The crowd had begun to scatter, whispers still lingering, but order was mostly restored.
Guild Master Braham rubbed his temples once again before turning toward the returning investigation team.
"You. And you," he pointed at two adventurers still dust-covered from the forest. "Go back out and tell the human to co et at the guild. Imdiately."
The two beastkin adventurers froze.
One blinked.
The other looked away.
"...Sorry, Guild Master," the first one said.
"Yeah. We... we’d rather not."
Braham’s brow twitched. "What?"
The second adventurer cleared his throat, eyes shifting toward the ground.
"W-We tried to talk to him earlier. But he...uh...started shouting about not stealing his loot..."
"He was on top of the monster pile,"
They both shuddered slightly at the mory.
"And after seeing what he did to those monsters..."
"...We just figured it was best if we didn’t get too close."
Braham raised a brow. "You’re telling none of you can go and call him?"
"I an..." the first one hesitated. "If he can solo a monster horde just like that, what happens if he snaps and thinks we’re trying to loot him again?"
The second nodded rapidly.
"Yeah. We like being alive. So... sorry, Guild Master."
Guild Master Braham let out the deepest sigh of the day, rubbing the bridge of his nose.
"...Fine. I’ll ask another party to go."
Then his eyes turned to the nearest armored figure.
"Or better yet, squad leader? Can you go tell him I want to speak with him?"
The beastkin squad leader blinked. Then took one slow, careful step back.
"Huh? ? No way," he said flatly. "I’m going back to my job as a gate guard. Better than handling that human. Good luck."
He turned around.
"See ya."
Braham stared as the man walked off without hesitation.
"...Why does no one want to go tell him I want to see him?"
The adventurers nearby avoided eye contact.
He raised his voice just a bit. "Just tell him I want to speak about the goblin settlent extermination quest! That’s all!"
Soone from the back muttered, "He might think it’s a trap..."
Another added, "Yeah, good luck with that. You better ask the guild receptionist in the morning."
The first one nodded. "Honestly? Better leave that human alone right now."
"Right. If he thinks the guards or guild are coming to claim his loot, he might snap."
Braham’s eye twitched. Again.
"...ugh..."
anwhile...
After finishing the towering pile of monster corpses, Hazuki plopped down on the grass nearby with a long sigh.
He stared up at the sky, arms behind his head, the night air cool against his sweat-damp shirt.
"...Yawn..."
His eyes drifted lazily... slowly... then finally shut.
"Zzz... zzz..."
A swirl of purple mist spiraled downward above him.
Ridan descended like a lazy cloud, his round, smoky form drifting lower until he gently landed on Hazuki’s chest with a satisfied puff, stretching out like a lazy cat. The spirit folded his arms and closed his eyes.
"...Might as well nap while the idiot’s quiet."
Neither of them moved.
A few ters away, Elvia stood silently, her eyes shifting between the sleeping human and the ridiculous mountain of corpses behind him.
She hesitated. Fidgeted. Then quietly turned and padded back toward the orphanage.
A few minutes later, she returned.
Her small arms carrying two folded blankets she had taken from inside.
Without a word, she knelt beside Hazuki and gently spread one blanket over him, covering his chest and legs. Ridan didn’t even flinch, pretending to be asleep with a smug smile.
Then, Elvia carefully laid down beside Hazuki, close enough to share the extra width of the blanket.
And pulled the second one over herself.
The monster clearing was silent again.
No growls. No cries. Just distant wind and soft, even breathing.
Hazuki, dead asleep.
Ridan, fake asleep.
Elvia, eyes open... quietly watching the stars.
A strange, peaceful night after a day of chaos.
After the confirmation from the guards and guild that the threat had passed, Kisha stood quietly near the plaza’s edge.
Around her, the children she had guided out of the western district earlier that night were huddled together. Most were yawning, rubbing their eyes. A few had already nodded off while sitting on the curb.
They were safe.
She looked toward the city gate, now open again as usual, with guards casually chatting at their posts like nothing had ever happened.
She exhaled, long and slow, her shoulders finally relaxing.
"...Okay everyone," she said softly, her voice gentle. "Let’s go ho."
The children stirred.
"Mm... okay, Miss Kisha..." one of the little ones mumbled, clutching her sleeve.
The rest followed, so holding hands, so still half-asleep.
As they walked slowly toward the now-open gate, the cobbled path lit faintly by scattered torches, Chasia tugged gently at Miss Kisha’s sleeve.
"Miss Kisha?"
Kisha looked down at her. "Hmm?"
"...Is Elvia... safe?"
Kisha paused for just a mont, then smiled softly.
"Yes... I think so."
Chasia’s shoulders relaxed. "M’kay~"
The little group passed through the gate.
The distant trees rustled gently as they made their way toward the humble wooden house they called ho.
Kisha clapped her hands once.
"Alright. Let’s head ho and sleep in the new beds, okay?"
"Yay!!" the children cheered, voices light and cheerful despite their yawns.
As soon as they reached the orphanage, the children burst into excited cheers.
"New bed!!"
"My pillow slls nice!"
"It’s so fluffy!!"
One by one, they rushed inside,kicking off their shoes and scrambling toward their assigned spots.
Laughter echoed through the hallway as little feet stomped up the new stairs, and voices bounced off the repaired walls.
The floors had been fixed and cleaned.
The roof no longer leaked, and the windows actually closed.
Outside, Kisha stood still on the walkway, her eyes quietly taking in the view.
The front porch had new boards.
The broken railing had been replaced.
Even the crooked door had been rehung straight.
And as old Buron promised, construction would continue the next morning, new toilet, new foundation reinforcents.
All of it... as per Hazuki’s request.
She exhaled slowly.
"...You really ant it, huh?"
Then she stepped inside, watching as the children snuggled into their new blankets, still talking to each other as they drifted off.
But one bed was still empty.
She checked twice, then once more. No sign of Elvia.
"...Alright, kids," she said softly. "Good night. Sleep well, okay?"
"Okay~!" they chorused, already half asleep.
Once their breathing slowed and the room dimd, Kisha slipped back outside.
The wind was cooler now.
She gripped the small blade in her hand, and stepped cautiously toward the edge of the nearby forest.
( End Of Chapter )
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