Chapter 87

Chapter 87

The Crimson Flame Knights had a question they would always ask new recruits, a tradition of sorts:

“Why did you join the Knights?”

When asked, some gave bizarre answers, some gave responses similar to others, and some couldn’t answer at all, mumbling and stuttering through it. The fate of those in the third group was usually not good.

Most of them would lose their resolve and leave of their own accord, and in the worst cases, they would be carried out as corpses.

The ones who became stronger the fastest and clung on with the most tenacity were always those who answered, “For revenge.”

People who had lost parents, siblings, lovers… or sometimes even a close friend. Those with a strong reason would endure and overcome whatever hardship came their way.

Having seen this time and again, I never denied the importance of having a goal and a motive for a person’s strength. I was probably not the only one who thought that way.

The world is filled with stories of heroes who awakened due to some sort of incident, and the fact that there are so many of these stories is proof that many people think the same way as I do… Or maybe it’s just that people like to see stories of overcoming adversity and achieving success.

In any case, the one-armed swordsman was also someone who had experienced such a turning point.

He lost his comrades, and then his left arm, deciding from that moment to become stronger.

And I was the one who provided that turning point for him.

‘…But why doesn’t he hate me?’

If I were in his position, I wouldn’t be able to see myself in a good light.

I didn’t know why, but as long as he didn’t act hostile towards me, I had no reason to kill him either.

Even after the first duel ended, I crossed swords with him several more times.

“It’s still beyond my reach… But thank you.”

Maybe it was helpful that I didn’t use my full strength. By the end of our last duel, he was smiling with satisfaction.

Watching him slowly walk away, having awkwardly expressed his gratitude in broken Granic, Da-eun spoke up.

“What was that all about…?”

“I don’t know.”

It was a question I couldn’t answer.

This was the first time someone who had faced me as an enemy was showing emotions other than vengeance or fear.

However, his lighthearted departure left a lasting impression on me.

I couldn’t take my eyes off him until his figure disappeared beyond the horizon.

I still couldn’t understand what was going on in his mind.

***

“Looks like we’ve gotten attached…”

Neigh–

Da-eun, unable to hide her reluctance, gently stroked the horse’s muzzle.

It seemed like the horse also felt the same, as it shook its head and snorted while being caressed by her.

“There’s no helping it.”

From Ordo to the Sacred Kingdom, and from the Sacred Kingdom to the western continent, the city bordering the territories of the Demonic Race… We had traveled together for several weeks, so it was only natural that they grew attached.

But even though I understood her feelings, that was why we had to leave the horse in this city.

If she didn’t want to see the horse fall victim to the corruption of magi and turn into a monster.

“Besides, Celine can’t stay with it all day long.”

“I guess…”

Da-eun, looking a bit dejected, gave the horse one last pat on the muzzle before letting go of its reins.

Having parted with the horse, we stepped back out into the streets.

The fact that this city borders the territory of the Demonic Race means it is constantly under threat from monsters.

Perhaps that’s why most people walking the streets carried weapons on them.

There were quite a few Apostles as well.

I pretended not to notice the gazes directed at us.

“Let’s just buy what we need and leave quickly.”

“Huh? You’re not planning to rest here?”

“Nope.”

The atmosphere of the city we were currently in wasn’t something you could even call good, not even as a joke.

Living right on the edge of life and death, always facing the unknown threats that could arrive at any moment, people were bound to have such an attitude.

Some might say, “Then why don’t they just move to another city?”

But even for a city like this, abandoning the place you’ve worked hard to settle down in and moving somewhere else is not an easy decision to make.

Not everyone here is like that, but most of the people living in this city are in dire straits.

Mercenaries using the city as a base are also in such urgent need of money that they’re willing to risk their lives.

Ah, but Apostles are an exception.

Anyway…

I could understand why the city was in this state, but understanding and staying here were two completely different things.

Just walking the short distance from the city gates to the stables, I witnessed several skirmishes break out. I had no desire to rest in such an environment.

It felt like even if we rested here, it wouldn’t really be rest.

Crash!

“~~~~~!!”

“~~! ~~~~!”

Before I could even finish my thought, a stall was destroyed, and fruits went flying.

Plop.

I caught an apple that came flying at high speed. The condition… Hmm, not bad.

Taking a bite out of the ripened apple, a fresh, crisp texture and tangy juice filled my mouth. Did I take too big of a bite? The juice that didn’t make it into my mouth trickled down the corner of my lips, so I wiped it off with the back of my hand.

Ugh, sticky.

Looking around for something to wipe with, I noticed Da-eun was distracted by the commotion nearby, so I casually wiped my hand on the hem of her clothes.

It seemed there had been a problem between a fruit vendor and a mercenary.

If they were to fight using strength, the mercenary would obviously win, but no sane person would wield a weapon in a place like this.

Which means, that mercenary arguing with the vendor must be out of his mind.

Clang!

The mercenary grabbed a gleaming axe in his hand. His eyes, now lost in rage, shone just like the blade of his axe.

“Whoa, are you crazy?!”

“Hey! Stop him! Someone stop this guy, now!”

Sensing the escalating tension, other mercenaries watching from the sidelines grabbed him and dragged him away somewhere.

Thanks to that, his actions ended as an attempt, but judging from the gazes of the nearby merchants, it didn’t seem like that mercenary would be able to conduct his business freely in this city anymore.

He’d probably have to pay more than the average price just to buy a single apple.

“Really peaceful, isn’t it?”



“…Peaceful?”

Obviously, that was sarcasm.

Ignoring Da-eun’s bewildered gaze, I took another bite of the apple.

It was still delicious.

“Kana, that apple.”

“Huh?”

What about the apple?

I lifted the apple I’d been munching on, showing it to her.

“Joanie, do you want a bite too?”

“No, that’s not it… That apple, didn’t it just fly over here earlier? So, you haven’t paid for it, have you?”

“….”

“You should pay for it. You can’t just eat it like that!”

I sheepishly hid the apple behind me, which I had been proudly holding a moment ago.

Shaking her head as if she couldn’t believe it, Da-eun walked up to the vendor.

“I’m sorry. My little sister picked up a fallen apple and ate it. Here’s the money for it…”

“Oh, my! I wouldn’t have noticed if you had just let it pass, but thank you for being honest.”

“I’m really sorry…”

“I don’t mind, just make sure to tell your sister not to pick up things and eat them. She could get sick from eating something off the ground, especially in a place like this…”

“A place like this…?”

“Miss, it seems like this is your first time in this city, right?”

“Yes, that’s right. How did you know?”

“It’s rare to find someone who would go out of their way to pay for a single apple in the middle of a commotion like that. Normally, people would just think they got lucky and keep their mouths shut.”

“Heeh… Is that so?”

Zrrp.

While conversing with the merchant, Da-eun threw me a sharp glare.

I quietly hid behind Celine.

“Oh dear,” Celine muttered with a wry smile, but still pulled the hem of her nun’s habit to cover me.

…It’s not like I intended to eat it secretly or anything. It’s just that… I got caught up in the atmosphere.

“If you leave the city and go a little further, you’ll enter the territory influenced by the Demonic Race. That’s why people here rarely leave the city. And if they do, it’s usually heading inland. Oh, except for the mercenaries.”

“It’s because of the magi, right? Is this city okay?”

“Yes. There are priests and nuns sent from the Sacred Kingdom. Thanks to their efforts, the city is relatively safe… But…”

The merchant suddenly lowered his voice.

“There are still people who try to sell items contaminated with magi at a cheaper price, so you have to be careful. Especially with food.”

“Ah… So that’s why you warned me not to pick up things off the ground?”

“Yes. If someone eats something contaminated with magi, it could lead to severe poisoning. Even if it’s not that, picking up something a mercenary dropped could lead to trouble. The mercenaries here are much rougher than those in other places.”

“Ah…”

Da-eun nodded her head and looked around.

She was glancing around, as if searching for something, and soon found me hiding behind Celine. Striding over, she relayed the conversation she’d had with the vendor.

“You understand, right, Kana? You can’t just put anything that looks tasty into your mouth.”

After finishing her explanation, she emphasized her words to me with utmost seriousness.

However, my reaction was—

“…Isn’t it fine?”

—I mean, what’s the big deal?

I had eaten things that were slightly contaminated by Magi before without any problems.

Besides, even if I got into a fight with mercenaries, I’m confident I could take them down.

“…Kana!”

Da-eun’s eyes lit up with anger at my response.

She then launched into a rapid-fire lecture, explaining that even if something wasn’t contaminated with Magi, eating things off the ground was unhygienic, could lead to illness, and so on…

“Ugh… Fine, I won’t eat it. Happy?”

I surrendered, raising a white flag after listening to her nagging until my ears were about to fall off.

It’s not like I ate anything off the ground, nor did I have any intention of doing so…

And seriously, I’m not a child who would just pick up random things to eat.

Although, there was a time when I had to eat like that to survive… Sёarch* The novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

“Promise me.”

“That’s so childish… Fine, I get it.”

I grumbled as she held out her pinky, but when I saw her eyebrows twitch, I quickly linked my pinky with hers.

Since I was the one at fault in this situation, I obediently let her pull me along, bowed my head to the vendor, and he waved his hand dismissively.

“It happens. Here, would you like a cherry?”

“Tha… Thank you.”

I ended up getting another fruit out of nowhere.

I looked up at Da-eun, wondering if she’d want to eat it, but she was busy talking to the vendor and didn’t pay me any attention.

When I offered it to Celine, she smiled gently and declined.

Well, I guess I’ll have to eat it myself.

Chomp.

“So, what brings you to this city? It’s not exactly a place that noble ladies would visit.”

“Haha, well, I’m a mercenary myself.”

“A mercenary? Ah, I didn’t notice the sword you’re carrying. Well, it’s not a bad place for mercenaries to earn some money. Back in the days of Grasis, there were no support funds or anything, but ever since it collapsed, support funds for exterminating monsters are regularly provided…”

“Were you originally from Grasis?”

“Oh, no. I’m from another kingdom. I ended up here while looking for work. As you can see, the situation’s not great, though.”

He shrugged, gesturing to the ruined stall.

“Anyway, it’s good to earn money, but if you ever feel something’s wrong with your body, it’s better to come back quickly. I’ve seen too many people lose their lives by being greedy.”

“Hmm… Thanks for the advice. But I’m not here to make money.”

“Huh? Then why did you come to a place like this…?”



“I’m planning to go to the Demonic Race’s village.”

“…The Demonic Race’s village?”

The vendor, who had been casually conversing with Da-eun, scrunched his face.

With a clear expression of disgust, he spoke.

“You mean that ‘garbage dump’?”