I Became a Veteran Who Has to Stir Up Trouble to Survive - Chapter 29

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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[029] The Gnome Fence
After leaving the restaurant, I led Radi toward the Entertainment District.
Before the Dungeon, where capital flowed with an almost eerie abundance, lay attractions captivating enough to steal one’s very soul.
After witnessing the perilous monster circus, the magical fireworks display, and the blood-soaked gladiator tournament, I noticed Radi’s hands were now laden with fruit skewers and ice cream.
She exhaled a sigh and opened her mouth.
“…So, tell me honestly now.”
“Hm? About what?”
“You’re being this nice to me because you want to drag me back into the party, right?”
“Hm? Come back?”
“Who said anything about coming back?! Listen to what people say…!”
Radi bristled and raised her voice, but I laughed it off smoothly and dodged the subject.
She sighed again and spoke.
“Sigh… No matter what, I won’t be returning. A party with a time bomb that could explode any moment… Once my prepaid lodging at the Tent expires, I’m leaving that place too.”
“I see.”
“…You did hear what I just said properly, right? So why are you grinning like that?”
“Just because.”
Radi, who had been staring up at me, soon shook her head side to side, but the log window’s messages painted her true feelings transparently.
｢Radi wags her tail happily! Luck increases by 1.｣
｢Radi is utterly fascinated by the magic performance she’s seeing for the first time in her life!｣
｢If you propose something, Radi will gladly accept your suggestion for the rest of today.｣
As I followed with a grin, Radi turned back curtly and muttered.
“I’m going to take care of some business… Even if I tell you not to follow, you’ll chase after me anyway, won’t you?”
“You know me well.”
“Sigh… I don’t mind you following, but just don’t cause any problems. Like turning into undead in the middle of the Plaza… or suddenly stripping your clothes….”
“Come on… Who does that?”
“….”
Radi glared at me silently, so I cleared my throat quietly and followed her back.
“…But could you tell me where we’re going beforehand?”
“I’m planning to restock some traps and tools at a shop run by an acquaintance.”
“Oh, strengthening your arsenal here?”
“Yes, I couldn’t pack much before because of the journey to the Dungeon.”
Radi and I walked side by side down Shop Street.
But as we moved toward the outskirts, I noticed more shops with temporary closure signs or shuttered storefronts.
Destroyed furnishings were scattered about, and instead of the bustling energy that should have filled such a place, a somber atmosphere hung heavy.
“This is strange… Is it still far to where we’re going?”
“We have to walk a bit more. It’s in a place that doesn’t catch people’s eyes easily.”
“Are you sure this is okay? The atmosphere here feels a bit… suspicious.”
Unidentifiable meat hanging in butcher shops, skull-decorated sorcerer stores, and signs plastered with suspicious drawings and symbols….
‘Surely she’s not planning to lure me to a secluded place, turn me in, and collect the bounty…?’
“I’m not trying to lure you to a secluded place to turn you in for a bounty, so just keep walking.”
“Y-yes… you trust me…?”
“…Though I’m a bit curious how much the bounty will be… Ah, found it.”
Radi flashed a wry grin and cracked a joke before stepping into a nearby tent.
Following her inside, a Gnome Elder seated at a desk greeted us with a benevolent smile.
“Welcome, welcome. We have quite the selection of goods, so feel free to browse… Oh, isn’t this our little one, Radi?!”
“Hello, Gnome Grandfather. It’s been a while since we’ve met outside the town.”
“Indeed! How wonderful to see you! Have you made all your preparations for the Dungeon?”
“Actually, I’ve already been inside once. Had quite the adventure too.”
“Is that so? Solo exploration must have been quite challenging—impressive work! This old man….”
The Gnome Elder’s warm greeting faltered as he belatedly noticed me, his expression freezing.
Seeing how unnaturally close Radi and I stood together, his eyes widened dramatically—
｢The Gnome Elder bursts into tears of joy!｣
｢Wisdom temporarily increases by 1.｣
‘What on earth…?’
As the Gnome Elder shed tears like drops of chicken droppings, a flustered Radi rushed over in alarm.
“A-are you alright?! Why are you suddenly crying like this…?!”
“My dear child…!”
“W-what about me…?”
“Our town’s pride, Radi, you’ve finally introduced your lover! To think I’d witness such a joyous occasion before I pass from this world…! I was so worried you’d die chasing nothing but money, never experiencing love!!”
‘What in the…!’
While Radi stood in shock, I interjected with a good-natured smile.
“Hello, sir. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
“Oh yes, yes! What’s your name, young man? You’re quite tall and handsome—you make a perfect match with our little one!”
“Haha… I think there’s been a misunderstanding. I’m heterosexual, you see. Of course, I respect all preferences and values, but….”
“Eh…?”
Upon hearing my explanation, the Gnome Elder’s face contorted before he suddenly grabbed Radi’s shoulder and whispered urgently.
“What do you mean, child? If I’m hearing this correctly, this young man is….”
“Yes… there’s been a slight misunderstanding, as you can see….”
“…You’re completely out of your mind! But why didn’t you say something sooner? One word would’ve sufficed….”
“I have my pride! How could I say such a thing myself!”
｢Radi vents the anger she’d been suppressing, her voice wavering!｣
｢Agility temporarily increases by 2.｣
‘Is this about species differences?’
Now I understood why she never objected when he called her “little one.”
As I quietly listened to the old man and Radi’s exchange, she stomped hard on my foot and spoke.
“Anyway, never mind that… Do you have neurotoxin and spring-loaded blades? In the lightest Lightmetal material possible.”
“Of course, I’ll fetch them right away. Just wait a moment!”
The Gnome Elder leaned on his crutch and rose, then began limping through the shelves.
Looking closely, I noticed three prominent scars running across his leg.
‘A monster attack… but judging by the appearance, the wound looks barely a day or two old….’
It didn’t seem likely that he’d ventured directly into a Dungeon, so perhaps he’d run afoul of a monster prowling near the Marketplace.
｢You have obtained information about the ‘Unknown Assailant’!｣
Radi, who had likewise sensed something amiss, furrowed her brow and asked.
“…Your leg is injured?”
“Ah, this? It’s nothing serious, child. Just a minor scrape—no need to worry yourself.”
“…That’s far more than just a scrape. I was wondering where that smell of blood was coming from… Did a monster do this to you? Here?”
“….”
The Gnome Elder smiled ruefully, then spoke in a gentle voice.
“It truly is nothing to fret over. You’ve had too tender a heart since you were small—that’s your weakness, child.”
“….”
“Here, these are the things you mentioned. Take them with you.”
“…I understand.”
Radi withdrew silver coins from her pocket, but the Gnome Elder shook his head and refused.
“Just take them. I brought these items with the intention of giving them to you from the start.”
“What? I couldn’t possibly! No matter how close we are, financial matters must be handled with precision…!”
“It’s fine. When I think of you returning injured from a Dungeon, I worry so much I can’t sleep at all. I hope this helps in some small way. And….”
The Gnome Grandfather grasped my hand with a slight tremor, then whispered so that Radi wouldn’t hear.
“…Please look after that child.”
“….”
Faced with the dignified old man’s request, I could only nod in assent.
* * *
After leaving Noum’s Workshop, Radi and I strolled together down the Main Street.
Only now did the empty Tents I’d noticed on the way here finally make sense.
‘I thought something seemed a bit off….’
Monsters must have been prowling this area recently.
In the past, too, there had been frequent instances of beasts attacking homes.
Especially since this place had unstable security and was quite far from the Central District where Adventurers and Mercenaries primarily gathered.
Judging by the unsettled atmosphere, it was clear the monster in question hadn’t been captured yet.
I glanced at Radi, who was lost in deep thought, and spoke bluntly.
“So, why do you look so miserable?”
“…When did I ever look miserable?”
“Right now. Your face looks like you’re about to burst into tears any second.”
“Ugh! Stop being so bothersome and let’s go! That concludes our companionship for today─.”
“You’re worried about the Gnome Grandfather, aren’t you?”
“Ugh…!”
“His injury is what’s bothering you. It doesn’t seem like you’ve only known him for a day or two.”
“….”
Struck by my words, Radi fell silent.
As concern, anger, and helplessness flickered across her face in quick succession, I added indifferently.
“Some monsters obsessively target their victims again and again once they’ve attacked once.”
“….”
“If we leave things as they are, Gnome Grandfather could suffer serious injuries.”
Radi’s eyes wavered for a moment before her fist clenched with sudden resolve.
I watched her and casually offered my suggestion.
“Want some help?”
“…What do you mean.”
“Hunting the monster. …We can’t just leave things as they are, right? Tracking it alone has its limits.”
If I left her to her own devices, Radi would undoubtedly chase after the monster by herself.
That meant not only would I fail to recruit her as an ally again, but I might even end up having to collect her corpse.
Since I couldn’t enter the Dungeon for a while anyway until Malton returned, winning her favor and hunting monsters to expand my Disguise Spectrum would be killing two birds with one stone.
After my rebirth, I resolved to live a selfish life, but this was ultimately for my own benefit.
As I pondered how to track the monster, Radi, who had been staring blankly at me, suddenly dropped her gaze and muttered softly.
“Why exactly….”
“Hm?”
“Why… would you go that far? Even if you catch the monster, there’s nothing in it for you. I have a connection with Gnome Grandfather, but you and I are strangers… and besides, I was so cold about leaving after this was all over…!”
From feeding me expensive fever medicine while nursing me back to health, to spending the whole day playing with me cheerfully.
When I came to my senses, I realized I’d only been receiving.
In Radi’s blue eyes as she looked straight up at me, a whirlwind of incomprehension swirled.
A gaze both persistent and anxious, as if trying to see through my true intentions.
And slightly, a gaze that wanted to lean on me.
｢In Belheim, where everyone is busy looking after their own interests, pure kindness is unfamiliar!｣
｢Radi is conflicted about whether she can trust you.｣
As I met those deep blue eyes directly, the noise of the Marketplace seemed to fade away for a moment.
Feeling the weight behind that gaze, I took a breath before speaking in an exaggerated tone, counting on my fingers.
“Well, it’s all about money. Monster materials from something prowling the Shop Street would fetch a decent price. Maybe there’s even a bounty on it.”
I deliberately acted mercenary, but Radi, who had been silently peering into my eyes, simply lowered her head and remained quiet.
Ding─!
｢Radi has seen through your lie!｣
｢Radi feels grateful toward you. Luck temporarily increases by 1.｣
After scratching at the dirt on the ground with her shoe for a long while, Radi finally lifted her head as if she’d made a decision.
“…Okay.”
“Right, even for you, hunting and catching the monster alone would be impossible….”
“If you help me hunt that thing down, I’ll become your companion.”
“Really?”
“Yes, from now on too. It wouldn’t be bad to have a fixed party. …It’s annoying, but being in the same boat as a minion of the Evil God isn’t so bad after all.”
As Radi broke into a determined smile, the three crimson lines on her cheeks rippled vividly.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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