Chapter 8
Chapter 8
Meeting the Sword Saint Was the Worst
After retrieving our belongings from the hidden cave, Rene and I walked along the road connecting the capital and nearby towns.
She had asked again if we could just fly like the previous night, but still claimed her wings hurt and refused.
I knew it was an excuse, but instead of calling her out, I decided to see how long she would keep it up.
“The weather is really nice.”
“You’re optimistic. Aren’t you worried those hunters might come after us again?”
“I’m a little scared… but it’s okay. You’re with me, Bern!”
“Should’ve charged you protection fees.”
“I-I heard a man’s word is worth a thousand gold! You wouldn’t go back on what you say, right?!”
At my teasing, Rene panicked and threw out a proverb to defend herself.
Usually clueless—but oddly sharp in moments like this.
“Can’t even joke around.”
“But everything you say sounds serious….”
Fair enough.
I hadn’t lied to her even once.
“You don’t even have a coin to your name. Why would I ask you for money? I won’t ever demand anything from you, so relax.”
“That still sounds like you think I’ll never earn any money….”
“Oh? Learned mind-reading?”
“Ugh…!”
She puffed her cheeks and started complaining.
It was going to be long, so I half-listened.
Honestly, she looked like a sulking kid—more cute than anything.
“Done talking?”
“You didn’t listen at all, did you?”
“Nope.”
“…Sometimes I doubt my ability. You seem like a villain to me.”
“People are just like that.”
Apparently, her ability judged me as “not evil.”
Unexpected.
I’d never thought of myself as a good person.
“Anyway, where are we going?”
“Didn’t I tell you?”
“No!”
“Right. My mistake. We’re heading to the satellite city, Front.”
“Satellite city?”
“It’s the closest city to the capital. No lord governs it.”
“How is that possible?”
“For 300 years, no disasters occurred there. So a former king granted autonomy to the citizens instead of letting greedy nobles rule it.”
A rare setting.
Even in a fantasy world, it stood out.
“And it’s called the City of Festivals.”
“How often?”
“Forty times a year.”
Nearly every week, a festival.
Different themes each time.
“Are there festivals now?”
“Not sure.”
But judging by the season—
Probably.
“I hope there is!”
“You like festivals?”
“I’ve never been to one… so I don’t know.”
“Don’t expect too much.”
“It’ll be fun as long as I’m with you!”
She smiled brightly under the sun.
But—
Her lips trembled slightly.
A habit when she lied.
“You just want me to spend money at the festival, don’t you?”
“…Hehe.”
I flicked her forehead.
“How do I look?”
She spun in place.
Her new outfit matched her silver hair and blue eyes.
White and blue tones.
Modified priestess attire with exposed shoulders.
Stockings, boots, even garter belts.
“…You look good.”
“Really?! I’ll take this one!”
“Yeah.”
Expensive, though.
I paid.
My wallet instantly thinned.
“…Damn, that’s pricey.”
She just smiled happily.
Didn’t even notice.
I suddenly understood how parents feel.
“We’re leaving.”
“Yes!”
Outside, fewer people stared.
She looked less like a slave—
More like someone important.
“So what now?”
“We check carriage schedules and find a place to stay.”
“Then we can see the monster parade tomorrow!”
“Maybe. If we leave early, probably not.”
“Can’t we stay longer?”
“No. Save money.”
We walked through the lively streets.
She was fascinated.
I compared everything to the novel.
‘This is where Junhyuk had that date…’
The Monster Parade.
Tamed beasts marching with handlers.
In the story, it turns chaotic later.
But that’s next year.
So—
Safe for now.
Then—
Thud.
I bumped into a man.
“…Watch it.”
I grabbed his wrist.
“Pickpocket?”
“What?”
“My wallet. You took it.”
He laughed.
“You serious?”
“It was in my pocket a minute ago.”
Only two people touched me.
Rene—or him.
Not her.
So—
Him.
“Got proof?”
“Give it back.”
“Search me.”
Confident.
Too confident.
‘Invisible magic. Right thigh.’
He thought I’d back down.
I didn’t.
Then—
“Stop right there.”
A woman’s voice.
A black-haired woman stepped forward.
Her hand on her sword.
“I witnessed the theft.”
“…And you are?”
“A witness.”
He scoffed.
“A blind girl?”
“Refusing until the end… unfortunate.”
Her sword moved.
No one saw it—
Except me.
A single sound—
And—
His clothes shredded.
He stood naked.
“WHAT THE—?!”
She stepped forward calmly.
“I saw it through mana flow. I’ll testify.”
“…Thanks, but one question.”
“Yes?”
“Why did you cut my wallet too?”
“…What?”
Another headache.