episode_0048

Ssss.. Ssss…

Shumi, who was very surprised, was comforted by her light pink hair. I do not know. I keep putting my hand on her head.

“Would you please accept it?”

He carefully holds Shumi’s hand as he expresses his strong refusal.

Suddenly.

A delicate, small palm full of scars.

A leaf of gold coins was placed on top of it.

I carefully wrap the gold coin leaf in my small palm again.

Sseuugh..

Even with my actions, Shumi’s distrustful feelings were not easily alleviated, but a red blush crept up on Shumi’s cheeks as she lowered her head to the patting hand.

“Okay, then I’ll accept it.”

“Because I have to work too.”

Shame on you! Those pink eyes looking at me were so cute and beautiful. Of all the people I’ve seen in this world, these eyes were the most sparkling. That’s absurd.

It’s like looking at a big pink diamond.

Ssss..

After staring at him for a while, Shumi also bowed her head again, probably because she was embarrassed.

“Shumi, can you guide me here as usual?”

“As you can see, it’s my first time here.”

If this world was a world with common sense about life in the past… it would definitely look like a mysterious man stroking the head of a young girl he had never seen before. As if it wouldn’t be strange if he was taken away by the police right away.

But now, this is a world where the concept itself has been applied in the complete opposite way. It is a natural world where no one finds it strange that such a little girl gives directions to adults on her own.

＂Well, then I will accept it gratefully.＂

Shumi looked at me again as if he had never done that before and greeted me again with a calm, collected expression.

＂Keuhum! Then I’ll do it again from the beginning!”

“welcome. Welcome to the Dragon’s Nest {Ryu Nest}!”

After Shumi’s lively welcome, he went on to explain about this place.

The name of this floating island is {Ryu Nest}, and it has been described as the strongest defense city with districts divided into different levels and divided into nobles, commoners, and lower classes.

It is said that the “lower class” where I am currently is where commoners live, and other floors except the “lowest class” where the lower class resides are inaccessible. Among them, the “lowest class” area on the outskirts of {Ryu Nest} is a place where fallen nobles and slums live. People said that this place would run in a balanced order through their labor.

If such a young-looking little girl was able to explain in such detail, I could roughly understand how much importance this place places on social status. I also felt that difference to some extent before I arrived here.

That’s right…

When I came up here, the sight of the “bottom floor” that I could see inside the cable car was quite shocking.

A cold, dark, bad street with no laughter anywhere.

However, there were no people who were homeless or sleeping outside, but the few men in the lower class seemed to show off their bodies and engage in entertainment. From my perspective, it felt natural, like the lives of men living in the “lowest class.”

Moreover, various criminal groups and people with strange conditions, such as those using drugs, could be seen wandering the streets.

If a foreigner man moved alone in this “subtropical” residence, there was no telling when he might be kidnapped, trafficked, or experience something terrible. The condition of the “lowest class” was as bad as it looked from afar.”

While I was moving forward while listening to Shumi’s kind explanation…

＂This is an {armor clothing store}!!＂

＂It’s a place where adventurers and hunters get equipped for exploration and hunting!!＂

＂And this is {Preservation Restaurant}!!＂

＂Similarly, it is a place mainly used by travelers going on adventures.!＂

＂The beef jerky here is really delicious. lol..”

After obtaining a variety of information one by one through Shumi’s kind explanation, I was able to travel together and stop at various stores to buy new clothes and preserved food, and I was also able to easily find cheap lodging where I could wash up.

＂Jae is the most recommended accommodation here!＂

“Not only is it cheaper than other lodgings, but it’s also the only place where you can wash with fragrant, warm water!”

Why are you so excited? The entire time he was walking around, the corners of Shumi’s mouth showed no signs of lowering. How cute it is and how energizing it is just to hear it from the side.

I even thought about having a little sister like this.

Ssss..

So, Ni gently strokes Shumi’s head, who looks very excited, and takes out another gold coin and hands it to her.

“Thank you so much today, Shumi.”

“And this, you said it earlier?”

“My iron rule is to reward those who trust me.”

Just so that Shumi can receive it without burden, I set out my own iron rule and place a gold coin on her small hand.

“Can I really accept this much money?”

just as expected. Shumi seemed anxious and wanted to return the gold coin, but I gently covered her small hesitant hand and patted her head again.

Ssss..

＂If you feel burdened, can I ask for directions tomorrow as well?

“Then let’s say this is a down payment. how is it?”

I was able to find out the value of this gold coin through the shopping street I walked around today.

Even if you add up the leather armor, preserved food, and accommodations you purchased today, they are not worth even half of the value of a single gold coin.

Roughly speaking, one gold leaf was worth enough for a commoner family to eat and sleep without working for two months. Even though I knew this, I invested gold coins in Shumi so that she could completely trust me without doubting me.

However, it was never a bad idea.

I just needed a trustworthy helper who would keep my personal information a secret and help me at any time.

“Thank you for your trust.”

Shumi, who had obtained two gold coins in one day, was very happy, but did not avoid my caress and stayed like that for a while longer. Are you happy?

Maybe I missed someone’s touch like this.

“Ho.. may I ask your name?”

As long as he claimed to be {Ryu Nest}’s guide, it was Shumi’s absolute rule not to ask about the personal information of customers, as it was a given that it could be dangerous to both parties.

Children who are taken away for helping guide criminals.

Children who were suddenly kidnapped and disappeared at some point.

It’s not uncommon to get assaulted for speaking out for no reason.

To Shumi, adults have always been seen as beings to be suspicious of, not to be trusted, and not to let go of.

Therefore, in order to survive alone, Shumi had no choice but to close her heart and put on a shell called a smile.

＂Si, was that rude..?＂

But now, at this moment, Shumi has begun to ask Da-hein’s name, even breaking the absolute rules up to now. To that extent, he seemed like a special person to her.

＂Your name.. do you mean??＂

Of course, I couldn’t help but be surprised by Shumi’s sudden behavior.

Although he was smiling on his face, I knew that the smile he had been showing all this time was not a genuine smile.

The face hidden behind Shumi’s smile was very similar to my own expression when I was left alone in the harsh forest not long ago.

A mask created by distrust of others, anxiety, and obsession with life.

Maybe I should have stroked Shumi’s head to take off the mask.

＂D&Deluca..＂

“yes?”

＂No, no.. call me Dahein.＂

Shumi, who heard my name like that, showed a very excited expression and hurriedly ran somewhere while saying that she would see me tomorrow morning.

The bright smile and waving hand towards me until the end made me feel so cute.

I could feel that Shumi’s bright smile was not a lie. It didn’t matter if it was a lie.

I just hoped that today would be a meaningful day for Shumi.

＇Shall we go in now?＇

Suddenly..

So I don’t go into the dorm until late at night.

***

{Ryu Nest}’s dark evening has arrived before we know it.

Perhaps because of the {Ryu Nest} floating in the sky… the blue moonlight floating high in the sky twinkled closer and appeared quite large. Moreover, the large magic stone of [Goryong Stone], which overlapped with the blue moonlight, also began to emit a warm orange light to the surrounding area, as if showing off its presence… Like soft lighting, it was making this dark night street cozy.

The night view, like an aurora borealis, came through the window and helped to stabilize my mind and body.

As I was admiring the surroundings through the window, I put aside my tired mind for a moment, unpacked the heavy baggage I had packed during my day, and began to take off the tattered clothes I had been wearing.

Ssss..

The tattered clothes were looking shabby, with stains from when they first hunted [Tagpog]… and considerable blood stains from when they were attacked by a group of [Tululpo].

＇Still.. I guess it’s a bit much to throw it away..＇

Could it be that I couldn’t throw away these shabby clothes that protected me from the crazy cold?

Or maybe he doesn’t want to throw away the memory of Janes who chose these clothes for him. I fold my old clothes and put them in a new leather bag on one side.

Knock knock…

“I’m leaving the water here.”

＂Tell me if you need anything.~＂

While maintenance was continuing for a while, as the owner of the accommodation said, a wooden bucket of appropriate size filled with hot water was left in front of the door.

Tread.. plod..

After confirming with my sixth sense that the sound of footsteps had become distant, I entered the room carrying the steaming wooden bucket.

“Wet towel?”

Even though washing was done by soaking a stiff towel in water and wiping the body, I guess the warm water I felt for the first time in a long time wasn’t so bad, so I started with my face and slowly wiped it off.

＇It’s warm..＇

＇Now that I think about it, this scent… is subtle and pleasant.＇

＇As expected, this is the accommodation recommended by Shumi.＇