A Brooch in the Alley
As soon as I stepped into the alley, a voice spoke up without preamble, asking if I would buy something. It was a suspicious offer that revealed neither what was being sold nor the price. Was that a woman? Truthfully, I was more surprised by the fact that the speaker was female than anything else.
With two button presses, the scene had passed without even a voice. Unlike the times when prices appeared in brackets, now that the same situation unfolded before my eyes, my fingers hesitated inside my pocket, unsure how much to take out.
Perhaps noticing my hesitation, the voice continued from across the way.
“It’s a brooch that was once precious to me. The price… seven silver coins will be enough.”
Two, four, six, seven… I counted the silver coins in my hand and extended my arm toward her, offering seven pieces. She counted them carefully before accepting them with cautious hands.
Soon, a single worn and faded brooch emerged from within her robes. It was clutched in slender, pale fingers that resembled dry, white twigs—an old ornament. A faint smile appeared at the corner of her lips, barely visible beneath the shadow of her hood.
“Thank you, young traveler.”
With a brief word of thanks, as if the transaction were complete, the mysterious woman turned and walked away. There was a natural elegance in her clear, composed voice and mannerisms. She seemed out of place in this vulgar entertainment district, like someone from an entirely different world.
I stood there blankly, staring at the end of the alley until she completely disappeared from view, for reasons I couldn’t explain. Ah, I should head back.
After snapping out of it, I emerged from the side path. As if the encounter had been nothing more than a fleeting illusion, the noisy sights and sounds of the entertainment district once again filled my eyes and ears.
One piece of evidence proved that what had just happened was real—the brooch now resting in my hand. It was an ordinary accessory, the kind you could find in any shop that sold them. Its features were unremarkable, and its acquisition conditions were nothing special. Perhaps that was why I couldn’t recall any effects even after looking at it.
The metal setting that held the gem was old and faded, and the stone itself was so scratched that its original color was impossible to determine. Judging by its appearance, it probably didn’t have any remarkable abilities anyway. Not every piece of equipment obtained through special means came with overpowered effects.
Still, it was better than nothing. I fiddled with the faded brooch and pinned it inside my coat. Accessories usually provided at least a small boost to magic defense.
I walked away from the center of the entertainment district toward the outskirts, gradually leaving the chaotic scenery behind. The further I got from the center, the fewer hawkers there were. Occasionally, playful laughter and coquettish cries drifted out from inside the buildings.
I deliberately ignored the women gesturing from the entrances and quickened my pace toward the inn. Once the dizzying scent faded from my nose, I pulled my sleeve up and sniffed it. The smell…
The pungent fragrance seemed to have clung to my body. As I rubbed the area above my lip with my index finger, I wondered whether the district’s scent had seeped into my clothes or if my sense of smell simply hadn’t forgotten the intense aroma yet. I wasn’t sure which, but the feeling that the strong fragrance still lingered made me sniffle as I headed back to the inn.
At least the item I had come out for tonight had been successfully obtained. Now all that remained was to return to the capital and focus on hunting monsters and growing stronger until the main story began.
…Or so I thought. There was this strange feeling that I had overlooked something.
When I returned to the capital… wait, the capital? Ah.
Only then did a familiar face flash through my mind, and I let out a flustered exclamation in my head. I had completely forgotten to buy a gift for Reina.
I had planned to depart for the capital first thing tomorrow morning… The moment I realized I had forgotten, that plan scattered like mist. If I told her I had forgotten, she might not even acknowledge me from now on.
A place that might sell something like a gift…
Faced with an unexpected obstacle, I leaned against the roadside wall and continued thinking. At this hour, most shops were obviously closed. There was no way a store selling women’s gifts would be open in the middle of the night…
Wait, what about that place…?
In that instant, a thought struck me. A lively area even at night, a street filled with women. Logically, there should be something available to meet the demand. I found myself heading back to the bustling nightlife district I had left only minutes ago.
“Welcome.”
Though it was called the entertainment district, not every building served impure purposes. There were also ordinary shops selling daily necessities and consumables. Because of the many incidents that occurred here, there were also clinics and general stores selling potions. Where there was demand, there was supply. There were even places that sold items meant solely to impress the opposite sex.
The display cases in such shops were filled with eye-catching jewelry. Very few items were priced within reach of a novice D-class mercenary. Since Reina was also a mercenary, I wanted to give her something a little more practical than mere decoration.
This…
After browsing the shop, I found something more practical than necklaces or rings—a small incense burner with holes on top, along with a set of incense sticks, and a container of tea leaves. The prices were reasonable, and they seemed like safe gifts that could be used at home.
I decided on the spot and clutched the two gifts before heading to the counter. The shopkeeper sat there with an expression that screamed he hated working. He processed the payment without a word, then stared at me with a bored look. His gaze was so intense it felt like it might bore a hole through my face.
Before I could ask what the problem was, he spoke first.
“…Hey, kid.”
“Yes?”
Instead of stating the price, the man suddenly called me a kid and looked at the items he had pushed forward. Caught off guard by the unexpected, good-natured scolding, I widened my eyes and let out a flustered sound.
The man paid no mind to my reaction and continued.
“Who’s this for?”
He asked outright whose gift it was, his tone confident about the intended use. The direct hit left me momentarily flustered. Was it that obvious? I scratched the back of my head and answered.
“There’s a sister in the capital I owe a lot to… It’s for her.”
There was no reason to hide it, so I explained my purpose casually.
“Hmm, I see…”
The shopkeeper made an interested sound through his nose. Then, without warning, he ducked behind the counter and began rummaging around with rustling sounds. What’s he looking for? I don’t plan on buying anything else.
“Then take this as a service. Don’t refuse.”
“Ah, thank you…?”
Another bundle of incense was placed on the counter with a thud, offered as a service. Though puzzled by the unprompted kindness, I bowed my head and expressed my thanks. The incense bundle and tea set were neatly packed into a paper bag and finally placed in my hands.
With this, I wouldn’t be banned from entering the house when I returned to the capital. It was a relief I had remembered now. If I had only thought of it after arriving, I would have been in trouble.
Anyway, after a night filled with many events…
The early morning light pushed away the darkness as I began searching for a carriage heading to the capital.
“Karsion? Hmm, head that way.”
“Finding a carriage that goes straight to the capital will be difficult.”
I was only looking for carriages traveling between cities, but even that wasn’t easy. The distance from Windren to Karsion could require passing through two or more cities. Even in good weather, it took at least two days—up to four depending on the weather. Direct carriages to Karsion were rare.
Coachmen preferred traveling day by day, stopping at other cities rather than going straight to the capital… There was no reason to risk monster attacks at night, sleep outdoors, and endure back-breaking rides on bare ground just to cover the long distance in one go.
This was going to be a troublesome journey even just to get back.
“Haa.”
With a deep sigh, I resigned myself to traveling via other cities. I had no income, yet expenses kept piling up—gifts, travel costs, lodging, and food. Since I wasn’t even old enough to officially work as a mercenary, I was essentially doing mercenary work in the capital under Reina’s guarantee.
In a world where the line between child and adult is blurry, why do mercenary jobs start at sixteen…?
After grumbling inwardly, I rested my chin on my hand inside the rattling carriage and gazed blankly at the forest with half-lidded eyes. Whether I liked it or not, I was still at an age where I had no choice but to remain under an adult’s shadow.