The Mysterious Child: An Adventure Tale Beginning with Numerology

"I sincerely apologize!"

In the central district barracks of the Restamia royal capital.

In a spacious room resembling a reception area, an elderly mage with a staff was bowing to us.

We had been brought in for questioning as suspects caught in the act of destroying a golem, but as soon as the investigation began, the commander-in-chief of the Restamia Kingdom's Golem Corps—the man before us—appeared and apologized.

The reason for this sudden attitude from the top of Restamia's proud Golem Corps was simple.

Lilith was a duchess from another country, we were the adventurer group [Rozewill], and above all, Seori was with us.

"I deeply regret the disrespectful treatment towards Your Highness Seori and your companions. I don't know how to express my apologies..."

"I-I'm so sorry!"

Next to the commander, the soldier from earlier was prostrating himself, his face pale.

The Kingdom of Restamia had once provoked a war with the Bargia Dragon Duchy and was defeated by a single blow from the Dragon King, and is now paying reparations. They are the only country on the continent with a history of opposing Bargia, and their fate hangs on the Dragon King's whim. It's understandable why they're so flustered.

However, no one would have expected the Dragon King's daughter to be casually sightseeing among ordinary tourists.

With all the adults bowing deeply, the dragon princess herself was at a loss.

"Um, Master..."

"Forgive them. They didn't really do anything wrong in the first place."

There was a misunderstanding, but it was the result of them fulfilling their duties.

There's no reason to be angry.

"As... as the dragon princess, I forgive you. Raise your heads."

"Yes, Your Highness!"

Feeling a bit sorry for the soldier sweating profusely, I said,

"Really, please don't worry about it. We're not here on an official visit but on a private trip, so it's fine to treat us like ordinary adventurers. There's no diplomatic issue."

"S-such generous words... We've caused great inconvenience to you, Sir Ruruk."

"No, not at all. More importantly, have you figured out why the golem went berserk?"

Since they were likely to keep apologizing if we continued like this, I changed the subject.

The commander furrowed his brow and said,

"That's still unclear. There are no traces of unusual magic, and the formula appears normal... However, we've gathered testimonies from citizens confirming it did go berserk. We've identified the victim and are addressing the situation."

"I see... It seems like this will be a troublesome case."

It was just as Lilith had imagined.

"We've decided to dispose of the golem in question, but honestly, there's a possibility of similar malfunctions occurring. We plan to recall other units made by the same creator and begin an investigation immediately."

"I see. Thank you for your hard work."

As expected of a golem nation, their response is as quick as a major company recalling defective products.

While future developments probably won't concern us, I should at least ask for permission.

"If we encounter a similar situation in the future, would it be alright to respond in the same way?"

"Of course. We sincerely thank you for protecting our citizens this time."

"It's nothing, really."

At any rate, it's a relief that our combat actions won't be questioned.

With that settled, we quickly left the barracks. Since it was essentially an accident, it wasn't a bad experience if we consider it as a unique event in Restamia.

Lilith was pleased to have made connections with the Golem Corps. The commander seemed quite surprised when she handed him a business card from Luney Trading Company.

"Well then, shall we get back to sightseeing with renewed spirits?"

"Before that, let's go to a cafe. I'm thirsty."

Indeed, that's where we were headed originally.

So we set off again to visit a cafe known for its tea.

If there was one miscalculation, it was that the rumor of the dragon princess sightseeing spread instantly throughout the Restamia royal capital.

The gate guards at the outer wall had probably reported Seori's visit to their superiors. I think that's why the commander rushed over so quickly.

But now that the soldiers knew, it meant the general public would find out too.

By evening, as we walked through the streets, people were making way for us, watching from a distance and whispering among themselves.

"We're being avoided... Rumors sure spread fast, huh."

"Has the rumor about Ruruk being a perverted gentleman finally spread to the public?"

"That's not about me."

I'm not a pervert. 

Besides, Nagi is the only one pushing that false theory... Oh, well, Saaya did mention it once... Come to think of it, Seori and Elen also... Okay, let's just pretend this conversation never happened.

"It's getting uncomfortable though. Shops are starting to close, should we head back to the inn?"

"Are we done sightseeing already? I'm not hungry yet, and I'd like to walk around a bit more."

"Then let's visit a handicraft store last. We should buy some souvenirs too."

We decided to stop by a popular handicraft store in the royal capital, guided by our tourist map.

The southern part of Restamia is a mining region, so they're known for various minerals. It's not surprising given the background of their developed golem industry, but as a result, handicrafts using leftover materials that wouldn't otherwise have value have become popular souvenirs.

The fashion-loving girls were determined to stay until closing time.

Saaya and Nagi chose many cute accessories, Lilith looked at fabric products for clothes and bags, and Seori was solely focused on finding items that would suit gothic Lolita fashion. Elen was intently examining rings.

"Oh, this would suit Leelin-san."

There was a pretty hair clip with amethyst fragments. A hair clip isn't heavy and it's consumable, so it's not a bad souvenir.

"Brother, which do you think would be better as a gift for Mother?"

"For Rina-san? Come to think of it, it's been a while since I've seen her."

"Mother misses you too. Please do visit her."

"Alright, I will."

If that's the case, I should choose a present too.

We spent an enjoyable time shopping like this, concluding our sightseeing for the day.

By the time we returned to the inn, the sun had set, and most of the surrounding shops had closed, returning the city to its quiet state.

Automatic golems were strolling along the sparsely populated streets without any unusual occurrences.

So this is the night scenery of the Restamia royal capital.

"...Ruruk, we're being followed."

As we neared the inn, Nagi whispered.

Without replying or turning around, I activated "Mystic Eyes". We've occasionally had stalkers since becoming famous, so it's not too surprising.

Since Elen isn't saying anything, there's probably no hostility. If there were, Elen's "Danger Perception" would activate immediately.

"Ah, found them. About 200 meters behind us on the rooftop. Good catch."

"That distance is nothing."

It was a rather small man.

He was hiding on the rooftop, slowly following us. He must have good eyesight to keep this distance without losing sight of us in the dimly lit streets.

"Who is it?"

"A dwarf. Probably a national scout?"

Dwarves are small, quick, and have sharp senses. They're not strong in combat but are suited for reconnaissance, often working as scouts for adventurers.

They're a relatively rare race, but not uncommon. At least we see them more frequently than sheep-people.

There's no malice or harmful intent in his gaze, so he's probably just a watchman.

Maybe he's tasked with reporting immediately if anything happens, since Seori is with us.

"Seems fine to leave him be."

"Then it's okay. If he peeps at the bath, give him a moderate punishment."

"He'll be fine, he's not you, Nagi."

"...Did you remember something?"

"Oh, I've been forgetful lately. Did something happen?"

I accidentally recalled a memory. Forget, forget.

Well, it's natural for the country to keep watch, but our detection abilities being too high might be a bit of a problem. If there's no hostility, it might be better not to notice, as it can be distracting.

"Should I eliminate?"

"No need for that."

"Mm."

Elen looked dissatisfied.

As we returned to the inn with our watcher in tow, there was an unexpected person in the lobby.

"Oh, Ruruk! So you were indeed staying here!"

Rising from the sofa as we entered was Count Babel Ketaaru.

The muscle-bound nobleman, looking like he belonged in a dramatic manga, was grinning with about ten guards who looked more like his disciples.

The hotel lobby felt cramped with all the muscles. It suddenly seems so narrow.

"Count Babel!? Why are you here?"

"I'm staying for a while on diplomatic business with Restamia. I heard rumors of your presence earlier and thought you might be at the same inn. It's been a while, Miss Saaya, have you grown taller? You're as beautiful as ever."

"I'm honored. I'm glad to see you're well too, Count."

Saaya curtsied in response.

Lilith, standing next to her, also curtsied, holding the hem of her skirt.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Count Ketaaru. I am Lilith Muuteru. I understand you're well acquainted with my father, and I'm grateful for that."

"Oh!? So you're Digray's daughter. He's been boasting in social circles about how talented you are, just like him... Hahaha, but it seems you don't resemble your father much in appearance."

"Fufu. I'll take that as a compliment."

"Of course. And that young lady over there, might you be Princess Seori Bargiria?"

"Uh, yes. Do as you please."

"It's an honor to meet you, Dragon Princess!"

"Eep!"

Unable to withstand Count Babel's pressure, Seori hid behind Saaya.

Lastly, Count Babel's gaze fell on the tanned girl, Nagi.

"You are... Hmm... What a strange coincidence."

"? Have we met before?"

"No. I apologize if I'm mistaken, but... you're a demon, aren't you?"

Count Babel spoke in a low voice so only we could hear.

We were surprised. She should be unrecognizable due to the perception interference.

"That's right, but how did you know?"

"Demons have a slightly different trapezius muscle attachment than us. If you train your neck, you can tell at a glance."

What kind of perspective is that? Well, I suppose it's a kind of keen eye... though not particularly useful.

Come to think of it, the White Arm demon—Nagi's brother—first attacked the Ketaaru family, didn't he?

The count narrowed his eyes and said,

"And your muscle balance is identical to that demon... Ruruk, could it be..."

"Yes, Nagi is White Arm's sister."

"I see. My deepest condolences."

Count Babel bowed his head slightly.

I explained the situation to the confused Nagi.

"I-I see... So you're the noble my brother attacked..."

"Indeed. But I bear no grudge. He was a proud warrior who never raised a hand against the weak. It was my lack of training that I couldn't resist."

"...Brother..."

Nagi entered her rare "brother mode" again.

I quickly made a suggestion to Count Babel.

"Since we've met by chance in a foreign land, how about dinner? We were planning to eat at a restaurant today, and if you'd like, please join us with your guards. If you're familiar with this country, we'd love to hear about the famous places."

"Oh, we were also planning to dine at a restaurant, so this is perfect. Ladies, would you mind if we join you, despite our intimidating appearance?"

"Of course not, Count."

Apart from Seori, who seemed a bit intimidated, no one seemed to object.

And so, we ended up having dinner at a restaurant with Count Babel's Muscle Brigade, whom we had coincidentally reunited with.

Perhaps because Count Babel's territory borders the Kingdom of Restamia, he was quite knowledgeable about this country's culture and famous places.

Surprisingly, the count and Nagi, a martial arts enthusiast, hit it off, engaging in heated discussions about training methods while drinking. The count's disciples were also excited, absorbing Nagi's knowledge.

...For Nagi's brother, this scene would surely have been a pleasant one.

By the way, the Muscle Brigade had lined up their specially ordered high-protein, low-fat muscle-building menu on the tables of the high-class restaurant.