Chapter 115
Translator: Kell Editor: Weasalopes
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The Four Stars of the East’s Plan
They arrived at an inn where the ladies were staying . The Four Stars drew too much attention, so they couldn’t really talk in an open space like a restaurant . Hikaru asked for some place quiet and they ended up at the inn . The room was small; with four beds, there wasn’t a lot of place left .
「I expected a better room since you’re all rank B adventurers . 」Hikaru said .
Selyse gave a wry smile . 「We have money, but there’s not a lot of inns in Borderzard . The fact that we’re not camping out in a tent and that they offered us an actual room is special treatment in and of itself . Take a seat . 」
「Where?」
「The bed I guess . 」
「………」
The four ladies were already sitting on their own beds . Hikaru stood by the door .
「I’m fine here . 」he said .
Selyse looked amused, and then Selica spoke before she could .
「I have a question!」
「Before we proceed, I may not answer all your questions . We’re not exactly friends right now . 」Hikaru said with force in his voice .
Selyse wore the same amused expression . Sarah was lying down on her bed, playing with some sort of puzzle ring . Sophie was smiling, head tilted . Selica didn’t seem to care .
「I don’t mind!」
They seemed a notch above others, perhaps due to age or experience .
「Good grief . What do you want to know?」
「What was that fire magic?!」
Hikaru thought she would ask about Japan . Selica seemed to have read his mind and said “I’ll ask you about it when the others aren’t around” in Japanese .
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「I don’t plan to stay that long, but whatever . The fire magic she used is called Flame Gospel . It’s not really a rare spell, is it?」
「That’s high-level magic! True, it’s a known spell, but only a few can use it . I haven’t heard of anyone else using it in succession!」
「Yup . I can’t comment any more on that, though . 」
「How does she have ridiculous amount of mana?」
「No comment . 」
「Is her fire magic related to her killing the Count?」
「No . Also she didn’t kill him . 」
「Then who did?!」
「No comment . 」
「So you know who’s the culprit?」
「No comment . 」
「Are you the one who let Lavia escape?」
「No comment . 」
「Hngh!」
「Can you tell me about Paula Nohra’s healing magic?」Sophie said .
「I’m not familiar with healing magic . 」
「Is that so…? Then let me explain . Paula restored a missing body part and even healed a petrification completely . By Ponsonia’s standards, she would be among the best healers in the kingdom . Not to toot my own horn, but if I used all my strength, I might be able to do it too . Although I would collapse afterwards . 」
Hikaru was starting to get a headache . What did that girl do?
「Where did you see Paula?」 he asked .
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「The town hall where the injured were brought in . Most of the wounded have been healed… as for the rest…」
Sophie slurred the rest of her words . The rest were probably dead, beyond saving . Sophie Bloomfield was like a saint, devoting herself to healing the sick and injured . That was included in the information that Hikaru gathered about them .
The fact that she was here meant that her job was done, or she was replenishing her mana .
「Like I said, I’m not familiar with healing magic . So I can’t say anything . 」
「I see… We could’ve saved a lot more people with her powers…」
Hikaru frowned . 「If you put a price on Paula’s healing magic, how much would it be?」 he asked .
「What?」
「Normally when adventurers are injured, they would either use a potion, or ask a Healer for help . Both are not free . 」
「In many cases, yes . 」
「How much would it be to save someone who’s supposed to be beyond saving? And can an adventurer afford it? I want to know . 」
「Are you saying those who don’t have money should die?」
Sophie, who was supposed to be all smiles, glared at Hikaru . The gaze of a pleasant beauty was intense .
「Adventurers are responsible for their own well-being . Sure, your act of charity may be noble . But let’s say your friend Sarah returned from scouting the dragon with serious injuries . If you were completely drained of mana, what would you have done?」
Sarah stopped her hand and glanced at Hikaru .
「I will convert my own life force into mana to heal her . 」
I didn’t know that was possible, Hikaru thought . Nevertheless, Hikaru’s answer was the same .
「That’s stupid . Do you think your friend will be happy if you shortened your own life span?」
「I stay in the backlines to save as many lives as possible . But that doesn’t mean I’m neglecting my friends . Not saving those who can be saved is arrogance . 」
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「I beg to differ . Like I said, adventurers are responsible for their own being . Being patronizing, saying “I’ll save you” is arrogance . 」
「Why not help those who can be helped?」
「People are only grateful for your healing because it’s free . 」
「Whether or not I do it for free is irrelevant to the results . And—」
「All right . That’s enough . 」Selyse clapped her hands twice, stopping the argument . 「You two just got acquainted . Nothing good comes out of arguing right away . This kind of subject should be touched once you get to know each other better . 」
「Yes, you’re right . 」
「Hmph . 」What a hardcore philanthropist, Hikaru thought . He believed one should be responsible for their own life . They couldn’t possibly see eye to eye .
「I seem to be getting worked up . I’ll go get some fresh air . 」Sophie said . She passed by Hikaru and stepped outside .
「It’s unusual for Sophie to get emotional . 」Sarah said in a flat voice .
「Really?」
「Quite a lot of people died this time . Maybe she’s feeling powerless . 」Sarah rose from her bed . 「Anyway, Hikaru . Are you the one who killed the dragon? You seem to know I was out scouting . 」
「No comment . 」
「Hmm… I think the reward for killing it is huge . 」
「I don’t have financial troubles . I’d rather people not ask me questions . 」
「Haha . You’re harsh . All right, then . I’m really, really curious how you killed it, but I’ll ask my question some other time . Selyse, I’ll go see how Sophie is doing . 」
「That would be great . 」Selyse said .
Sarah left the room .
「Can I leave now?」Hikaru asked .
「Wait, I have one more question . 」the most formidable of them, Selyse, said . 「The man who kidnapped your partner is a member of the kingdom’s special forces . I know by the special cloak he was wearing . Correct me if I’m wrong, but are you perhaps planning on taking revenge?」
Hikaru readied himself . These ladies were Ponsonian adventurers and knowledgeable about the kingdom’s internal affairs . There was a high chance that they were allies with the royal family .
「No need to be on edge . We won’t stop you . 」
「You won’t?」
「Stop teasing, Selyse! Just tell him that we’re planning to leave Ponsonia . 」
「What did you say?」
It felt like they just skipped a lot of important points . Selyse said they won’t stop Hikaru from harming the king . While Selica mentioned they were leaving Ponsonia .
「It sounds like you’re giving up on Ponsonia . 」Hikaru said .
「Exactly . That saves us some time . 」
「Why?」
「I’ll explain after we make a deal . 」
「What deal?」
「I’ll tell you about the situation in the kingdom . I believe the information will help you in your revenge . 」
「What do you want from me?」
「I want you to tell me about Forestia . We rarely go out of Ponsonia, so we don’t know much . 」
「Tell us all about the delicious food and where to get them!」
「Haha . That may be enough for you, Selica, but I need political information . We might be staying here for a while . 」
Selyse still had her smile .
「We, the Four Stars of the East, are moving our base of operations from Ponsonia, and Forestia is a candidate . 」
Hikaru heaved a long sigh . 「What the hell is going on in Ponsonia?」he muttered .