After the little episode earlier—
No, it wasn’t just a minor incident; it was more of a setup, wasn’t it?
At the very least, seeing Svarog’s silent demeanor, Venti figured he was probably already updating today’s journal entry.
Who knows, maybe he’d even record what happened earlier as evidence—saving it for when Venti inevitably faces accusations and Svarog steps up as a witness.
How awful! That’d be such a mess!
Well, regardless, now that they’d bumped into each other, it was time to play the gracious host. After all, just yesterday he’d earned a hefty sum from Pela.
These Shield coins from the Underworld were enough to keep him well-fed and confident for a while. So confident, in fact, that even his greeting was laced with cheekiness.
He bounded over to Svarog, slinging an arm—okay, more like his hand—around the robot’s waist, flashing a grin as bold as a rogue’s.
Being short was a tragic inconvenience, one that almost made him want to wear some heels for a change. Alas, even on stilts, he couldn’t come close to matching Svarog’s height.
Thanks to this disparity, his greeting stance was awkward at best, but Venti had never been one to blush easily, so it was fine.
“Yo, Boss Svarog! Didn’t expect to see you and Clara here! Fate must be smiling on us, right?”
Svarog, with Venti’s playful pat on his back, simply turned his head to glance at him. This bard, grinning with mischief, seemed even more animated than usual.
“Bard, you seem unusually enthusiastic.”
Even Clara looked at him curiously, taken aback by Venti’s unbridled delight. But then she recalled her bold comment earlier about wanting to keep her family by her side forever.
Mmph…
As the steam-powered girl blushed shyly, Venti shrugged with a laugh.
“I just didn’t expect to run into you two here. I was surprised and… let’s say, more delighted than surprised!”
“Sounds nice. But Clara’s been worried about you—that’s why we came to find you,” Svarog stated directly, not hiding their purpose.
“Now that we’ve confirmed you’re safe, it’s time to head back. The Robot Settlement can’t be left unattended for long.”
“Oh, come on! It’s rare to get out and stretch your legs, right? Clara, don’t you want to stay in the Overworld a little longer?”
Venti’s eyes sparkled as he looked at Clara with the gentle charm of an overly indulgent older sibling.
“U-Um, I… I don’t mind. We’ll do as Mr. Svarog decides…” Clara mumbled softly.
The thrill of visiting the Overworld came with the nagging sense of responsibility she carried. She couldn’t just keep acting on impulse.
If people back at the Settlement noticed she and Mr. Svarog were missing, they’d worry. And if they had to move the Settlement, running into other hostile wanderers could lead to trouble.
Though still young, Clara had a maturity and resilience well beyond her years. Now that she’d gotten to fulfill a bit of her wish, it was time to return to the Underworld and face the reality waiting for her.
“Huh, you don’t want to wait until the dragon issue settles? You could get a glimpse of what Belobog is like in calmer times.”
“Get a glimpse? Do you mean patrolling the streets or something?” Clara’s blank stare was tinged with confusion.
Growing up in the Underworld, the harsh conditions had long forced people to forgo most forms of entertainment. Other than some food stalls in Rocky Town, there wasn’t much to see.
Walking around there was a waste of time and only darkened her mood, so she’d never associated “getting a glimpse” with anything pleasant.
“Uh, no, not patrolling.” Venti hesitated, feeling a bit down. “I just meant, you know, seeing how folks live up here. But, sorry—my bad for not considering your situation. Feel free to say no.”
But Clara didn’t turn him down; instead, she tapped her lips in thought.
“Hmm… seeing how everyone lives in the Overworld sounds fun. Maybe next time, I could go with Sister Venti!”
“Next time… after the Underworld is free?”
“Mm! Mr. Svarog even told me that Sister Venti, him, and everyone in Wildfire are working toward that goal.”
“Clara doesn’t fully understand, but seeing everyone united, no longer fighting or fighting over resources, already makes her happy.”
“If she could witness that dream come true, Clara would feel so lucky.”
Clara spoke more earnestly than usual, gazing intently at Venti.
“So, Sister Venti, you have to stay safe, okay?”
At that moment, Venti felt as if he’d been swept up by a sweet, dizzying warmth, light as if he were floating to the heavens. How could such a well-behaved and thoughtful child exist?
This bliss didn’t last long, however, as an iron hand soon snapped him back to reality.
Specifically, Svarog grabbed his head, preventing him from nuzzling up to Clara like a clingy puppy.
“Mind your behavior, Bard. I may initiate Sentineling Mode if necessary—”
“Sorry, my bad! Please, don’t launch me out of a cannon.”
Sober as ever, Venti raised his hands in surrender, feeling a calm akin to enlightenment.
“Besides, speaking of that, there’s something I wanted to tell you both.”
…He went on to recount his conversation at the Neverwinter Workshop.
When he’d finished, Svarog and Clara exchanged a glance—Svarog, ever impassive, while Clara nervously fiddled with her fingers.
“Um, isn’t that kind of… cheating?” Clara mumbled. “And Sister Venti, you were the one who found the important blueprint. Won’t it feel bad to just hand it over to us…?”
“It’s nothing! Just stacking the odds a bit in our favor. What’s mine and yours—it’s all ours, right? We’re family, after all.”
Clara hesitated but stayed quiet. She knew Venti was right; they’d all benefit from this without anyone losing out.
Having been raised by Svarog, Clara was exposed to harsh realities and had matured beyond her peers, learning that sometimes even well-meaning lies were necessary.
Still…
Was it really okay to always let Sister Venti take care of everyone like this?
Lost in thought, Clara found herself questioning her own heart.
Reader discussion
0 Comments
Be the first reader to share a thought about this chapter.