『Rina』
I glance at Yuu.
『If we assume you met her before she died, it is better not to say 「Your father killed her」. Let’s see… It would be better not to trust your father. Also, how about saying she asked you to tell them to escape immediately if anything happens to their mother, because he was associating with suspicious people?』
That might be a good idea for close acquaintances, but are these words suitable to entrust to children younger than oneself? But if I ask if I can think of a better way to convey it, I cannot. Alright, if they ask why she entrusted it to me, I will pretend I do not know.
「From Carius and Taguas’s mother」
My stomach hurts from tension.
「You must not trust your father. Also, she said she wants you to escape from your father immediately」
「Escape from Father?」
Carius looks at me with a confused expression.
「Yes, she said he is associating with bad people. If anything happens to me, something terrible will surely happen to the children too. So, she asked me to tell you to escape」
「But, even if you say escape…」
That is right! Saying escape is good, but these children are still young. Where should they escape to?
『To my friend’s house. There is a woman who grew up like sisters with me. Go to her place!』
「I heard she wants you to go to her mother’s friend’s house, but do you know who that is?」
「Could that be Fleur-san who lives in the neighboring village? She was very close to Mother, but since she disliked Father, she never came here to play」
Fleur-san? When I glance at Philia, she is nodding repeatedly.
「I think it is probably that woman」
『Fleur said that man was no good. Even though she warned me, I fell in love with him. If only I had listened to her words carefully back then…』
It seems Fleur-san has a good eye for people. If Carius and the others seek her help, she might realize that something happened to Philia.
「Rina, it is almost time」
As the break is about to end, onii-chan calls out to me.
「Yes. Also, this」
I take out Philia’s pendant from my pocket and show it to the two of them.
「This is your mother’s」
Taguas takes the pendant from my hand and grips it tightly. Carius looks at me with a tearful expression.
「Thank you. We will head to the neighboring village immediately」
『That is not allowed! There are watchers!』
Yuu panics at Carius’s words.
「No」
I also panic and grab Carius’s shoulder.
「Eh? But, it is better to escape immediately, right? Father is at work, so I think it is a good time」
「It is possible that your father’s associates are watching Carius and the others」
「Eh…」
At my words, the two of them pale.
I did not want to say it because I thought it would scare them, but it cannot be helped.
「So that is why you asked about adventurers」
Onii-chan mutters and pats Carius and Taguas on the shoulders.
「It is dangerous for children to move alone. I know some adventurers… I will ask them for help」
In the middle of the conversation, onii-chan looked at me. It is strange that he knows adventurers even though we have been acting together all this time. I might need to explain this to him later. But how should I explain it?
「Understood. That is true. There is a distance to the neighboring village」
With this, the two of them should not depart without knowing, right?
Next are the issues of money to hire an adventurer and how to find that adventurer. I look at Philia. I can leave it to her, right?
The other thing I need to do is write a letter to the Bishop. This is the most important thing for me. Escaping Carius and the others is also important, but the letter must absolutely be delivered.
Should I entrust the letter to Philia’s trustworthy adventurer? But the content is about curses.
「Let us go back soon. It is time. After the next class, it will be lunch. We should be able to talk more slowly then」
Looking at the clock at onii-chan’s anxious voice.
「Yes, understood」
There are three minutes left until the next class. I talked too slowly.
I hurry back to the classroom and sit on my chair. I barely made it in time for the next class. But were onii-chan and the others okay? After walking me to the classroom, they headed to their own classroom.
I prepare for class and glance at Yuu and the others.
Huh? Philia is not here. Ah, right. Since I gave her pendant to Taguas, she must have gone to their side.
When class starts, I tear off a sheet from my notebook. Then, I write a letter to the Bishop. The content is: 「There is someone in Lanca Village who used a curse. The church priest is cooperating with those who used curses and is not helping. Please help us」.
「I need to practice writing more」
Because I am not used to writing, my handwriting is very poor. When I compare the letters in the textbook with the letters in my letter, I sigh.
『The character in the eighth line of the third paragraph, is not the direction of the extending line reversed?』
Eh?
I look at the place Yuu pointed out. It is true. I should extend the line to the right, but it is extended to the left.
Huh? Yuu cannot read characters, so how did he know?
『Even so, I am studying with Rina. I have gradually started to remember the characters』
Unlike me, who knew the characters as Rina from the beginning, it is amazing that he learned them. I correct the character Yuu pointed out and fold the letter.
『Class is over』
Ah… Even though I came to school, I did not attend class properly. Once the problem is solved, I will study seriously.
「Rina」
「Onii-chan」
I hurry to onii-chan, who is peeking into the classroom.
「Huh? Where are the two of them?」
Why are they not together?
「I asked them to go get lunch」
Ah, so that is it. Good.
I go to the classroom we used earlier and wait for the two of them.
「「Sorry to keep you waiting」」
Carius and Taguas bring lunch for four people. When onii-chan thanks them, the two smile.
Seeing their condition, I feel a bit relieved. When they returned to the classroom earlier, both of them looked pale. But perhaps because time has passed, they seem calmer. Philia is smiling, happy to be with the two of them.
「Shall we eat?」
While eating lunch, onii-chan talks about what we will do next.
「After eating lunch, I am thinking of sneaking out of school」
「Eh?」
Sneaking out of school?
『I am surprised that Agus would say such a thing』
Yes, I am surprised too.
「There are watchers, right?」
Onii-chan looks at me, so I nod.
「They probably think we will not come out until school ends」
Probably.
「So, I think it is better to move after eating lunch」
「That is true. We need to catch the watchers off guard」
Carius agrees with onii-chan’s explanation.
『Certainly, that is correct. They said, 「It is easy to watch children who know nothing」, so the watchers are surely letting their guard down. But if they notice that the two of them do not come out even after school ends, they will start moving immediately. In that case, it is safer to move now』
「Yes. That is right」
「Let us eat lunch quickly」
At onii-chan’s words, Carius, Taguas, and I nod and eat our lunch in one go.
『Rina, the adventurers are surely at the tavern 「Gou」. Their names are Litton and Minari. They are a male and female adventurer team. Regarding the money to hire them, I have hidden money at the place where our house is. Let us use that』
The money problem seems to be solved. But Father might have found it.
『Rina, can I go check the situation at the house now? If that woman is at the house, I do not want the children to go near it』
Send Philia ahead? I think that is a good idea. But for that, I need to make a new contract.
Philia does not realize it, but the contract I made with her has already ended when I let her meet Carius and Taguas. Therefore, for Philia to move freely, a new contract is necessary.
However, where to make the new contract. That is the problem.
A place where onii-chan and Carius and the others are not present. Ah, the toilet!
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