26 - Chapter 24, Synthetic Humans? -

After some time waiting, Dan came to my table. He brought the foods at me. On his right hand's tray, a quite huge meat with bone latching into it on a plating. Like the food meat which commonly found in any games. Then, a midle sized bowl filled with vegetable soup, consisted some vegetables that looked alike a potato, cut-ed neatly and some others of this world's vegetables which I don't know what are what. First, they smelled so good. Second, It was Dan whose cooked them, so I can trust him freely without the fear of poisoned. Third, It's FOOD! As long as they're good, don't mind them! Just "Nom" them all!

On his left hand's tray, 3 glasses of water, which known after he put them down, are juices. He put them all down on the table and then he took 1 glass of the juice while taking a seat next to me. I looked at him.

"What?", he asked. In a curious manner.

"Nothing. Just wondering about why the inn so quiet.", I wondered as I put my sight back on the foods infront of me.

"Hmm.", he rubs his chin as he mumbled. "Talk later, eat more, young lady!", he blinked at me suddenly. I looked at him, responded with a plain face. I actually don't know how to respond that. He just smiled.

"Don't mind if I do then.", I said. "Thanks for the food, Dan-san!", I tahnked him as I began, feasting up the food. He just sat there quitely while looking at me whose enjoying my foods and taking his juice casually. Grace still not around. I wonder where she is.

Took some time until I finished that tender, juicy and tasy huge chunk of meat! It was 'SUPERB!'. First, the food has fantasy looks. Second, it's good. Third, it's suuuuper gooooodd. I would craving for seconds if I'm not this full. I eased myself on the chair, patsing my belly.

"Fwah~.", I moaned. "Nothing beats a fully filled stomach. Mostly when filled by the delicacy made by this Dan-san.", I keep patsing my belly while leaning on the chair carefreely.

"Hahaha! You're good with your words, Irumi!", he laughed. "I'm glad that my work is quite satisfying for you.", he laughed again. It felt like he really letting loose everything with his laugh, like he really enjoyed laughing.

"No, no!", I raised my left hand, waving the left index finger at him. "It truly is remarkable! A veeeery very nice dishes, everytime I sit here. I might perhaps making a longstay here, taking it slow while making some steady earnings just to enjoy your cooking everyday, Dan-san!.", I said, with some insisting intent in it. But my pose, still easing on the chair with my head bent backward, looking up at the ceiling with eyes closed.

"Hahahah.", he laughed while wiping the back of his neck. "Now you sounded like a young male. Hahaha.", he laughed again. I ignored it like nothing happened.

After some time of Dan's laughing, I pulled myself back on the chair, sitting straight casually. "So, Dan-san?", I called for him while looking straight at him.

"Ah, yes. 'Ahem!'", he understood why I called him while coughing intentionally to maintain his composure. He put a fist infront of hia mouth as he did such. "About this quiet things, eh?", he asked.

"Umu.", I nodded. "That's something I'd like to know.", I confirmed him in attentively manner.

"Hmm. As usual, I don't know much.", he puts his hands on the table, prolling his chin with his right hand. "Most of the time, I spent my time here. I barely going out.", he started with some explanation from his side. Making some hands movement as he talks, at me. His face kind of showing some disappointment.

'Sigh..', he sighed. "Most of the people who can fight here were sent to the border next to the evil faction's continent, defending the wall.", he said.

"Hmm?", I mumbled with curiousity and wonders. "Are we at war, Dan-san?", I asked.

"Well. I suppose we are.", he said. "But there haven't been any major movement from both sides, after some time.", he explained more as he rising up his body.

"After some time?", I asked.

"Yeah.", he nodded. "Been a long time. Mostly, we're busy by dealing by monsters or any extremists issues. But, I haven't heard there's any strike from the well known evil faction.", he raised his shoulder as he said. Giving an unsure impression.

"Umu.", I nodded. Not knowing how to react. "So most of the people here were sent to the border for guarding the wall, right?", I asked.

"Well, simply put, yes.", he nodded. "Even the evil fact doesn't make a move, still, that place is one that which is with a high condensed [Mana] area. There are strong monsters that might spawned due to that. Which is quite troublesome.", he implied.

"Strong monsters?", I asked, with attentive looks.

"Uh-huh.", he nodded. "Expect [Dragons], [Wyverns], anything that's near to a calamity or A up to S rank monster classes. Troublesome.", he said. He face palming himself at the end of his words.

"Dragons.", I murmured. "Are all of them classified as monster to be subjugated?", I asked.

He flinched a little. "No, not every dragons.", he replied immediately. "Dragons which existing from a life existence, have some intelects and their own characteristic of their own respective values. But those Dragons which spawned to the condensing [Mana], has no intelect. Simply put, they're monsters. Beast. While Dragons with intelectual, classified as mythical creatures.", he explained.

"Hoo.", I rubbed my chin as I nod. "I'm suprised Dan-san knows this much as a shut-in worker.", I teased him. He snapped like there's a big dagger stabbed him from behind his back.

"Ugh.", he face palming himself as he moaned. "That's...quite a [Critical] hit, Irumi.", he shaked his head.

"Tee-hee. Just kidding.", I said casually.

"But, hei.", he's wiping his face with his hand as he said. "I do hangout, sometimes if needed. It just, I really prefer doing some training after works.", he explained in a serious manner to defend himself while looking at me.

"Umu. Agreed.", I nodded. "Can't let our body getting rusty from the lack of training.", I looked at him attentively to ensure my words.

"Sigh. Yes.", he sighed. "But back to the spoken topic. Do you know that Grace-sama and Kyou-dono were a member of the previous [Heroes] party?", he asked.

"No? They did?", I gave a suprise look as I asked. 'Not like I don't want to tell him the truth, it just I'd like to hear his version.', I murmured in my mind after.

"They did! And officially still do.", he said, with excited face. "Though some of the heroes have passed away, and some of them going to somr secluded places living a slow life, there aren't any issue or story about disbanding the party. So, the party still existed, right?", he said and asked on my opinion of his argument. I bet he really likes discussing about [Heroes].

"Umm, I guess you have a point there, Dan-san.", I agreed to him while scratching my cheek with my right hand.

"So, you see.", he continued. "I might be able to talk to Grace-sama if you'd like to be listed on the member candidate when they're looking for one. You're a strong warrior!", he's getting hyped by himself.

"Ah..", I murmured plainly. "Thanks for the offer, Dan-san. But, I still have much to learn.", I rejected his offer politely.

"Oh..", he felt a bit discouraged. "Well, okay. You must be having your own reason. But, when you need help, you tell this Dan to come over, and he'll surely come over!", he said as he put up a thumb up pose with his right hand in such a warm and bright way.

"Whoah, okay Dan-san! Thank you.", I replied with a bit hyped act to follow his rythm.

"Yes, yes! I'll surely help you out!", he said, then laugh warmly. "I think you're potential enough to be the next [Hero], if you keep improving yourself!", he praised me and laugh.

'Seriously, this guy really likes to laugh.', I said in my mind. "Me, a [Hero]?", I pointed at myself as I said. "No, no. Too troublesome.", I shaked my head.

"What so trou-..", he said.

His words stopped as he saw Grace coming in to the inn. I also turned my head looking at Grace whose walking in with a plain expression while looking straightly at us.

"Grace-sama?", he looked at Grace. "Something happened?", he asked.

Grace shaked her head. "Irumi-chan.", he called for me. "Mind to come along with this Onee-san for a moment?", she asked politely.

"Er..Yes?", I replied her calling, confused and worried. "S-sure. Why is it?", I asked back in a worried manner as I stood up.

"Nothing much, we just need to meet up with the [Guild Master] from the adventurers guild.", she raised her shoulders as she said. Her unusual plain face expression really disturbs my mind. Wondering what happened there.

"Umm, Okay.", I murmured before replying. I bowed at Dan slightly to excuse myself. I walk toward the shelves to pick up my [Blade] and come closer at her whose standing there quietly waiting for me. I hooked the scabbard with my left belt as I walked to her from the shelves.

"Okay, I'm ready. Grace-onee-san.", I said as I stand infront of her.

"Hmm?", she smiled. Probably because I called her with 'onee-san'. "Okay, let's go then.", she bent her body slightly to the side, then she smiled warmly with her eyes closed. With those glasses and ears as she did that? I can't resist the charm from that cute scene. I nodded obediently as I was getting amazed by her sudden change of mood.

"Dan-san. We're leaving.", she excused herself at Dan whose cleaning up the table I used for lunch.

"Oh?", he turned his body facing us. "Yeah, sure Grace-sama. Becareful.", he replied politely. Then, he continues with the cleaning. We walked outside side by side with her arms around my shoulder. Guiding me like her little sister. We walked straight to the adventurer guild, going to the stairs until reaching the 3rd floor, [Guild Master]-'s office.

'Knock knock', Grace knocked on the door.

"Come in.", a lady voice heard from the rooom. Grace opened the door and pushed it.

'Cklek.', the sound made by the handling of the door being pulled down. Followed by the creaking sound of the door after. We entered the room, Grace went first and waiting by the door. I passed through her, then she closed the door again.

"Please have a seat there.", a female voice heard from the, apparently, [Guild Master]-'s desk. But I can't see anyone there. My senses telling me she's squatting down by the drawers of the desk, looking for something or files.

"Okay, Roselia-chan. Don't mind if we do.", Grace replied as she guided me with her arms on my shoulders like guiding a dearly customer or little siblings. I followed her obediently to the sofas or, looked like a sofa. The seatings were covered with animal skins and furs. Seems fluffy. I sat on the long seating together with Grace.

"Uh-huh.", She mumbled. "Okay, found it!", she stands while holding up a map on her hands as she said it. She walks herself to us while reading the file. The sounds of her light armor and those greaves on her feet met the wooded flooring sounds really fely like I'm in a knight movie that I've ever watch on television back in my previous world.

She sat on the single seating on my left. She closed the map and throw it on the table as she dive herself to the sofa like seating. It does comfy and fluffly though, like a bed.

"Sigh.", she sighed. "I should have not accepting on the promotion of the [Guild Master] back then if I knew I'd end up in this village after some years of service.", she whined carefreely.

"Oh ho?", Grace smiled. "And why is that, Roselia-chan?", she asked.

"Well, let's just use the current people that exist here now.", she said while not looking at us carefreely. "First, there's Kyou. An actual S ranker which camouflaged his ID as an A. Then, there's you, an S ranker as well. Both of you are the previous [Hero] party members. While me, the [Guild Master], an A ranker. It feels weird leading people who have more potentials than yourself, you know?", she implied more of her whining carefreely.

"Fufufufu.", she laughed. "Well that's how our [Guild Master] here, Irumi-chan.", she said. Roselia shocked. Pulling up herself to sit straight after hearing my name being called.

"Eh?", she shocked. "I thougt you were by yourself, Grace-dono.", she shaked her head with a face palm. Then, she sighed again, a little bit. "Sorry to show you this side of mine, Irumi-chan. I am Roselia, the current [Guild Master] in Luna Village.", she introduced herself in a knightly manner and voice.

"Uh-huh. No problem, Roselia-san.", I shaked my head. "I am Irumi, pleased to meet you.", I introduced myself back at her.

"Yes, the pleasure is mine.", she smiled at me. "Sigh.", she sighed again after. "And here's the third, infront of me. The possible candidate of a new S ranker.", she face palming herself while dropping her face to her palms with both hands supported by the elbow on her knees.

"E-eh?", I shocked. "Why S rank?", I asked worriedly.

"Huh?", she looked at me when she heard my question. "I'm not even a [Human], though my looks are indeed a [Human], but I am not. Your strength? Surpassed me already. Not to mention, level 1. Sigh.", she sighed after saying all of those. Diving her face on her palms again.

I silenced in a brief moment, confused a little. "Not a [Human]?", I murmured in confusion.

"Indeed, Irumi-chan.", Grace answered. Placing her arms on my shoulders, rubbing it. "Roselia-chan is a [Synthetic Human] or being, which comes from a result of [Synthetis] commonly used by people who knows advanced [Alchemy] and some other needed knowledge regarding it, creating an [Artificial] body with flesh and blood. Then, the performer [Synchronized] a soul in it, or anything that can make the [Artificial] body moves, or live. Roselia, retained her previous memories before her death as a knight. Her soul was used for the [Fusion] or [Synthesize] process I recall? That makes her who she is right now. Stronger than any usual [Human]-s.", she explained like a teacher next to me. I attentively looking at her. Her glasses, ears, eyes color, and everything looks perfectly as waifu materials. Admired by her appearances and gestures as she explained in the way. Roselia sulks herself on the comfy seatings. Like letting all the talks being done by Grace. I replied Grace's explanation with silence, feeling confused, curious and wondered but holding them all in as I need to know more about the related stuff. Not to mention, I don't want to hurt Roselia's feeling when I accidentally asked a question that may be taken as a personal for her.

"Yeah, but that was long ago.", Roselia said carefreely like she's really tired after doing something. "Some tell me it's a gift to be strong. But me? I felt like this is a curse. As long as my [Core] in me does not break, I will not die. And the [Core] itself, regenerating the [Mana] it needs, or I need, by absorbing the natural [Mana] around and then it processed the absorbed [Mana] to become the fuel to keep my functions running.", she explained it further in a carefree way.

"[Core]? Like [Golem]-s?", I asked.

"No, different.", she replied immediately. "Golems [Core] mostly and can also by simply using [Magic Stones] or [Crystals]. But my [Core] was created with an [Alchemy] as well. It regenerates my body repeatedly like a pulse. And the textures are squishy. Like a heart and blood.", she implied. "Sigh. I wonder why I feel so tired today. I feel like I'm too lazy for anything.", she whined after. I silently keeping her words in my mind attentively for future prospects.

"Fufufufu.", Grace laughed in lady mannered way. "So, you want to discuss her rank tomorrow? Even though she's here already.", she implied. Roselia snapped. Pulled herself up slowly to sit straight.

"Now you said it.", she started to get serious. "Let's discuss about your rank now Irumi-chan.", she closes her palms and connects them infront of her mouth as she said those words in a serious looks.