Chapter 5 | Kiefer & Candice
IT’S been ten days since we joined the Lanakiller guild. I’ve slowly grown used to my new life, including enjoying breakfast together every morning in the dining room, which is where we are now. Claire naturally took over cooking duties, which means she’s usually in charge of the breakfast menu. I help out too, of course.
Rinny looks ready to dive into the spread of delicious-looking soups and fluffy homemade bread on the table, but Macro stops him. “We should wait until everyone’s here.”
I expect this might start off yet another quarrel between them, but Rinny uncharacteristically agrees with the dwarf, waiting patiently while drooling with anticipation.
J-Just give me a minute! I’m almost done setting the table!
The guys are always showering us with praise for the delicious food, but Claire is awful at accepting compliments. However, it seems as if everyone has grown accustomed to Claire’s unique mannerisms over the course of the past ten days, so none of them take her rudeness to heart. It’s just her way of expressing her shyness!
With everyone seated and the food ready, Ektor addresses all of us as we dig in. “I think today’s the day to try and convince some fresh meat to join our guild.”
So, it’s finally time for our group of friends to grow a little bigger. Ever since we arrived in this city, we’ve been busy keeping the mansion clean and organized and becoming familiar with the streets around the guild. We even registered as official Lanakiller guild members! That’s right! Now both Claire and I can call ourselves members of the Lanakiller guild!
Of course, Claire ended up dragging her feet until the last minute, muttering something about still being able to unravel the original story. I understand her reluctance, but at the same time, I can’t hide my excitement over our new life!
“I’m sorry, Claire. There are so many things I’ve never seen or experienced, and every day is practically bursting with excitement! Plus, we have new friends to look forward to, right?” My honest words helped sway Claire, and she eventually registered alongside me!
“I guess it’s been p-pretty nice here,” she said. “I’m sure if we’d stayed in the village, we’d be bored out of our minds by now. I’ve been so caught up in training for that fateful monster attack that I didn’t have time to think about anything else.”
Up until now, a part of me was worried I’d forced Claire into a situation she didn’t want to be in, but hearing her words made me realize I’d been worried over nothing. Well! Deep down, I’d known as much! Hee-hee… As her twin sister, I can easily tell how much she’s enjoying her new life!
“You mean Candice, right?” Rinny responds while resting his chin in his hand, grinning at him teasingly.
Oh! I’ve heard that name before. Isn’t she Macro’s rival romance?
“N-No,” Ektor sputters. “Not her…although I am considering asking her.”
“Kiefer then?” Macro interjects as he brings his coffee cup to his lips, his eyes focused on the clearly flustered Ektor.
Kiefer? I’ve never heard that name before. And why does Ektor seem so uncomfortable? What’s wrong?
“Err… Ahem!” he clears his throat. “Yes. The enchanter, Kiefer. He’s who we usually go to for all our magical knickknacks. He’s the best in the business! Although he has a tendency to whip up weird prototypes and force them onto his customers in an attempt to figure out if they work well or not…”
An enchanter? As someone who’s never touched so much as a magic wand in their life, that title doesn’t ring any bells, although I know there are plenty of useful magic gadgets out there. I’d love to see them and learn how they’re made. Maybe if we become friends, he’ll let me watch him work his magic.
“Honestly, we get more free experimental prototypes than things we actually need…but getting to play with nonsensical gadgets is pretty fun,” Rinny says with a laugh.
“Fun? I think you mean dangerous and terrifying,” Macro corrects him.
I quickly change my mind after hearing how Macro put it.
If it’s dangerous, then I’m out. I put my curiosity to the side for a moment, listening to what they have to say.
“There’s no denying his talent, though,” Ektor interjects. “He’s never created a bad product…although plenty of ones that don’t seem to serve any purpose. At any rate! He’s incredibly trustworthy!”
If Ektor trusts him, then I’m sure he’s a good choice. He sounds a little weird, but I’m willing to put in the effort to become friends.
“I’m sure Kiefer will be completely on board,” Rinny says, “and as soon as he agrees, then Candice’s guaranteed to join as well.”
I realize Rinny’s had the same goofy grin on his face this whole time.
Also, why did Candice’s name come up when we’re talking about Kiefer?
“Excuse me, but who’s Candice? Is she another guild candidate?” Claire asks the question that’s been bugging me this whole time, and Rinny excitedly jumps in to answer her before Ektor can even open his mouth.
Why does he look so happy?
“I can explain! You see, Kiefer and Candice are cousins. Their mothers are twins.”
“That’s not part of the story,” Claire mutters under her breath. I guess this is yet another deviation from the original story. Just as it dawns on me why the two seem to come as a set, Rinny excitedly drops a literal bombshell.
“Also! Candice is completely head over heels for Ektor!”
“Shush, Rinny! No one needs to know that!”
Hrm? Uh…what did he just say? Head over heels…in love? Is that so? That’s odd, though. I could have sworn Claire said Candice is supposed to be in love with Macro…right? If she’s in love with Ektor, then… I glance over at Claire and see the same surprise on her face. Yet another unexpected twist.
“All right! This conversation’s over!” Ektor declares with a clap of his hands. “You’ll know everything when you meet them! Let’s finish eating and get ready to go, okay?”
It seems like Ektor doesn’t want to talk about it. Hrm… Maybe he’s embarrassed that this girl likes him? He is pretty popular with the girls, so this must happen a lot. Oh! Is it possible he likes Candice? My curiosity is killing me, but I feel like it’s better if I don’t pry any further. All I can do for now is wait and see.
“Huh…? This might be a case of accidental flirtation. Ektor messed up big time. It’s too bad he’s not more like the actual character in the story…”
I try my best to pretend like I can’t hear Claire, who’s muttering to herself right beside me. Besides, I feel bad for poor Ektor! As I sip my post-breakfast tea, I send Ektor a silent apology. I’m sorry my sister’s always such a handful!
Once we finish breakfast and get everything cleared up and put away, I head toward the front door along with Claire. Kiefer apparently lives nearby, and since we don’t really need to bring anything, we’re ready to go in no time at all.
“All right, then. Shall we?”
Ektor, Rinny, and Macro are already at the door, waiting for us. Huh? I thought we’d certainly be ready first, but actually, we were the slowest. I apologize and thank them at the same time for waiting, to which Ektor answers by thanking me for cleaning up the breakfast mess. He really is very kind.
“I feel really anxious for some reason. Do you really think we can become friends?” I ask, worried.
It’s finally time. My heart’s beating out of my chest with both nervousness and excitement. I can feel my tail wagging behind me, and from time to time, I catch my silvery gray fur sparkling in the light from out of the corner of my eye.
“Ugh! Miku, you’re too cu—!”
“Yes, yes, we know. Let’s go.”
Claire cuts Ektor off before he can finish what he wants to say. I wonder what it was? It seems as if she cut him off on purpose. Ektor looks slightly annoyed, as if realizing the same thing I did.
S-Sorry! Claire is just really dedicated to making sure I don’t fall in love!