Suteko Ni Narimashita 33

“Here you are.”

Upon my arrival at the Stone Shop, Gustav greeted me.

He looked up from a stack of papers and fixed his gaze on me. "You seem unharmed?"

"Yeah, I'm fine," I replied. 

Apart from the slap I'd intentionally taken from Haman, I hadn't let him lay a finger on me, so it wasn't surprising.

"So, how did everything go?"

"Everything unfolded as planned," I confirmed.

Gustav's face broke into a smile, and he gave me an approving thumbs-up. He exuded confidence and reliability.

"According to a report I got earlier, Burr's called in a healer to treat the guards at the detention center," he shared.

"Is there a commotion happening outside right now?" I asked.

‘Wouldn't the healer spread the news about the guards' defeat?’ 

I wondered if they were trying to cover it up with some excuse or sending only a few for treatment to keep it under wraps.

"True, if it were just any healer, rumors might spread. But Burr called in his off-duty associates, so they're likely trying to keep things under wraps," Gustav explained.

"I see." It seemed Burr was more adept at concealment than I had anticipated.

"We'll just have to wait and see the outcome. Though, I suspect the results won't be immediately obvious," Gustav continued.

Defining the success of such an incident wasn't straightforward; however, if most of the city came to believe that the series of incidents was a false alarm, that would signify a victory.

"If Burr fails to handle it, I'll step in," Gustav added, collecting his papers. He had been true to his word so far.

"In the meantime, you should stay out of sight," he advised.

"Why is that?"

"Do you know what they might do to suppress the rumors?"

"They could enforce a gag order, create a major diversion, or slightly alter the existing rumors," I replied, listing the possibilities. 

These were just guesses; I had never been involved in such tactics before and wasn't entirely sure.

"That's correct, but there's another method," Gustav added ominously. 

The universal gesture of sliding a thumb across the neck needed no explanation: eliminating those involved could effectively stop the spread of information.

As Gustav rolled the documents, he secured them with a string and sealed the tip with high-quality wax. 

"The guards and those injured craftsmen have the authority to control the situation. I should be able to keep them quiet, at least."

"All by yourself?" I asked, surprised.

"Of course. I'm just the manager of a modest general store in the slums," Gustav replied instantly, downplaying his influence.

"The issue is that Reshid, Nyxie, and you are also key figures in this case. Plus, if any of you were to disappear, it wouldn't cause much of a stir."

"We have no intention of telling anyone," I assured him.

"I know, but that doesn't mean they'll believe it," Gustav cautioned. 

‘Was he referring to Haman and Burr?’ 

"They might assume you're trying to stir up drama. They're narrow-minded and believe everyone else thinks the same way."

I tilted my head, considering his words.

"Aren't they underestimating others too much?" I questioned. 

It seemed to me that those who achieved success often did so by recognizing and respecting the abilities of others. I couldn't imagine anyone going far with such a narrow view.

"That's exactly why they've gone to such extremes," Gustav murmured, almost to himself.

"What do you mean?" I asked, not quite catching his implication.

He sighed. 

"Because of their narrow-mindedness, there's a real risk that your lives could be targeted. They'll likely try to eliminate you for good. You should go into hiding, at least for a couple of weeks."

"So, as long as I stay out of the public eye, I'll be fine, right?" I suggested, thinking of retreating into the slums. It wasn't much different from what I'd been doing all this time.

Gustav shook his head, a hint of regret flashing in his eyes. 

"That won't be enough. If you stay in the slum, they'll find you eventually."

He then produced a scroll from his side, unrolled it, and presented it to me.

"I've arranged for a cabin in the forest. How about a little vacation there?" Gustav suggested, pointing to a spot on the map near the city. It was a bit of a distance away, nestled near a stream and seemingly isolated from frequent foot traffic.

"I'm not opposed to the idea, but…" I hesitated, contemplating the prospect of staying there for a while. It meant carrying on with my usual life, just in a different, more secluded location. That shouldn't pose a problem, but there was another concern. 

"I won't have any work to do. It might get boring."

"You've been running around hunting non-stop lately," Gustav acknowledged with a hint of empathy.

He allowed me enough time to memorize the cabin's location before rolling up the map, indicating he wouldn't give it to me. 

"If anything were to happen to you, it would be a significant loss for me. Please see this as a personal request."

"I'll manage just fine alone," I assured him.

Gustav didn't respond, his silence conveying a protective concern.

Just then, the conversation was interrupted by voices from the other side of the door. It was almost noon, so it wasn't unusual for customers to visit the store during working hours.

However, the figures outside didn't enter the store; only their shadows stretched under the door.

"I wonder who that is?" I mused aloud, a hint of caution in my voice. After all, I had just learned that I was a target.

Pressing against the wall, I quietly extended my magical senses outside the door. There were two small figures: Hylo and Rico.

"It's Hylo and his friend," I informed Gustav.

At my words, he sighed and nodded towards the door. "Open it."

I obliged, slowly pulling the door open. Hylo and Rico stood frozen in surprise.

"What's wrong? Come in," I encouraged.

"O-okay…" they stammered, stepping inside awkwardly in front of Gustav.

"You don't seem to have brought any items today," Gustav observed, his voice tinged with curiosity.

Glancing at them again, I realized he was right. ‘Why would they come here without anything?’

Exchanging a glance and a nod, Hylo gathered his courage. 

"We need to talk to you about something."

"I see," Gustav said, his expression turning thoughtful. He gestured for them to continue.

Hylo clasped his hands together, visibly nervous.

"I want you to help us find some work," Hylo said, his gaze locked firmly on Gustav, radiating determination. It was as if time had stilled when their eyes met.

"How unexpected. What brought this on?" Gustav asked, clearly intrigued.

"We've given it much thought," Hylo replied simply.

I found myself momentarily speechless, surprised by their request.

Rico stepped in, lending support to Hylo's statement. "We've realized that the way we've been living, always just scraping by, isn't enough. When I fell ill, I was helpless."

"You're not incapable of making a living," Gustav pointed out.

"That's true, but…" Rico paused, then turned to look at me. After a slow blink, he redirected his attention to Gustav.

"If we only focus on surviving day-to-day, we're left vulnerable if something unexpected happens tomorrow."

He smiled, but there was a hint of sadness in his expression.

"I'm not as clever as Rico, and I can't earn money like he does," Hylo added, his voice tinged with humility and resolve.

Watching them, I couldn't help but think how well they complemented each other.

As I observed from the side, I couldn't help but be impressed by their sincerity.

"I resented him initially, but I felt powerless to do anything. So, I decided to make things difficult for him," Hylo confessed.

Wait a minute, that statement was too significant to overlook.

"Despite that, he saved us," Hylo continued, his voice tinged with sadness. 

"Even though neither Rico nor I could offer anything in return, he still helped us."

I had to interrupt; something about his confession was particularly troubling. 

"Hold on a second," I interjected, drawing all eyes to me. Despite the pressure, I needed clarity. 

"What exactly do you mean by 'making things difficult for him'?"

Hylo looked at me, his expression apologetic. "…We did some terrible things. I was the one who started the rumor that the meat the Crow— I mean you sold, was crow meat. I'm sorry."

"This is the first time I've heard about this," Gustav exclaimed, clearly taken aback.

"You didn't know? I thought you were just being forgiving," I said, surprised that Gustav hadn't been aware.

"That's why my fowl sales dropped?" I realized, astounded by the impact of such a trivial rumor.

Gustav, scratching his head, chimed in, "… Now you see how damaging rumors can be."

"That's true, but…" I said, puffing out my cheeks in frustration.

Still, there was a silver lining. Thanks to those rumors, I had the chance to catch healing carps. It wasn't all bad, and their sincere apologies made it easier to forgive them.

"Just make sure it doesn't happen again, okay?" I said with a smile.

Hylo nodded vigorously, his hands clasped in assurance.

But there was something else that piqued my curiosity. 

"What do you mean by 'meat sold by Crow'?"

I directed the question at Hylo, who shrank under my gaze. He avoided eye contact and mumbled, "Well, uh, I used to call you 'Crow Bastard' a lot, right? But now, it seems rude to keep saying that."

So now he's concerned about politeness?

As Hylo's voice faded to a whisper, Gustav interjected with a suggestion.

"Crow, huh? That’s quite a good name, don't you think?" he said, looking at me thoughtfully.

"Really?" I questioned, feeling a bit uncertain.

"Absolutely. It seems fitting for you. After all, you don't have a name yet, right?" Gustav pointed out.

His question made me reflect. Indeed, I had never been given a proper name. People usually referred to me using generic terms like 'you,’ 'boy,’ or 'brat.’

"Did you have any memories of being named at birth?" Gustav asked, his eyes searching mine for an answer.

I shook my head in silence. I had been left alone soon after birth without the chance to be named.

"Well then, why not accept 'Crow'? Names in the slums often come from one's appearance or actions. Look at Hylo, Rico, and Nyxie; their names are all based on unique characteristics," Gustav explained.

I mulled over his words. It seemed to be a common practice in this place.

Hylo and Rico watched me, their faces filled with anticipation.

Internally, I repeated the name: Crow, Crow… It had an intriguing sound to it. In my previous life, such a name, born from disdain, would have been unusual.

Adopting a name derived from contempt was something to consider carefully, but somehow, it felt oddly appropriate.

Having a name meant I could introduce myself with pride. 

"My name is Crow!" I mused with a hint of amusement. The name felt surprisingly fitting.

"Uh, um, are you… not mad…?" Hylo's voice trembled with apprehension. His concern was almost comical, and I couldn't help but chuckle.

"Don't worry about being so proper," I reassured him. This was fine.

I had finally acquired a name, my very own. Accepting it as a token of gratitude for healing their injuries seemed fair.

The more I thought about it, the more I warmed up to the idea of trying out this new name. 

If it didn't suit me, I always had the freedom to change it later. That choice was mine.