Blending In
Blending In
Rodwell, witnessing her creaking movements, tilted her head.
"Is the clothing uncomfortable?"
Startled, Helsi shook her head vigorously.
"No! Not at all! It's incredibly comfortable and soft!"
Rodwell nodded with her expressionless face.
"I'm glad."
Starting to take deep breaths again, Helsi seemed to steel herself and put on a determined expression.
The posture she then assumed was somewhat odd.
She stepped forward with one foot and, with the hand not holding the money pouch, pointed to a doll hanging on the wall.
In that state, she demanded confidently.
"Give me that one too!"
Rodwell nodded.
"That will be five trade gold coins."
Helsi looked at me.
'Why is she crying?'
Embarrassed, I couldn't help but interject.
"Is there a discount if I buy both?"
Buying an extra doll not in the plan might be a mistake, but the attack method Rodwell had demonstrated earlier was interesting.
As it happened, the doll Helsi had pointed to was the princess who had swung the hand axe.
'Whether it has a special mechanism or is simply the skill of the manipulator.'
Even to find that out, I expressed my intention to buy, and a satisfactory answer came back.
"It might not be suitable for a pilgrimage, but I can prepare windbreakers for the two of you to wear."
Unlike when she had brought Helsi's robe, Rodwell snapped her fingers to control the doll.
The doll flew swiftly into the room and brought back two ordinary robes.
Though she said ordinary, the fabric was quite good.
As I received the robe from the doll and made an O with my mouth in admiration, Rodwell explained.
"This is a robe often worn by nobles when attending religious ceremonies. It's made of 'Black Spider Silk', which is easy to enchant, so you could later modify it for travel."
Satisfied, I rubbed the fabric, then felt a doubt.
"Can you modify it for us now?"
I had assumed the robe Helsi was wearing was a modified version of this one, so that's why I asked.
I was naturally willing to pay for it,
"We don't make special garments from such low-grade fabric."
Low-grade?
Wasn't this what nobles used?
I was bewildered, but interpreting that the item bought for 50 gold coins was that good felt nice.
Helsi, who had been looking at me blankly for some reason, jumped in surprise when Rodwell took a step closer.
"Ah! The payment... um, 55 coins, right?"
Rodwell nodded.
At the same time, a square plate that had been on the windowsill floated up and flew between them.
It seemed that people who dealt with large sums of money everywhere treated money very preciously.
Like the bank tellers in the world I used to live in, Rodwell, having received the money via the plate, greeted them with a dignified posture.
"Thank you. Next time, I will visit you with a more perfect work."
It was a greeting as unique as the showmanship she had shown earlier.
Helsi, who must have received such a greeting for the first time, was flustered and kept bowing her head repeatedly.
"Ah, yes, um... yes!"
Hati, who had ravaged the tea table, came over to me and started showing interest in the newly acquired robe.
I put the robe on Hati.
"Let's go now. We need to find a place to sleep before sunset."
And just as I approached the door and grabbed the handle,
"Are you planning to stay in this city?"
Rodwell asked, so I turned around with a bewildered face.
Rodwell walked to the window and warned.
"That's not a good idea. There's a fishing boat at Pier 3, so go there."
The memory that immediately came to mind was the protest scene I had witnessed at the pier.
"Why? I heard gunshots at the pier earlier."
I understood the warning not to stay here, but I didn't understand why she told me to go back to the pier that had been in chaos.
Rodwell's following explanation was also a bit difficult for me, who lacked background knowledge.
"The pier where the security forces entered today was Pier 1. Since sailing ships cannot dock at Pier 3, if the 'suppression forces' deploy ships, they too will use Pier 1."
I nodded for now.
"Yes. Thank you."
We quickly went outside.
Striding toward the most secluded alley in sight, I called out to Helsi.
"Sister-nim. Please take out the map from the bag."
Helsi replied while opening the bag.
"I know where Pier 3 is."
"We're not going there."
"Yes?"
"And you've been speaking politely to me since earlier."
"...Ah!"
She must have figured out long ago who the leader among us three is.
Moreover, even though it's been days since escaping the lab, we've been moving on foot because of Helsi.
In other words, the lab was still right in front of us.
And a capable helper appears in such a state?
There's no need to be suspicious.
If Rodwell were an enemy, she wouldn't have sold us high-quality defensive gear.
But accepting help is also dangerous.
A craftsman dealing in luxury items worth 50 gold coins, an informant who could predict where the suppression forces would enter, and a local powerful figure who could provide an escape route to unknown foreigners.
I can't handle it if betrayed.
So I decided to accept only the warning.
"Did you take it out?"
I stopped walking at the same time as the question.
Dirty boxes piled up in a dark back alley.
I slapped the top of them with my palm and spoke to Helsi.
"Spread it out."
Helsi set down the map and pressed down the corners with the doll.
I had noticed it since she swung the axe, but the doll seemed quite heavy, judging by the material.
I wanted to disassemble it quickly, but the sun was gradually setting.
Where would be the best place to escape?
The moment I stared intently at the map, a sharp siren began to wail.
Hamington, the industrial district designated as a stronghold for reactionary elements.
Five tanks stopped at the entrance leading into that place.
They were tanks of a universal form that even a foreigner from another world wouldn't find particularly awkward.
Long gun barrels.
Giant continuous tracks.
The formation of dozens of infantry clinging to each tank was also a tactic once used in that other world.
If there was one thing that seemed alien from the perspective of an otherworlder, it was probably just one thing.
"Morgan-nim. The operation will begin soon. Please come this way."
A wizard riding a white horse.
The black-haired man clad in pure white robes was like a crane among chickens.
If there were a sniper targeting them, the eye-catching sight would make him the first target.
The young officer who had just spoken to him had come over worried about that very point.
"Morgan-nim?"
To the officer who called his name again with an anxious face, Morgan spoke.
"The forest side is empty."
The officer looked to the side with a puzzled expression.
A dense forest that had grown like a mutation on the rugged plain surrounding the Hamington district.
The reason no reconnaissance squad was sent there was because it was dangerous.
"Yes. I heard that Ehusyka recently crossed over here. The Colonel said not to bother chasing kids who are going to commit suicide..."
Morgan spurred his horse forward.
The officer checked the direction the horse was moving, then ran over in shock.
"Morgan-nim! It was Colonel Billiwords who ordered not to enter the forest! The authority on site is with the Colonel right now..."
"I am not under his command."
Cutting off the officer's words, Morgan reported as a courtesy.
"The loud explosions might cause Ehusyka to go on a rampage. I'll keep an eye on it, so proceed with the operation without worry."
Leaving the officer who stopped walking with a doubtful expression, Morgan continued deeper into the forest.
This forest, starting from the north gate of Hamington, stretched across the plain to the great forest near Brighton City.
Hence its nickname, 'Fairy Road of the South'.
If Ehusyka made a nest in a place like this, many people would have a headache.
'But that means the nerve war in Ishtal is important enough to prioritize suppression.'
It was a danger that had been overshadowed by other matters, thus becoming even more serious.
But the fact that he had advanced for hours, even deploying detection magic, was not solely because of Ehusyka.
Having walked for a long time to a primeval forest where the sound of the suppression force's cannon fire could no longer be heard.
Buseureok
The sound of leaves rustling unnaturally was detected.
When it was detected again right after, Morgan was shocked.
'What's so fast?'
The origin of the first sound and the second sound were too far apart.
Moreover, the trajectory obtained by connecting the two points in a straight line was heading exactly toward him.
He changed the mana he had deployed into a completely different form.
An improvisation that would have amazed anyone with even a little knowledge of magic.
He set up the barrier created in an instant in front of him and felt a faint sense of relief.
'With this, the attack is blocked...'
And so he slowed down just slightly.
He was 0.01 seconds late in drawing the sword at his waist to prepare a counterattack.
The one targeting him was not just the black dog beastman who had just slammed its forehead into the barrier.
Wajangchang
It was a huge problem that the barrier was shattered with just one headbutt, but an even bigger problem was the owner of the bright red wings spreading behind the small dog beastman girl.
Peolleok
Seeing the monster looking down at him from the sunset-colored sky, Morgan felt a gut instinct.
'So you died to that bitch, Zenon.'
It felt like his teeth would break.
He recalled the first time he saw that monster.
He couldn't have possibly thought then, but still, regret surged along with this thought.
'I should have killed her.'
Maybe he could do it now.
A spear of blood shot from the tips of the monster's outstretched hand.
Kwang!!
Even as his shoulder and thigh were pierced by the spear created so fast it caused a shockwave, he kept considering until the end.
'Can I win?'
No answer came.
The decision was made.
'I'll have to try to find out.'
Just like his friend had been, he too was once a researcher who loved experiments.