Want to read ahead? Join my Patreon for only $7 to get early access to upcoming chapters!
> > Patreon.com/NegativeTranslations <<
____________________________
Chapter 62: Childish!
Rayn and Kanna, whose sleepiness had vanished at the mention of food, sat on one side. Rick sat opposite them. After each had poured a glass of water, his eyes flickered as if recalling something before he began to speak.
"It happened like this. A week ago, children started disappearing from our town one after another," he began. "Then we started searching. We didn't know until we searched, but we were shocked when we did. We found out that similar things had happened in the surrounding villages as well."
At this point, Rick let out a heavy breath, rubbing his aching brow. "Normally, we would have found out much earlier, but after winter came and the snow covered everything, communication became less frequent."
"We also posted a request in the city here, and a few mages took it. But in the end, they all suffered heavy casualties," he continued. "Fortunately, they also managed to gather some information. They said the dark guild 'Toymaker's Workshop' was active in this area."
"They said it wasn't an enemy the North could handle and advised us to seek powerful mages from the South."
Having explained the general situation in one go, the mayor drank his water in one gulp to quench his thirst. Perhaps because this area was desolate, powerful mages rarely appeared in the North. Ul was already a rare existence, but because of her daughter, Ul didn't live in a town. As a result, not many people knew she was in the Brago area. So, it wasn't strange for those mages to recommend going to the South to seek help. In fact, when they encountered difficult situations here, most of them would go to the South or post a request through the Magic Council.
After listening to Rick's account, Rayn fell into thought, his fingertips tapping on the table like he was playing a piano.
"Did those mages say where they encountered the dark guild members?" Rayn's tapping suddenly stopped, and he looked at the mayor opposite him.
"I'll go get the map." Rick wanted to explain, but realizing these two weren't from the North, he quickly ran upstairs. His seemingly aging body was surprisingly fast. He had clearly been troubled by this matter for a long time.
It didn't take long. Rick came to the dining table with heavy steps, a roll of paper in his hand. He unrolled it, revealing a sketched map.
"They encountered them here. And North Peak Town is here," he said, first pointing to a mountainous area, then to the location representing where they were now. Although this world had clearer maps that could be displayed through magic, it was clearly not something the mayor of a remote town like him could do. But this was enough.
Looking at the two points, Rayn gradually got an idea.
"Can I borrow this map for a while?" Rayn looked up at the mayor and asked softly. Just because they encountered them there didn't mean they were still there. In fact, after that encounter, they might have moved. To facilitate the search later, having a map as a reference would be more convenient.
"Please, feel free to use it," Rick said without thinking.
"Thank you. I still have some questions..." After thanking him, Rayn put away the map and continued to ask some questions.
It wasn't until Tia brought over a steaming hot stew that Rick stopped, signaling the two to eat first. He and his wife then left the dining area, clearly wanting Rayn and Kanna to eat comfortably. Of course, they also wanted to talk.
"Rick, are those two kids really capable?" Tia's voice was carefully lowered, but Rayn's enhanced physical fitness had also sharpened his senses, and he still heard her worried words.
"It's fine. I've been looking up information about that guild recently," Rick's voice gradually became firm, as if to reassure his wife and himself. "Fairy Tail is a top guild. Although that boy is young, he's been on Sorcerer Weekly."
"I can't tell."
"Well..."
Rayn didn't continue to listen to their conversation and focused on eating with Kanna. Some things were useless to talk about too much; only by doing them would you know.
That night, Rayn and Kanna stayed at Rick's house.
The next day, the long-awaited sun pierced through the thick, dark clouds. The accumulated snow shone brightly under the sunlight.
Rayn had his hands in his pockets, his black boots crunching on the snow. As for Kanna, because the weather was clear, she was even more excited. She ran back and forth in front of him with her arms spread out like she was spreading her wings, occasionally stopping to wait for Rayn. Then she would take his coattail and walk backward, her sky-blue eyes watching the footprints she and Rayn left in the snow, sparkling with excitement.
She looked up at the golden sun.
"Hmph."
She exhaled softly, and the rising white smoke was pierced by the golden sun, showing a bit of a sacred glow.
"Rayn, Rayn, look!" she quickly tugged on Rayn's coattail, her tone slightly raised
"Hmm?"
The little dragon girl's high spirits since early morning made Rayn's mood also become cheerful.
"Hmph."
Kanna exhaled again, and the hot breath came into contact with the cold air, turning into a plume of white smoke. She tilted her little head up, her eyes sparkling with anticipation as she looked at Rayn.
"Hmph, mine is more amazing than yours," Rayn said with a triumphant smile, opening his mouth and exhaling a long breath. A plume of white smoke, even longer and farther than Kanna's, immediately appeared.
"Whoa."
Kanna let out a very supportive exclamation and also opened her little mouth, wanting to win back a point.
"These two brats..."
In the sea of consciousness, even Ddraig was a little speechless at this moment. Let alone Rayn, Kanna, as a dragon, her breath should be enough to destroy mountains and split seas. And now, this thing that couldn't even be called a breath, what was there to be proud of? The domineering Heavenly Dragon couldn't understand the mentality of this one dragon and one person.
The two who were playing did not know Ddraig's thoughts and just smiled happily.
On both sides of the street, residents of North Peak Town were already clearing the snow in front of their doors with shovels. There were also a few children running around the street, throwing snowballs at each other. However, after Rayn and Kanna passed by, the strange faces made a few children stop and watch.
Rayn noticed that one of them, a black-haired child, was the one from the carriage last night.
"Amazing! That person is actually carrying a huge sword!"
"They don't seem to be from our town, do they?"
"That person looks so scary!"
It wasn't until Rayn and Kanna had walked far away that the quiet children finally spoke up excitedly.
"Hmph, I saw him last night. He's a mage!" Gray said with his hands on his hips, a triumphant hum coming from him.
His words immediately made the other children look at him with curiosity. The attention of his little friends gave Gray an extreme sense of satisfaction, and he continued, "And my dad also said that this person is..."