170 Rumors of Fathie: The Delinquent Daughter Returns

 

「Still… it’s not so bad, having one. That’s what I think now.」

「You’re a real piece of work, you know that?」

「Request. Altora, where are the recipes for this shop’s menu?」

「Old Man Maimo kept them all together in the backroom cupboard. Why the hell do you ask?」

「I made a promise to Angelina. She’ll be coming here for a meal. I must decide on the supreme course to serve her, and write it down.」

「Huh. That’s gonna be the thesis of the century, I’m sure.」

Nothing in that exchange actually resolved anything, but before he noticed, the trembling in Eria had stopped. As she briskly walked toward the backroom, Altora watched her go, then stepped into the shop and started putting away the groceries and supplies he’d just bought on the shelf by the counter.

He still had prep to do before opening up for the evening, and then the nightly war with drunkards would begin. Compared to them, dungeon monsters were nothing.

Whether continuing on this path would lead to a brighter future, he couldn’t say. But he reaffirmed his resolve to one day surpass that accursed rival, and muttered half to himself:

「Damn Eria, making me think too much. I’ve had enough trouble for one day—」

「Altora! Emergency! Come out back!!」

「Now what? Shut the hell up, Gordon!! I swear I’ll cut you down!!」

Customers never came when you needed them, but trouble always showed up uninvited. Feeling the unfairness of it all, Altora shouted in annoyance—but when he got to where Gordon’s voice came from, he muttered under his breath:

「…Yeah, this one’s an emergency all right.」

「…It’s been a while, Altora-san.」

「Tina? You’re alive?」

Long blonde hair, tall figure, sharp eyes—beautiful as ever.

Tina Rayleigh stood there. Gone was her saintly attire from the past. Now she wore the plain clothes of a Narshean commoner, fidgeting awkwardly, unable to hold her gaze steady. All Altora could do was sigh and grumble:

「No point asking why you’re here. This is your home. Come back whenever the hell you feel like it.」

「Right…」

「What I do want to know is why now. You dropped off the face of the earth—what wind blew you back here?」

「A lot has happened…」

Tina hesitated, but began to speak.

Having lost the unique skill that marked her as a Saint, Tina had spiraled into despair and wandered off singing to herself as she left the cathedral behind. She might’ve died in a ditch somewhere—but fate had other plans.

「People must’ve thought I was a beggar performing in the street… some gave me money or food…」

「Well, you’ve got the face for it, I’ll give you that. Still, I didn’t think you’d accept anything.」

「I was half-unconscious at the time…」

「Hmph. Whatever else might’ve happened to a spaced-out pretty girl like you, I won’t ask. So?」

From there, she traveled west, sometimes walking, sometimes hitching rides with caravans or carts, until she arrived at a city known as a haven for students. There, she found shelter with a kind apothecary.

「A woman named Mero… She treated me very well, but she had some business that brought her this way. Apparently it was related to Marge-san.」

「Marge!? That bastard’s still meddling up!?」

「When Mero-san and Marge-san talked, they ended up mentioning me, and… well, I was told to come here. So I did, to say hello…」

「Gods damn it. Small world, huh? What the hell is going on…」

Cursing under his breath, Altora scrutinized Tina.

Perhaps the aimless journey and constant help from strangers had softened her somewhat—but it didn’t seem like she’d truly reflected or changed her ways. People didn’t change so easily. Altora let out a half-bitter laugh at the thought, while Gordon stood beside him, still looking awkward.

「So what now, Altora? We were looking for Tina, but we never figured out what we’d do once we found her.」

「Ain’t much to figure out.」

He jerked his thumb toward the inside of the shop.

「The place looks different, but it’s still your home. If you wanna come in, do it. Whatever mess the Rayleigh family’s in, it ain’t my business.」

「But…」

Tina hesitated, perhaps with something on her mind. And just then, a loud voice shouted from behind her.

「Onee-chan!?」

「Ah, Mi-Mina…?」

「Where’ve you been!? …Well, whatever, hang on a sec.」

Leaving the stunned Tina behind, Mina darted into the shop. A moment later, she came back out holding what looked like a document.

When Altora peeked over her shoulder, he saw the large characters at the top:

IOU

「This is the debt you left behind, Onee-chan. I haven’t forgotten.」