Cursed Flower - The Hunt Begins

"Your grandfather is Mr. Gorath?" Arion asked, his tone slightly flat but filled with curiosity.

"Forgive my rudeness earlier," he continued, his expression showing a hint of regret.

"No way! That old man disappeared for eight years, and now he suddenly has a granddaughter? Has he had a secret family all this time or something?" Jasper chimed in, disbelief dripping from his voice.

"Wow, that's incredible! This must be fate!" Joshua exclaimed, his eyes gleaming with excitement, his face lighting up with enthusiasm.

I could see how they were starting to create their own narrative in their minds, a story that might not be entirely true. If I let it go on, they would definitely misunderstand even further. So, I had to clear things up.

"Sorry to interrupt your fantasies," I said, trying to keep my voice calm. "But I'm not his biological granddaughter. I'm just an orphan he took care of… and also, Grandfather Gorath passed away a week ago."

Silence immediately enveloped the atmosphere. Joshua, who had been so full of energy moments before, now looked confused and a bit hurt.

"Ah, I see," Jasper murmured quietly.

I nodded softly.

"Before he died, he left me one final message. He asked me to meet Mr. Zaroth from the Eden Organization."

Jasper lifted his head, his expression now more serious.

"Then, I'll make sure you get there safely," he said with a faint but confident smile.

With the mood now slightly calmer, we continued our journey. Along the way, Jasper began telling stories about how he first met Grandfather Gorath.

***

The town of Valmont is a small city surrounded by towering mountains in the distance. It is known for its stunning natural beauty, where a clear river flows through the town center, filling every corner with the soothing sound of running water. Old stone bridges crossing the river add to the town's classic charm, connecting various parts of the city with well-preserved medieval architecture.

"Here are your belongings."

Jasper handed us our luggage.

I quickly checked the contents of my suitcase, and luckily, nothing was missing or damaged.

After the attack of *Ekibyo no Hokosha* on the train, it was forced to stop in this town for carriage replacement and to inspect the passengers.

Thankfully, no one was injured, thanks to *Finire* being on board. If not, a horrific massacre might have occurred.

"The train will be ready in an hour. Why don't we eat first? You must be hungry, right? There's a restaurant nearby that serves great food."

I glanced at Arion and Joshua. Both seemed to agree without saying much.

We walked through the quiet streets of Valmont. The cool evening breeze brushed my face, carrying the gentle scent of flowers growing around the town square.

The restaurant Jasper mentioned wasn't far from the station. It was a small building with large windows, revealing a warm and inviting interior.

As soon as we entered, the aroma of food filled the air, making me even hungrier.

"Order whatever you like. It's my treat."

"Then I won't hold back."

Saying that, Arion immediately opened the menu.

"Yay! I'm going to order the most expensive one."

Tap.

Jasper handed me a menu.

"Order whatever you want, no need to hesitate."

"Wow, look at this—an old man flirting with a young girl," Joshua teased.

"I'm not flirting, you little brat!" Jasper shouted, smacking Joshua on the head.

"Ouch!"

"Can you two be quiet?!"

I opened the menu, ignoring the commotion in front of me.

Let's see…

Since it's midday, and I just fought a battle, I want something hearty, like meat. A steak seems like a good choice.

"Are you ready to order?"

"I'll have a sandwich and tomato soup," Arion decided first.

"I'll have the beef steak with black pepper sauce and a Caesar salad."

"Roast grouse and wild mushroom sauté."

Joshua really picked the most expensive dish without hesitation. Well, mine wasn't much different.

"Black coffee for me, and a snack set with chamomile tea for these kids."

"Very well, sir. Please wait a moment."

The waiter finished writing down our orders and left.

"Mr. Jasper, aren't you ordering food?" I asked.

"Ah, coffee is enough for me," he replied with a faint smile. "This is what's called the charm of a mature man, *señorita*."

"Haha…." I let out an empty laugh.

What charm of a mature man?

But the way he said "señorita" was different from most people. His accent was thicker, giving it a slightly foreign feel.

The waiter returned with warm water and our food. We began eating in silence. Jasper quietly enjoyed his coffee, his eyes fixed on the newspaper in his hand.

Meanwhile, outside, the train had been repaired. The passengers, including us, had been thoroughly checked. The three of us continued our journey to the capital.

It turned out that Jasper had business in Valmont, so only the three of us continued the trip.

I couldn't stop wondering what awaited me there, in the capital.

I hoped it would be something exciting; otherwise, this journey would feel pointless.