The Mysterious Child: An Adventure Tale Beginning with Numerology

 "Branch Manager! How many C-rank or higher parties are currently in town?!"

"Two groups: the escort specialists 'Demon Warding Book' and the subjugation-oriented C-rank 'Dragon's Breath'! It's clearly insufficient, but... contact them immediately! We'll fortify the north side of town!"

"Understood! I'm on my way!"

Guild staff members were running around frantically.

It seems the 'Demon Warding Book' party we met recently is also in this town.

So emergency quests are mandatory for C-rank and above parties, huh. It's a shame they're being sent on a defense mission against an A-rank monster, but thinking that we might be in that position someday, it's not someone else's problem. Let's sympathize with them while we can.

Just as I was thinking I should head back to the inn soon, a familiar silhouette of a little girl appeared at the guild entrance.

"Mm, found Ruruk."

"Elenora, you came too... Huh? Where's your robe?"

She had taken off her deep green robe and was walking towards me in her outfit that looked like a young lady's school uniform.

"Mm... not necessary."

"Ah, that's right, this country prohibits discrimination against beast-folk, doesn't it?"

The guild staff were curious about the unfamiliar sheep-folk, but their gazes didn't hold any further meaning. Well, they might have other things to worry about right now.

"So, what's the situation?"

"Ah, good morning, Master. A wolf monster appeared at the west gate earlier, and apparently an A-rank monster has shown up in the northern part of town. It seems an emergency quest has been issued, but there are only two C-rank parties available."

"Did you hear what kind of A-rank monster it is?"

"Well, not that far."

Perhaps because the information is still confused, there doesn't seem to be an accurate announcement yet.

In any case, there's a need to strengthen the town's defenses, so those who can fight are heading towards the north gate. It seems they won't go out of their way to subjugate it, but if the monster comes towards the town, it will be a defensive battle.

"Ruruk-kun! I'm sorry, but we're suspending reception duties for a while. The guild staff has to prepare for the defense battle at the north gate. You and Elenora-chan should hide in the basement here because it's dangerous."

The receptionist pointed to the staff passage of the guild.

At the end of the passage, a trapdoor was open. There must be a food storage room underground.

Of course, neither Elenora nor I are conceited enough to think we can fight an A-rank monster. A-rank equivalents are boss-class monsters with titles like the Fly King Beelzebub or the Sea Demon Kraken. They not only use magic but should also have incredibly high levels.

They're opponents that high-ranking adventurers or knight orders would come out to subjugate.

Maybe Elenora's maximum attack could put up a bit of a fight, but...

"You wouldn't let us cross such a dangerous bridge... right?"

"What do you take me for? The difference in ability is too great, obviously."

Roze glared at me.

"But, you know. Being in the north would be troublesome either way. If we wait about an hour and that monster doesn't disappear, I'll go and take care of it quickly."

"Oh, as expected of Master. We can rely on you."

If the Mystic King fights, we can rest easy.

Or rather, she was planning to ignore it if it didn't interfere with our journey.

"Of course. Let them defend their own town. Unless it's an extremely unreasonable situation, that is."

Roze said while patting Elenora's head.

That's true. Even if she's the Mystic King, there's no need to eliminate every visible threat, and if she did that, the people around wouldn't grow.

We waited for a while, sitting in the now-empty first-floor tavern of the guild.

Roze said, "I'll go take a look," and left the guild.

Of course, we apprentices are on house-sitting duty.

It seems we won't have a role to play this time.

As I was thinking how boring it was, Elenora's stomach growled.

Come to think of it, we hadn't had breakfast yet.

"Want to eat something?"

"Mm, hungry."

However, there's only portable food and a water bottle in my pouch.

...Well, since no one's here anyway, shall we borrow the kitchen?

I'll leave one silver coin and use some ingredients.

"I'll go to the kitchen for a bit."

"Mm."

I headed towards the back of the tavern, leaving Elenora behind.

However, there was a shadow entering the guild as if timing it perfectly, but I didn't notice it.

■ ■ ■ ■ ■

<~Monologue of a Freia Scout~>

I had a talent for scouting.

From a young age, I was agile, excelling in dexterity rather than strength or magic. I never lost in races, and I was proud of my relatively high physical abilities.

When I was little, my dream was to become an adventurer.

The role of a scout is very important in dungeons and such, detecting hidden enemies and traps, disabling them, and finding treasure chests.

I dreamed of becoming an adventurer like that, delving into dungeons and striking it rich.

But I had to give up on that dream.

I was born and raised in this town of Freia, and I have a family here. A family of four: my parents and my younger brother. My father is a humble owner of a general store, and my mother is busy helping him. Unlike me, my brother is sickly and couldn't go out much.

To become an adventurer and go to dungeons, I would have to leave this town of Freia.

My father and mother work tirelessly every day, barely making enough income to get by. It has always been my job to take care of my brother. If I were to leave town now, one of my parents would have to look after my brother. That would reduce their income, and if we went bankrupt, the whole family might have to sell themselves.

Because of these circumstances, I gave up on becoming an adventurer and decided to become a town soldier.

Of course, soldiers also have scouting roles. It's different from dungeons, but it's a respectable information-gathering role. An important job to be the first to respond in emergencies and return with accurate information.

So when an A-rank monster appeared, orders were immediately issued.

"It seems a monster has appeared in the forest north of town. The main road is nearby, so please go assess the situation."

Told this, I hurried there using wind magic.

What I found from a distance in the forest was,

"A monster..."

There was a giant wrapped in cold air.

I've heard about this. Jotunn, the violent ice giant that uses ice-attribute magic. Its height was taller than the trees in the forest, and each step left footprints in the ground. Its threat level is undoubtedly A-rank.

I was immediately overcome with the urge to flee, but as a scout, I had to confirm Jotunn's path.

After tracking it for half an hour, hiding in the shadows of trees, I became certain of where the seemingly aimlessly walking Jotunn was headed.

"Damn it, of all places, why Freia?"

It was slowly but surely approaching Freia.

I can't stay here. I have to hurry back to Freia to report and at least get my family to escape from the south of town— Just as I was about to dash off,

"OOOOH!"

Jotunn roared.

And then, an earthquake-like vibration.

Covering my ears from the tremendous noise, I turned around to see something unbelievable.

Jotunn had fallen, knocking down trees.

At its feet stood a single girl.

Long jet-black hair.

A thin face with a low nose, and large round black eyes.

The girl spoke to the fallen Jotunn in a voice like she was disciplining a dog.

"Go back to your lair. If you do, I won't do anything more."

"GUOOOOO!"

The giant's reply came in the form of a raging storm of wind and ice.

It was a furious magic that seemed like it might reach even me at this distance. Indeed, the cold air was flowing all the way here.

The giant, still fallen, swung its ice-covered fist down at the girl.

ZUUUN!

The earth roared.

I thought she had been crushed unceremoniously—but my eyes saw the girl standing unharmed next to the fist.

With an expression as if she had merely been caressed by a gentle breeze.

"I guess I have no choice."

Against the raging giant, the girl took only one action.

She just snapped her fingers. That's all.

But in the next moment, a lightning-like light was released from the girl's body.

It struck Jotunn's entire body with a tremendous impact.

...It was over in an instant.

While I was covering my eyes from the lightning, Jotunn had been robbed of its life, its giant figure turned into mere flesh.

The girl approached Jotunn's corpse and snapped her fingers again softly. The giant's head slipped off and rolled on the ground.

Then when the girl touched the body, it disappeared as if being sucked into something.

All that remained was the giant's head, blood wetting the ground, and fallen, scorched trees.

The girl brushed off her clothes as if nothing had happened, then turned to look this way.

I felt my spine freeze.

"Now then, you go back to town and report accurately."

"Y-Yes..."

I nodded obediently.

Although I felt some fear, it was overwhelmed by the admiration filling my heart.

The girl's overwhelming strength and beauty before my eyes. It was inevitable to feel something close to worship.

And although I hadn't meant to take my eyes off her, in the next moment, the girl had vanished.

After confirming that there was no presence around, I threw out my trembling legs and sat down hard.

A mysterious girl who defeated an A-rank monster with a single finger snap, as easily as twisting a baby's hand.

Although I had no way of knowing who she was,

"Black hair, black eyes... Could it be the legendary...?"

Her appearance reminded me of the king who has lived for thousands of years, appearing in various books.

But whether that was true or not.

I once again prayed with the utmost respect and gratitude for the fact that she had protected the town where my family lives.