CHAPTER VI

"I see, so that's how it is."

Jean massaged her temple. As soon as she saw Klee outside, she always wondered whether it signals something will go wrong or already gone wrong.

"So, this thief stole your treasure and he mistakenly thought of it as such and inadvertently blew himself up?"

"Y-yes." Klee said, fumbling her finger.

In all honesty, there's nothing wrong with that. Thief is thief. They're lawbreakers no matter what possession they stole. Klee is someone not in the wrong here. But somehow Klee translated Jean will go mad because she thinks Klee had broken the first rule she imposed.

Somehow, sometimes, Jean always wishes to have more time to educate her young charge more. It was with heavy-heart sometimes to see Klee broken-hearted and told to stay in the confinement room.

"Please Ms. Jean, don't act so rashly."

Jean shifted her attention to the large man near the bookcase. The traveler and her faithful companion were watching on the sideline.

"Oh, why do you think err… pardon me what's your name?"

"It's Rin."

"Yes, mister Rin, why do you think so?"

"For one, the thief in question I think it's not human. Klee seems thought he was one because of his humanoid figure I think."

"Not human… what do you mean?" She doubted that Hilichurl would have the intelligence to write a threat letter.

"It's small. Diminutive in shape, and floating just like our little mascot here."

"Oi, who did you call diminutive! For your records, Paimon is an adult you know."

That's what you call diminutive. Rin wryly smiles at the fairy.

"Gnunu I sense bad thinking."

"Other than that, it's capable of ice magic and also wearing a mask."

"Isn't that an exact description of Abyss mage?" The traveler quietly murmured but still can be heard by everyone in the room.

"Fumu, the writing is too eloquent for some common thieves. Moreover, it had been becoming a headache lately since they were popping out of the woodworks causing all sorts of trouble for us Knight." Jean said before turning her head to Klee.

"I think it's fair to lessen your punishment time. But you still have to go to the confine room, be a good girl, and I'll treat you after this."

"Yes…" Klee dejectedly said and leaves the room alongside the Traveler and Paimon who follows the young elfin.

"Is that alright, Ms. Jean." Rin said disapprovingly and she already knows the reason.

"Jean is fine, Rin. I'd rather we drop our formalities. Also, I offer you our utmost gratitude for helping our little Klee."

"That's fine with me."

"As of right now, the knight of Favonius is swamped by plethora of troubles and works, not to mention the recent dragon attack. I regret to say this but I've been a bad model for Klee, both her education and mental growth. As such we can't afford to guard her all the time like we used to and the girl as you know… well she's rather destructive when let alone unsupervised."

Jean said while making her way to the table and brew some tea in the pot. After it's done, a relaxing atmosphere seems to seep in the room, as she presented Rin with a cup.

"It will be a tough decision to make. Personally, I never know how burdensome child-rearing is."

"Any sensible caretaker would probably shout at me should they know, but I think it's fine to go with this length… ah I hope I never thought such thing before." Jean said before shaking her head, and calmed it with a cup of tea. "Thank you, Rin. I'm sorry for being a rude host and instead complaining at you."

"No, that's fine. I had a share of burden as someone who was once in a high-post, at least I can relate to an extent."

"Now you mention it, what will you do from now on? I assume you had a similar experience as the traveler?"

"The traveler?"

"She's not originally from our own world. Her goal is to find her lost brother in this world it seems."

"Is travelling between worlds a common occurrence here?" Rin said. He never said he was from another world, but Jean capable to deduce it from his vague story alone.

"Not really. When we call someone traveler, it is usually reserved for someone who travels between the world. It's common for god to do so but sometimes there's ordinary people who got mixed-up to an extraordinary phenomenon by pure coincidence or amusement of the god." Jean said before continuing.

"Don't act so surprised, Rin. We had numerous records of travelers from other worlds in the library, and some of them even got famous and became an epic legend. So at least I know the telltale sign when I see one hehe, but please don't tell this to traveler, I think she doesn't know yet." Jean said with a slight mischievous giggle.

"I see. I have a bad feeling if I get locked up and tortured for information."

"We won't do that… well maybe another nation if you're unlucky. I swear in my life I won't divulge this information to anyone else, please rest assured."

"I'm glad."

That just means he had to make up another backstory so he isn't suspected as traveler from another world. Still, Jean divulges the young traveler's circumstances to him, either because she thought he would share a bond of camaraderie seeing they were trapped under similar circumstances or something else.

"Fumu. I'm glad to have a break sometimes but it will be unbecoming of me to let the paper pile up."

Rin stood up, understanding the cue. He half-bowed instinctively based on his memory habit before thanking Jean for the hospitality.

"Ah by the way, I suggest you go to adventurer guild if you ever need a job. Or maybe applying as knight candidate hehe."

"I will do that, thank you."

"The feeling is mutual."

Jean smiles before dropping it once Rin closed the door and went back to her desk, muttering at the sight of the stacks of paper.

"This will never end."