NOVEL NEXT Chapter 37 - A Familiar Voice
A Familiar Voice
The third floor was quiet. The second floor had been quiet too, but this was even more so. Maybe because there were fewer people? Just as Reki had explained, doors to private rooms were lined up at equal intervals, creating a hallway that resembled an apartment building or a dormitory.
“Are there… enough wooms?”
It was a simple question. It seemed like there were a lot of guild members, and I’d heard this was the only floor with private rooms.
“There are even some vacant rooms. Most people commute, and many are often sent on missions all over, so they don’t need rooms.”
But he said that all guild members called this place home and felt a sense of belonging here. I see. It must be reassuring to have a place to return to!
“A place to return to, huh…”
Right now, I was lost. I’d just arrived in this world, with no place to go, all alone.
It was unbearably sad and lonely, but I was still grateful. Everyone I’d met had been so kind, and I’m sure they’d tell me that this was my home, that they’d let me call this place home.
But I couldn’t bring myself to think of it that way yet. Of course, it had only been two days since I’d come to the guild.
Time would probably fix that, but how much time would I need? Would I never be able to return to my original world? That house that my mom and dad had chosen and bought, the house where my grandparents and I had lived together… Could I never go back there?
Would I ever be able to think of this place, this world, as my home…?
Ah! No, no! Being pessimistic won’t do me any good! This is what happens when I let my guard down. If I mope around, I’ll only attract mopey people. If I’m cheerful, cheerful people will gather! I want cheerful people around me!
『Megu.』
“Eh…?”
As I was changing my mindset, a sudden voice calling my name stopped my heart for a moment. A hallucination, maybe? I thought I heard a familiar voice.
My heart pounded, “Doki, doki.” Because, that voice just now…
『Megu!』
It wasn’t my imagination. It was definitely my father’s voice!
“!? H-Hey…!”
I thought I heard Reki calling me, but I couldn’t be bothered. I ran towards the direction of the voice.
Dad, Dad… Dad!!
“Ahh…!”
My legs got tangled, and I fell. My little body tumbled across the floor.
“Hey!”
Reki’s voice, laced with annoyance. No, that wasn’t the voice I was looking for.
Thinking back, I was definitely not thinking clearly. I’m ashamed to admit it.
But I was so overwhelmed by hearing that voice again, I’d forgotten myself.
I pushed myself up with my arms. It hurt everywhere. It must have been quite a fall. How long had it been since I’d last tripped?
And what I saw when I looked up… was a faint pink light, small and weak.
“Spiwwit… shan…?”
『Megu, Megu!』
The one calling out to me, with my father’s voice, was that spirit I’d lost track of yesterday. Eh, what was going on?
“Hey!!”
As I was frozen in place, Reki’s angry voice reached my ears. He rushed over to me, quickly pulled me up, and sat me down.
Then, he examined my body, took out a first-aid kit from seemingly nowhere, and started treating my wounds. He was incredibly efficient. But his silent, sullen expression was terrifying!
“S-Sowwy…”
“Hmph, for what?”
I apologized timidly, but he just gave a curt reply, expressionless. He didn’t look up, and his hands continued working. His rainbow hair swayed in front of me, changing color. It was styled in a wolf cut, fluffy, and I wanted to touch it. But I’m a little girl who can read the mood. Now was not the time! Absolutely not!!
“I-I’m shawry for suddenly wunning off and… falling and getting hurt…”
“You should be. You’re so clumsy, tripping over your own feet.”
I had no excuse. I hung my head, deeply ashamed, drowning in self-loathing. Reki continued treating my wounds, ignoring me.
His attitude and aura were sullen, but his touch was incredibly gentle, and my wounds didn’t hurt at all.
“…So?”
The treatment was over. I thanked him, and just as I was about to stand up, Reki, arms crossed, stood in front of me, his displeasure evident.
I hadn’t expected to be questioned, so I froze. He was asking for an explanation, right?
“Um… you mean why I suddenly wan off?”
“What else could it be, idiot?”
Yep, his replies are harsh! I thought he was finally being civil! I thought we might get through the day without any problems! But it was my fault for provoking him in the first place. Ugh.
“Um… I heard a voithe…”
“A voice?”
I figured it wouldn’t be good to say it was my father’s voice and cause unnecessary worry, so I decided to be vague. Timidly. Uu, his voice is scary.
“I-It was calling my name. A voice I’d heard shomwhere before… sho I… ran towards it.”
Reki listened to me in silence. His sullen expression and aura remained unchanged. I trembled.
“And then, I fell, and when I looked up, I heard the voice again, and there wash a spiwwit-shan, and I realized… that the spiwwit-shan was the source of the voice.”
“A spirit? …Ah, right, you’re a shrimp, but you’re an elf, huh?”
Ooh, straight to the point! It’s true that I’m a shrimp!!
“So, this spirit?”
“It’s still here. I saw it yeshterday… it’s a spiwwit-shan I’m curious about.”
The pale pink spirit was still there, motionless, at my feet. It had fled yesterday, so it was strange that it was still here.
“What are you going to do?”
“…Can I… talk to it… for a little bit?”
“…Do as you like.”
It was a rare opportunity, the spirit not running away. And it had called out to me first. It felt wrong to miss this chance. Or at least, that’s my gut feeling.
Reki furrowed his brow and sighed, but he’d given me permission. I decided to try and talk to this spirit… I didn’t know if I’d be able to, but I’d rely on this body with all my might. Do your best, elf blood!