Chapter 12
“My dad used to be just like that old man earlier.”
“Your father was a jerk too?”
“No, that’s not it.”
Pepper, pouting her lips, took a caramel out of her pocket. She put one in her own mouth and then shared them with me and Arden.
I received two.
“Woof woof woof.”
“Arf arf arf.”
In front of us, Collie and Tofu were having an enthusiastic conversation.
We had left the grand temple and were walking along the riverside toward Ophetal Street, where Pepper’s house was.
Pepper, fidgeting with her fingers, spoke.
“Daddy wasn’t originally like that. He always called Mom and me princesses. He even called Collie his youngest daughter.”
He would brush Collie’s teeth, give her baths, give her kisses before bed…….
“He was unconditionally on our side.”
“And then?”
“Starting from the time before last, before last, before that, when he came home.”
‘Daddy’s finally home after so long, and look at the state of this house!’
“He started yelling all of a sudden. Getting irritated.”
‘This damn mutt! If we have money to waste feeding this thing!’
“And kept saying we should get rid of Collie. That we should sell her to some family Dad knows well.”
He was completely normal until he got home. But when we woke up the next morning, Dad had changed, Pepper said.
“He changed overnight after sleeping?”
Arden’s and my expressions turned serious at the same time.
Hmm.
“Pepper. By any chance, does your father drink a lot?”
Is it alcoholism? At my suspicious question, Pepper shook her head.
“Daddy hardly drinks. He eats a lot of snacks.”
“…….”
“Now when Dad’s home, I can’t even feed Collie and have to keep her hidden. Once, while I was sleeping, he tried to sneak Collie out, so Mom yelled at him.”
“How did your father react then?”
“He got angry, stormed out of the house, and didn’t come back that night.”
“…….”
“…….”
It was at that moment when Arden and I silently exchanged glances.
“Woof!”
Collie, who had been walking ahead, suddenly barked straight forward.
“Woof! Woof!”
“It’s Daddy!”
“Daddy?”
“That flag! It’s the ship Daddy works on!”
“…The Temeren.”
Arden muttered as he confirmed the flag of the ship entering the distant dock.
“You know the ship?”
“It’s a trade ship funded by the Seafarers Guild. It’s famous for generating high profits even though it’s not owned by a great noble or a huge merchant conglomerate. It imports tea and tobacco from the Eastern Empire, and especially the tea leaves are…….”
“We have to go!”
Pepper, her face turning pale, ran off without even saying goodbye.
Woof! Collie glanced back at us and followed after Pepper.
“…….”
“…….”
Only Arden and I remained on the path with the river wind blowing.
Right in front of us was the Bridge of Sandrine III, said to be the most beautiful bridge in the capital.
Far away, the Temeren flying its flag.
A trade ship operated with investments from common sailors, yet it was said to earn profits as high as ships of the huge merchant conglomerates.
I asked Arden.
“Doesn’t something feel off?”
A ship like that wouldn’t hire just any random sailors.
A person who had been working perfectly fine suddenly becomes strange one day?
“Suspicious.”
But Arden said something completely different.
“What about the tailor shop?”
“The tailor shop?”
“Yes, isn’t it time to work now?”
“Ah, it’s lunch break right now.”
“During lunch break you’re supposed to eat lunch, why did you go to the grand temple?”
“I’m quite devout, you know.”
“I’ve never seen you donate even a single gold coin.”
“Faith doesn’t have to be proven with money.”
“I’ve never seen you pray for even one second.”
“…….”
Do you only ever stare at me?
“Why were you at the grand temple, Arden?”
“I went to hear the temple’s official position regarding the Magic Saintess.”
“The Magic Saintess?”
“Yes. For now, she’s claiming to be a saintess herself.”
He added that he went to confirm whether she has any connection to the temple.
“You’re working hard.”
“I have to work hard. She might be a potential criminal. A potential criminal desperate for attention.”
At those words, Tofu, walking ahead, glanced back at me.
He stuck out his tongue brightly and opened his mouth wide as if smiling. I felt a little upset.
“You’re not investigating because you’re interested in the Magic Saintess, right?”
“She doesn’t seem like a person worth my interest.”
“So full of yourself.”
“Why are you suddenly getting angry?”
“I’m not, it’s nothing!”
Hmph!
“So, what did they say at the temple?”
“I couldn’t hear it. The high priest was absent.”
“That’s too bad.”
“It’s fine. That guy is never in his seat anyway. I’ll come again later.”
“…Arden, we’re near the grand temple right now. You can’t call the high priest ‘that guy.’”
Unless you’re royalty, you’ll get arrested.
“If you do get arrested, can I say I don’t know you?”
You’re already done for anyway, at least I should survive. I whispered my request.
Ignoring my serious request, Arden changed the subject.
“So in the end you’re keeping that dog?”
“No way. We just happened to meet at the temple.”
“Dog owners let their dog wander around alone like that? He looks well-groomed, definitely someone’s pet.”
“Maybe he’s a smart dog who’s good at going out by himself.”
“That Collie earlier looked pretty smart too. Even got fur on my pants.”
“Oh no. Why not take them off and throw them away?”
“…….”
Arden fell silent.
Worried he might actually take off his pants, I quickly grabbed his sleeve.
“What do you think?”
“…About what?”
Arden answered a beat late, eyes fixed on the grabbed sleeve.
“Even if it’s a dad who yells, gets irritated, and tries to throw away your only friend, do you think having him is still better than not having one?”
Where is the line of “but he’s still my dad”?
“……There are dads who are better off not existing.”
“Yeah…….”
“What does senpai think?”
“I don’t really know. I don’t have a dad.”
“…Ah.”
The arm I was holding twitched.
“I’m sorry. I spoke thoughtlessly.”
“Yeah, how dare you hurt my delicate heart. Compensate me.”
“How….”
“Wear those pants with dog fur on them for ten days as atonement… pfft.”
“Senpai!”
Only then realizing I was teased, my cheeks flushed red as I protested.
Looking at that expression that looked as fluffy as Tofu, I burst out laughing.
Same day, 9 p.m. Tailor shop.
“I generally understand the situation.”
So the dad who was originally affectionate suddenly became strange one day.
“But how exactly is the Magic Saintess supposed to help with this?”
I’m not a doctor.
“Send him to His Highness the Crown Prince’s mental hospital for treatment… no, wait. Maybe he won’t go because he’s afraid of losing his job.”
Sitting on the floor with my chin propped up, I held a pen in my mouth.
Business was slowly winding down for the day, so I was organizing the storage on the second floor. Dubu, resting his chin on my lap, spoke.
“But there’s something strange-woof.”
“What is it?”
“The time before last, before last, before that when Pepper’s dad came home, he brought a box of cookies that smelled weird. He said it was a gift from a big merchant company they deal with.”
“Cookies?”
“Yes. When Pepper tried to eat one, Collie thought it was strange and slapped her hand away, so in the end only Pepper’s dad ate those cookies.”
Collie tried to stop Dad too, but Dad was too tall so Collie couldn’t reach to interfere.
“And after that he became strange?”
“Exactly-woof. Originally he left half for Mom to eat when she came home from work.”
“He left half?”
“But when they woke up at dawn, Pepper’s dad was eating the cookies alone in the dark without turning on the light-woof.”
“Alone?”
“Yes. Gulping them down without even chewing properly.”
“What was Pepper’s dad’s reaction after eating them all?”
“He became quiet-woof. Like when someone’s drunk.”
“What the…….”
‘When I woke up, Dad had changed.’
Was there something in the cookies?
If there was, what?
…Drugs?
I think I’ve heard there are herbs that cause symptoms like that…….
“……Anyway.”
“Anyway?”
“I need to check whether there are other sailors on the Temeren showing the same symptoms as Pepper’s dad.”
The Temeren entered the capital today, so they’ll probably go for drinks at their usual pub, right?
“I’ll stop by after work.”
Ever since the tailor shop changed owners, all employees finish early. We even get holidays now.
There’s plenty of time to go to a pub and spy after work.
The problem is which pub the Temeren crew gathers at.
“I saw the Temeren docked at pier 3, and near there a pub that sailors visit in groups would be….”
“Near pier 3, the Whitebeard Whale and Foam is famous.”
“Eek.”
I looked up while still sitting on the floor.
The man leaning against the slightly open storage door smiled when our eyes met.
It’s that guy.
Silver-haired man.
“If you ask anyone near pier 3 where the Whitebeard Whale and Foam is, they’ll all know.”
“Why are you here at this hour?”
I hid Tofu behind me and became wary.
Even though I was openly suspicious, the silver-haired man remained calm.
He came into the storage, naturally stroked Tofu once and scratched between his eyes. (Dubu didn’t dodge. Traitor dog!)
“Because you said the tea leaves ran out.”
“You deliver at 9 p.m.?”
“You’re organizing storage at 9 p.m. too.”
“…….”
“Anyway, it’s true that Whitebeard Whale and Foam is the most famous one.”
“…….”
“If you don’t believe me, whatever.”
The silver-haired man shrugged and left the room. Tofu wagged his tail toward the silver-haired man disappearing down the stairs.
I looked back and forth between the silver-haired man and the traitor dog and opened my mouth.
“Tofu.”
“Woof?”
“The money I’ll spend at the pub later—you’ll expense it, right?”
I’m taking a carriage to the pub too, so that money as well.
“I can’t spend my own money while carrying out justice☆”
♡☆♧Fine, I’m stingy♧☆♡
☆▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎☆
