The Mysterious Child: An Adventure Tale Beginning with Numerology

The southeastern part of the Bargia Dragon Duchy, on a hilly road near the border.

From the road tracing gentle hills, a forest is visible on the border side, with a long wall indicating the border stretching beyond it.

The peaceful scenery is almost unchanged from what I saw about a year ago.

What's different is the faces of the companions viewing it.

"Do elves live along such a rural road?"

"There's a coffee plantation. Saaya, have you ever had coffee here?"

"No. I don't really like coffee to begin with..."

"Saaya has had a child's palate since high school"

"You're one to talk, Nagi. You can't handle spicy food either"

"It's incomprehensible to appreciate mere pain"

In conclusion, they both have childish tastes.

By the way, there's apparently an estate and warehouse occupied by bandits near the botanist Prennarec's mansion.

I didn't notice before, but there's a small village nearby where we met with the client, a merchant guild official, about an hour ago.

We were sitting and talking in the back of the wagon driven by that guild official.

As we were chatting about trivial things, the madam official (a married woman) holding the reins on the driver's seat turned around and said:

"Ruruk-san, are you acquainted with Prennarec-san?"

"Well, yes. We're just casual acquaintances, but I've stayed at his mansion before."

"I see. Prennarec-san is a valued customer of the Merchant Guild. He's a kind person who generously supplies us with rare medicinal herbs and such."

"Is Prennarec-san alright with the bandit problem?"

"Yes. Even the bandits don't have the guts to mess with his property..."

The official said with a wry smile.

I immediately understood the meaning of those words.

As we crested the hill, Prennarec's mansion came into view. Its surroundings were covered in tall brown plants. The plantation said to be behind it was also entirely enclosed.

What is that... thorns?

It looks like a sleeping beauty might be in there.

"It seems to be a magical plant developed by Prennarec-san. You should ask him directly for details."

The official urged the horse onwards towards Prennarec's mansion.

When we rang the doorbell at the gate, Prennarec came out immediately. A maid was behind him.

"Thank you for always taking care of us. I'm Pichen from the Merchant Guild."

"The pleasure is mine. What brings you here today? I don't believe we had any business scheduled."

"Regarding the bandit subjugation matter, I've brought the adventurers we requested. As promised, may we use this as our base?"

"Of course. I'll open the gate now, please come in."

The wagon passed through the gate and entered the garden.

We immediately got down from the wagon bed when it stopped.

"It's been a while, Prennarec-san. I'm Ruruk."

"Oh, so you're the adventurers. You've grown taller in the short time I haven't seen you, haven't you? Human growth really is fast. Are the others your companions?"

"Yes. Thank you for having us this time. ...Also, I have an important matter to discuss with you regarding my master."

As I spoke formally, Prennarec narrowed his eyes and smiled faintly.

He seemed to have sensed something.

"Well then, Ruruk and the others, this way please. You, please show Pichen-san to the guest room."

"Yes, sir."

Prennarec gave instructions to the maid, who then guided the guild official away.

We were led by Prennarec towards the back of the mansion.

I knew how spacious the mansion was from staying here before, but this time we were guided to a place I wasn't allowed to enter last time.

It was a room like a laboratory or exhibition room with many pots and aquariums.

There was a sofa at the back of the room, and we sat down as invited.

From the window, the thorn-like plants covering this mansion were clearly visible. The thorns were moving slightly.

"...How many of you are the teacher's disciples?"

Prennarec asked softly while gazing at the thorns outside the window.

I, Elen, and Saaya raised our hands.

Of course, Seori and Nagi, who had never met Roze, tilted their heads in confusion.

"Well, this might be a bit of a boring story for those young ladies... But we disciples always hear the same story when we become independent from the teacher. About the teacher's true purpose in taking on disciples. Is that what you wanted to talk about, Ruruk?"

Under Prennarec's direct gaze, I honestly bowed my head.

"Probably so. The master... Roze is no longer here. I received her life."

"So it was true after all. The seedling I was keeping for the teacher withered six months ago. I thought it was strange since it was being kept alive by the teacher's technique."

"I'm sorry. Someone like me..."

"There's no need to apologize. The teacher had long wished to die."

Prennarec spoke gently while pointing at the thorns outside the window.

"Can you tell what those are surrounding my mansion and plantation now, Ruruk?"

"...No."

"That's a magical plant I developed. It's a thorn with the property of 'Skill Sealing'."

"Skill Sealing? Is that even possible?"

"There are limits, of course. It can prevent interference from skills, and it's thick with high regenerative abilities. It has thorns that are difficult to remove once they pierce, so even bandits don't approach. But it wasn't really developed for defending the mansion, it was for the teacher."

Prennarec had a distant look in his eyes.

The Skill Sealing magical plant he developed himself... could it be.

"I wanted to seal the teacher's 'Omniscience' with this magical plant. I thought I could fulfill the teacher's long-cherished wish... However, it was only effective up to advanced skills. That was the limit of my ability."

"I see. So Prennarec-san also..."

"I couldn't be of help. But thanks to that, I'm able to protect this mansion, so I guess even wasted effort wasn't wasted. That's why I'm proud, as a fellow disciple, that Ruruk fulfilled the teacher's wish."

Prennarec said this matter-of-factly while patting my head.

Like Verugana and Prennarec, they're all such kind adults who don't blame me.

That kindness stung my heart a little.

"Ah, that's right. By the way, I have something I want to give to Ruruk."

"...Something to give me?"

"Yes. Wait a moment, please."

Prennarec stood up and left the room.

When he returned a few minutes later, he was carrying a box in his hands.

"Navi asked me to give this to you when you came."

"Come to think of it, how is Navi-san doing? Is she well?"

"She's become independent from me. It was about half a year ago, I think... She was interested in atmospheric and water pressure fields, so she was helping me with research on germination in different environments here. Both my side and her side got some results and reached a milestone, so she went back to her original research group."

"Is that so?"

"And so I've been keeping this."

Prennarec opened the box on the table.

Inside was a rounded alloy pot.

"Could this be...!"

"It's called an automatic pressure cooker, apparently. You can use it on fire, or if you pass magic power through it, it will cook by itself. I don't cook so I haven't used it, but I received several of the same kind, and the maids love them."

"This is it...!"

It wasn't just a pressure cooker. It even had a cooking function.

This is going to revolutionize cooking from now on!

As my eyes sparkled, Prennarec laughed amusedly.

"There's still so much I don't know. Someone from Navi's research group had the same reaction when they saw this. They were excited about being able to make something with low-temperature cooking... I think they said 'roast beef' or something."

"Huh?"

Roast beef?

That's definitely an Earth dish name.

I exchanged glances with Saaya and Nagi. The three of us nodded.

"Um, what's the name of the research group Navi-san belongs to?"

"I think she said it was the Product Development Department. You've probably heard of it, a recently very successful company called Luney Trading Company."

"She was a member of Luney Trading Company!?"

It was an unexpected affiliation.

"The one who came to pick her up was a girl named Gin, I believe. She's the vice president of Luney Trading Company and apparently the daughter of Navi's original employer. Ah, this is just what the maid told me. So, Navi is now back in Mataisa. She's said to be in the royal capital, so if you're nearby, please drop by Luney Trading Company to say hello."

"Of course! I'll go greet her right away!"

I'm a regular customer of Luney Trading Company too.

Come to think of it, I haven't been to their main store in the royal capital yet. I must absolutely go next time I'm in the royal capital.

Nodding like that, I stored the pressure cooker in my item box. I'll teach Punisuke how to use it tonight, it will greatly expand our recipe options.

"Well, I guess that's enough for our private talk. We should discuss the Merchant Guild's request, the main topic."

"Ah, yes. We plan to catch the bandits quickly."

"Hahaha. Somehow that reminds me of the teacher. Well then, let's have a meeting, follow me."

Prennarec, smiling happily, this time guided us to a normal reception room.

While we were drinking a cup of coffee, Pichen from the Merchant Guild joined us, and we exchanged information while glaring at a map.

The place occupied by the bandits seems to be a mansion used as a base for guild merchants trading between Bargia, Restamia, Stoania, and Mataisa, along with its storage warehouse.

It's said to be about half an hour's walk from here. Indeed, it's close.

"According to the Information Guild, there are 51 bandits. Their leader is a wanted man. The latest information says they're using that mansion as a base to attack passing carriages and such. Yesterday, under orders from the ducal family, a subjugation team set out from the city, but they won't arrive for at least three days. The guild has warned the peddlers in the area, but merchants and travelers who don't know the situation are falling victim."

"Then we need to go right away, don't we?"

"Yes. Please proceed as soon as you're ready."

"Alright, we're going then."

"Eh?"

I stood up immediately. Pichen was surprised.

"Um... what about preparations, or strategy?"

"We have everything we need in our item boxes. So, who wants to come with me? We're dealing with bandits, but we'll try not to kill them, okay?"

"I'm going!"

"Mm, I'll go."

"Let's do this!"

"I'm not confident in holding back without killing, so Nagi will stay behind."

"The time has come... Now my seal shall be released!"

Everyone except Nagi responds eagerly.

Indeed, Nagi's sword might kill even with a blunt strike against low-level humans.

And there's one more person who can't hold back.

"Seori, you're staying behind too."

"Huh!?"

"You're planning to use your Breath skill, right? It would blow away the whole mansion, so no."

"...Aww."

"Instead, Seori, I'll give you the task of protecting Prennarec-san and Pichen-san. It's base defense."

"Hmph! If that's the case, leave it to me!"

How easy to manipulate.

I winked at Nagi, leaving Seori in her care.

So my companions will be Saaya, Elen, and Punisuke.

"Elen, it seems close, so I'm counting on you."

"Mm. 'Full Survey'... that way."

"Thank you. Well then, we're off. 'Relative Transfer'."

I jumped lightly towards the bandits' location.

A few minutes later, I would regret taking on this quest.

"Fuhahaha! Weak! Fragile! Feeble! Such puny things cannot satisfy me!"

In the basement of the mansion occupied by the bandits.

There, I was sighing heavily with the most deflated feeling in history.

After teleporting near the mansion, I first checked the situation with my "Eye of Illusion". And then, wasn't someone being tortured in the basement of the mansion?

This is urgent, I must help immediately, I thought as I teleported instantly, but what unfolded before my eyes was an outrageous scene of depravity.

"What the! What's with this guy! What's wrong with his skin!"

"The sword won't pierce! Damn, the blade chipped again!"

"Fuhahaha! Is there no one who can satisfy my flesh!"

The one laughing was a man crucified naked on the wall.

He was muscular with his front hair parted 7:3. He had a body like a super male from a certain American comic, but his behavior was clearly not on the hero's side.

"Come on, can't you thrust harder! My manhood is not satisfied at all!"

"Y-You bastard! Don't get excited!"

"I've had enough! I can't deal with this pervert anymore!"

"Hey, wait! You're not planning to leave me alone, are you? Stop!"

One of the men who was "torturing" him threw away his sword and tried to run away half-crying. The other man also turned around... and of course, his eyes met mine standing behind them.

"Hello. Sorry to intrude."

"Eh?"

The bandits froze.

I don't really understand the situation, but I might as well do my job.

"Sorry about this."

"Ugh"

"Abe"

I punched them in the stomach. The men fainted.

The one who looked obviously disappointed was the naked man chained to the wall.

"...Hmm. Is the fun over already?"

"Can you explain this situation? Or rather, who are you? You're not one of the bandits, are you?"

I said, feeling dejected.

Of course, Saaya, Elen, and Punisuke were averting their gaze behind me. The pervert's perversion was in full view, after all. I couldn't bring myself to use polite language.

"As you can see, I am a poor traveler captured by these bandits."

"To my eyes, you look like a pervert indulging in sexual acts."

"How rude. I was truly in trouble, you know."

"You seemed to be enjoying it though."

"Fuhahaha, the body cannot lie. I am called Belgand... boy, I thank you."

I check his simple status just in case.

It seems he's not lying about his name at least.

―――――――――― 【 Belgand: Human male. 39 years old 】 ――――――――――

"So Belgand-san, why were you captured?"

"I was trying to visit a nearby coffee plantation, but while I was sleeping in the carriage, I woke up to find myself captured. Who would have thought I'd encounter bandits in Bargia. How unusual."

"That was unfortunate. Where are you from?"

"The Nogana Republic. I'm actually a senator in my home country. I don't have my senator badge with me now, but I could prove it if I got my clothes back."

"...Okay. I'll believe you for now."

"I appreciate it."

He's a pervert, but at least we can communicate. That's a small blessing in this misfortune.

If he could just do something about that erect member of his, I'd be willing to undo his restraints. As it is, my companions can't even look this way.

"Are you an adventurer, boy?"

"More or less. I came to capture the bandits occupying this place."

"Have you subdued them already?"

"No, not yet. I came to the basement first because I thought someone was captured."

"You were concerned for my well-being? What a kind-hearted boy."

"If I had known the reality, I would have left you alone."

"Fuhahaha, what an honest boy."

Stop looking at me with those leering eyes!

Actually, let's just go. My sanity is draining away the longer I stay here.

"Well, we're going to go catch the bandits now. We'll come back to help you when we're done."

"Hmm... I'll help too."

"No, it's fine. Just stay quietly—"

"Hah!"

*Crack!*

The pervert flexed his arms, and the iron shackles warped and came off.

That's too much strength... I'm seriously creeped out.

"Fuhaha, this level is like a toy to me."

"What kind of body do you have?"

"My body has been incredibly strong since birth. Swords, spears, arrows are all meaningless. It's a boring life."

Come to think of it, the bandits were half-crying earlier.

It's probably some weird skill, but more importantly...

"If you could remove the restraints yourself, you weren't really in trouble, were you?"

"That's not true. Those sleeping bandits over there were to my liking... I was thinking I couldn't be rough with them. ...Hmm, you have a cute face that's to my liking too, boy."

"Hey, don't come closer! If you're free, put some clothes on!"

"I suppose I must."

I shuddered.

The pervert looked around and immediately started stripping the clothes off the unconscious bandits.

I mean, there's no conveniently placed clothes lying around, so I guess he has no choice, but... hey, is it necessary to remove their underwear too? And do you need to strip both of them??

I don't even have the energy to retort anymore. Help me, Saya-emon.

"I... I don't think I can handle this."

"That old man is interesting~"

"Hey, don't look!"

I cover Punisuke's eyes. This is bad for her education.

"Alright, I'm dressed. Shall we go?"

"...Are you seriously planning to fight with us?"

"Well, I do have some skill in combat."

The pervert—Belgand—leaves the basement with us.

Somehow, we've ended up collaborating with a pervert.

How did it come to this?