Paradigm Parasite

Chapter 124: "Second Daughter"

[Heidi Pov]

The next day.

The next day, I visited the Adventurers' Guild with Adolfo.

Perhaps thanks to a good night's sleep, Adolfo's complexion was much better.

After completing the formalities, I accepted the request after it was issued, and that was it.

With this, she and I are now in an employment relationship.

Now that the relationship is in place, it's up to me to earn her trust through my actions.

I thought about staying at the inn, but it would be a bit depressing if we did nothing all day.

I thought we should move around the city lightly, moving where there were as many people as possible.

I asked Adolfo to show me around, and she gladly accepted.

After all, doing something distracts the mind and allows her to avoid thinking about unnecessary things.

She doesn't go out that often, but she has lived in Royal Capital since she was born, so she knows the geography of the city reasonably well.

This time, she took me to a food market and a good restaurant.

I was told that she is not very outspoken, but she is firm when it comes to finances, and she showed me a restaurant that was kind to my wallet.

I have not let my guard down around her, but I also believe that the other candidates are not yet desperate enough to go after Adolfo.

The reason is that since there is only one person to be chosen, the priority would be to eliminate the candidate with a higher threat level.

At least if I were in the opposite position, I would go after Adolfo last.

Frankly speaking, as far as she is concerned, even if she were to be chosen outright, Adolfo, who has no track record, would not be the first to be selected.

But there is still a possibility that Adolfo will not be selected, so I thought that I would just make them leave the selection process after eliminating the others, just in case.

In fact, even though it was past noon and the sun was beginning to set, there was no sign of any unrest, and things were peaceful.

However, I was a little concerned that the knights and holy knights who have been patrolling the area for quite a while were in a strange state of haste.

At first, it was only noticeable that they were talking about something, but now I frequently see them running around all over the place, which is a bit disconcerting.

Adolfo also grabs my arm anxiously and looks around.

If nothing happened, I'd just let it slide, but it's the right time of year.

Should I gather more information?

The topic itself was all over town, so I knew right away.

It seems that several major events have occurred in the city.

The first one is that Darzain's base hiding in the city was discovered and a major battle ensued when the Knights attacked, the raid was successful and the base was destroyed, the survivors scattered throughout the city and fled, and a search is now underway.

...This doesn't really concern us much, does it?

The other story, which is still in the rumor stage, is that Ben, the eldest son, was killed in the mansion.

According to the story, he was found dead in his room at the mansion.

The details are very clear for a rumor, so perhaps this is a rumor that was intentionally spread.

If that is the case, it is safe to assume that Ben has dropped out.

Even if he faked his death, it would be harder to get out in the open after this selection is over.

Especially if he is in a position where publicity is required, it will be difficult to prove if he is called a fake.

When the deadline arrives, if more than one survives, they may become material for not being selected.

Maybe they have some way to prove it, but it's not an option I'd want to choose if I were in the opposite situation.

Adolfo's expression was gloomy when she heard this.

I held her hand to reassure her and she smiled a little.

The problem is what happens next.

If left alone, the other candidates would crush each other on their own.

If we simply want to be safe, we can wait until the deadline approaches and fight the remaining candidates.

"I see that brother Ben is no longer with us..."

Suddenly, Adolfo blurts out.

I'm not sure what to say, she continues.

"I have no good memories of him, and to be frank, I disliked him,......, but he was still family. Why does everyone ......... cling so tightly to seat at the head of the family?"

Her expression is heavy and tears are pooling in the corners of her eyes.

"...... Adolfo. What do you want to do? Maybe, but if we just win, we'll just wait and see. At this rate, we'll be somewhat safe until tomorrow ...... or even the day of."

As I say it, I wonder.

Maybe she felt the same way I did?

Looking at Adolfo, I somehow feel as if I am looking at myself from the outside.

Was this how I looked from his point of view?

What was he thinking when he looked at me?

What was he thinking when he talked to me?

When I look at Adolfo, my heart hurts so much that it feels as if it is going to be crushed.

If she had been born into a normal family, she would have been a child who loved her family and was loved by them.

But grieving doesn't change reality, and if left unchecked, it will always bare its fangs.

In the end, he was right.

Feelings alone will not change anything.

All I could do was to do what he said and ask myself to be prepared to take action.

What are you going to do? I thought.

Adolfo wiped away the tears that had accumulated with her sleeve and turned her glaring gaze on me.

'I will convince everyone who survived. Waiting won't solve anything! Will you please stay with me?"

Her words and her gaze were strong. Very strong.

So strong that it was dazzling.

Then, I will be there with her determination. I nodded my head.

"Of course."

The answer is obvious.

Determined, she turned her attention to the residence of her sister, the second daughter Pasquale.

According to Adolfo, this is where she lives with her mother.

The house was large in comparison to the surrounding mansions, and there were holy knights patrolling around and guarding the gate.

Apparently, Adolfo's sister had turned to Gnosis for help.

We headed toward the gate from the front.

We are not here to fight. Let's go with an open mind.

I told the holy knight guarding the main gate what we were up to, and after a short wait, we were ushered inside.

After a short wait, we were ushered into the reception room, where Pasquale appeared with the Temple knight.

Unlike Adolfo's gold hair, Pasquale's hair is silver.

Her hair is cut at her shoulders and her bangs are neatly arranged around her forehead.

She wears a short cane on her waist, and she is not dressed in a formal dress, but rather in a less ornate outfit that seems to be easy to move around in.

Is she good at magic?

From the way she walks, she doesn't seem to be moving forward.

She sits across from us in silence.

The knights of the Holy Temple who are waiting for her arrive behind her.

"Feels like it's been a while, doesn't it? Adolfo."

"Yes. Sister Pasquale."

Pasquale raises her hand lightly and the servants pour tea into cups and serve it to us.

As expected, to drink while many people are poisoned...

"Bon apptit."

Adolfo, next to me, drank the tea from her cup without any hesitation.

Pasquale's eyes widen lightly when she sees this.

Adolfo, without caring, looked straight at her sister and began to talk.

"I came here today to talk to you. She is an adventurer I hired.

Pasquale took one look at me.

"And? What's the matter?"

"What is sister's opinion of this ridiculous dispute?"

She looks Adolfo in the eye.

"I don't know. I have to admit that I find it annoying."

She exhales lightly in return.

"Adolfo. I know what you're here for. You came to ask me what I was up to, didn't you? I'm going to take this opportunity to make it clear. I'm going to stay here until the deadline. I'm not interested in being the head of the family, and if you want to fight, let the people who want to do that fight each other. So I'm not going to do anything to you."

"You don't want to be head of the family?"

"That's right. I'm not going to show up when it's due."

She replied immediately, with an attitude that said it was none of her business.

"Then who is interested in doing it?"

"I'm pretty sure it will be Grimm."

She took a sip of her tea.

"Honestly, I also thought it was Brother Ben who was the most motivated, but I was surprised he dropped out so early. His sister is ...... well, she's like that and should be left alone. So that leaves Grimm."

"I guess that's true. I don't know much about the Grimm brother, but is he that kind of person?"

"I don't talk to him much, so I can't say for sure, but I think it's possible, if not probable. ...Just to be sure, what do you know about his job?"

"I've heard about it, just in case."

Adolfo looks at me awkwardly as she says this.

Pasquale also looked at me.

I guessed it somehow.

"You mean the "hunter"?"

Both of their expressions change.

Adolfo is astonished.

Pasquale becomes suspicious.

...It was just a hunch, but I guess it was right.

"How did you...?"

"I didn't know for sure, but I had an idea from what Adolfo had told me yesterday. I have a connection with the "hunter". I know a little bit about it. So don't worry about me, just keep talking."

The two girls looked at each other indescribably, then Pasquale regained her composure and continued.

"Okay. Let's keep talking. ...I'm very familiar with them because of the work they do. I guess that's why Ben didn't have the option of using them."

That's probably why he lost. She adds.

"Then he must have been the one who killed the other candidates."

"...So does that mean that the only one who is willing to do it is practically Brother Grimm?"

"I see it that way."

I was listening to their conversation and sorting through the information that came out, but there was no mention of Ettore, the eldest daughter, to the point of being unnatural.

I was curious, so I felt bad but decided to interject.

"Um... is everything all right with Ettore?"

"...... Oh, I don't care about that sister. She's a genuine slacker and only works for her own convenience and desires, so ignoring her won't be a problem."

Pasquale's expression was bitter.

"I hate to say it because it's a disgrace to my family, but she's a real slob who does nothing but eat up money, except for hooking men."

"No, you don't have to go that far."

"Unfortunately, it's true. I haven't received any information that says she's dead, so I think she's still alive, but I can't say for sure where she's hiding. ...but I'm pretty sure she's at the guy's place."

...I'm just not that sure.

"I'm glad you got your questions answered. Then I'll let you answer my question. Adolfo. What is your policy?"