (Noa)

What is it? (Receptionist)

Noa, who had been silently listening, spoke up.

A knight is supposed to obey the king of the country and the lord of the town, right? What kind of person is the lord of this town, and what kind of orders does he give to the knights? (Noa)

That certainly was true.

I was so distracted by the talk about fairies that I forgot about the knights committing unchivalrous acts.

Dont mention it. I cant tell you anymore. It would put you and the others in danger. I cant blame you for being interested in the fairies, but you shouldnt go any further. Return to your village as soon as possible. (Receptionist)

The receptionist said gently.

The same goes for you, adventurers. If you care about your fellow adventurers, you shouldnt pry any deeper into the matter. (Receptionist)

I knew that the receptionist genuinely cared for our wellbeing.

Well, we could talk to the receptionist about Primme and ask the guild to help us.

However, it wouldnt be a good idea to let the guild branch know about Primme while we were in this town.

If someone a.s.sumed that Primme was involved with the fairy knights, and those who had bad intentions towards fairies found out, there would be a possibility that they would attack us.

The receptionist may also attack us out of the blue upon discovering that we had connections with fairies.

But if Primmes sister was involved with the knights and even the lord of this town, I wanted information about them from someone who knew about the town.

I decided.

Is there a room where no one can hear us? (Yuna)

Of course there is. Why? (Receptionist)

I have something important to tell you. (Yuna)

She saw the serious look on my face and let out a sigh.

Okay. Come here, she said and led us to a back room.

This room is safe from public eyes. So, what do you want to talk about? (Receptionist)

Primme, come on out. I think we need you to get some information out of them. (Yuna)

As I said this, Noas pouch moved, and Primme came out.

Fairy (Receptionist)

Shes Primme, a fairy. (Yuna)

Wait, cant fairies

only

be seen when they are on the same wavelength as you? So how come everyone in this room, including me, can see her? (Receptionist)

Everyone in the room looked at Primme.

I cant tell you the details, but if Yuna is here, the others can see me as well. (Primme)

I cant believe it. Then maybe youre the fairy who is stealing magic from the citys residents and giving power to the knights (Receptionist)

The receptionist narrowed her eyes and glared at Primme.

No, its not Primme. I think its Primmes sister who grants those knights their power. (Yuna)

I told the receptionist the real reason why we came to this town.

Well, this fairy asked us two to come to this town to find her sister. And then, by chance, we ran into some adventurers we had met before, and they agreed to help us.

I didnt mention anything about Crimonia, the fairy forest, or the fairy mirror.

So that story about the monster your father dismantled was a lie. (Receptionist)

Not everything we told you was a lie. I am an adventurer. I am the one who defeated the monster, but not the one who dismantled it. I knew you wouldnt believe me even if I told you that. I also had other reasons for not telling you the truth. (Yuna)

A fairy, a bear girl, an adventurer (Receptionist)

The receptionist held her head in her hands.

Thats funny. I havent even had a drink yet today. (Receptionist)

She was starting to escape reality, you know.

Missy, the tone of your voice is different from yesterday. (Receptionist)

oh. (Yuna)

I was talking normally now, completely forgetting that yesterday I was wearing a bear outfit, acting like a meek cat, and playing the role of a weak girl from a nearby village who didnt know any better.

Sorry. This is the way I normally talk. I talked differently yesterday as I thought that would be less suspicious. (Yuna)

So that cute girl was acting. (Receptionist)

She seemed to be disappointed in me.

It could be easier to communicate if I continued acting that way, but I didnt think I would last long in that kind of character setup.

The sham would be found out eventually. Since that was the case, it was better for me to reveal my true self early on.

In the first place, I had forgotten entirely about acting and was now talking in my usual tone.

Just to confirm, that girl over there isnt an adventurer by age, is she? (Receptionist)

The receptionist asked, looking at Noa.

Yes. I am not an adventurer, so please dont worry. You can think of me as an ordinary girl next door. (Noa)

Noa replied politely.

Knowing Noas true ident.i.ty, I was tempted to respond,

You are far from just an ordinary girl anywhere.

Are you some young lady in disguise? I mean, your tone and mannerisms are very different. (Receptionist)

She was certainly the daughter of a n.o.ble family.

But I couldnt mention it, and knowing I could not explain it, Noa just smiled smugly.

The way she responded was not that of a normal girl, either.

What, Noire-chan is a young lady? (Rosa)

Rosa-san asked.

No, Im just an ordinary girl from anywhere, so please continue to call me Noire-chan as you have always done. (Noa)

She smiled like a young lady.

Maybe n.o.ble daughters exuded a certain elegance even when they had changed their attire.

It was the same as how I wouldnt look like a n.o.ble lady even if I was wearing a beautiful dress.

I wonder if its okay for us to do that. (Receptionist)

I think it would be alright because Noa would not punish anyone for something like that, even if they did discover that she was a n.o.ble young lady.

In the first place, I was calling her Noa the same as Cliff and others.

I could have been punished for disrespect (lesse majeste) now that I thought about it.

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