Chapter 45

After parting ways with Karia and moving to the slums, some time had passed.

Why did we choose to move to the slums? It was because this place was the best vantage point to observe the situation in Garu Amaria and to investigate the movements of the Emblem Cultists.

The Emblem Cultists are trying to use the power of the residents here to seize Garu Amaria.

But it's not going well. Of course not. People who have been living in poverty, their spirits worn down, have no will to reach for grand schemes.

I know this well, having experienced it firsthand. I wish I didn't know.

But because of this, Ralghd An agreed to my living here. Even if the possibility of building a cooperative relationship is slim, maintaining a connection with the slum residents isn't a bad choice. For me and the Emblem Cultists, moving to the slums was a convenient arrangement.

Of course, that's for me and the Emblem Cultists. It doesn't necessarily apply to everyone.

Especially for someone like Fiarrat La Borgograd, who insisted on coming with me, it was a very inconvenient situation.

"Hey, Lougis... What happened to the lady?"

"She's still sleeping. She says the nights are too noisy for her to sleep. What a delicate flower."

Wood, a slum resident with a massive build, dealt the gambling cards in a ramshackle tavern, his voice slow and steady.

Indeed, for me, this place is the best among the current options. After all, I grew up in less than ideal conditions. Whether bugs come out, the bed is hard, or the voices of prostitutes seep in at night, I can still sleep.

But Fiarrat, who is called "lady" by Wood, is different. I didn't expect her to leave the academy dormitory and move here, but even with her enthusiasm, the drastic change in environment is hard to bear.

It's been some time since we moved here, but she still looks sleepy during the day.

"Hey, Pig. Looks like the goddess of luck has abandoned you."

"Sorry, Lougis. Two pairs."

Wood, with a body twice my size, opened his cards with a relaxed tone. His smile is unusually gentle for a slum resident, a trait that is both a blessing and a curse for living here.

The slums are filled with people with glaring eyes and hungry mouths, all struggling to survive each day.

When I offered to buy him a drink as the stakes, Wood grinned and downed it in one gulp.

But sometimes, a bit of leisure is good. Ah, it's peaceful. Truly peaceful. This peace is possible thanks to the funds we receive from the Emblem Cultists through Ralghd An.

—Thud, Thump, Bang

A slight scream and the sound of floorboards creaking came from the second-floor bedroom.

It seems she's finally awake. This happens every time. Wood looked at me with a questioning gaze, but I responded with a heavy sigh.

"Lougis... Didn't I tell you to wake me up when you got up?"

Fiarrat, who had just come downstairs after tidying up, said this with a distinctly unhappy tone.

"I tried, princess. She just wouldn't wake up."

This exchange has happened how many times now? It feels like we've repeated it endlessly. Fiarrat, it seems, is a terrible morning person. I didn't notice this during our travels, but this is her true nature.

She had finally tied her black hair, but her lips were pouting, and she seemed to be harboring some dissatisfaction. Sitting down on a nearby chair, she started speaking.

"For one thing, you're the one who asked me to come. At the very least, couldn't you wait until morning to wake me up!? I feel like I'm being neglected!"

She gnawed on a piece of bread for breakfast, complaining about its hardness, and shouted in my ear.

Don't be so picky. Here, even this is a luxury.

Without Ralghd An, Fiarrat probably wouldn't have been able to live here at all. Not just the bed, but the food is entirely different. Getting a piece of bread every day is a luxury in the slums.

"Sure, I'd love to wait if I could. But with a beautiful lady sleeping next to me, the devil might whisper in my ear, you know."

I shrugged dramatically, put a chew of tobacco in my mouth, and drew a new card.

Whether she was dissatisfied with my words or not, Fiarrat fell silent and began to eat the unfamiliar, hard bread slowly.

Watching her, I couldn't help but think of a squirrel or some small animal eating. If she were quiet, she might even be cute. But her voice always reminds me of our past travels.

"But... Lougis, I've never seen a foreigner before, but you're just like us, aren't you?"

Wood drew a card, raising an eyebrow. His large nose twitched, indicating he had a good hand.

"Well, despite everything, this area has connections with the Eastern Borvart Dynasty through trade and such. Bloodlines mix, and we're all human. The elves, who live in the forests, are quite different, though."

I scratched my chin, sniffed the tobacco, and spoke without showing any emotion.

"Huh? Lougis, you've interacted with elves?"

Fiarrat perked up, her ears twitching with interest. Wood, while focused on his cards, opened his thick lips and changed his tone.

"Elves, those forest dwellers, they eat lost travelers, right? Scary stuff."

That's not true.

Of course, I know that such prejudices and misunderstandings about elves are common. Wood's are extreme, but they exist.

Elves. Forest dwellers. Those who serve the spirits.

They have various names, but in general, they have little direct interaction with humans, leading to many prejudices and misunderstandings.

In fact, until I saw them with my own eyes, I thought elves were green-skinned creatures that attacked in groups from the treetops.

But in reality, they are... how to describe it? They are said to be created directly by the spirits, and they possess a beauty that is almost sculptural.

I don't want to recall it, but the princess who accompanied me on the journey to save the world was also an elf. Her beauty was so striking that it was clear she was not human. Seeing her for the first time, one might gasp in awe, and a priest might kneel and thank the gods for the encounter.

After the elves are gone, no matter how beautifully their appearance is described, no one will believe it. It's something that can only be understood by seeing it.

"Sure... just a glimpse in the past. They're not a pleasant bunch. I'd rather not have to deal with them at all—Wood, let's call it a draw. The prize is wine and cheese, how about it?"

Beauty is one thing, but their personalities are another. I don't want to talk about it. They are just as full of prejudices and discrimination as we are, and their values are vastly different from ours. I don't think I could get along with them. The savior, however, managed to do so quite well.

Fiarrat's face clouded, realizing it wasn't what she expected, and Wood hesitated for a moment before nodding to the draw. We both had good hands, so it made sense to call it a draw.

Fiarrat had finally finished half of her bread. Wood and I opened our cards. At that moment, a piercing sound hit our ears from a distance.

—Woooon

It was the sound of a horn. Despite its cracked tone, it was clear and familiar. This sound is used by Wood's sister, Cereal, to gather people in the slums.

"Damn, it's a bad day. The gods must have known the result before we even looked at our cards."

I opened my cards to reveal a full house. Wood had a flush. As I ordered the wine and cheese, I jingled the knife at my waist and stood up, drawn by the horn.

"L-Lougis..."

Wood, the winner of the bet, remained seated, his face pale with fear. His large body trembled. He knew what the horn meant.

But he was trying to stand, perhaps out of stubbornness or a sense of responsibility. His large nose quivered, and his breathing was heavy.

"Don't worry, Wood. It's probably just some low-level guards showing off in the slums. We don't need more than one or two to deal with exhibitionists."

I smiled lightly and looked into Wood's eyes. Wood's gaze was a mix of relief and guilt. I sighed inwardly, wondering how he had managed to survive this long.

I then told Fiarrat to continue her breakfast, but my words were immediately cut off.

"Why not? I don't like it. You're the one who said it, not me. I'm a partner, and I wish you would take my hand. What's the point of not coming with me?"

She spoke with a voice full of confidence, as if she genuinely believed she was being reasonable and couldn't understand why I wasn't.

I sighed inwardly and tried to reason with her.

"Your hair is too noticeable. If the guards are here, someone might recognize you."

That's right. This city-state is a center of trade, but Fiarrat's black hair and eyes are too conspicuous.

If the guards recognize her and report it, it could cause trouble.

After all, while she came to the slums of her own accord, there are rumors in the city about her being kidnapped and other such things. If she's seen here, it could be used against us.

Fiarrat, of course, understands this. But her sharp mind has led her to this conclusion.

"—So, Lougis, you don't need me, do you? Then, I'll go back as you wish. Maybe I'll stop by the guard station first."

She smiled brightly and looked at me, her eyes clear.

A heavy sigh threatened to escape my throat, but I forced it back.

It's a threat. In the world, it's called blackmail. Fiarrat.

"…Get your hood. At least try to be less noticeable."

She put the half-eaten bread on the plate and went upstairs to get her hood. Watching her unusually cheerful back, I narrowed my eyes.

I waved off Wood's worried gaze and let out a suppressed sigh.