The Path of Learning (5)
Priestess Ashu might not extend mercy to heal bandits, but she wouldn't deny even the dead their due respect.
The sturdy passengers and the merchant's servants dug pits nearby and buried the bodies. She went there to pray.
In the meantime, the adventurers who'd fought collected the spoils, while I interrogated the bound bandits.
Apparently, ten or so bandits robbing a merchant didn't add up financially.
Merchants aren't idiots—they don't carry loads of cash. Goods only have value when merchants sell them, and they're easy to offload. For illiterate bandits hauling them to some backwater hideout, selling's a nightmare, and botch it, and you're tracked down.
That meant they were after something big with the hostages. Human trafficking? No way that's easier than fencing goods.
So I drew my dagger and stood before the bandits.
"What were you after in this ambush?"
"I'll talk!"
"Me too! Me too! I'll spill everything, the truth!"
Just a casual show of force, and they were tripping over each other to confess. No secrets to hide, no loyalty, no cause—just common bandits.
They'd heard rumors of a princess traveling incognito and ambushed to capture her for ransom.
A princess... Outside the borders, that'd fetch a king's fortune.
But no word about a Hero in her entourage.
Maybe they kept that quiet on purpose—let any dog or cat take a shot if they dared.
I relayed this to Ashu after her prayers.
"Someone's been watching my movements and reporting them. Not exactly shocking."
"Inario?"
"Could be him... or not. I always say it—the palace is a filthy place. Malice doesn't just come from Inario, and he doesn't have a monopoly on exploiting it."
"My head's starting to hurt. Shouldn't have turned down the cathedral's escort."
"Escorts aren't foolproof either."
"Ugh... My head's gonna explode. Drop it."
"Wherever you go, whoever you meet—never let your guard down. Remember that."
This girl lectures me on vigilance while letting her own guard down around me, spilling her guts. No wonder she's been so fixated on me all this time... Hmm.
Suddenly, it makes sense.
"Why the frown? Worried?"
"Nah, you just got cute all of a sudden."
"Wh-what!? Out of nowhere... Hold it together right now."
Words and looks like that drive a man wild, but no helping it now.
Too bad—no privacy for a better mood.
I had the bandits' hands bound for prisoner transport.
Asked how they'd be handled: Locked up, IDs checked. Hardened criminals get executed; no family or connections? Sold off. Prisons exist, but no reformatories—no rehabilitation.
In short: death or slavery.
One was supposedly bleeding out heavy... Huh?
Just bloodstains—no wound. Only one sneaky priestess ignoring it by my side could pull that off.
She's extra cute today.
After cleanup and rest, as passengers boarded again, a servant boy approached me.
"Pardon the intrusion. My master, Lord Naidran, wishes to invite the valiant adventurer to his carriage. Might I have your name first?"
"Kirgil. I've got my party. Solo invite? Pass."
"Y-yes!? O-one moment, please."
"While you're at it, tell your master: If he's no noble, basic courtesy means thanking in person."
He heard Ashu too and scurried forward.
I figured we'd wait, but Ashu tugged me along.
"Kirgil, note this: Sending a lowly errand boy for something so simple? Rock-bottom etiquette."
"Learning etiquette on the Path of Learning—stuff I'd never think of."
"Exactly why it's the Path. Unexpected experiences and knowledge. Mages cooped up in towers especially learn real combat magic here."
"That's some real unexpected knowledge. Bet a mage named this road."
As Ashu and I chatted, the boy returned with a plump middle-aged man in flashy clothes.
Body screaming "hates moving." Halfway here, he suddenly hustled over.
"Forgive my ignorance. To think you'd be here, Lady Ashu..."
"Merchant, wasn't your business with the valiant adventurer, not me?"
Ashu cut him off before her full name dropped; he clamped shut fast.
Basic intel and street smarts, at least.
"Ahem. Adventurer and companion—I invite you to my carriage. Let us repay our saviors properly."
"Appreciated, but no. Kirgil and I want a normal trip. Don't rob us of this lesson on the Path's meaning."
Ashu voiced my thoughts perfectly—no need to add. Naidran sweated bullets, flustered. Servant and master hopeless at decisions.
Considering he nearly handed Ashu and others to the bandits earlier... Yeah, he'd worry.
My take: Not cut out for big merchanting. Too petty.
"Busy travelers watching over us. Can't linger—let's roll."
As Ashu and I returned to passenger seats, he finally scurried back and rushed departure.
The merchant's lead carriage hit a small village before sunset. Traveler and trader stopover—tiny, but had the essentials.
Eight buildings big and small ringed a central clearing on the open plain. Maybe twenty residents.
Carriages halted; a mustachioed middle-aged man guided us. Village chief and innkeeper.
He counted heads, led to the tavern. Eyed the bandit prisoners.
"Uh, those guys... feed 'em too?"
No one's prisoner wrangler here.
Parlen stepped up.
"Who feeds bandit scum? Gotta weaken 'em—no running or fighting back. Water in a trough for those bastards."
No cells in a hamlet like this, so Parlen rechecked every rear-bound knot. Tied 'em to stable posts like dogs—barely lap water.
World's norm for captives—no helping it.
Makes prisons seem humane by comparison.
Everyone followed the chief to lodging; the female adventurer stayed put. Stretched in the empty carriage, ready to crash.
Combat or this—free spirit. Couldn't ignore, so I spoke up.
"Sleeping here alone?"
"Huh? Thought it was a creep. You. Don't worry—tend to your girlfriend... er, guard her good."
Tone screamed "mind your business," so I turned for the inn. But "guard" stuck.
Back to the carriage: "...Guard? Another attack coming?"
"......"
"Introductions first. Kirgil."
"You're different. Fine. Raigiana. Ragi's good."
Meanwhile, Ashu waved from afar—grabbing rooms first. Take your time with Ragi.
"Your girl's got real poise. Dig that. You both chill enough for my wild theories. Ignore or obsess, your call."
"Sure, lay it on me."
"Bandits came weapon-only, no gear. Means nearby hideout or camp setup normal. Saw neither.
Where'd they start from? Head to? Dragging hostages."
"Makes sense."
"Chief eyed our catches hard. Normal folk glance and move on, right?"
"...."
"Merchant only cares he's safe. Fare paid; 'bandits unavoidable' excuse flies. Backwater—no witnesses but crooks."
"This village a bandit den? Merchant doesn't care if we drop?"
"Dunno. Just my paranoia. Keeps me solo."
Merchant recognized Ashu—might play nice. Villagers? Rational?
If colluders, revenge for dead pals or kin possible, like Ragi said.
"Advice for the relaxed: Survive suspicious spots? Stay paranoid. Oh, and gifts."
Ragi tossed a rock-hard bread chunk she'd munched.
Meaning clear: Watch village grub—eat this.
"Per your advice..."
I eyed the bread. Pocketed it uneaten.
"Can't just eat this either, huh."
"Puhahaha! Spot on!! Nailed it!! Kirgil, right? Quick on uptake, sharp reactions. Gonna be fun messing with you. Dupes who miss it? No thrill."
"Thanks for the tip, Ragi."
I waved laughing to Ragi and hurried to Ashu.