Carlisle raised his hand, his knuckles gently tapping on the wooden door. A moment later, a low voice came from behind the door.
"Who's there"
Carlisle paused for a moment, then quickly reacted, responding calmly, "Um… we're here to look for something."
Silence fell behind the door for a moment, then, with a heavy creak, the door slowly opened. Natsuki Subaru's gaze passed through the gap in the door, landing on the tall figure inside the room, and her heart couldn't help but tremble.
"Is this a giant?" she mused to herself, a hint of surprise and curiosity in her eyes. "So he's only a little over two meters tall… But he looks really strong, his muscles are solid like rock. I wonder who's stronger, him or Carlisle?"
The giant stepped aside, clearing a path, his gaze as sharp as a hawk's as he scrutinized the two. His eyes held a hint of assessment and wariness, as if he were judging their intentions. Subaru felt a little uncomfortable under his gaze and instinctively moved closer to Carlisle.
"Come in."
Carlisle noticed her unease, subtly turned, and shielded her with his body, saying calmly, "Excuse us."
The two walked into the house, one after the other. In the dim light, they could vaguely see shelves piled high with various strange items. The air was filled with a musty scent.
The giant walked behind the counter and slowly sat down, holding a massive wooden club in his hand. The club was covered in signs of wear, clearly having seen many battles. His gaze fell on Subaru, his voice carrying a hint of warning.
"Well, well, what a rare sight, a noble lady and her knight. Let me tell you upfront, this isn't a place for people like you to play."
Subaru was startled by his words but quickly composed herself and said, "W-we're not here to play…"
Carlisle gently patted her hand, signaling her not to be nervous. His gaze met the giant's.
"We mean no offense; we merely heard that you might have something we need here. If you are willing to help, we will offer appropriate compensation."
The giant was silent for a moment, then said indifferently.
"Never mind. After all, guests are guests. Sit down first."
— — — — — — — — —
Natsuki Subaru looked down at the milk in the cup before her. She blinked in surprise, muttering to herself, "He's unexpectedly polite… I didn't think a giant would prepare milk."
"What are you looking at? This old man just doesn't want to be bothered."
Subaru looked up, her eyes filled with confusion and curiosity: "Um… why do you think I'm a noble? I'm just a child from an ordinary middle-class family. Did I show any noble demeanor or temperament?"
Upon hearing this, the giant frowned slightly. "Middle-class? What does that mean? Do you think this old man has bad eyesight? Although I don't recognize the strange clothes you're wearing, just looking at the design and quality, I know they must be valuable. Not to mention, what ordinary family's daughter has a knight protecting her?"
Subaru paused, then looked down at her clothes. "So it's because of this…" She looked up, trying to explain, "These clothes are very common where I'm from; they're really not anything valuable…"
Subaru saw the giant's "I don't believe you" expression and knew he hadn't believed her explanation. If she had known she would suddenly be sent to Another World, wearing her own sportswear would have been better.
But her dad always disliked that outfit, constantly nagging her to dress more "girly." Yet, she particularly loved that loose and comfortable sportswear, saying that all his precious daughter's cuteness was hidden by that outfit… Wait, now isn't the time to be thinking about such things!
The girl shook her head, chasing away her rambling thoughts. The giant continued, "Alright, what exactly are you looking for? Find it and leave quickly."
Carlisle, sitting beside Subaru, leaned slightly forward and politely said, "We are looking for someone. According to our information, she seems to have had something important stolen. Excuse me, has that person been here?"
Then, after a brief thought, he added, "She is a half-elf girl with long silver hair and dark purple eyes."
When Subaru heard Carlisle's description, a picture couldn't help but form in her mind: "A silver-haired half-elf? She sounds like a very beautiful person…" A hint of curiosity flashed in her eyes, but it was quickly interrupted by the expression on the giant's face.
The giant's expression suddenly became very strange. His brows were tightly furrowed, and his eyes revealed an indescribable mix of complex emotions. The corners of his mouth twitched slightly, as if he was suppressing some emotion, and he finally blurted out, "Boy, are you making fun of me?"
Subaru was stunned for a moment, a hint of confusion flashing in her eyes: "Um… is there a problem?"
The giant snorted coldly, his voice laced with anger: "Of course, boy. If you're looking for the Witch of Envy, you should ask the Divine Dragon you serve where he sealed her."
"Witch of Envy? Who's that?" Subaru asked innocently, her tone full of confusion and curiosity.
The giant froze again, his gaze slowly turning to the source of the voice, his eyes filled with disbelief: "You… are you serious?" His voice was hoarse as if he was confirming whether he had misheard.
The girl's expression didn't look like she was faking it at all. Her brows were slightly furrowed, and her golden eyes sparkled with genuine confusion. A hint of suspicion couldn't help but rise in the giant's heart: "No way, did this girl just come out of some deep mountains? She doesn't even know the Witch of Envy?"
Carlisle's expression was also a bit awkward. He cleared his throat lightly, trying to ease the atmosphere, his tone carrying a hint of helplessness and sincerity: "Although it sounds strange, the person I'm looking for indeed has this appearance. Please believe me."
The giant looked at the confused girl, then at the upright Carlisle, his brows tightly furrowed, as if weighing something. His gaze swept back and forth between the two, and he finally sighed, muttering in a low voice, "You two… you don't look like you're here to cause trouble."
He shook his head and said helplessly, "Forget it, today is truly crazy. I haven't seen anyone like that. However, if you are looking for stolen items, someone else will be coming later. She might know something."
Upon hearing this, the girl's eyes immediately lit up, and a brilliant smile bloomed on her face. She stood up happily, her voice full of gratitude, "Really! That's a huge help! Then, how should I address you?"
The giant glanced at her, a faint smile playing on the corners of his mouth, his voice still deep: "Just call this old man Old Man Rom."
...
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