Episode 7: The Night Before the Storm (5)
I tossed the half-fainted Eileen into the inn and headed out alone. In a way, she'd already done her part just by getting us through the inspection at the gate. So I told her to rest up and stepped out on my own, wandering the streets.
The inspection at the city gates might've gotten stricter, but the vibe in the city itself was lively and bright. If it weren't for the checks, we could've strolled around leisurely without a care. Merchants in the market streets were hollering to sell their wares. Patrol guards roamed the inner city, adventurers burst into laughter as they passed by, and wagons rumbled along the main roads. In the narrow alleys, the rotten stench of filth mingled with abandoned kids, just like in any city.
So yeah, nothing out of the ordinary greeted me.
"...Looks pretty normal, huh," I muttered to myself as I kept walking. My steps naturally led me toward one of those filthy alleys reeking of garbage.
I couldn't take them with me while traveling, but that didn't mean I couldn't help. I approached the kids, squatted down in front of them, and said,
"Hey."
"...W-who...?"
"Someone here to help you guys?"
"... "
Of course, even at the mention of help, they huddled together like wary little animals, eyeing me with suspicion. But that fearful, distrustful gaze was common to all street kids—I was used to it. So I pulled out the dried meat and rations I always carried and held them out.
To starving kids, even that was precious. Their guarded eyes widened at the sight of the food.
"Go on, eat up. In return, can I ask you something?"
"W-what do you wanna ask...?"
"Anything changed in the city lately? Even small stuff—like a sudden shift in the mood."
I tossed the rations and meat in front of them as I spoke. Just that was enough to turn the abandoned kids into meek lambs, scrambling to stuff their mouths.
Then the oldest-looking one peeked toward me.
"Um... scary people in white armor have been patrolling the streets a lot... "
"Paladins?"
"I-I think so. They used to stay inside that white building, but now they're everywhere in the city."
"Got it. Anything else?"
Every city had priests and paladins dispatched from the Brahm Holy Kingdom. As the world's top religion, they spread their doctrine under the banner of improving the world, so finding a city without a church building was harder. Still, unless you went to their headquarters, you rarely saw them. But according to the kid, they were searching the city.
"Um, something else... adventurers were talking about a new bounty poster. Said it was a chance to get rich quick... "
"...Yeah. That should do it."
There might even be bounties on us at the adventurer guild. I patted the kid's head, stood up from my squat, and hesitated about leaving—but then I grinned and asked,
"You guys like traveling?"
And just like that, I loaded the huddled kids onto a wagon heading to the Saravati Duchy. I paid the driver their fare and handed the kids enough rations for the trip.
"When you get to the duchy, go to the Simeo Orphanage and say Ain sent you. A flat-chested lady in fancy clothes will welcome you."
"O-okay... But what's an orphanage...?"
"A place with warm meals and cozy beds. You'll make lots of friends there—have fun."
I waved them off and nodded to the driver to go. The wagon rolled toward the gate I'd come through, and I watched it for a bit before turning away.
Then I glanced at my coin pouch. Damn, I went and used it. Part of the funds Asha had given me vanished into my hypocrisy and meddling.
"... "
Maybe that's why Asha's face popped into my head—the one who'd said I'd pay it back somehow—and unease settled in. I bit my lip and stepped forward.
A little scary. No, pretty damn scary, actually.
First stop: the adventurer guild. I slipped through the door bustling with adventurers and headed straight to the counter.
"Hey."
"Hello. What can I do for you?"
The guild handled all sorts of odd jobs—way more than you'd expect.
"I'd like the newspapers from the last two months, plus any recent trend reports the guild has collected."
"That'll be 200 dera for the two months of papers, and 500 dera for the guild's latest info."
No need to scour the streets; you could buy it all here with the papers. Back when I was a newbie adventurer, I didn't know and suffered gathering info the hard way. Even after learning, I rarely used it 'cause money was tight.
Anyway, I paid up and got the stack of papers and guild reports. But there was one more thing to check.
"Oh, and where are the quest board and wanted posters?"
"Quests are on the right wall near the entrance. Wanted posters are upstairs on the second floor."
"Thanks."
Had to see that new bounty the kid mentioned, so I bowed to the clerk and headed up.
And.
"No fucking way."
I muttered a quiet curse at the first wanted poster I saw on the second floor.
"This shit... how the hell is this my face?"
Our bounties were up as expected, but whoever drew them was a goddamn hack. Mine looked like I'd been punched in the face repeatedly—ugly as sin, labeled "unknown male adventurer." Asha and Horn were decently accurate, recognizable even. But the rest of us? No clue. Maybe 'cause we didn't have standout features; just vaguely average.
And yeah, they knew it sucked—there were addendums:
- Vanished with gray witch, accompanied by two twin-like children, elderly dwarf, thin man in white robe, and sturdy adventurer-looking male.
- If a rough cargo wagon carries about 6 people, suspect they may be hiding the gray witch.
- Prioritize capture alive, but if impossible, kill all and report to Holy Kingdom for bounty.
Still, silver lining: Eileen wasn't listed, and we'd swapped the wagon. Hide Asha and Horn well, confiscate Aberly's white robe, and we'd be fine for now.
I grabbed a few copies from the stack under the board. Got all the info I needed—time to buy supplies and bail.
Back at the inn, I dragged Eileen—who'd come to and was sitting blankly on the bed—into the wagon again.
"Ain-nim."
"Guards are patrolling."
"We're inside the wagon, so whisper if you're worried."
"Fine. What'd you want?"
We drove to the shopping district for missing supplies, plus books Aberly and Asha requested.
"You still haven't told me what you found!"
"Curious, huh?"
"Yes! Super curious!"
Coming here wasn't for fun in the first place, so no great news. I glanced at her sparkling eyes and summed it up.
"Bounties on us. You excluded, the other six. They pay for kills."
"Eeeeeek!?!?!"
"Voice, shit—too loud!"
She drew every eye on the street like she wanted an audience, nearly bursting my eardrums.
"Th-th-th-that's...!!"
"Fucking shitty, right? Quiet down."
She clamped her mouth shut, calmed, then whispered carefully,
"Mmph... S-so, bounties on us...?"
"Yeah. Shut up and read this."
I handed over the two months of papers, guild info, and our wanted sheets from my pocket.
The crowd's stares dispersed; I whipped the reins to urge the horse on. From behind came rustling pages mixed with Eileen's hiccups—hic!, hngh!, even hurk-hurk!. Every damn sound effect in the book.
Made me think her noble act at the gate was preferable.
I left her in the wagon and hit the shops: restocked food and disposables, grabbed Aberly's research books and Asha's beginner-to-advanced magic inscription guides. Supplies done—time to leave.
Back at the gate, the same guards from before greeted us.
"Driver, identification."
"Ah, even for leaving? Here."
"Necessary procedure—understand."
"Of course."
But would Eileen, in full noble mode, agree?
"Hah, demanding my ID again? Then show yours. Guess I'll have to send a letter to the count's family over this insult."
"L-lady... it's procedure we can't skip... "
"Fine. Skip my ID check. Can't expect that from lowly commoner trash like this driver, but I'm noble."
"B-but... "
"Commoner. Do I have to repeat? Grovel and explain—or whatever. Such a hassle."
This bitch—wait, is she venting all her pent-up frustration now? Felt like she was unloading every grievance.
The guard glanced pityingly at me, then replied,
"Uh... yes, ma'am. Quick wagon search then? Need to check outgoing goods, lady."
Just get through the search, and we're out.
"Ugh, sick of this... urp... "
"Lady...?"
No.
"Urp, urp... "
Shit, hold it. She started dry-heaving. I jumped up in panic; guards looked equally flustered.
As we all froze, she wiped teary eyes, fought the nausea, and lifted her head.
"Urp, haa... What's that pukey smell? Guards, bathe more. Ugh, can't stand it."
"... "
"... "
Back in evil lady mode, she sneered at them in disgust.
"Can't forgive your stench tainting my wagon. Hah, go ahead—search it."
"...No need. You're clear."
"Good. Driver, go. That stink ruined my dignity."
In other words.
"Yes, departing."
Hand over mouth, she glared at the guards in revulsion—I'll never forget those eyes. Or theirs, brimming with noble-hating fire.