"Hey Heinzel, have you heard that rumor going around lately?"
"Huh?"
"You know, about that tiny girl who carries around a sword way bigger than she is."
I held my breath and tried to hide the massive sword beside me under my cloak. …But since it was way bigger than me, there was no way to completely hide it.
"Oh, I've heard about it. But do you really think that's possible? Even you wouldn't be able to lug around a sword that big, Luchi."
"Yeah, I wouldn't. But apparently, she's blind or something like that."
"Hah! Must be some nonsense a bard came up with."
"But, you know… They say she came from the East, with black hair and red eyes…"
Startled, I squeezed my eyes shut. Well, I had kept them shut the whole time anyway.
"Oh, come on! A blind person wouldn't have open eyes! Forget about that ridiculous rumor and let's focus on finding a job. My daughter's birthday is tomorrow."
"They say it's true, though…"
The two men ended their conversation and got up from the table, heading toward the reception desk.
After they were completely out of sight…
Bang!
I slammed my cup down roughly on the table. White milk splattered all over from the impact.
"Oh no…!"
Glancing around, I carefully wiped up the spilled milk.
What a miserable life, not even able to drink a pint of beer… I sighed deeply and gulped down the remaining milk.
"...But really, that rumor is just absurd."
It made no sense.
How could a girl, only 145.7 cm tall, drag around a sword just under 200 cm?
And not only that, a blind girl who can "see" thanks to some enhanced sensory ability triggered by carrying the sword?
And on top of all that? Red eyes?
No way. There's just no way.
Yeah.
No way at all…
"Guess I should get to work…"
I fastened the giant sword to my waist and pulled my robe over my head, making sure it covered me completely.
Then, hopping down from the chair that I barely fit on, I stretched with a loud yawn.
"Hup-!"
Crack—Crash—
"Ah…!"
The sword hanging from my waist had just punched a hole through the wooden floor of the guild.
"Oh no, this is bad…"
I stared at the hole through my heightened senses and silently prayed, knowing full well that my wish would never be granted.
Please let me grow 5 more centimeters.
No, even just 1 centimeter would be enough. Please, let me get just a bit taller.