". . .People are saying you're employees of the god Altus Pervertus."
"What?"
We stopped everything we were doing, despite the fact that we weren't doing anything.
Everyone covered their mouths, unable to believe what Angel had just told me.
"Angel, I didn't hear you properly. . . Say it again, right into my ear. Spell it out for me."
She looked embarrassed. Even her ears were twitching.
"I said you're E M P L O Y E E S of the god Altus Pervertus!"
"ARGH! Do you know that bastard? The next time I see him, I'll ask Lyra to stuff his mouth with rotten potatoes."
I needed to find that wretch. He was living comfortably while I struggled in misery.
"GNaw, gnaw!"
Lyra, stop that.
"Get away from me!"
Angel moved to the other side of the table and hid behind Dorian.
"Lyra, why are you gnawing on the guild's pillar? Didn't you eat?"
I had forgotten to share our meal with Lyra.
"I'm sharpening my teeth!"
"Huh? What for?"
Her mouth was bleeding. . .
"My master once told me to keep my teeth healthy. He said cavities are bad for demons."
This girl. . .
"Lyra, please. . ."
"What? Do you want me to bite you too?"
Damn it. She had lost a tooth.
"Never introduce me to that master of yours."
I handed her a cloth to wipe her mouth.
"Angel, why are you riding Donkey?"
"He asked me to take him to Altus Pervertus, but I don't know where Altus is."
No. We weren't chasing that lunatic now.
First, I needed to register with WeNovellius and learn how it worked. Maybe Angel could explain it to us, since the guild's owners were mercenaries.
"Ha ha!"
"What are you laughing at?"
Angel climbed off Donkey as though someone had threatened her and hid beside me.
"In the past, I endured the greatest pain a horse could ever suffer because of the god Altus Pervertus. He forced me into a fate no horse deserved. . ."
Donkey paused and looked at the writers.
"Incredible. That donkey can talk."
"It's true. I'm putting this in my story."
"What fate was that?"
One of Angel's friends asked Donkey.
He placed a hoof against his chest and said:
"Work."
"Mercy."
The writers embraced Donkey in sympathy.
I had no idea how things kept taking turns like this.
"Excuse me."
Donkey slowly rose and walked toward the brighter part of the room, his head bowed.
"Donkey, did you lose something?"
Seraphine began searching without knowing what she was looking for.
"The worst part is that after a few days in that humiliating occupation, I got used to it. Before I knew it, I was pulling carts for free."
"HAHAHA!"
"Ow! Lyra, why are you biting my legs?"
I couldn't hold back my laughter.
Donkey made me forget my problems, but somehow, his story hurt too. I couldn't imagine how much my friend had suffered.
"Stop laughing at Donkey."
"All right, I'll stop! What matters is that it's in the past. Our friend Donkey is a noble horse now."
CLAP! CLAP!
Ah, how wonderful it felt to be applauded.
"Listen here, Kaela!"
"Don't pull me!"
"The next time you interrupt my performance, I'll tell everyone here that you were wandering naked through the forest."
It was the same voice he had used before.
It could make anyone feel small. My legs refused to move.
"You're right, Donkey. Your past deserves to be recorded in every book in the world."
That was close.
I didn't have enough money to pay for my coffin.
"Kaela, I'm going back to my group. Thank you for talking with me."
I couldn't let her leave. I still didn't know how registration worked.
GRAB!
I caught her by the arm.
"Kaela, you're scaring me!"
"Ah, I'm sorry. I caused you trouble."
"There are many adventurers here, but they refuse to talk to us. I don't know why."
"You're still asking?"
". . ."
"Thank you for inviting us to speak with your group."
"Hello!"
"How are you all?"
I managed to convince Angel to help me.
I had to humble myself quite a bit, but I was used to that by now. It felt so good to be among civilized people that I almost felt out of place.
"Kaela and her friends already know me, but I'll introduce myself properly this time."
"How presumptuous! The nobles should introduce themselves first!"
". . ."
"Mmmpf!"
I stuffed a piece of chicken into Donkey's mouth.
He wouldn't interrupt me now.
"I'm Angel. I'm an elf, and my main profession is writing."
"It's a pleasure to meet you."
We greeted her.
"My name is Okito Kawasaki. I'm a veteran crusader, but I grew tired of war. I joined this group of writers so I could write about the things I've lived through."
Incredible.
It reminded me of so much from my previous life.
"It's a pleasure to meet you."
We greeted him warmly.
"Hey, Lyra, you'll have to tell me later how you whipped your slaves."
That girl. . .
She was telling them what she had done to us.
I had to restrain myself from hitting her.
Come to think of it, Okito Kawasaki had been talking to Lyra earlier.
"And this is the newest member of our group."
". . ."
"Doesn't he speak?"
"He's a little shy. He'll get used to us soon."
Angel was such a lovely girl.
I would have married her if I weren't a woman.
"Then we won't pressure him. We respect his choice."
It would be a long night, but at least I was among people with some common sense.
I couldn't promise there wouldn't be any madness, because. . .
"Ah, I'll introduce myself now. Don't interrupt me."
Go ahead, Donkey. It was your turn.
"Ha ha ha!"
Had our new friends actually taken a liking to us?
That could be dangerous.
"I am. . ."
We would find out soon.