Ch.6421. Is the Journey Smooth? (2)

Louis-Rin wasn’t lacking in character; she just wasn’t very sociable.

No, that’s not right. To those who value sociability, it might indeed be considered a flaw.

In fact, right before boarding the ship, when someone picked a fight with her, despite the opponent being twice her size, far from being intimidated, she immediately kicked them in the groin.

“Oww!”

They say all the men watching instinctively grabbed their crotches in sympathy.

“Captain! No issues with our course.”

“Good! We’ll move as soon as everyone’s on board! What are you all doing?! When are you raising the anchor?! I ordered that hours ago!”

“But you just ordered it now! How could it be hours?!”

“Don’t talk back! Before I make you fish food!”

I had thought the ship might be a bit large for six people to operate, but it turned out to be filled with quite a lot of cargo.

Among that, I was assigned a spot in a corner, but sitting still was making me restless.

“I understand the musical instrument, but what’s that sword? Is it even properly sheathed?”

“This? I’m planning to get it fixed later.”

While Elhermina’s sword was normal, the one that had been bent and damaged by her could barely fit in its scabbard.

But with the handle visibly warped, it wasn’t strange that it would raise suspicions.

I had planned to fix it when I had time in Kariella, but somehow missed the opportunity.

Looking for a nearby blacksmith and visiting that small workshop was, come to think of it, for that purpose.

But they said they didn’t work with weapons, so I eventually gave up.

“You look normal and seem to have valuable possessions, so what made you change your mind and try to sneak into another country?”

“Is that information necessary for your job?”

“Tell me what you think I should know. My approach will differ depending on whether this is a simple journey or if you’re fleeing from something.”

Kariel thought for a moment.

“It’s a journey, but not an escape. Though someone might come after me… they probably won’t try too hard to catch me. Probably.”

“I hate that kind of uncertainty the most.”

Life is full of uncertainties, but if even that is uncertain, how are we supposed to live and breathe?

Though she grumbled with dissatisfaction, Louis-Rin seemed to organize her thoughts and briefly explained some precautions.

“Then we should be more concerned about people we encounter during the journey rather than pursuers. Also, we should avoid getting caught up in unnecessary incidents. Seeing the Empire and that cruciform sword, are you a knight? Or an aspirant? A candidate?”

“…Think whatever you want.”

“That’s a relief.”

An unexpected response.

“What is?”

“If you were a rigid knight, you wouldn’t speak with such uncertainty. Just don’t meddle and create big problems. If you can manage that, our journey should be fine unless fire falls from the sky. But speaking of which, they say words can become reality, so if fire streams actually start pouring down…”

For someone who appears so cool and composed, once she starts talking, she pours out words like an elf firing continuous arrows.

“It’ll be faster than riding a horse or walking on the road, but still prepare for some boredom. Do you get seasick? It’s not the ocean so you should be fine, but if you’re not used to it, be careful when lying down. Given the direction here, if you want to lie down…”

====

By the time we disembarked, I could hardly tell whether I was on land or still on deck.

Even standing still, the ground seemed to sway beneath me.

…If I felt this way after just a few days, I wonder how people who spend months at sea manage to adapt.

“Let’s fill our stomachs.”

Louis-Rin didn’t seem bothered at all.

“So this is…”

A domain with an actual fortress.

Outside the fortress, there was a village and a dock that could accommodate several ships, though the scale wasn’t particularly large.

Various people were coming and going, but unlike the Empire, there were noticeably more reddish-brown complexions here…

“Unfortunately, we’re inside the Kingdom of Dabas. I heard they can’t go further up the river due to some circumstances.”

“…The reason?”

“It’s not our concern. It’s common. No one risks their life on unnecessary adventures. But don’t worry. There are other ways to get there. Before that, let’s eat. Who knows when we’ll eat again? And we should buy supplies considering our journey ahead. If we’re not riding horses, we’ll have to walk, which will make the journey longer… Oh, you said you’re good with mountain paths, right? So we should plan our route that way…”

“I get it, let’s go for now.”

She may lack sociability, but she certainly talks a lot.

If you were fooled by her first impression of being somewhat blunt or fierce, with her indifferent and cool attitude, you might not see this side of her.

When someone maintains their guard, they tend to keep their responses short.

If the other person doesn’t understand, they might say a bit more, but if the other still doesn’t show understanding?

Then hands come out.

Just like now.

“Ugh, aaaaah!”

“Want your hand cut off, or will you hand over what you’ve got? How dare you try to pick my pocket?”

The man caught by Louis-Rin was thrown aside, clutching his twisted wrist, after being completely robbed.

Louis-Rin briefly examined the small money pouch.

With her gaze fixed on the pouch, she asked:

“Are you good at fighting, client?”

“Why?”

“Because we can make some money. And we need to eat… We can’t run away just because we’re afraid of attracting flies.”

“……”

“In places like this, those guys usually have organizations behind them. If individuals try to muddy the waters, they won’t be left alone. Even beggars these days get permits and special markings, can you believe it? Did you know that begging without permission is illegal? So the conclusion is that they’re all connected front and back. They even pay taxes! Did you know that pickpocket organizations pay bribes to the lord as ‘taxes’?”

“……”

That’s the first I’ve heard of it.

Is it because we’re not in the Empire, or is it unique to the Kingdom of Dabas?

…Or perhaps it happens in the Empire too, and I just don’t know about it?

Following Louis-Rin, we settled in a restaurant to fill our stomachs.

“What fearless bastard! Who touched our guy?!”

As Louis-Rin had predicted, several burly men arrived.

“Here they come.”

With a smirk, Louis-Rin rose from her chair and:

“It was me, you pig!”

And with that, she threw a dagger.

Thunk!

“You crazy little brat?!”

Perhaps because the dagger landed right next to his shoe, his attention momentarily shifted there.

In that instant, Louis-Rin dashed forward and launched herself at the opponent.

Then she drove her knee straight into the face of the man she had called a pig.

“?!”

But that wasn’t the end.

Gripping the man’s face with one hand as he tried to push back, she raised her right arm high.

And then she brought her elbow down hard towards his eye socket.

Crack!

“Huh?!”

While the men standing nearby were frozen in shock, Louis-Rin landed and immediately threw herself to the right, sliding.

Before anyone realized what was happening, she had grabbed the leg of another man standing nearby, causing him to face-plant onto the wooden floor while still standing.

Thud!

“B-Boss?!”

Even this reaction was too late.

Louis-Rin immediately struck the ankle of another nearby guy with her heel.

Like a horse kicking with its hind legs.

Crack!

“Aaaaargh!”

Given that the heel of Louis-Rin’s boot was made of metal, it must have been incredibly painful.

“Hand over everything you’ve got! Otherwise, I’ll chop off all your wrists and ankles!”

She had drawn a knife from somewhere.

Its tip was bent at a right angle, reminiscent of a herb chopper.

What is that? Was it one of those things used to cut through undergrowth or branches in the jungle?

I’ve seen it a few times, but the way she wields it so menacingly is truly terrifying.

Indeed, as if struck by that blade, several fingers along with a metal ring flew through the air.

A desperate scream erupted.

“Aaaah! My hand! My hand!”

“It’s your fingers, idiot! Did I cut off your hand?! Huh?! Want me to?! I’ll cut it off! Come here! Not coming?! Come quickly! I said come now! Come!”

She’s gone berserk.

…This is more like a butcher than anything else.

“That’s enough.”

“What the—?!”

I knocked down Louis-Rin, who was rampaging without distinguishing friend from foe.

“Huh? Huuuh?! What!”

Confused about why she had been knocked down, Louis-Rin sat half-reclined in a graceful pose.

Her silver eyes widened to the point where Kariel could clearly see her trying to understand the current situation.

“But why…”

More importantly.

“My knife! When did you take my thing?”

“This?”

I answered while performing a few rotations with the knife she had been holding, using my hand and wrist as if showing off a trick.

“Just now.”

“But why are you interfering with my work?”

“Work?”

Kariel looked around.

It hadn’t even been a few minutes, just a moment of shock.

“Isn’t this already over?”

“I haven’t even taken their necks or hands yet!”

However, it seems Kariel’s standards and hers were clearly different.

Grrrrr!

S-save me—!

Gurgle—!

Blood was splattered everywhere.

There were even pieces of flesh scattered about.

Moreover, those men might actually die if left like this, even though they weren’t dead yet.

“……”

“……”

As expected.

She’s definitely not an ordinary person.

====

As it turned out, she had already received a request to clean up some of those guys.

In return, she was planning to secure safe passage out of here, as well as gather some information and collect the reward money.

“If you didn’t receive it directly, is there some kind of intermediary place for requests and such, where they assign these things to you at the right time?”

“You figured that out well, didn’t you?”

“It makes sense.”

I hadn’t been monitoring her, but during the time I was watching, I never saw Louis-Rin receiving any requests directly, so that was my guess.

The method of receiving jobs must involve some kind of secretive communication that ordinary people wouldn’t notice.

“I have to work hard to make a living. Especially considering how much I eat.”

“……”

That’s true.

I was worried she might try to empty my pockets too, but apparently she had already been paid for that as well?

If she had pretended not to know and suddenly demanded I pay for her meals or cover her expenses…

…I might have had to think long and hard about it.

“Usually that’s the case, but this time the client specifically instructed me. Told me not to do anything unnecessary.”

“That includes appealing to me, right?”

“You’re quick-witted, aren’t you? It means I’ve shown sincerity. You’re being respected.”

From providing service to create a good impression on the client to everything else…

Perhaps despite her appearance, she might be quite old?

By human standards she might be a child, but what if she’s not human?

“I am human! But not pure-blooded. I’m a half.”

“Half what?”

“If you knew, you’d probably despise me.”

“Do I look like someone who discriminates based on race?”

“What if it’s a bloodline that makes even non-discriminatory people discriminate?”

“…I get what you’re saying.”

“How could you understand when I haven’t even said anything?”

“……”

It’s probably that.

Demon blood.

I’m not assuming that just because she became my guide through connections with the Edenrevan Alliance.

“It doesn’t matter to me anyway.”

“…You’re a strange client.”

Could you be stranger than you?

Kariel shouldered the somewhat increased luggage and left the entrance of the village in front of the domain.

Near the entrance, there was a cart that traveled to the neighboring village, which they planned to hitch a ride on.

“The forests and mountains get cold at night. Will you be okay in that outfit?”

“As long as it’s not winter.”

“Magic tools are so unfair, I tell you.”

I stroked the small fur attached to my hood and said:

“Indeed.”

Strongly agreeing with her words.

By the way.

The display of skill just now was likely intended to demonstrate her usefulness to me.

Whether it was her intention or the organization behind her, I’m not sure.

But I can feel how systematic it all is.

…It’s good to be aware of such thoroughness.

Not to brag, but if someone is as perceptive and quick-thinking as Kariel, they would naturally deduce from this incident that she and her backing are not ordinary.

And even if they couldn’t deduce such things at all…

The skill Louis-Rin demonstrated would be enough to establish trust.

Depending on the person, it could also serve as a threat to enforce compliance with instructions.

I recalled what the Demon King had told me before.

That in this world, there are developments that one can only fall victim to due to ignorance.

…I could somewhat understand what he meant.