The Weakest Tamer Began a Journey to Pick up Trash - Volume 2 - Chapter 76

Chapter 76:

Nine Years Old!

THE ADVENTURERS SEEMED to trust Sora for now. That was great and all, but…Rickbert wouldn’t leave the slime alone. He seemed to have really taken to Sora, petting and poking it over and over until it jumped up and attacked his face. I’ve never seen Sora attack before…it’s very effective. After taking one straight to the nose, Rickbert looked a little creepy—I mean…disappointed. Sora bounced off his face and rolled back to me, so I rushed to cradle it in my arms and get it away from Rickbert.

“Ha ha ha!” Rickbert laughed. “Sorry, I’ve never seen a slime with so much personality!”

“I-It’s okay.”

The more I really understood how rare Sora was, the more certain I was I needed to keep my friend out of sight. Sora’s translucence, ability to distinguish individuals, and expressiveness all seemed to be unique. It could even—though I hadn’t mentioned this to the adventurers yet—eat both potions and their glass containers. Sora was rare…way too rare.

Rickbert was still reaching out toward Sora like he wanted to snatch it from my arms. It was a small tent, but I took a step back. Trustworthy though he might be, Rickbert was still a little weird… Maybe letting him see Sora was a mistake.

Bolorda peeked inside the tent, looking annoyed. He grabbed a fistful of Rickbert’s shirt and dragged him bodily out. When Rickbert protested, Bolorda raised his voice and reminded him now wasn’t the time. He was right. With Sora’s abilities confirmed, the heavy atmosphere had descended once again.

“Sorry, Sora. There’s more to discuss, so I should go back.” I ducked out of the tent and closed the entrance tight, then stood in front of the door. Seeing how guarded I was, Rickbert made a really pathetic face. I gotta protect Sora from perv—I mean…Rickbert.

“Uh…what were we even talking about?” Seizerk mumbled. We all laughed. His distracted question cut through all the tension at once. “Aah, okay. So…we talk to the GM, but we don’t mention Sora. That thing’s too conspicuous,” he chuckled.

My suspicions were confirmed: Sora was way too rare. I’d thought as much after talking to everyone, but it felt more real when it came out of the veterans’ mouths.

“Also, let’s tell the other four today,” he added. “Gather everyone up and we’ll call it a party for a job well done or something.”

“Sure,” Bolorda agreed. “Where do we do it? It’d be weird to use the soundproofer for too long, right?”

“Let’s fill everyone in one at a time inside someone’s tent, then. They’ll all need a moment to process it and get a hold of themselves, anyway.”

“Got it. Seizerk, you gather our team members. I’ll go meet with the GM. Rick… You come with me. If I leave you here, you’ll just mess with Sora.”

Rickbert had been staring at the tent for a while now. Why was he so obsessed with Sora?

“Huh? Nooo, I’m cool!” he protested. “I can wait here with Sora.”

“Absolutely not.”

“Aww.” It was obvious how much he wanted to see Sora again. He looked at me pleadingly, but there’s no way I could—or would—help.

“Bye, then,” I said. Seizerk and Bolorda laughed. Rickbert slumped over dejectedly.

“You probably wouldn’t guess, but Rickbert loves cute animals. But he usually gets way too grabby and makes them hate him.” Rattloore rolled his eyes.

Sora was cute. Anyone who liked cute things would love Sora. But if Rickbert touched things so much that they hated him…then could that happen with Sora, too? No, I don’t think Sora hates him quite yet.

“Well, now that’s settled, so I’m off to the guild. C’mon, Rick, get a move on!”

Rickbert turned back to look at my tent again and again as Bolorda dragged him off. My impression of him had shifted so quickly I didn’t know what to think. For now, I’d just have to protect Sora.

Seizerk walked off shortly after to go see the other four party members, leaving just me and Rattloore at the camp.

“Say, Ivy? Are you really nine?” he asked. The question startled me.

Everyone was surprised when I said I was eight, huh?

“Yeah. Is…there something wrong with that?” But why? What’s weird about it? I looked down at my hands. I didn’t understand.

“Okay, one more question. Are you really a boy?” Rattloore asked.

I froze. That was really unexpected. My reaction was answer enough. I couldn’t think of any way to get out of this one.

“Whoooa, sorry!” he apologized. “Hey, you don’t have to cry!”

Before I knew it, my eyes were filled with tears. I looked up at Rattloore, but he was gazing at me worriedly. He didn’t look mad… That was a relief.

“I’m sorry for lying.”

“You’re fine! I know you’re just doing what you gotta to survive. Traveling alone as a little girl isn’t safe.”

“Thank you. Still, I didn’t tell you when I had the chance… Has everyone else guessed, too?”

“Mm… I’d say Bolorda and Seizerk have figured it out. They’ve been around the block once or twice. Rickbert probably hasn’t, though… He’s dumb as a box of rocks.” I saw something dark in his eyes when he mentioned Rickbert. No way. Rattloore of all people is too kind to be like that.

“So it’s easy to tell, is it?” What would I do from now on? I still had a long journey ahead…

“It’s more like…it’s easier to realize something’s off when we’ve been together for a long time. Heck, it’s more surprising that you’re actually nine.”

He asked me about that, earlier. I still don’t get it. I cocked my head in puzzlement.

“Huh? Wait, you don’t know?” He looked thoughtful for a moment and then frowned at me. What? This is making me really nervous. “Ivy, you really don’t look like a nine-year-old. I’d have guessed you were seven, tops.”

Huh?! I look seven?! Surely that’s… I mean, my clothes get too small, so I must be growing… Huh? Now that I think about it, I’ve only grown out of my clothes once or twice. Am I really not growing? Seriously?

“N-no need to get so down, kiddo…” he tried to console me. “If you keep growing, you won’t look like a boy anymore.”

Does that mean it’s good or bad that I haven’t grown? Good, in the sense that it makes it harder for people to see through me, I guess? Still…it’s not exactly comforting.

“We’d all guessed you were around seven until you told us your age. Gnouga was pissed that you were forced to travel alone. And…he was even sadder when he found out your real age.”

“Sadder?”

“When we all ate together, you didn’t look sickly or anything. But seeing as you’re so small…well, we imagined you must’ve had a real rough childhood.”

Rough? Is that…true? Was it rough? Everything changed when I was five. From then on, I was on my own…though I had the fortune-teller’s help. I guess you would call that a rough childhood?

“Maybe,” I muttered.

“When’d you start traveling?”

“I started this year, but…I’d been living in the woods for three years already.”

“Wow. I hear Ratomi’s chief and lord suck, so that makes sense. The adventurers’ guild is estimating that about half of its citizens have run away by now.”

“That many…?”

Had that many people fled? I recalled that other village with the corrupt chief. It had been so quiet. Was Ratomi like that now?