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  Chapter 13: Reward And Pupu

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  “Is anyone here? We have a job.”

  Outside the guardhouse, a young girl called out.

  “What’s the matter? Is there... something wrong?”

  The guards rushed out, only to be greeted by an odd sight: a tangled ball of people lying before them.

  “W-What oh happened here?” one of the guards stammered.

  “Human traffickers,” the girl poi the writhing mass of bodies, expining the situation suctly.

  “Let me get this straight... You were lured into an alley by these so-called traffickers, and then you and your panion mao take them down, just like that?”

  “Exactly!”

  The little girl standing beside the speaker nodded enthusiastically.

  “...As much as I’d like to believe you, this is... rather hard to swallow.”

  The head guard g the two girls and then at the pile of subdued men, his expression caught somewhere between disbelief and amazement.

  Judging by their appearahese two were quite striking—among the most beautiful in town, perhaps eveire try. It wasn’t surprising they’d attrawatention, but the notion that just the two of them could dispatany grown men was... improbable, to say the least.

  “Well... let’s do this. We’ll first verify the identities of these individuals. Please wait here for a moment.”

  After a brief moment of thought, he decided to iigate further. The world was a strange pce, after all, and while this situation seemed unbelievable, strahings had happened.

  “Oh, and do you have any identification? It’s standard protocol to log is like this.”

  “Of course.”

  The girl and her little panion both produced golden cards from their pockets.

  “H-Higher-ranked adventurers... Quickly! I need all the information on these men within three minutes!”

  ...

  “They’ve been firmed as wanted criminals. They’re indeed on the bounty list.”

  “Excellent. As the guard captain of this town, I thank you for apprehending such a threat to our residents.”

  The moment the adventurer cards were shown, the guards’ attitude shifted dramatically. Where they had been somewhat sceptical and procedural before, now they were deferential, b on reverent.

  This was hardly surprising. Most guards were merely a notch above on folk in terms of strength, barely even reag the level of mid-tier adventurers. In fact, the stro known individuals in town, aside from the local Adventurers' Guild's branch head, beloo the ‘Eclipse’ squad—a team that was still oep away from reag the rank of higher advehemselves.

  So, to be in the presence of real higher-ranked adventurers? That would shoyone.

  “Here’s your reward.”

  The guard handed a weighty pouch to Aris. It was rge enough to rival the size of her satchel.

  “Were they bountied criminals?”

  “Yes, indeed. And not just any criminals, but members of a notorious traffig ring. We’ve been pursuing them for some time without much success. Thanks to you, we finally make some headway. We’ll make sure to extract all the information we from them.”

  “...”

  Aris wasn’t sure whether to mention that their minds were already shattered by her doing. Still, there were many ways in this world to restore someone's mental state, at least to some degree. Giverauma they’d suffered, these criminals would likely be very pliant during interrogation.

  ...

  “Did you hand everything over?”

  Farkonia asked, gng at Aris as they regrouped.

  Aris nodded slightly. “Here’s the bounty money.”

  She produced the heavy bag and us seal.

  “This...”

  “It looks like... several hundred silver s at least...”

  “So much!?”

  Even Elyssa was stunned. Several hundred silver s were equivalent to the payout for multiple high-level issions, a sum rge enough for someoo live vishly in the capital for a month or more.

  “I suppose the bounty was so high because they were part of a rge criminal anization.”

  “That makes sense...”

  Suddenly, a thought struck Elyssa—something that had e up in their earlier discussion with Farkonia about the disappearance of non-human species.

  ‘Surely it couldn’t be... that much of a ce, could it?’

  ...

  Their little run-in with the traffickers had deyed things slightly, but after a bit more wandering through the town, the group finally returo their inn.

  “Ah, you’re back! Perfect timing—dinner’s just been prepared. The nddy’s made a wonderful meal for you lot.”

  The lower floor of the inn had been verted into a on dining area, where guests who’d paid for the service could enjoy meals. Adventurers, of course, received a dist and didn’t have to pay extra.

  “...Surprisingly delicious.”

  Misako tasted a bite and found herself pleasantly shocked. Despite being aced to high-css cuisine and processed foods, even she, with her now overly refined pate, found the nddy’s cooking to be delightful.

  pared to the extravagant dishes she was used to, the meal before her was simple—homely, even. Stir-fried minced pork and eggs, salt-baked chi wings... It was likely this down-to-earth nature that made the food so uedly appealing.

  For someone like Veridith, who hadn’t experienced mu the way of fine dining, the meal was even more extraordinary.

  As for Farkonia, she was sampling the dishes thoughtfully, occasionally chatting with the nddy. Both of them were skilled in the ary arts, so exging tips and tricks was only natural.

  “Aris, is something wrong? You’ve barely touched your food.”

  Marlyno noticed Aris’ disi, as if she had no appetite.

  “...I’ve lost my sense of taste. Everything tastes the same to me.”

  “Oh... I’m sorry...”

  Aris’ expressionless fad dull eyes told of past tragedies—something anyone could sense, especially given how young she appeared. It made her all the more pitiable.

  Marlyno had simply hoped to cheer her up with a good meal, not expeg that she wouldn’t even be able to taste it.

  “o apologise. It’s not your fault.”

  “Mmm...”

  Though Aris brushed it off, the atmosphere around the table grew heavier.

  “...Pupu Puff!”

  Just then, a sudden noise drew their attention.

  “Are you hungry?”

  “Pupu!”

  “...e here.”

  Aris made a small cut on her finger and held it out to Pupu. She had gaihe ability to trol her body’s regeion, even to the point of opening a wound voluntarily.

  “Pupu! Pupu!”

  Pupu crawled onto Aris’ hand and began abs her blood.

  “Wait, is Pupu a bloodsucker?”

  Elyssa asked, watg in fasation.

  “Not just blood. Sweat or any other bodily fluids—anything from a living anism will do.”

  “I see... Fasating.”

  Elyssa hadn’t expected to enter yet another species with a method of feeding simir to vampires.

  She prided herself on her extensive researto such things, but the world tio surprise her.

  “I k... You really are—”

  “Enough. Just eat your meal, and stop with the theatrics.”

  Before Sisi could finish another one of her overly dramatic decrations, she was quickly silenced.

  “Oh, Aris, you mentioned Pupu feed on any bodily fluid. Does that include fluids from non-living things?”

  “...That’s what she says.”

  “Pupu Puff!”

  To aheir question, Pupu extended a tendril into a nearby cup. Within moments, half the juiside had been drained.

  “...So it really works!? Amazing!”

  This was leagues beyond creatures like zombies or vampires, which could only feed on the fluids of intelligent lifeforms. Pupu’s adaptability was impressive.