Suteko Ni Narimashita 18

Although I was walking steadily, it didn’t mean I had a purpose.

But I did have a destination—

The tall tower that was ever-present in my sight. After leaving the Stone Shop, I caught a glimpse of the said tower and set my eyes on it.

“—Mommmyyy! Mommyyyy!”

All of a sudden, I heard a child’s cry.

When I turned to look in the direction of the voice in surprise, I saw a crying child right next to me.

Even if I called it a child, we were probably around the same age. If it was in my previous life, this child would’ve been an elementary schooler.

“Uh, what’s wrong?”

Instinctively, I called out.

However, there was no way a crying child would listen to such a person. The cry continued.

The adults around me snuck a glance, but when they spotted me, they walked away as if nothing happened.

Anyway, what a nuisance. I blocked the sound with magic and her cries were muffled.

In that state, she cried for several minutes; slowly but surely, her wailing became smaller—perhaps because she got tired.

It’s about time.

Despite vaguely understanding why she was crying, I still asked her.

“What’s wrong?”

“Where’s mommy…?”

I could barely understand what she was saying due to all the sobbing, but she was lost.

What should I do?

I’d already spoken to her, so I couldn’t just leave her alone. Although we could walk around until we found her parents, it’d be troublesome if her parents got the wrong idea.

“What’s your name?”

In order to not terrify her as much as possible, I spoke with a smile.

“…Lulu.”

Lulu replied, her gaze downcast. She was clenching the hem of her dress.

“Lulu… is it? Then, can you tell me your mother’s name?”

“Stona.”

“So, your mother is called Stona?”

Lulu gave me a nod, her eyes still brimming with tears.

“How long have you been separated from your mother?”

“…Since she went to buy something.”

“Do you remember what it was?”

In response, she shook her head.

Oh no, she’s about to cry again!

“Then, let’s look for her.”

I should be able to do something to distract her, but I couldn’t think of anything at the moment!

In the end, I decided to look for her mother on foot. That’s it, if I can find a place to leave her, I’ll do just that. Even so, I could only think of the guards’ station.

“Where did you last see her?”

Lulu pointed her finger towards the inside of the shopping district.

That’s where I came from. Well, it’s fine.

Usually, to attract attention, a person would carry the lost child on his shoulders. However, we were about the same size. Although I could piggyback her, I doubted it’d do much.

Ultimately, we resorted to shouting her mother’s name.

I asked for Lulu’s cooperation and used my [Fighting Spirit] to amplify our voices. 

“Stona! Lulu’s mother! Stona!”

“Mama—! Mama—!”

Even so, a screaming child sure attracts a lot of attention. Well, as long as the voice reached Stona… No, it didn’t have to be her. As long as it was someone Lulu knew…

—But then, something occurred to me

Did Stona really get separated from Lulu?

An unpleasant premonition crossed my mind.

Is Stona really looking for Lulu?

What if Lulu was abandoned—just like me?

The ominous thought boiled in my mind without any basis. Even though I just stumbled across a lost child.

My useless worries soon turned into unfounded ones.

“Lulu—!”

A woman with long black hair ran towards Lulu.

For a moment, I braced myself to be suspected as a suspicious person, but I was proven wrong once again.

“Mother!”

Lulu smiled as she hugged the woman. 

Is this Stona?

“Where have you been!? I told you to stay close!”

Before I could bask in the parent and child reunion, Stona scolded Lulu. The woman held Lulu’s shoulders, knelt down, and stared straight into her daughter’s eyes. Stona then told Lulu how worried she was and how dangerous it was to be alone.

…A few minutes later.

I could feel Stona’s piercing gaze. The whole time, I just stood there, dumbfounded.

“Who is he…?”

She didn’t seem to have noticed me until now and asked Lulu who I was. Come to think of it, Lulu didn’t say anything about me, either.

“I—…”

“This big brother helped me find you!”

When I was about to speak, Lulu introduced me.

“Huh, you…”

Stona looked at me from head to toe several times and immediately frowned.

“Are you a child from the slums?”

“Yes, I am, but—”

Just as I was about to say something, Stona took Lulu’s hand and stood up.

“Lulu, we’re leaving.”

Stona drove Lulu away from me. Despite her confusion, Lulu had no choice but to be taken away by Stona. 

“What’s the matter?”

“Don’t get involved with those from the slums.”

“Huh? But…”

As if to keep her in check, Stona continued to pull her away.

Lulu looked back and forth between her mother and me, staring in bewilderment before waving at me.

“Big Brother, see you soon!”

When she heard that, Stona walked even faster.

Immediately, the parent and child disappeared like peas in the distance.

What just happened…?

Left alone, I watched the two of them in a daze.

I felt like as soon as Stona found out that I lived in the slums, Stona became cold.

I’d lived in the slums for a long time, so I was unaware, but were the slum dwellers hated?

I knew that some of the slum dwellers would engage in theft, so it wasn’t like I didn’t understand where they were coming from.

But I was just an innocent child, yet despised to such an extent…

Subjected to such pure, unadulterated malice, I felt unpleasant.

I shouldn’t think about it. 

While thinking about that, I turned around.

I stormed out of the shopping district.

Don’t mind it. Don’t let it bother you.

Yet for some reason, I was afraid of the eyes around me.

***

My gait was heavy.

Let’s go home.

I thought, but I still wanted to check my destination.

I mean, the tower is already within sight. 

I’d go home after taking a look at that tower.

I went past the shopping district and entered the residential space.

A townscape paved with stone that looked somewhat organized. The streets were dirty with light debris, but there was no significant damage or large rubbles.

I wonder what the residents usually do inside their houses.

With [Invisibility] magic, I could take a look…

But for some reason, I felt like I shouldn’t do it, so I hesitated.

Even though I broke in as I pleased in the village, I felt that I shouldn’t do that here.

Strange.

What’s the difference?

I survived by stealing seasonings and unwanted clothes. Stealing had been part of my life. Even earlier, I’d been able to sneak into the training ground.

So, what am I feeling guilty for?

I racked my brain, but couldn’t find an answer.

For some reason, Lulu and Stona’s backs reappeared in my mind.

As expected, I went along without breaking into any of the residences.

I’m almost at the tower.

I passed an area lined with workshops. Short, muscular men had become a common sight on the street. The sound of hammering echoed, accompanied by the sound of woodcutting. 

I’m curious, but I’m already tired. 

I hurried to the tower so that I could go home.

I walked silently and passed by.

I felt envious of the liveliness.

How long has it been? I kept walking and finally reached the base of the tower.

From here onwards, it was the First District, where aristocrats and royalty lived.

Of course, there was also security. The district was surrounded by walls about 10 meters high.

Moreover, guards were stationed at the gate leading from the shopping district. However, they didn’t seem to take any taxes and were merely keeping a watchful eye on anyone who might be up to no good.

I tried to pass quietly, but as expected, the guards saw me.

Thinking that it’d be more suspicious if I suddenly stopped, I continued walking while feigning indifference. 

Just a bit more—

However, the guards blocked me.

“Do you have any business ahead?”

One of the guards peered into my face and asked. There was vigilance in his smile and his hands gripped tightly around his spear. 

“No, I don’t have any business in particular, but…”

“If you don’t have any business, you can’t enter. Forgive me.”

With a smile, he sent a signal to the staff from his back. I was puzzled.

I must avoid causing trouble. 

“I want to see that tower.” Yeah, I didn’t think they’d let me through with just that.

“Okay, then.”

Time to go home. But one last thing—

“What is that tower?”

I asked the guard and pointed my finger at the tower. Following the direction of my finger, the guard stared quizzically at the tower.

“That is… The Skull Tower.”

“What is a Skull Tower?”

After pondering briefly, the guard answered.

“It’s where the important people who died in this town go. Do you know what a ritual is? It’s used for various rituals.”

“So, it’s like a cemetery?”

“Well, it’s a bit different. But it’s more or less the same. To put it simply, it’s the resting house of a great man.”

I finally found my answer.

“Why do you ask?”

“I came all the way here because I was curious about that tower.”

The guard was at a loss for words.

“Thank you very much. Good luck with your work.”

I turned around and left. When I turned to look at the tower for one last time, I caught a glimpse of the guard’s perplexed look.

My purpose was accomplished. Time to go home.

I returned to my home without looking back. Deliberately ignoring the hammering sound, the delicious fragrance, and the gazes of the surroundings, I trodded on.

Thus, I arrived at the entrance of the slums.

All right, I should go home. 

I tried to step in.

But for some reason, I found myself hesitating. After experiencing the drastic change, my legs wouldn’t budge.

Ah, I see.

So, that’s why the man who had his luggage stolen had to turn back here.

A boundary between two worlds, where an invisible line was drawn.

I tried to step forward again.

It’s okay, all I have to do is step in.

It’s just entering the slums…

By the time I returned to my home, it was already dark.