Chapter 33
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 33
Chapter Title: You Committed the Sin of Spilling Food, So You Must Be Punished, Right?
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Rumble rumble.
The carriage shook wildly over the bumpy road.
"Ugh..."
Riding in the jostling carriage, Yujin looked horribly pale, his stomach clearly unsettled.
Thud!
"Urk..."
The carriage jolted sharply once more, and Yujin gripped the handle, his face draining of color.
"You okay?"
Tail asked Yujin worriedly.
"I'm fine. Urk..."
"Doesn't look like it. Should we take a break?"
"No. The capital's just ahead."
That's right.
Tail and Yujin were dressed in casual clothes, heading to the capital right now.
For the entrance exam to Pharaon Academy.
Pharaon Academy checks from the start whether applicants have any potential, to cultivate the finest talents.
And only those who pass the exam are assigned to classes.
Dorms are assigned based on preferences if people request to room together, but otherwise, it's random.
'It'd be great if Yujin and I end up in the same dorm.'
Better a close friend than total strangers—it'd be more comfortable.
Tail glanced at the ashen-faced Yujin.
At that moment, Yujin's expression brightened.
"Tail! Look over there!"
At Yujin's shout, Tail turned to the window.
There stood an enormous city wall.
Its antique grandeur and sheer scale made it obvious at a glance.
They had finally arrived at the capital.
After a simple procedure, Tail and Yujin were allowed inside the walls.
"Whoa!"
Yujin's eyes widened.
Glamorous streets filled with glamorous people.
Elves, dwarves, beastkin, and other demihumans everywhere.
Magic spells flying through the sky or spewing flames.
It felt like they'd truly stepped into a fantasy world.
"Amazing! Come on, Tail, hurry up!"
Excited by her first time in the capital, Yujin grabbed Tail's sleeve and dashed ahead.
"Hey! Slow down!"
That was when it happened.
Thud.
He lightly brushed past a woman in a black dress.
At the same time, purple hair fluttered before Tail's eyes.
Familiar.
And longed-for.
The purple hair he'd been dying to see.
Thump. Thump. Thump.
His heart raced wildly.
Tail instinctively whipped his head around, searching for the woman.
But the purple-haired woman was nowhere in sight.
As if she'd been an illusion all along.
Tail stared blankly in the direction she'd vanished.
'It was definitely Cecilia.'
He could feel it.
Not certain, but for some reason, Cecilia seemed to be nearby.
He took a step forward as if entranced.
"Tail! Why aren't you coming?"
Yujin grabbed his arm.
"Huh... Huh?"
Tail snapped out of his daze, startled.
"What? Why are you so jumpy? Something happen?"
Tail shook his head at Yujin's question.
"Nah. Nothing. Let's find an inn."
"Yeah! The exam's tomorrow anyway."
The two headed straight to a nearby inn.
The nearby inn was livelier than expected.
Tail and Yujin took seats on the first-floor dining area.
"What should we eat? Tail, what do you want?"
Yujin scanned the menu excitedly.
"How about we order one grilled fish and one pork, split 'em?"
"Sounds good."
At Tail's reply, Yujin immediately called the server.
"This, this, and two orange juices."
"Got it. Drinks first."
As the server left.
Creeeak.
The inn door opened, and a petite girl in a hood entered.
"Welcome!"
The innkeeper greeted her brightly, and the girl walked in slowly.
Around then, the server placed wooden mugs filled with orange juice on their table.
"Enjoy! Food's coming right up."
Three burly men passed by the server.
"Thanks!"
Yujin bowed slightly in thanks, and as the server turned away, the three men walked past Tail's side.
In the crowd, the girl got lightly shoved.
"Eek!"
She bumped into one of the men at the same time.
It was just a slight collision, but the man staggered exaggeratedly.
"Argh!"
Truly just a graze, yet he clutched his shoulder like it was dislocated.
"Ow... What the hell!"
He yelled in apparent agony.
And glared at the hooded girl.
"Do you know how expensive my body is?"
Then, the hooded girl lowered her hood slightly.
Pink, curly hair and snow-white skin.
Round pink eyes.
The girl, who looked no older than fifteen, appeared flustered.
Her small lips parted.
"Ah, sorry. I got pushed from the side..."
"Sorry's not gonna cut it?"
The man bellowed, fuming.
"I need compensation now."
"Compensation? Uh... How much?"
Her voice trembled at the demand for payment.
The man's lips curled slyly.
His two companions snickered beside him.
Anyone could see it was intentional.
But the girl seemed oblivious, flustered.
The man spoke to her as if magnanimously.
"100 crowns might make me feel a bit better."
The surrounding patrons' jaws dropped.
A commoner's daily wage was usually around 30 crowns.
Even for a dislocation, 10 to 20 crowns covered clean treatment.
But the girl inhaled sharply, worried.
"Gasp!"
Her next words made the man's face stiffen.
"Really? That much is enough?"
"...What?"
The girl clapped her hands.
"You're kinder than I thought! Even asking for a modest treatment fee."
The man's face hardened at her unexpected response.
"I said 100 crowns."
"I know, I know. That's the generous spirit—asking for less on purpose."
She smiled brightly, pulling out her pouch.
"You mocking me right now?"
The man's voice boomed.
'Ah, so annoying.'
Tail tuned it out and lifted his mug for a sip.
Then, enraged by the girl's actions, the man jerked roughly, bumping Tail's back.
Splash!
His drink spilled across the floor.
"Tail! You okay?"
Startled, Yujin stood to grab napkins.
Meanwhile, ignoring Tail, the man swung his fist at the girl.
"Won't go easy just 'cause you're a girl!"
The girl just stared at the incoming fist.
Right before it struck her head, someone grabbed the man's fist.
"What the—?"
The gripping hand was ironclad.
No matter how he strained, it wouldn't budge, so he glared at the interloper.
"Who the hell are you to butt in...!"
The opponent swiftly yanked his arm, pulled him close, hoisted him up.
Thud!
And slammed him into the floor.
"Cough! Cough!"
Dry coughs burst from the man's mouth.
His companions froze momentarily at the blinding speed and power, then shouted.
"Who are you to interfere? You know her?"
The opponent's eyes gleamed at their words.
"Gotta interfere."
His eerie voice pierced their ears.
"You made me waste half my drink."
That drink cost a whopping 3 crowns!
Now he'd have to buy another because of these idiots.
"You committed the sin of spilling food, so you must be punished, right?"
The opponent—Tail—grinned as he cracked his knuckles.
It was only natural their faces paled.
"Thanks for the help!"
The girl bowed her head.
Well, he hadn't moved to help her specifically, but it turned out that way, so Tail stayed silent.
She continued.
"I live mostly in the forest, so I'm a bit clueless about money."
She laughed lightly.
'A bit? Way more than that.'
Calling 100 crowns cheap—she really knew nothing of the world.
'Whatever. Won't see her again anyway.'
The girl beamed, introducing herself.
"I'm Titina."
"Ah, I'm Yujin, and this is Tail."
At Yujin's introduction, Titina's eyes sparkled.
"I saw earlier—your speed and strength are impressive. Got a master?"
Tail shook his head.
"Just trained myself."
"Oho...!"
Titina's eyes glittered.
Her gaze scanned Tail up and down.
"But why...?"
"Your stance earlier showed solid basics all around, so I asked."
Titina smiled widely.
"With a good master, you'd improve by leaps and bounds."
Tail had been half-listening until then.
Honestly, what would a 15-year-old girl know?
"I've got an important supervision gig tomorrow, so I should rest."
She looked regretfully at Tail and Yujin.
"If we meet again, I'll return the favor."
With that, Titina headed upstairs to her room.
Even then, he had no idea.
That he'd meet Titina again tomorrow.