"Someone wants to speak with you, Dayesh."
He frowned slightly, wondering who it could be.
"Sir." A man approached him and bowed.
Dayesh turned to Rana. "What does he want from me?"
"Well… I apologize, Dayesh, but I pointed you to him when he asked who the best quest taker in the guild was."
"Sir, allow me to explain. Let me introduce myself first. My name is Jarls, a butler from the Laur family. The family I serve has a request, and Rana suggested that I consult you to see if you are capable of handling it."
"State your purpose."
Jarls explained that they needed him to retrieve an instrument. Bandits had broken into the Laur mansion, and the item was among those stolen.
"Is it even possible to find it? I don't even know what this object looks like."
Jarls presented a drawing on paper. "This is what it looks like." It was a metronome.
"I can try," Dayesh said. He turned to Rana. "I will only attempt this. If I fail, will there be any penalty?"
"No. You didn't choose it," Rana replied.
"Alright, I'll take it. We can discuss the reward after I return." He took the mission copy.
"Thank you very much, sir. As for the reward, you may choose between two options. You may receive money or make a wish for anything, except stopping or controlling time, or taking a life."
Dayesh remained silent, but the mention of "any wish" made him think of the shadow.
"I will return home first to inform my family," he said before leaving.
"Saph, I will be gone for a few days. Take care here. If someone knocks, do not open the door easily. I do not know anyone here."
"Yes, master. I will take care of everything. Please stay safe wherever you go," Sapphire replied, even giving a small salute. Dayesh let out a slight laugh.
"Papa…" Lzith asked to be carried. He picked her up, and she kissed him on the cheek.
"There is food prepared. Shall I serve it now?" Sapphire asked.
"Yes, I'm hungry as well."
After setting the food on the table, Sapphire excused herself to eat in her room.
"Eat with us. Are you shy to join us?" Dayesh asked.
"No, master. I'm just not used to eating with others. I'm sorry. I'll eat in my room."
"Hey, does that metronome ever stop? Turn it off already. It's getting on my nerves."
"Damn it, I tried. When I stop it, it just starts moving on its own again."
"That's creepy. Maybe we should just leave it. We already got enough from what we stole. Let's just throw it away."
"Fine."
As the carriage moved through the night, one of the bandits threw the metronome out. It landed upright and continued ticking, its sound echoing through the darkness.
"That thing is really creepy. We had it for three nights. The sound is stuck in my head."
"Forget it. We already have enough to sell at the black market."
The three bandits, Frank, Daniel, and Ely, were also transmigrated into this world, just like Sapphire. Being skilled in burglary, they continued their trade to survive.
"Hey, if we were in heaven, we wouldn't even feel hunger. So why would I still steal?" Ely said, waving his hand as if brushing something away.
"You're talking to yourself again," Daniel said.
"The narrator is annoying, so I replied."
"You're weird. It's creepy sitting next to you," Frank added as he drove the carriage slowly.
"Are we still far?" Daniel asked.
"Looks like it. It's already dark. Let's stay here for the night."
"Alright. What do we have to eat?"
"Bread and water."
"That's fine. Tomorrow we'll eat something good."
They found a place to rest, ate, and decided to continue their journey the next day.
But Ely could not settle down. He still heard the metronome in his mind.
"Do you hear that?" Ely asked.
"Yeah… I thought it was just me," Daniel replied.
"I still hear it too," Frank said.
"Maybe we shouldn't have taken it. Even without it, my head hurts. I can't sleep," Ely said.
"We need to sleep. Maybe it'll be gone tomorrow," Frank said.
"Let's just sleep before we go crazy," Daniel added.
"Stop that. You're creeping me out," Frank muttered.
"Just kidding," Daniel laughed.
"Hey… it feels like the sound is getting closer," Ely whispered.
"Enough. Let's sleep," Frank said.
The next day…
"The carriage to the Laur mansion is ready," Rana said when Dayesh arrived at the guild.
He nodded and saw Jarls approaching.
"Let us go," Jarls said.
"Alright." Dayesh turned to Rana. "We're leaving."
During the journey, both remained silent. Only the sound of the horse's hooves and the carriage wheels could be heard.
It took three hours to reach the mansion. Dayesh dozed off and was awakened by Jarls announcing their arrival.
As he stepped down, an older man greeted them.
"Please escort him inside," Jarls said.
"Yes, sir," the old man replied.
Dayesh followed him inside the mansion, observing his surroundings. Everything looked grand, from the structure to the furniture and the items left untouched by the thieves.
They stopped in front of a door. The old man knocked before opening it.
Inside, there was a man and a woman who appeared to be a couple. Dayesh assumed correctly that they were husband and wife.
"Please, have a seat," the woman said, offering him a chair nearby.
"Thank you."
"You already know what we are asking of you."
"It was explained to me yesterday. May I begin now? I have a copy of the metronome's appearance."
"You may start tomorrow. Stay here for now and have a meal. We are not in a hurry. I believe you will find it soon."
Dayesh said nothing and accepted their offer to stay at the mansion for the day before beginning the mission.