Translator: Dragon Boat Translation
Editor: Dragon Boat Translation
“Naby, how much longer will it take to reach the manor?” After walking for nearly 20 minutes, Zhou Kun was already drenched in sweat. However, the manor that Naby mentioned was still nowhere in sight.
“We’re almost there. We’ve already covered half the distance.”
“What!?! We’ve only covered half the distance?”
“Brother, what’s wrong with you?”
“Naby, let’s take a break before continuing!” Although as a man, he could not say that he could no longer go on, he could only ask to take a break before continuing with the rest of the journey.
“Alright then,” said Naby who could also tell that he seemed to be extremely exhausted. She wondered, ‘Could it be that he’s a mage too?’
Is he that weak?
Zhou Kun sat on the rock by the roadside and looked at Naby who was wrapped tightly in clothing. He asked, “The weather is so warm. Naby, don’t you feel warm at all? Why are you wearing such a thick robe?”
That question made Naby’s movements stiffen.
After a long while, she answered softly, “It’s because I’m ugly. If I don’t wear a robe, I will frighten others.”
Zhou Kun found it a pity, and he thought, ‘Is this actually the reason?’
However, due to the fact that he could not bear to see her that way, he continued to comfort her. “There aren’t any other people around us now. Remove your robe. Don’t worry, I have a high tolerance. I won’t be frightened.”
“Really?” Naby asked with a tone of uncertainty. However, the weather was too warm, and Zhou Kun’s suggestion made her feel rather tempted.
“Yes, really, I promise.”
Upon hearing his words, Naby removed the thick robe that she had wrapped herself with, only to realize that Zhou Kun was keeping his eyes glued onto her.
Zhou Kun was initially just curious and wanted to know how terrifying the innocent little girl looked to require a thick robe.
Zhou Kun was dumbfounded at the instant that he saw her.
Naby had a pair of large, watery eyes that looked rather adorable and lively. That was not much.
Her blond, short hair looked a little furry, but that was nothing much either.
The key was that her ears were not like that of humans, and resembled those of bears. They were drooping on both sides of her hair, and they looked adorable.
“You lied. You said you wouldn’t be frightened by me.” Naby looked at Zhou Kun who was dumbfounded while standing in front of her. She had completely mistaken what he meant.
As a consequence, she immediately put the robe back on even though she had just removed it. She began to sound like she was sobbing too.
“No, I don’t think you’re ugly at all. I actually think you’re adorable.”
“You’re lying. Everyone in the village says that orcs are the ugliest. You’re lying!”
So she’s an orc?
It’s no wonder that she has bear-like ears.
Zhou Kun had no idea what was wrong with the beauty standards of the other world. Naby was clearly an adorable little girl. Yet, she was deemed as hideous. Even Naby herself did not doubt the fact that she was considered ugly.
However, with the previous experience he had with the stunning husky, he quickly accepted the setting of the ugly little orc.
“That’s really not what I meant. I just didn’t expect you to have a pair of furry ears.”
“I don’t want these furry ears either,” Naby said in a tone that made her sound upset. However, she had already calmed down, as she had long gotten used to such things.
Although Naby restored her previous innocent appearance during the journey later, she refused to remove the robe that covered her head regardless of how much Zhou Kun tried to persuade her.
The two finally arrived at the manor where Naby lived. There were many people standing at the entrance of the manor as if they were waiting for them.
“Mage Hughie…” Naby scurried over, only to see that the old man in charge was waving at them. Clearly, he was Mage Hughie whom Naby mentioned.
Zhou Kun approached slowly. Although there were many people around the entrance of the manor, their expressions showed that they didn’t seem to be planning to make things difficult for Zhou Kun.
“Sir, I apologize for the reckless behavior of the two kids,” said Hughie who made his stand as soon as he spoke. It turned out that he was preparing to apologize.
“It’s okay, I don’t blame them.”
“Naby, Mike, hurry and apologize to this gentleman.”
The teenage boy Mike, who had just run away, was still reluctant, but nonetheless, he apologized softly to Zhou Kun together with Naby.
“Mage Hughie, Mister Cohen said that he would help us.”
Along the way, Zhou Kun and Naby revealed their names to each other. It was not that Zhou Kun was deliberately hiding his name, but rather, he felt that the pronunciation of his name would seem rather peculiar in the other world. Hence, he decided to split up the word ‘Kun’ of his name, into two syllables. As a result, he introduced himself as Cohen.
“I heard Naby saying about something about your manor before. If there is anything I can help, please mention it.”
“Mr. Cohen, you’re being too polite. However, the situation in our village is a little special…” Hence, Hughie began to tell them about their circumstances.
It turned out that Hughie was a Botanical Mage who had wandered to that place. Hughie, who had been a nomad and wanderer for half his life, stopped near the manor where Naby lived in. He also constructed a magic tower that belonged to him.
However, the church suddenly waged a Holy War some time ago. At that time, the royal family of the Orchis Empire put up conscription. All the young adults rushed to the battlefield, leaving behind a group of elderly, weak people, women, and children. However, the taxes in the manor did not decrease. The merciless noble patriarch Hans continued to exploit them.
Hughie could not tolerate it longer. Hence, he decided to fork out some money to purchase the manor. He also taught the villagers to plant some magical plants that could be taken care of easily. Life was rather decent there.
However, Hughie was old in his years after all. He got into a mishap when he was conducting a magical experiment the previous month. Hughie suffered some magical damage and the botanical elements in his body were depleted.
Hence, it was difficult for them to even stay alive, let alone take care of the magical plants in the manor. That was the reason the two children decided to take the risk.
Hughie’s words were like daggers that pierced through Zhou Kun’s heart.
Initially, Zhou Kun merely wanted to use the passage to make some money. He did not expect a small fry like himself to create such a huge uproar and series of events in the other world.
The dragon fruit, the Holy War, and the conscription happened one after another. Before Zhou Kun could do anything, the other world had already been disrupted by him.
Everything that happened in the manor could be considered a microcosm which opened up a corner of the other world to Zhou Kun. There were probably still many others who were affected.
All of a sudden, Zhou Kun’s heart was filled with guilt that made him a little speechless.
Old Hughie clearly did not know that his words would make Zhou Kun feel that emotional.
“In order not to let the children worry, I didn’t tell too many people about this. Little Naby is the only one who knows, but she obviously failed to keep it a secret.” Upon hearing his words, Little Naby lowered her head in embarrassment.
Old Hughie stroked Naby’s head and continued, “My condition has deteriorated to the point that the church’s potions can’t help me anymore. Little Naby, don’t bother wasting your effort.”