Chapter 27

"An. Are you coming with me too?"

Holding the new gauntlet as if to test its feel, Karia said.

At the gate that separates the inside and outside of the city walls. In front of the still closed gate, Ralghd An shrugged his shoulders as if to say, "I didn't expect this."

"I don't have any combat skills, and I'm just a guide. I won't do anything more than that. Today, I plan to use my free time to visit other clients."

The small fingers of Ralghd An, who was holding a large barrel, pointed outward, indicating the area outside the city walls.

Outside the city walls. Although the gate was closed early in the morning and couldn't be confirmed, there was another town, or rather, a place where people lived. Only citizens who had obtained citizenship or merchants and adventurers with permission were allowed to live inside the city walls. Those without such status were not even allowed to step beyond the wall. However, people who had heard of the prosperity of Garuamaria and came in search of work with a glimmer of hope ended up living in the slums around the city walls. The poorest of the poor. The outcasts, whose existence was never acknowledged by the Grand Duke who ruled Garuamaria or by the citizens. Those who merely continued to live day by day. Thinking about their lives, my eyes narrowed, remembering my past.

However, the fact that Ralghd An has clients in the slums suggests that he is not a particularly peaceful person. Perhaps it should be inferred from the point that he was introduced by Nines.

Karia probably isn't particularly interested in the slums. After nodding lightly at Ralghd An's words, she seemed to be evaluating the gauntlet, saying, "It seems to be quite useful." I should mention that your purchase was the most expensive. I don't want to hear any complaints.

"What are you talking about? I understand that commoners dislike luxury, but not spending money on necessary things is no longer a virtue of moderation but a vice of stinginess. Lugis, you, the things you buy are of no use at all."

"Karia, what are you talking about? Replacing weapons, especially knives, is important. Chewing tobacco also has practical benefits beyond being a luxury. And, well, adhesive, for example, can be useful when camping."

As I showed off my purchases as if boasting, Karia shrugged her shoulders as if to say, "What a pain."

I wonder, I really can't understand. Why can this guy act as if he is the one with common sense?

――Gooon... Gooon... Goooon

While we were having this conversation, the bell announcing the morning began to ring around us. At the same time, the guards started to open the large gate.

A large number of people began to move between the inside and outside of the city, and a clear voice hit our ears.

"―Not that I've been waiting. The second bell hasn't even rung yet."

Saying this, a woman in a red-black coat raised her hand. It was Fiaraht La Borgograd, the mage herself. The pattern on her coat contrasted well with her black hair and eyes. Her slightly heavy equipment looked like she was ready for a journey.

Next to her, Helt Stanley appeared, his blonde hair swaying as he slowly followed behind. His appearance also suggested he was ready for a journey, with equipment that wouldn't hinder movement and a sword at his waist.

"We are fully prepared. I swear I won't be a burden."

Gooon... Goooon... As the sound of the bell rang, four heads gathered at the gate.

*

"―Wait a minute. I don't know the norms of requests, but isn't it too heavy to include a vow in the conditions? It's not balanced."

At Helt Stanley's words, the atmosphere in the room suddenly turned cold and silent.

Ah, I knew it. I knew it. I knew you would jump on this kind of talk. I knew it all too well.

A vow. A word used by mages when making important contracts with higher beings, the principles of the world, or similar entities. It is undoubtedly a vow, a chain that binds the mage, and sometimes a potent drug that can even change their way of life.

Therefore, my previous statement was not wrong. In fact, I have never heard of a mage making a vow for a single request. However, in a contract, precedent is not particularly important. Moreover, he is not even my client. No matter how unbalanced the deal, if the client nods, it becomes a legitimate transaction.

Indeed, in this world, there are those who sell their dignity for a piece of bread, and those who sell their bodies for a few coins. A balanced transaction might be rare.

"Helt Stanley, I'm not making a deal with you. I wish you would refrain from butting in. Besides, I'm taking risks too, you know?"

Pointing at his sharp face, I narrowed my eyes and responded.

Guarding a mage is something no one wants to do. They always prefer illusions, deviate from humanity, and deal with demons. At least, that's how adventurers generally see them.

Therefore, even if they offer a lot of money, no one here would nod. The oddballs or specialists who would nod are in the Mage Guild.

Yes, if a mage makes a request, they go to a dedicated guild, not a simple merchant guild. Even if you don't know how to make a request, you should know that much. Yet, Fiaraht La Borgograd did not take that route.

"You guys must have your reasons. After all, there are quite a few mage-specific guilds in this city. Just being here already makes you suspicious."

This is undoubtedly their weakness. If I can exploit this, they will have to accept even an unbalanced deal. They will have no choice but to accept it. She must be aware of this.

Helt Stanley's cheek twitched for a moment. Is his interest still lacking? His resolve is truly remarkable. Ah, but it's too late, Savior.

"―You be quiet, Stanley. As he said, this is a request where both parties take risks. I have to take risks too, or the scales won't balance."

Fiaraht's words, filled with a resolve that would not waver, made it clear that even Helt Stanley had no choice but to comply. In this transaction, she is the master, and he is the subordinate.

Given his character, I know exactly what he will say next. Unfortunately. It makes me want to vomit.

"Then―if that's the case, please allow me to accompany you. I can't just butt in and then pretend I don't know anything. At the very least, it's not the behavior of a gentleman with dignity."

The words slipped out of my lips involuntarily. I understood, if I set this condition, you would offer to accompany us. Whether for good or ill. That's you, Helt Stanley. That's you, the savior.

Ah, what a hateful thing, this is the worst.

*

The journey to the cape takes a day by carriage. Naturally, few people go to such a place, and there are no shared carriages. Therefore, it will be a grand journey in a hired carriage. I don't have many good memories of carriages, but if I can ride for free, it's not bad.

The four of us in the carriage were not cramped, but we were close enough to see each other's faces. It was not a particularly talkative journey; we just listened to the sound of hooves and wheels.

It might seem like a pleasant, peaceful journey without any quarrels, just letting ourselves be carried by the sounds of nature.

―But for me, it felt like a burning fire was rising from the depths of my stomach, not just my stomach, but my lungs, and indeed from the depths of all my organs.

Yes. Everything is not in place. But look at the people here. Karia Bardnick. Fiaraht La Borgograd. Helt Stanley. And me.

Ah, ah. I can't help but remember. You don't know, but I remember.

The sound of hooves hitting the ground, the sound of wheels turning smoothly, continued to echo around us.