The Mysterious Child: An Adventure Tale Beginning with Numerology

Come to think of it, since Saaya joined us, I've been able to have my own room at the inn.

We let Saaya use the room we originally rented, and I got a new single room for myself.

It was a room one grade lower, but the bed is comfortable and it's much more spacious than my room back home.

I have a perfect guard against Elen and Saaya, who come barging in with pillows thinking I might be feeling lonely by myself, thanks to the ironclad excuse of Punisuke. Punisuke lives a healthy life, falling asleep as soon as the sun sets and sleeping soundly until I wake him up, so my sleep isn't disturbed.

I wake up feeling good in the morning too.

"Good morning, Ruruk. Where are Punisuke and Roze-san?"

"Good morning. Punisuke is in the room, and I haven't seen Master this morning either."

I was drinking tea at what has become our designated corner in the inn's restaurant when Saaya came down.

She's in loose pajamas with a sleepy face. Her hair isn't styled yet, so it's full of bedhead.

"Where's Elen?"

"She's still sleeping. It was the same yesterday, even if I try to wake her up, she won't get up~"

"She's probably counting sheep in her dreams."

The sheep girl who's weak in the mornings is the same as always.

"Hey Ruruk, can you do my hair~?"

"Alright, alright."

I take out a comb as Saaya sits on my lap.

Really. Even though I think she's mature because of her inner self, she still has childish aspects.

I brush her hair until the bedhead settles down. Saaya was narrowing her eyes contentedly, but suddenly turned around as if something occurred to her.

Her cheeks were slightly puffed out.

"Hmm. You seem pretty used to this, don't you?"

"I used to do this for my little sister in the past. Recently, I've been doing it for Elen too."

"Ruruk, you had a little sister?"

"Yeah. Her name was Lilith, and she was quite the brother's girl."

It's been nearly four years since I've seen her, so I don't know how she's doing now.

When I was in the Stoania Kingdom, I sent several letters home, but I didn't get any replies, so I don't know what's going on. I'm not even sure if they reached Lilith in the first place.

"I see. Come to think of it, where are you from again, Ruruk? Stoania?"

"No, Mataisa. There's a place called Muuteran with a dungeon."

"Oh, I see! We should properly go greet your parents someday!"

"Why? Ah, but like Saaya, my mother has already passed away, so if we were to greet anyone, it would just be my father."

"I-is that so... Ruruk, wasn't it hard for you?"

She rests the back of her head on my chest and looks up at me with gentle eyes.

I shrug while stroking Saaya's hair.

"You know, I came to this world when this body was 5 years old. The original Ruruk died from an illness, and I kind of took over and came back to life in his place. Ruruk's mother apparently died right after he was born, so I never knew her in the first place."

"I didn't know that could happen... So you became Ruruk partway through, huh."

"Yeah. That's why it took some time to get used to it, and even after I got used to it, sometimes I feel a bit detached from myself."

Even though I should be Ruruk, Ruruk feels like someone else.

I was aware that sometimes I look at myself with strangely detached eyes.

"I see. But Ruruk is Ruruk now, right? You're not Nanairo Gaku anymore, so everything you've thought and done in this world is what you yourself chose. Roze-san, Elenora, and of course me, we're all here because you're Ruruk. So don't make such a lonely face, okay?"

"Eh? Am I making that kind of face?"

"Yeah. Come on, smile, smile!"

Saaya changes her position to face me and squishes my cheeks with both hands.

She plays with my face, squishing it.

But well, it seems she's trying to be considerate.

"Whaf are you foing?"

"It's fine. Ah, but if you want to thank me, go ahead! Mm~"

Saaya closes her eyes and brings her lips closer.

Don't get carried away.

I give her a chop on the forehead.

"Ouch! Hey, isn't that mean?"

"You're too careless."

"What's wrong with it! Once or twice doesn't make a difference, right?"

"Value yourself more."

You're not married yet, you know.

And in such a public place, have you forgotten you're a viscount's daughter?

"Mmm~ Even though you stole my first kiss~"

"You're the one who stole it, you know."

"Was that how it was~ Saaya doesn't remember!"

"Yeah, yeah. Anyway, it's time to order. The waiter is waiting."

"I know that. Ah, but wait a second. Does that mean I got Ruruk's first kiss? Kyaa~!"

Saaya was squirming happily.

...Yeah, let's keep quiet about the fact that it wasn't my first.

I don't have a hobby of stirring up trouble unnecessarily.

After that, Saaya ordered a pasta-like dish with lots of meat and fruit water, and started eating.

Roze showed up a little while after that.

Just as Saaya was finishing her meal, she appeared in the restaurant.

"Good morning, you two."

"Good morning, Master."

"Good morning, Roze-san~"

"Saaya, we're going out again today. Take a quest that can be done outside the town while you're at it."

"Eh~ We're going out again? I'd prefer studying indoors."

"What you can do indoors, you can do outdoors, but what you can do outdoors, you can't do indoors. Come on, hurry up and get ready."

"...Okay."

Saaya left her seat with a reluctant feeling.

As the waiter was clearing away the dishes, I ask Roze, who was still standing.

"Master, you're training Saaya again today. What about the informant?"

"I'll go after this. What are you doing today, Ruruk?"

"I haven't decided yet. But I was thinking of going clothes shopping today."

"My, that's unusual. What's the occasion?"

She looked at me with quite a curious gaze.

Well, usually I think and say and wear anything that looks adventurer-like is fine.

But this time is special.

"We have the appreciation party the day after tomorrow, right? I'm invited as an adventurer, so I don't intend to follow a dress code, but it's been a while since I bought these clothes. Since it's a special occasion, I thought I'd go in new, clean clothes."

It's been almost a year since I bought this size. Even though I wash them every day, the collar and sleeves are worn out. They're good for outdoor activities, but for a party with nobles, they're a bit shabby.

Considering I'm still growing, I'll buy slightly larger clothes.

I was also thinking of getting new clothes for Elen.

"I see. Then it's a date with Elenora. Have a good time."

"Master, please don't bully Saaya too much."

Roze just raised her hand without making any promises.

Saaya, do your best...

After finishing my tea, I also got up to go wake Elen.

Elen and I had a strategy meeting, and we decided to change our style a bit for the clothes we'll wear to the appreciation party.

Of course, we're not changing the concept of adventurer clothes (cute clothes for Elen), but we mean a design change.

However, to avoid interfering with our adventurer activities, we settled on trying to buy just one outfit for now.

So that's why we came to the only equipment and clothing store in this town that caters to adventurers.

As we were looking around, remembering somewhat from when we brought Saaya here before, we found a certain outfit with a "New Arrival" tag.

"T-This is... a sailor uniform!?"

A large collar with white lines, a flashy ribbon on the chest, a short length that goes down to just above the navel, a skirt design with long vertical pleats.

It was undoubtedly a sailor uniform. And a modern, stylish one at that.

Of course, it's not made of the familiar synthetic material, but silk, which is a luxury item in this country.

As I was surprised, a shop assistant hurriedly approached and explained that this outfit is currently popular among the children of nobles in the Maguu Empire. Since there are quite a few nobles living in this town too, they bought just one.

The Maguu Empire, huh. There's a high possibility of another Japanese person there, next to Saaya.

We'll have to go there eventually.

"Excuse me, can we have this outfit tailored to fit her?"

"Yes! With pleasure!"

Well, of course we're buying it.

This will be Elen's formal wear for the appreciation party.

I handed Elen a bracelet with perception interference cast on it before measurements and kept her robe. As I watched the little girl disappear into the fitting room with the shop assistant, I started looking for my own clothes.

A different design, huh. I usually wear a shirt and pants with leather armor, which looks very much like a novice adventurer. Now that I'm B-rank, should I dress to look a bit stronger?

But because I'm wearing the unicorn cloak specialized in magic resistance and the griffon armor specialized in physical resistance, I hardly take any damage from attacks up to B-rank monster level.

I guess I'll prioritize design and go for something cool.

After looking at various options, I decided on a black collared shirt with a thin gray vest, and brown pants the same color as my hair.

I'll wear the vest over the leather armor so that it doesn't look too cluttered even when I take off my cloak.

While I was choosing, I was self-praising my incredibly cool sense, but... yeah. When I actually wore it and looked in the mirror, I thought: This is the kind of stable outfit you'd see on a few people if you went to the Adventurers' Guild.

It's fine. Even in my previous life, I used to wear ethnic clothes of unknown origin that my parents sent without caring.

"Sir, your young lady's change is complete."

Oh, it's done already?

Called by the shop assistant, I headed to the fitting room.

What came out from behind the curtain was Elen, perfectly wearing the sailor uniform. The large navy collar complements her fluffy white hair beautifully. It seems they changed the ribbon to green, which Elen likes, making it a very cute finish. The skirt length has also been shortened to Elen's liking, making it look easy to move in.

"Mm... Ruruk, how is it?"

"It suits you. It's as if this outfit was made for Elen, you're the cutest in the world."

"Ah!"

The noble skill engraved in my soul activated.

Elen, who should now be unfazed by any monster, turned bright red and went back into the fitting room.

Was saying "in the world" too exaggerated and embarrassing?

Oh well.

"Then please ring up this outfit along with mine."

"Certainly. Thank you very much."

The sailor uniform was quite expensive because it's made of silk and is a luxury item, but it's not bad if I think of it as Elen's formal wear.

I don't have much desire for material things, but it's not bad to go shopping for myself once in a while.

I was satisfied with my shopping.

That night, I didn't yet know that I would be whined at with incredible force by Saaya, who was shown the sailor uniform by a boastful Elen.