The Great Sword is not the Main Body!

"The bounty will be brought to the accommodations you have listed here."

"Yes, thank you."

As I continued to struggle to compose myself, Rubia carried on the conversation instead.

She was still holding me in her arms...

Now that I was somewhat regaining my senses, I felt incredibly embarrassed.

It didn’t seem like she was planning to let me go.

She had told me to move away earlier, but now... I didn’t understand why she was like this.

"What’s the schedule like going forward?"

"Well... I plan to rest for the next three days. I’m a bit... worn out."

Rübie nodded as he organized the stack of documents in front of him.

"I see. This is quite a nice city to rest in... It should be fine."

Just as he was about to stand up and leave his office...

"Ah... and this is a personal question, but... Do you know... Yuria?"

Rubia's question stopped Rübie in his tracks.

"Yuria... Are you talking about the adventurer Yuria?"

"Yes."

Rübie turned his back to us.

"I do know her... but why do you ask?"

A strange expression.

It seemed like he knew something.

"We came with her disciple. Hephaestus."

Rübie’s face slightly scrunched up.

It was a very subtle change, something only my Giga Sense could catch.

"Yuria left this city ten days ago. She was headed for Karahan."

"Could you tell me what business she had there?"

"Hmm... Normally I shouldn’t, but I will tell you."

Rübie seemed to hesitate for a moment, then spoke slowly.

"She went to Karahan chasing Master 'Shirin.'"

Shirin?

Was there a Master named Shirin among the NPCs...?

Even though I hadn’t been following the story much, I remembered the Masters.

"The Master?"

"Yes. She became a Master for the tenth time."

Rübie had an expression as if he was hiding something.

It was another tiny change, but I could feel it.

Rubia hadn’t noticed yet, but I should probably tell her later.

"I see... Understood. Thank you."

"Yes. If you ever need help, please don’t hesitate to call for me."

With those words, Rübie left the office.

The sound of his footsteps seemed hurried, as though something was urgent.

"Master... That Shirin person must be incredibly strong, right?"

I thought back to the Masters I’d encountered in the game.

The first one I met...

I don’t remember the name, but it was a character wearing black armor and holding a very worn sword.

Their pride was immense.

And then, for some reason, they became corrupted and ultimately faced off against the player.

But... I never won against them.

They were never meant to be defeated.

No matter how much I upgraded my stats...

I could never, ever win.

I thought I was good enough with my fingers, but...

It was just... made that way. They were never meant to be beaten.

Anyway... to answer Rubia’s question.

"Yeah... they’re super strong."

The thing is, they’re from a different genre entirely.

They come with the 'Munchkin' tag...

"So, Noah says they’re strong... That must mean they’re really powerful."

"They’re... really, really strong."

"I see... But, have you seen them in person? Or...?"

Rubia’s expression suddenly became very serious.

Her arms around me tightened.

"Did that so-called Master tell you?"

Master...?

Ah... I had referred to them as "Master" in the game earlier.

But... why does Rubia seem so angry?

"Uh... Did, did I see them...? Well... um... yes, I saw them."

"Where?"

"Umm... I don’t really remember... I can’t read maps, hehe."

Rubia sighed deeply and shook her head.

"I see. Got it. Then, shall we leave?"

"Uh... yes."

I rubbed my eyes and pulled away from Rubia’s embrace.

"Hehe... Noah, your face is a mess. Shall we wash up before going out?"

Rubia pointed to the sink in the corner of the office.

"Is it that bad...?"

"Yeah. You’ve got tears and snot everywhere. Hehe..."

"Ugh... Well, I’ll just wash up..."

I didn’t think I had snot...

I slowly walked to the sink and turned on the faucet.

As the water poured out, I placed one hand under it, ready to wash my face.

"Here, Noah. Achoo!"

Rubia’s hand shot toward my face.

"Eh...? Achoo...?"

"Yeah. You need to blow your nose."

"Into your hand...?"

Rubia nodded as though it were the most natural thing.

"That’s... gross..."

"Just wash it off with water."

"B-but...!"

"It’s fine. Just hurry up—Achoo!"

Her expression didn’t seem like she was teasing me, but...

"Really...?"

"Yeah."

"Are... are you serious...?"

She nodded.

"Ah, no... I’ll just do it myself... I’ll... do it myself... You go away, Rubia. It’s embarrassing..."

Honestly.

I almost blew my nose into her hand just out of instinct, but I held myself back.

It’s just... too embarrassing.

How could I blow my nose into someone else’s hand?

I lightly tapped Rubia and turned away.

And then... to make it less noisy, I tried to do it as quietly as possible, with soft little sniffs.

After a few tries, I started to feel a bit better.

"Heh..."

But I still didn’t feel quite right...

I was about to turn my back completely, making sure Rubia couldn’t see, and blow my nose again.

"Hey."

"Hnng- Hwaaaa!"

Rubia’s mischievous hand came from behind...

And started to tickle me.

"Heh... Haaa! D-don’t... don’t do it...! Waaaa!"

"Serves you right, Noah! You’re being cheeky!"

"I-I didn’t... Hwaah! I didn’t lie...! Haah..."

If you are reading this translation anywhere other than Novelight.net or SilkRoadTL, it has been stolen.

Her hand, which had only been tickling my side, began to climb up my spine and invaded my armpit and neck.

But... but!

One of her hands was... covered in snot...

So I couldn’t escape Rubia’s evil plan...

"Haa! Heeek...! H-hey... stop...! Haaa..."

I twisted my body, trying to escape Rubia’s grasp, but the more I struggled, the more she clung to me.

When Rubia and I were completely pressed against each other...

"Heh... Haa... Ugh... I-I need to go... go to the bathroom...!"

The door suddenly opened with a click.

"Oh, and by the way, dinner—"

Rübie came in and stared at us blankly.

"Oh my."

Rubia immediately detached herself from me, looking flustered.

"Haa... Ugh... I almost... lost it..."

I had been lifted by Rubia and held in the air, but now I crashed onto the floor with a thud.

"Ah... Sorry about dinner..."

The door closed, and silence filled the office, filled only with my exhausted breaths.

"No... Noah. I’m sorry."

"It’s fine... Just go away..."

"How about we have some jelly...?"

"I’m not eating it."

I dodged Rubia, who was approaching me, and took refuge at the edge of the bed.

"Stay there... please."

"Hehe... yeah..."

I avoided looking at Rubia’s face, worried that I might soften up...

But her voice sounded so weak that I peeked at her expression.

It was a look like a stray cat...

I wasn’t planning to say anything for a while.

But... seeing her face, I felt my heart soften.

I shouldn’t have looked.

"I... I said I needed to go to the bathroom, right?"@@novelbin@@

"Yeah..."

"And when did I lie...?"

"...Sorry..."

"Then... what were you going to do if... if I really had made a mistake?"

"I’m sorry..."

"And... Rübie saw, right! What would he think...?!"

The more I said, the angrier I became, and I pounded the bed with my fists.

"This time, Rubia was one hundred percent wrong...! I’m not letting this go..."

Then I turned my back again.

I was furious...

"So... dinner? What are we—"

Hephaestus, who had been nervously pacing behind, finally spoke up.

"I’m not eating. You two go ahead."

Rubia swallowed her breath and made a shocked expression.

But I didn’t care.

Just like last time, I had told her not to tickle me.

She had kept going all day.

Now, even when I said I had to go to the bathroom, she didn’t stop.

She made me look like a fool in front of someone else!

And... my underwear was probably visible, too...

And on top of that, she was creating strange... strange misunderstandings!

I was so annoyed.

"Noah... You really aren’t going?"

"Yeah."

"Sis, are we really not going to eat? After having dessert too?"

"...Ah, no."

I resisted my hunger and waved my hand.

"Heh..."

Rubia must’ve been shocked by the way I acted, something I would never do normally.

But... there was no other choice.

I had to be firm this time.

"Go quickly..."

I lay down, hugging my greatsword.

"I’ll sleep..."

I pulled the blanket up to my head and curled up tightly.

A moment later, I heard their footsteps moving away, and the door opened.

They were whispering on their way out, but I couldn’t hear clearly since I was covered by the blanket.

The door clicked shut, and after counting to ten in my head...

I slightly expanded my Giga Sense.

Yeah. They definitely went downstairs.

Only then did I lift the blanket and sit up.

I then carefully scanned my surroundings.

The jelly and sugared raspberries I bought earlier should be here somewhere.

"Ah...!"

I dashed over to a corner where a bag was placed.

Shaking the bag, I heard the sound of sugar granules moving.

"Hehe..."

The smell was perfect.

I couldn’t see the color, but the shape seemed fine too!

The texture...

"Oooh... so soft."

Perfect!

I immediately popped one in my mouth, chewing happily.

The initial taste was sweet from the sugar, and then the raspberry flavor came through—so tangy!

"It’s... delicious..."

So delicious...!

The texture was amazing too.

It was even softer and chewier than the jelly I had in Roholran...

I could eat this forever...

Before the texture died down, I quickly swallowed.

And then, I grabbed a handful and popped it into my mouth.

"Wow..."

All the frustration I’d been feeling melted away with the jelly.

It’s so... so delicious. I’m so happy...

The sweetness filling me up washed away my sadness.

While I was chewing on the jelly, which was so thick I could hardly chew it, I remembered something I wanted to say to Rubia.

Rübie seemed to know something about Yuria...

I had been so mad, I’d forgotten all about it...

Well... I can tell her tomorrow since we haven’t left yet...

Today, I’m not talking to Rubia.

I’ll sleep in the other room with Hephaestus.

Rubia can sleep alone here!