<Chapter 31>
#4. The Exchange Meeting (3)
Seeing Pel’s serious expression, Melty stood on his tiptoes and craned his head back and forth. Then he could see what Pel had noticed earlier.
The gathered group of people was quite numerous. Their appearance was so unkempt they were nearly like homeless people. Melty couldn’t make out exactly what they were discussing, but it was clear their conversations were filled with loud voices and harsh language.
Some people were looking around with bloodshot eyes as if searching for someone to vent their anger on. The temple interior, which should have been quiet and peaceful, was like the calm before a storm. Though no incident had occurred yet, even to Melty it didn’t seem like a good environment for prayer.
“Let’s go.”
Despite Pel’s suggestion to leave, Melty found it difficult to turn away. As long as he was under Pel’s protection, there probably wouldn’t be any friction with those people, but he wasn’t sure he could concentrate well on prayers right now either. Perhaps due to disappointment, each step felt as heavy as if he were trudging through a swamp.
“We came all this way…”
“I’ll guide you here another time. Today just doesn’t seem to be the right day.”
Seeing Melty’s drooping shoulders and dejected appearance, Pel awkwardly tried to comfort him. When Pel’s words failed to lift Melty’s disappointment, it was Naru who consoled him. The snake rubbed its head against his arm, its bright eyes gleaming as its red tongue flicked out slightly. Seeing Naru’s adorable behavior, Melty’s lips curved into a soft smile, and he stroked the snake’s head, finally shaking off the last of his disappointment.
“But I wonder what’s happening?”
“Vagrants gathering at the temple happens occasionally. But I’ve never seen this many people gather except during disasters. I’ll need to look into the exact cause myself.”
Frowning as he glanced at where the people were gathered, Pel mentally added this to the list of things he needed to report to Calix. The temple was always open to everyone. Because of that, people who had lost their homes to landslides or floods often gathered at temples for survival, but this wasn’t the season for such events.
Looking up at Pel who was lost in thought, Melty spoke while stroking Naru’s body.
“If you’re curious, you can go find out. It’s fine.”
“No, escorting you takes priority. Someone else will probably investigate.”
Pel quickly organized his thoughts that had been spiraling outward and smiled, then hastily spoke.
“Shall we return to the mansion now?”
“Hmm… No. I’m waiting for someone here.”
“Waiting for someone?”
Since he hadn’t been informed about this, a puzzled expression crossed Pel’s face. Nodding emphatically, Melty began walking to secure a position where he could easily see people coming and going, and said:
“I arrived quickly thanks to your guidance, but… there’s someone I was supposed to spend the day with. His name is Johaim Kun Sarvie. Do you know him by any chance?”
“Ah, that…”
“That?”
Pel quickly shut his mouth. He had almost blurted out, “That person Master Calix confined to the mansion?” His eye twitched as if he’d bitten his tongue. Melty tilted his head at Pel’s aborted attempt to speak.
“Ahem! Hmm! You mean the eldest son of the Sarvie family.”
“Wow. You know him?”
“He comes to every exchange meeting.”
Having quickly redirected the conversation, Pel privately congratulated himself on his quick thinking. Unaware of Pel’s self-satisfaction, Melty stared blankly at the people gathering at the temple and spoke.
“He was supposed to guide me today. I thought he was staying at the mansion, but Calix-ssi drove him out, so we missed each other.”
Melty pushed his lips out in a pout, and soon let out a long sigh. Having heard Calix’s side, he understood that the two families didn’t get along. But regardless of that, the time he’d spent with Johaim had been enjoyable, and Johaim had been an extremely kind person.
‘You should always hear both sides of a story to understand different perspectives.’
If he met Johaim, he planned to carefully ask about why they didn’t get along with the Padrian family. Besides, if the mansion was busy with internal arrangements, returning early would only cause trouble for others.
“Since Johaim-ssi was supposed to guide me around the temple, he might come here.”
“…Are you planning to wait?”
Knowing very well that Johaim was being detained by Calix, Pel looked at Melty with a troubled expression. Melty, having already firmly settled in place, didn’t seem likely to return to the mansion easily.
“Yes! You never know.”
‘No, that person definitely won’t be able to come.’
Swallowing the truth he could never utter aloud, Pel groaned.
“I heard they don’t get along with the Padrian family… but he didn’t seem like a bad person. We made a promise too. Hmm… it might take a while, so Pel-ssi, please sit down too.”
Melty’s small hand patted the spot beside him. At his gesture, Pel suppressed a smile that nearly escaped and remained firmly standing next to him as he spoke.
“I’m more comfortable like this.”
“Really? If your legs get tired later, you should sit down.”
“Yes. I will.”
As Pel responded with a smile to Melty’s kind words, he belatedly realized there was something rustling in his pocket. Moving his hand to reach into his pocket, he easily retrieved the object making the noise. Inside a prettily wrapped, cute packaging were homemade cookies filled with chocolate.
“When they heard I was going out with you, the kitchen staff prepared these just in case.”
“Really?”
Melty accepted the cookies with a bright face at the sweet smell and offered some to Pel as well. At his gesture suggesting they share, Pel politely declined. Forced to keep all the cookies to himself, Melty popped one piece into his mouth and munched. For quite some time, he watched people passing by while eating cookies.
Pel, watching Melty carefully, cautiously suggested, “Shouldn’t we head back now?” But Melty responded each time with, “Let’s wait a little longer.” Swinging his short legs back and forth while waiting and watching people, Melty tilted his head as he noticed more people in shabby clothes entering the temple.
“But why are those people coming here?”
“The temple doesn’t turn away visitors. It provides shelter, and unlike other places, the Padrian family is wealthy, so they’ll take appropriate measures for those people. Of course, not everyone can receive the benefits, but…”
While answering Melty’s question sincerely, Pel surveyed the surroundings. As if confirming his suspicion, he spotted a familiar person hurrying into the temple. Pointing at him, Pel added:
“The person who just entered the temple is from our mansion. He probably came to assess the situation.”
“I see… I didn’t know the Padrian family did such good deeds. I’ve only heard scary rumors…”
Experimenting with poisonous plants, eating people, enjoying hunting… As these stories flowed from Melty’s mouth, Pel smiled bitterly.
“The Padrian family has accumulated wealth. Many people are jealous. There are many who spread false rumors, and even some who try to harm Master Calix… That’s why Master Calix is very concerned about your safety.”
Pel tried to put in a good word for Calix, but it didn’t resonate with Melty at all. With a simple “I see” and a nod, Melty narrowed his eyes and muttered:
“I’m sure Calix-ssi’s personality contributes to that.”
“…Excuse me?”
“He’s mean! He’s always threatening to eat me! I thought he was going to give me some drug to turn me into an animal!”
“Ha, haha.”
Pel laughed awkwardly at his complaint. Generally, beast-people don’t transform into their animal form except when they’re young. There was a time when crimes involving illegal drugs that forcibly transformed beast-people into animals were rampant. And for the Padrian family, surrounded by dark rumors, it wouldn’t be strange if they had tens of thousands of such drug bottles.
Thinking about when Calix bit him still sent shivers down his spine. Raising his hands, Melty stroked his plump ears. Having settled on Melty’s arm, Naru, now face-to-face with the plump ears, flicked his tongue. Smoothly moving closer, Naru, with a face full of curiosity, poked them with a tap.
“Eek! Naru. No.”
Startled, Melty quickly lowered his arm and firmly stopped Naru. Prevented from playing with the fluffy bundle, Naru drooped his head at Melty’s admonishment. Seeing his visibly dejected appearance, Melty had to scramble to comfort Naru. Pel, observing Naru regaining spirit from Melty’s pats and Melty’s bright smile, spoke in a comfortable voice:
“Master Calix can be a bit extreme with his jokes, but I’m sure he doesn’t mean it.”
“…He seemed very serious to anyone who looked.”
Melty, completely disagreeing with Pel’s statement, pouted his lips. Fidgeting with Naru while moving his gaze around in search of the absent Johaim, Melty dusted off his bottom and stood up.
“It seems Johaim-ssi and I missed each other.”
“Where would you like me to guide you next?”
At Pel’s eager question, Melty gave a small laugh and was naturally going to mention the mansion. Suddenly catching sight of familiar horns, Melty closed his mouth. Pel wore a puzzled expression as Melty’s gaze shifted while he was about to speak.
“Melty-nim?”
“Ah, there… Johaim-ssi!”
Pointing in the direction where he had been just moments ago, Melty stamped his feet. Pel hurriedly followed as Melty called out Johaim’s name at the top of his lungs. Not hearing Melty’s voice, Johaim continued conversing with someone beside him as they entered an alley near the temple.
“Johaim-ssi!”
Panting with breath that reached up to his chin, Melty called his name again with all his might. This time, he seemed to hear the voice, as his footsteps stopped in place.
“…Johaim?”
A question mark hung at the end of the low, chilly voice. Melty’s shoulders flinched at the unfamiliar voice despite the familiar silhouette. As if to confirm his suspicion that it was someone else, the man turned around. Dark blue eyes, distinctly different from Johaim’s light blue ones, coldly examined Melty.
“Oh…? I, I’m sorry. I think I mistook you for someone else.”
With both hands clasped in front, Melty hastily bowed his head in greeting. Despite Melty’s polite greeting, the man’s contemplative expression didn’t soften at all. Before Melty could turn away, the sheep beast-person who had been scrutinizing him spoke.
“How do you know my son?”
“…Huh?”
Son? Melty lifted his head with a start and blinked as he stared at him blankly. The man took a step toward Melty, watching as his round eyes moved back and forth.
“I’ll ask again. How do you know my son?”
