Old People Don’t Hold Hands - Chapter 157



Only Krnovel

Episode 157, The Manifester (1)

So that’s how things ended with Diana.

… … No, can this be considered the end?

Diana, whose face turned completely red as if she had been burned, just stepped back and waved her hands.

When I asked why on earth that was happening.

He bit his lips tightly and said nothing.

After barely fanning himself and his face calming down, he simply said he was going to sleep.

… … Well, Diana’s reaction seemed unusual.

I decided to think that he was just confused.

After I finished my conversation with Diana in such a vague manner, I fell asleep.

As soon as the morning broke, everyone woke up at similar times, as if they had been scheduled to do so.

… … Exactly one person, except Inogen.

Nowen and Biella, who had fallen asleep first and woke up first, were bickering and talking together.

… … Diana looked tired for some reason.

But if I had just finished talking and gone to bed yesterday, I wouldn’t be this tired.

… … If you’re this tired, didn’t you just stay up all night?

Let’s take a close look at Diana and check her condition.

“… …Why, why, Mr. Declen?”

Diana looked up at me again and asked.

As if he had something to hide, his expression was clearly flustered.

“Miss Diana, your face… … .”

“Uh, face… …?! Why a face?”

“… … It turned red again.”

“… … That, that can’t be happening… … !”

Diana was startled by my words as if they had hit the nail on the head.

First, he denied what I said and ran towards the mirror in the room.

It seemed like he was constantly checking my complexion there.

He placed both hands on my cheeks.

“… …Why on earth are you acting like this yesterday and today?”

I asked while looking at Diana who was acting suspiciously for some reason.

Diana was still rubbing my cheeks and mumbling this.

“It’s because it’s cold outside… … .”

Hmm… … .

It is true that the weather has gotten colder as winter approaches.

A person who never acted like this even in the coldest winter forest, suddenly acts like this?

“Use it… … .”

No matter how much I thought about it, I couldn’t understand it, but I decided not to ask any more.

I didn’t think I could hear anything more from Diana, who kept touching my cheek as if she was embarrassed.

So when Nowen, Biella, me, and Diana all got up, what was left was… … .

“Ugh, … … Ugh, … … Ugh!”

… … Even though the sun was up, Inogen was still snoring.

From the moment we met in the labyrinth, his human body and his spirit were not fully fused or something.

After barely waking up Inogen, who said he was tired no matter how much he slept for some reason.

We headed to the restaurant.

Even though we went down during the morning hours, the restaurant was just as packed with people as it was during dinner time.

Among them, there were some who had been clinking glasses of beer with each other since morning.

“Hahahaha! Congratulations on your safe return… …!”

As I listened to the conversation, it seemed like there were teams that had just come out of the labyrinth and were sharing congratulatory drinks.

Unlike yesterday, I went down to the restaurant without taking off my robe.

“Hey, hey, isn’t that him?”

“… … Hmm? That guy?”

“That’s him. The guy named DeClen who dueled us last time… … .”

“… … Ah! Now that I think about it, that seems right.”

“I haven’t seen you in a few days, so it looks like you’ve been to the labyrinth too.”

“Oh my… … Now that I think about it, I’ve gained quite a few colleagues.”

“Well, since you’ve gained fame through duels, it’s only natural that you’ll have followers. Haha… … .”

… … There were also people who recognized me like this and started talking nonsense.

For now, it’s to my advantage to have this reputation, so I’ll just keep quiet and listen.

Not long after, the food arrived.

We started eating.

Even though we ordered a fair amount of food, most of it disappeared quickly.

… … The reason it happened like that was mostly because of Inogen.

“Oh, oh oh… …! Human! How did you make this food?”

“… … This is chicken stir-fried with various spices.”

“Oh, chicken? Shut up? I guess there are such strange meats in this world.”

“……okay.”

It’s not exactly the name of a meat, but rather an animal name.

He said that this was the first time he had ever tasted food like this, and that thanks to Inozen, he ate it as well as he did when he made pork.

Food costs have nearly doubled compared to before.

“Hohoho, I guess you like our food~?”

“Mmm! This is delicious, human woman!”

“This, a human woman? Haha… … .”

“… … Huh.”

… … The innkeeper’s wife, who was pleased with Inozen’s good eating habits, lowered the price, so it was only that much.

After returning to the city after a long time and filling my stomach to my heart’s content.

We each decided to take action.

First, Nowen and Biella said that they would go and get the 4-factor status badges that they had not received on time due to the delay.

Diana said that she would come back from the labyrinth this time and ask for some equipment that needed repairs.

Finally, Inogen… … .

“Haaaaaah… …, is this holy place really this empty and dirty?”

At first, I thought he was just looking around the holy land with shining eyes.

In the short time it took me to apply for the ID card, I lost all interest.

“I don’t know why, but I feel sleepier since I came here. Anyway, I should go to sleep, human.”

… … Now he confidently told me that he was going to go to sleep.

Well, even if you don’t let him sleep, there’s nothing else I can do for him, so I’ll just send Inozen away.

Before the four of us each go our separate ways.

I gave Biella some hints that I would be meeting with a group of manifesters.

“… … Oh, really? Have a nice trip, mister.”

Unlike Diana, who had expressed some concern, Biella’s reaction was more bland than expected.

I asked about Biella’s overly plain behavior, which made me even more suspicious than when I was with Diana.

“… … Aren’t you worried, Mr. Biella?”

“I know it’s more dangerous for me to continue like this. Don’t you remember how I was treated when we first met?”

I couldn’t help but nod at Biella, who opened her eyes wide and said, “Of course.”

When I first met Biella.

Because she was a manifestation, she was in a position where she could not help but be used by the hunters.

In the end, the family was mortgaged and the family was sacrificed.

It was a tragedy that occurred when it was revealed that she was a seer.

“I’m all for whatever you do. That’s our way of living. … … Besides, you’re smarter than me.”

There was a thorn hidden in Biella’s words as she spoke as if nothing had happened.

It was a self-reproach towards her for not being able to protect her beloved family.

I patted Biella’s back a few times without saying anything.

“Okay, I’ll be back soon.”

When trying to end a conversation without saying anything else.

Biella grabbed my sleeve urgently.

“… … But you know what, sir.”

“……yes?”

“… … What does that person plan to do?”

As he said that, Biella pointed to the place.

While waiting for Biella, there was Nowen, who was carrying Diana’s luggage on her shoulders.

“That guy doesn’t know anything yet… … .”

“Yes, that’s right.”

Certainly when the contract was offered to Nowen.

The only condition mentioned was this.

Help us clear the 4th floor and help us advance to the level of 4 adventurers.

If you complete the mission and return safely to the Holy Land, then what you promised… … .

So, it was a relationship that ended with information about the frozen fortress.

It was a relationship with such a clear beginning and end, but when I returned to the Holy Land.

As we were finding accommodations again, we ended up with Nowen staying with us.

To be precise, I asked Nowen where he was going to go now.

I just followed him, smiling awkwardly and asking if I could stay with him a little longer.

We haven’t talked about future plans though.

… … Judging from his actions so far, it seemed like Nowen wanted to be with us to some extent.

The reason why I changed my mind like this is probably… … .

The events that occurred in the Frost Queen’s hallucination must have had a big impact.

And that’s the change in Nowen.

Biella, who was closest to him, would have been the first to notice.

“… … Well, of course it could be a lie. If you meet those people, it means that something dangerous could happen again. Right? We are dangerous people too.”

“……yes.”

“What are we going to do if something dangerous happens again? … … What if, like that time, we are powerless to do anything?”

Biella, who was saying this, tried to say something else.

Soon he just lowered his head.

I didn’t hear the whole thing she said, but I could tell what she was trying to say.

A person who has walked the right path, unlike us who could die at any time.

That person got into danger because of us, and we had to let him go without being able to do anything.

… … Because I’ve already been through it painfully before.

I guess he’s worried that something similar might happen to Nowen.

Looking at it this way, it seems like you and Nowen have developed quite a bond while exploring the labyrinth this time.

“… … That’s certainly true. Then I’ll talk to Mr. Nowen separately sometime soon.”

“… … Hey, what’s the story? So you’re saying you’ll tell me everything honestly… … ?!”

“Yes. If Mr. Nowen still wants to join us, then will Mr. Biella accept it too?”

“I am……!”

At my question, Biella raised her head as if to say something.

After a while, he bit his lips tightly.

“Uh, ah, okay. I will… … .”

He just nodded quietly and answered like this.

As our conversation seemed to be going on for a long time, Nowen, who was standing outside the inn, started to look through the window, looking for Biella.

I patted Biella’s back a couple of times, who seemed to be feeling a bit intimidated.

He sent her to Nowen.

“Please go and have a go.”

“Oh, I got it. Then, I’ll be off. Oh, you too… … , be careful.”

“Yes. It will be fine.”

First, let’s wave our hands to Biella, who looks back anxiously as she tries to leave the inn.

Biella eventually went to Nowen.

Just then, as he joined Biella, Diana’s eyes met through the window as she was taking back her luggage from Nowen.

Let’s give her a smile and wave our hands.

“――!!”

Diana opened her eyes wide in surprise, as if she had seen a ghost.

He quickly snatched the baggage off Nowen’s shoulder and walked away.

I am a silhouette of three people leaving.

… … Among them, I looked at Diana, who was leaving her seat in a particularly hurrying manner.

What, I was just saying hello.

… …Why on earth are you doing that?

Even though I felt a little suspicious of Diana’s strange behavior yesterday and today.

I also put my hand down and went out of the inn.

So the place I headed to was the darkest alley among the many inns.

… … This was the exact place specified in the note.

Let’s check the clock, it’s 12 o’clock.

As it happened, the time I had written on the note arrived.

Someone showed up.

… … Someone wearing a red robe that I saw before.