Chapter 78 The Situation Of Young Rick Gold
"There it is."
Relying on the magic thread of the Blood Spider attached to Rick, we had arrived at a certain location in Rune Gaia.
The end of the thread led to a modest house, indicating that Rick was there. Most likely, his mother was there as well.
"A slum, huh..."
I muttered to myself and decided to go around to the back of the house with Maia and Teti.
"Sorry, Adel. I'm not good at hiding my presence like you two."
Teti apologized with a sheepish look while clinging closely to my body.
Maia, who had a job skill to conceal her presence, was fine, but Teti risked being recognized if she remained as she was.
Therefore, for now, she is being wrapped in the cloak I was wearing.
It should be fine as long as she stays inside this black robe with the effect of concealing presence.
"Oh, Adel-sama. Would it be better if I... entered together with you?"
"...? No, Maia, you have the skills for this job, so there shouldn't be any issues."
"W-Well, you know, there's always a chance of something happening."
Even with skills enough to infiltrate the thieves' hideout without being noticed, what is there to worry about?
As I pondered on that, I realized that even if we were to converse, we would need to keep our voices down. It might be more convenient to stay close by.
"Okay. Here."
"Ah... Well then, excuse me."
Even though it was my idea, Maia timidly nestled into my embrace.
――Honestly, it's a bit warm being sandwiched between the two of them.
As I loosened my collar, for some reason, I could hear Maia gulp audibly.
"Oh, um, it might be better if we stick closer, right?"
"No, we're close enou――"
"It's not good to leave anything to chance."
"W-Well, I think so too."
Maia leaned in closer than before, and even Teti, who saw her do that, followed suit.
...Can't be helped. Let's endure the heat.
And so, in this strange state where the three of us were wrapped in a single robe, we peeked into the inside of the house from the back window.
――Is that the mother?
Looking through the back window, we saw a weary woman lying on the bed. She didn't look well.
At first glance, it was clear she wasn't in good health, but there was something else that caught my attention more.
"Adel, that――"
Teti whispered to me. It seemed like she had noticed the same thing as me.
On the arm of the person believed to be Rick's mother, there was a black bruise.
It looked like an ominous mark, as if a black snake had coiled around it. I tried to recall, but I had never seen anything like that before.
"That is..."
Maia muttered with a serious expression.
Just as I was about to ask if she knew something, the sound of the room door quietly opening could be heard.
"Mom, I made dinner."
Rick appeared there.
He placed the dishes on a flat container and then placed it by his mother's bedside. It seems like he brought her a meal.
"Oh, Rick... Thanks."
"Oh, it's no trouble."
Although Rick tried to stop her, his mother slowly sat up and smiled at him.
"It's okay. I'm feeling better today."
It was clear to everyone that his mother's words were a lie.
Surely, it was an action taken to not worry her son who had brought her a meal.
Her hands trembled painfully, yet she did not let her smile towards Rick falter.
Rick clenched his teeth as he watched her, but soon he lifted the dishes and fed the porridge to his mother.
"Thank you, Rick. It was delicious."
"No, I just want you to get better soon, Mom. It's nothing."
Rick also smiles at his mother. It looked painful though.
It's quite different from the intense atmosphere when facing Teti. This must be Rick's true self.
"Oh, right. Mom."
"What is it, Rick?"
"I'm about to get the medicine to cure Mom's illness. So, it might be tough until then, but please bear with it. I'll definitely cure Mom's illness."
After those words, I could feel Maia's hand holding onto my clothes with more strength.
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