CHAPTER 73: CH 73- WOULD YOU HELP US OUT- PART 1

"It’s quite late. I should start heading back now."

I looked at the sky and the setting sun before I pushed myself to stand. The outing had drained me of my physical and social battery.

Dealing with three kids was tough. But dealing with three socially awkward kids who might as well have some mental problems was even worse.

I had even treated the griffin, and that required too much physical strength I did not have.

I felt like I was dealing with too much.

’These kids need deep therapy and a lot of it. Unfortunately, I don’t think I have enough time to help them out currently. Should I talk to the duchess about it?’

My own thoughts reminded me why the duchess brought me here—it was because the temple wanted to get rid of two of these three kids due to their prophecy.

"Shopkeeper, please wait for me. I will accompany you and your companion back outside. With my presence by your side, no one will question your actions either."

The griffin told me, and I decided to accept his help. I could tell that he had things to talk to me about.

Before we could head out, the griffin took the kids back, and I could still feel their stares on the back of my head as I left the clearing and exited the barrier.

Once we were alone, the griffin spoke.

"Shopkeeper, what do you think about those... kids? Did you feel like something was wrong with them?"

I paused to look at the griffin, and Fenrir took the opportunity to speak up.

"Those kids all smelled the same. What are they? A single soul split apart into three or something?"

Fenrir asked, and a startled pause overtook the griffin’s face.

"You... are not actually wrong. Our Goddess Helia’s prophecy told us that she would send us a warrior that would protect us. But another faction must have interfered and caused the soul to split apart into three people. Now, none of them are whole."

The griffin told me, and it sounded fascinating.

But at the same time, no information was ever given out for free either. And my instincts told me that the griffin was telling me all this with a purpose in his mind.

"So... what do you want me to do? Help them out? I am the wrong person to ask such a favor from."

I felt powerless to help the griffin and these kids out. The one who could help them was the duchess, not me.

But still, the fact that the griffin asked me made me feel a little better.

"I see. Still, I would like you to act when the time comes. You will likely realize what I mean when it’s time. Until then, please keep visiting the kids. They seem to like your company a lot."

The griffin seemed genuine when he told me that the kids enjoyed my company, and I felt a little lighter as well.

I had not even realized it, but I felt a little guilty and sad for not being able to help these children. But I did not want to throw my neck under a sword without a guaranteed escape plan either.

"Sure, I will come to visit again. Fenrir also needs to stretch his legs around."

I told the griffin as we reached the edge of the forest.

A few guards noticed me, and their expressions twisted into anger as they saw me heading out from their sacred land.

"Hey you—! You are under arrest... no way—!"

They suddenly looked startled when another familiar body appeared behind me.

The griffin nudged me gently to head out, and I patted it before I walked past the stunned guards. I was sure that the rumors of what happened would spread around soon enough.

"Master, I can smell that far. She’s waiting for you outside your room. Do you need me to bite..."

Fenrir asked, and I sighed and gave him a look.

"You are far too eager to bite things, Fenrir. Are your teeth feeling irritated or something?"

I asked the dire wolf, and he looked offended.

"Of course not—! I am a healthy dire wolf, and I just want to protect you and also—"

"Shopkeeper, you are finally back? I decided to visit you because I was a little worried about you. No one gave you a hard time here, right?"

The duchess’s eyes told me that she likely knew where I had been already.

It had not even been fifteen minutes since I got escorted out by the griffin, but I had a feeling that the news had already spread about what happened.

All I could do in such a situation was give the duchess a calm smile.

"No one here tried anything funny, so you can relax now. I just went out to meet some... lovely children. So, have you decided how to help them out?"

I asked the duchess, and she looked startled at my request.

"Not yet... I was kind of hoping... No, I was the one who asked for help, so I will figure it out. Just you being here is a big help, shopkeeper."

I had a sudden realization why the duchess had asked me to accompany her.

She likely thought that I would be able to help her come up with a plan somehow. But unfortunately for her, it was not something that was in my hands.

I had no power to do anything but make small changes here and there. But that would be far from enough to make the whole temple fall apart.

At this point, the only one who could turn the tides here was a highly influential figure in the temple... or their goddess herself.

’What a ridiculous thought. I doubt a goddess has enough time on her hands to play around like this. It would be better if I kidnapped the kids myself... no, let’s forget about it.’

My intrusive thoughts were getting unreasonable lately. It was an indication that I was feeling stressed.

I needed to take things easy.

"Anyway, for now, we should act like we are here as guests of the temple and not cause an alarm."

These words were more for my sake than the duchess’s. I doubted anyone would try to cause her trouble, but I was different.

I was an easy target to pick, and a single moment of weakness would cause me to lose my very life.

"Hmm, you are right. We should focus on what we can do for now, and that is to try and get a Cardinal on our side. We should get ready for dinner now."

The duchess told me, and I nodded.

I quickly freshened up, and somehow, the material in the dome worked even better than modern specialized shampoos or other beauty products.

It almost made me want to swipe some to take back home to use. But I was also afraid of getting caught stealing such small items and ruining my reputation, so I stopped and put it all back.

By the time I got done, I smelled like flowers, and Fenrir gagged at the strong smell.

"Master, you smell like you fell into a pile of too many flowers. The scent is too strong... ugh, my poor nose."

Fenrir complained, but I took his words in a positive sense—I at least smelled like flowers now.