Third Outer World Story Series: Pumpkin Sorcerer - Chapter 31

Translator: MadHatter Editor: MadHatter

“Speaking of which…”

“What is it?”

While on the way back to the inn from Rio’s house, despite all the stares he received, Pumpkin had one thing on his mind about this case, so he decided to ask Kozo.

“Ryoko = Houki-san… right? Why was she subjected to such a dangerous curse in the first place?”

“How do you suppose I have any idea about that?”

“You do know. For the head of an organization that is supposed to be fair and impartial, the Adventurers’ Association, you seem to be too much in Rio’s favor.”

“…”

After paying the appropriate amount of money to buy a cup of juice from a stall, Pumpkin put one of his roots in the cup in his cloak and started sucking on the juice.

And while he was doing that, Kozo was putting on a kind of reluctant face.

Is the fact that I have noticed it so much really strange? But I am more than a little curious about this subject, so I’m going to ask him to tell me exactly what’s going on.

“I understand. But I must say beforehand that I do not have a complete grasp of the situation and that I do not want anyone—including Rio—to be aware of what I am going to tell you.”

“Hmm. Got it.”

His response to Kozo’s question was nonchalant, but at the same time, he knew it was going to be a very complicated conversation if he was going to be that thorough.

“Let’s go somewhere out of sight for the time being.”

“Hoi hoi!”

After that, Kozo and Pumpkin departed for a private talk in a room at the back of the inn. The room was strangely soundproofed.

—————

“Since we’re on the subject, let me ask you up front: are you a reincarnated being? You are too far out of the ordinary.”

“I see that I’ve been exposed. Well, you’re right. The name of my previous life escapes me, though.”

To his answer, Kozo replied, “That’s fine, then.”

But what does this have to do with the current situation?

“What, it’s a simple story. Ryoko = Houki. She is a reincarnated person just like you.”

“!?”

His eyes widened as he could not conceal his shock at Kozo’s remarks.

“You see, her name is Houki. This is her name from her past life that she remembers. It is common practice for reincarnated individuals who recall their prior life’s name to add all or a part of it to their present life’s name.”

Ah, I didn’t know that. Or rather, I don’t know the name of my former life, so there’s no way for me to attach it.

“She was born into a poor family here in Kunukihappy and was originally an adventurer, though not anymore. I’m not sure if she had experience in that field before or if her remaining recollections of her former life are of combat, but she was incredibly powerful in those days. She was a force to be reckoned with.”

Kozo’s eyes were staring off into the distance as if he was reminiscing about something.

He must be recalling the young Ryoko.

“So, here’s the main problem.”

“Ngh. Let’s get on with it.”

“Mmm. At that time, she had come to a forest near the royal capital on a certain request. And there she saved a man. The man’s name is… Sorry, I can’t tell you his name. Anyway, she saved the man, and because of that connection and the fact that she was a reincarnated person, she ended up working as a maid for him. In retrospect, this was the happiest time for both of them…”

Ah, I have a feeling this is turning out to be a very messy story.

If Pumpkin took into account the woman’s resentful voice that was heard when he touched the black magic power, it felt like it was already a convoluted narrative.

“I’ll save you the specifics, though. All I have to say is that she and the man were in love, but they had to split up for a number of reasons. Even now the man is secretly in love with her in the capital, and she returned to her birthplace and raised her daughter single-handedly. You can figure out the rest of the story on your own.”

After saying these words, Kozo left the room, perhaps signaling his intention that he would not reveal any further details.

Well, I guess I’ll just have to figure it out on my own, just as he told me to.

Pumpkin then went back to his room and tried to speculate what had happened by replaying Kozo’s story in his mind.

At any rate, I’ll pay back Kozo ojii-san for the subtle harassment later.

“….Ah… So… this is what it is about huh…”

And from this, he concluded that a romantic entanglement was probably what brought the current case to arise.

At any rate, I am sure that is the cause.

The problem is Rio’s father, or should I say, Ryoko-san’s husband… or ex-husband or maybe at the level of a lover. Well, anyway, putting those things aside… the man that Kozo said is still adoring her in the royal capital…

From the flow of the story, it would seem that he was either a nobleman of the lowest rank or a young master of a major merchant company (at that time).

If he turns out to be the current king, though, Rio would find herself in an unfavorable position as the current king’s illegitimate daughter or something like that.

Hey, there! Don’t you dare call this an escape from reality![i] Nobody is here, but I’m going to toss in a few words anyway.

Even if that were the case, time will never revert. What has been done can’t be undone. Furthermore, authority means nothing to me since I am a pumpkin. Ah, I don’t understand all this anymore! Whoever cast the curse is to blame for everything and everyone!!

Even though he was walking to the bed in a huff, Pumpkin made the decision to retire for the night at that point.

Oh, that reminds me, I have to buy inks and parchment papers, but I also need to investigate the Kage-Ochi.

—————

A/N:

Houki-san is that Houki-san.

T/N:

It’s the reincarnated Houki that died from Outer World Story: The Black Mist that Devours. (Those who want to know about her death, you can read the chapter here.) Interestingly, she also worked as a maid in this life as well. By the way, there are still other reincarnated individuals from Outer World Story: The Black Mist that Devours which may appear in this novel or may appear in other Outer World Stories.

[i] Kind of the literal meaning but it has a more in-depth of psychological level. Kind of hard to explain. Please press on the link and read it if you want to understand it better