Blood Of Platinum
Chapter 43. Bag Information Search. 1
Just then, Kino climbed the stairs to the altar to enter inside. In front of the altar door only visible residents who came in and out to pray or finished praying. The atmosphere was as crowded as before.
“Until now I still think this is ‘world noon’. Though I have only been there twice, it feels like I have lived in this place very long”
Kino thought in his heart.
‘If counted since Ryou and I came in the night when Kaito-san fought with a creature named dark wolf, this is the third day we are in this strange ‘world’. It's unbelievable in three days' time that Ryou and I have almost died many times. It feels like a dream but it is too real to be called dream’
Kino tries to remember a lot of things that happened over the past three days and all of that is due to the mystical power of the antique pocket watch his sister found in the strange old book in their family library.
“I hope we can find the pocket watch as soon as possible and Kaito-san can find the pieces of her memory back”
Finished thinking of nostalgic things, Kino began to step foot inside the altar. When he entered, he stopped and turned to look towards the entrance. It was like he remembered something.
“Didn't Ryou and Kaito-san say there are children who often ask for donations around the altar entrance, but why didn't I see them today?” Kino stared at the door with a astonished face
By the time he reached the altar, all the children had not yet arrived there. However, he did not let that astonishment hold him back. Kino again walked and mingled with the residents who came.
It is still the situation and the situation like yesterday. Some were praying, some were just chatting while looking at the architecture of the place, some seemed to show off pleasant things.
Kino tried to calm her heart while walking towards the guard officer who was in front. However, his steps came to a halt when he saw how many people surrounded all those officers.
Their number this morning was five people but none of them had an empty gap to fill by it.
“Yesterday one of the guard officers said he would tell me if he found anything about our lost pocket watch. But, seeing them busy like that I guess I'll have to wait a little while longer”
Suddenly from the left side, Kino was called by someone.
“The brother that time!”
“Who is calling?”
“Silver yesterday, here.we are here!”.
Kino looked to his left and he saw the woman carrying the toddler sitting on the long chair of the altar. That was the woman who sat with him yesterday.
The woman smiled cheerfully with the sweet little girl.
“Here brother, we are here. Come here!” waving her hand, the woman called out to him
Kino with a sweet smile approached them.
“Good morning, Madam. Good morning Ivy-chan”
“Good morning. Come sit here” the woman slightly shifted to her left side
“Excuse” Kino lowered his head to ask for permission
Not long after Kino sat down, a toddler named Ivy immediately quickly hugged her and sat on her lap. Kino was quite surprised by that but she immediately gently hugged the child while letting him sit on her lap.
But when the body of the toddler nudged his waist, Kino immediately became panicked.
“Be careful Ivy-chan! I'm sorry, Madam. Today I brought a sharp weapon with me. I'm worried I'll hurt Ivy-chan”
Kino was a little panicked and anxious to see the toddler sitting on his lap comfortably. Hearing that, the mother simply smiled and replied.
“Do not worry. Isn't the knife case tightly closed? Besides, look.Ivy doesn't care at all about that thing on your waist. He seems to like you a lot”
Hearing that, Kino was still a little anxious. However, it turns out that the toddler completely ignored the dagger on Kino's waist and focused on Kino's lentic fingers.
“Ara ara..Ivy seems to like you so much” the woman's wide smile adorns her face.
“I'm glad Ivy-chan likes me. Hello Ivy-chan” Kino talks to the toddler who smiles at her
“Oh yes, sister–”
“Kino, my name is Yuki Kino. Sorry, I didn't get to introduce myself before. Um, madam–”
“Lily Rain's. Greetings Yuki” the woman introduced herself
“Call me Kino, Lily-san. Yuki is my family name” Kino smiled
“Hoo, unique family name. Kino really comes from outside this city ya”
“Become”
The woman named Lily began to ask him common questions.
“Today is a little late huh? Are you bad luck?” laughing, the woman asked
“Ahaha, that's it. After going through a long day yesterday, it seemed like this body really needed a break. It's a little embarrassing but only this time I feel like I woke up too late to do a lot of things in the morning”
“Ahahaha, no problem. Sometimes young people need to enjoy life. After all, Kino is still very young so enjoy your youth while being able to”
“Lily-san correct..”.
Kino who had not finished his conversation had looked at the guard officers who were mobbed by many people. Looking at Lily, Kino asked.
“Talking about many things, is not the guard officer there already very busy. Since I went inside, I saw that they were all surrounded by many worshippers. Did something happen today, Lily-san?”
“Actually not just today. Since yesterday it has been like that. Lots of people who come to them while angry”
“Anger Yes..”
Kino recalled what he had heard yesterday when he returned to the place to find out about his missing pocket watch.
[You think I'll believe what you say!!. This is the third time I have lost my gold and gold!]
[I've lost my favorite diamond today. The other day I lost my wallet too! What the hell is this place!]
She asked Lily.
“Born afternoon I had time to return to this place and accidentally heard some people were angry about their lost goods. Is that group of people still about the same thing, Lily-san?”
“Oh, you also heard that ya”
“Actually, I also want to ask about my lost items as well. At first I thought it might fall on the road so I went through all the places I went to including this place. Does Lily-san know the truth?”
“So your stuff is missing too huh? I'm so sorry. Hope you can find it”
“Thank you. So, about the news..”.
Kino intended to take this conversation in a more useful direction for her because she desperately needed any information.
At first he had heard many things from his sister and Kaito, but until yesterday his mind held fast to the prejudice that his pocket watch was lost somewhere.
“I don't really know the details, it's just like they've all been missing for the past week. Usually if there is a missing object, whether it is a valuable object or not, the guard officers there will immediately provide information related to it. But this time it was different”
“Do those things have more value like money or gold?”
“True. Indeed that kind of thing that is missing”
“……”
Kino calmly listened to Lily while playing with Ivy clasping her fingers tightly. His gaze remained looking towards Lily's face as it signaled Kino was seriously listening.
“All the missing objects were found in no way trace of him. Officers even thought there might be worshippers here who deliberately picked it up and did not tell the officers. That might happen, right?”
“Truely too, there could be people who are not responsible for doing it. Especially if the missing object is a precious object” Kino began to justify Lily's statement
It is true, in any world also money and objects that have selling value will always be valuable. No matter what it is as long as it can bring profit to him, including the goods found and stolen.
“But this is a holy place. They shouldn't have done it”
“I don't think for such a classic reason, Lily-san. If the person who found the valuable object was in need of money, I believe they would still take it to meet their needs. Regardless of what is called sin, they will still do it to connect their lives”
“.....” Kino was silent without comment
What Kino says does describe real life in any world at any age. Your life is your responsibility. Doing anything to save a life is rule number one.
That context of thought is what makes the most sense for the current case of loss at the altar. But that's not the information Kino needs.
“Lily-san, back again regarding the case of the loss. Lily-san said that it has been the past week. Does that mean before this case of loss never happened?”
“The case of lost goods must exist but it is only a week lately that has increased dramatically. In addition, until now none of the missing objects were found by officers. Like as if the thing is not lost but stolen”
“Stolen?”
Now, Kino recalled the matter related to Lily's answer. She remembers a shocking response from Kaito when she heard the story of him and his sister yesterday afternoon.
As she explained Ryou's thoughts about the possibility of their pocket watch having been stolen, Kaito explained giving a questionable response.
[Do you two think it's just a coincidence? You're certain? I mean, I remember clearly that you guys went to the altar this morning]
‘Kaito-san's answer back then.Why do I realize it now? That's not an unimportant response. Kaito-san seemed to have realized something back then. Why could I miss it?’
Kino was really made complicated and surprised by his thoughts. He realized he had missed something important.
This is a good moment for Kino to get another piece of information. Lily continued her explanation.
“Iya, right. Like all of that stuff was stolen. It's weird that no one came back. If someone finds it and doesn't return it, it's stealing, right? I feel that reason makes sense. I'm pretty sure it was stolen”
“Do the victims think so?” Kino asked
“Of course they will start thinking so. I'm so sure!”
Lily answered by approaching Kino's face.
It certainly made Kino surprised and retreated a little with a red face blushing with embarrassment.
“Li–Lily-san..your face..too close” Kino red due to embarrassment.
He's too innocent to approach women. Although Lily looks like she has almost three heads in age but she is still a beautiful woman.
Kino who has no experience of love with a woman is of course embarrassed when the woman's face is so close to her face. His heart was beating rapidly as if it had almost stopped in the middle.
Lily who realized that only returned to her starting position with a smile.
“Oh, I'm sorry. I'm just too excited. I continue my sentence earlier”
“Te–certain” Kino tried to restore his mentality
Ivy who was in Kino's lap smiled cheerfully and laughed when she saw her brother who was close to her being misbehaved. Even a child knows how good it is to be the one who holds him now.
“Good, I'll continue. Look, the fact that their missing object is true and with the search effort that has not undergone any development at all proves the theory that the object was stolen”
“.....” Kino started to seriously listen back
“One more striking, why do all the missing things have value? It could have been just a handkerchief or some other object, but all of the missing items were in the class of money, gems or gold. Which normal person would think all those things were gone all of a sudden?”
“......!!!” this time Kino was very surprised to hear that
“Since the missing thing is valuable, it's impossible that they don't take good care of it, right? And it's impossible for a thief to miss all that stuff”
Kino immediately said in her heart.
‘He's right! Now that I've realized it, why do the missing items on the altar all have a selling point? I was really careless not realizing it sooner. Being too shocked yesterday, I didn't realize the hint from Kaito-san's sentence. You are really stupid, Kino!’
Enough to blame his own carelessness, Kino again asked Lily.
“Before and after the loss case happened, did Lily-san feel or see something different? Lily-san has been in this place for quite a while, right? I think you know something like what this place was before?”
“Before and after the loss case yes. Ah!”
Lily looked back and pointed towards the large entrance. Kino looked up and saw a group of children standing there.
‘The kids are already there. They did not exist before. That means they have just come or are already there without me realising’ Kino muttered inwardly
“The orphans asked for donations at the entrance of the altar. They've only been here a week. It seems like one of them often went in to ask for donations to the worshippers inside. Sometimes I also often give money to them”
“A orphans? They don't have shelters like orphanages?”
“Entahlah. When I first came I asked them where they lived, but no one answered. Because of pity so I didn't ask any more than that and gave them money”
“……”
“The residents here also do not feel it is troublesome so they continue to give them money as a form of amal”
“So”
“To be honest I feel sorry for all of them. They are small but have to fight without adults with them. Hmm?”
Lily took a closer look at the children in front of the altar. After that he looked around the altar room and spoke to himself.
“It looks like less one person”
“What is less?” Kino became astonished asking Lily
“They. In front of the altar door were only two people who looked older than the other children. There is usually one more boy who seems to be the same age as the two older kids outside of”
“There again?”
“Iya there is one. The boy often wears a brown hat, he is a child who often asks for donations inside this altar. I gave him three donations. But, yesterday I did not meet him”
“Boy with hat yes..”
Kino wanted to continue his sentence but he did not do it because it was like remembering something.
‘Looks like I'm no stranger to the boy's traits’
Kino tried to remember it while asking back.
“Is there something strange with all of them, Lily-san?”
“Who is meant? Those kids? Of course not. They are good children, there will be no one who thinks ill of orphans who just stand there all day to ask for donations. At least for myself”
“……!!!”
Kino now put on a shocked expression and stared
Lily with a strange face.
“But it may be different for arrogant people who have no conscience and are happy to show off their gold in a holy place"
"......"
"I feel like I'm committing a sin right now but I'm honestly glad they lost something they showed off so often. I think it's God's punishment for them. Just let them feel it!”
“……”
Kino just smiled. Spicy sentences and heart-piercing innuendos that could mentally crush others were similar to someone he knew. Right, similar to his beloved sister.
He even gave his best comments for the woman he had met just yesterday.
‘I didn't expect anyone else to have a mouth very similar to Ryou's. That ability to insinuate someone of hers was truly amazing. I hope Lily-san and Ryou don't meet each other or they'll be a terrible team’
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