Chapter 167: Warren’s Feelings

Come to think of it, judging by all this, Igor has completely figured out that I’m lying about my age.

Igor had always treated Qiu Nuoya like a child without ever saying anything about it. Qiu Nuoya wondered how long he had actually been certain about his true age.

Igor is more perceptive than I thought.

Afterward, Qiu Nuoya and the others reported their complete conquest of Dungeon Castle to the Guild Master.

Rogue had apparently never expected that the forty ninth floor was the deepest floor of the dungeon, so he was extremely surprised to hear the news. However, once he learned that the dungeon core had been sealed and teleportation magic circles had been installed on every floor, his expression brightened considerably.

"Now we can operate Dungeon Castle without having to worry about monsters from the lower floors invading anymore!" Rogue was overjoyed.

The fee for installing teleportation magic circles to each floor of Dungeon Castle was much higher than Qiu Nuoya had expected, and Viktor received a considerable amount of money for the job.

There was also a reward for completely conquering Dungeon Castle, which was divided among the group. As a result, Qiu Nuoya ended up with quite a substantial sum of money as well.

Staring at the bag filled with gold coins, Qiu Nuoya was deeply moved. Apparently, there really was some truth to the saying that adventurers could earn enough money to build their own house once they reached around Rank D.

"With this much money, we can enjoy sightseeing in the royal capital to our hearts’ content!" When Qiu Nuoya said that with a smile, Rogue looked rather disappointed. "Are you all heading to the royal capital next?"

Apparently, the Imoogi materials Igor had sold to the guild had fetched a considerable price, temporarily giving the guild’s finances a substantial boost. Rogue seemed to have gotten ahead of himself and started imagining that they would be able to obtain such valuable materials regularly in the future, so he looked rather disappointed at the thought of Qiu Nuoya and the others leaving.

"We still have some left. Would you like them?"

"Absolutely!" Rogue’s eyes lit up at Qiu Nuoya’s offer, so Qiu Nuoya decided to sell the rest of his share to the Adventurer’s Guild.

"As for Warren’s share, I’ll check with him first and let you know later."

"We’ll be waiting!" Rogue’s eyes lit up once again, and he practically bounced with joy.

By the way, Qiu Nuoya wondered whether Viktor did not intend to sell his share as well. When he asked, Viktor simply shook his head. "I have no trouble with money, and I already have plans for the materials themselves."

"What are you going to use them for?"

"Materials from monsters with powerful magic make excellent components for magic tools."

Viktor said nothing more and offered no further explanation.

I suppose someone as skilled as Viktor eventually starts making his own magic tools.

Qiu Nuoya decided not to press him any further.

Of course, he had no idea that those materials were secretly being used to create his fourth doll.

But that is a story for another time.

...

After finishing his conversation with Saintess Sherria, Qiu Nuoya returned home, but Warren who should have arrived ahead of them was nowhere to be seen. He was probably shut away in his room.

Igor had told Qiu Nuoya not to worry about him too much, so he did not call out to Warren immediately. Instead, he prepared dinner first and then went to check on him. However, when Qiu Nuoya called out, a muffled voice from inside the room replied,

"I don’t want any."

Warren was the second biggest eater after Igor, and he had never once refused a meal before. Qiu Nuoya could not help feeling worried and restless.

The boy who usually eats that much.

It was almost like the feeling of a mother with a son going through adolescence. Then again, perhaps that was not such a strange way for Qiu Nuoya to feel.

To Qiu Nuoya, Warren was a friend and a companion, but he genuinely thought of him as something like a son as well. Given the difference in their apparent ages, Qiu Nuoya could not help looking at him that way. There was simply nothing he could do about it.

Igor and Viktor both told him to leave Warren alone, but Qiu Nuoya could not stop worrying about him. In the end, he made some rice balls for Warren, left them on the table in the living room, and called out to him again.

"Warren, I left some food on the table in the living room. Eat it if you get hungry."

"...Just leave me alone. To you, I’m probably nothing important anyway."

Qiu Nuoya felt a little relieved when Warren answered, even though they were speaking through the closed door. However, there was nothing particularly positive about what Warren had said.

"That’s not true."

But after that, the conversation came to an end.

Only silence filled the hallway. Qiu Nuoya let out a sigh and glanced toward his own room across the hall.

Maybe Igor and the others are right. Perhaps I should leave him alone for now.

Just as Qiu Nuoya reached for the doorknob to his room, however, someone suddenly grabbed his arm from behind and dragged him into Warren’s room.

"...!?"

The door clicked shut, and at the same time, Warren shouted, "You always do this...!"

He shoved Qiu Nuoya against the door.

"Warren..."

"You’re exactly the same as when we first met! Even when I’m standing right in front of you, you always look as though I don’t even exist, and you keep ignoring me!"

"What? That’s not true. I never thought of you like that..."

Warren’s fingers tightened around Qiu Nuoya’s arm. As a swordsman, Warren’s physical strength was probably several times greater than Qiu Nuoya’s. No matter how much he struggled, he could not break free, and he remained pinned against the door as he looked at Warren’s face.