Chapter 6

"Something... It seems like it's always battles here, Kanata..."

"Yeah..."

The day after Guriare gave them a task, Kanata set out for town to look for a new sleeping bag.

Although they had returned to town, it seemed that they would immediately be thrown into battle by the lord's orders.

While it was a good time to earn money as battlefield scavengers, and they had to do it to survive, there was still fear.

Loa, walking beside Kanata with her head down, was especially beginning to feel weary of this seemingly endless battle.

"Clear the way! The lord is passing through!!"

At the sound of voices from the main street, Kanata and Loa turned their gaze.

Cutting through a side alley, they emerged onto the bustling main street, where a plump man, dressed in luxurious clothes that were clearly expensive, was riding a horse and strolling leisurely, surrounded by knights.

The main street, which had been lively, was now bustling in a different way as the residents made way for the lord and his knights.

"Everyone, rest assured! I, Danres, will go out myself to put an end to this futile war!"

While waving to the townspeople from atop his horse, it was clear to Kanata that the lord was not being welcomed.

Though it appeared that the townspeople were welcoming the lord, whispers of criticism could be heard.

"The lord... He's a noble. Our current employer, Viscount Danres Jaros."

"Really?"

"Yeah, there were rumors that he would soon go to the front lines... It seems they were true."

Kanata and Loa watched Danres and his knights slowly walking down the main street from the gaps in the crowd.

"Without even riding in a carriage, he makes such a grand entrance... He's trying to show that he's going to the battlefield... Even though he'll just loaf around in the rear..."

Loa clicked her tongue at the sight of Danres, who was waving to the crowd with a forced smile.

"How do you know that?"

"Because the townspeople are unhappy with the prolonged war, the lord is trying to show that he's taking action... Since the war was initiated by this lord, and it has dragged on, affecting logistics and stability... It's no wonder they're angry at the lord."

"Wow... Loa, you're so knowledgeable..."

"Well, Viscount Danres is a fairly strong magician, so no one dares to say anything to his face..."

"Really?"

"Are you interested in that? Look, he has a staff at his waist."

Loa pointed, exasperated. At Danres' waist, a sword and a short staff were sheathed. The staff, adorned with gems, reflected the sunlight and was dazzlingly bright.

"That staff is a magical artifact that only those who have graduated from the magic academy possess... Guriare told me that."

"Wow... It's indeed luxurious."

"Usually, it's kept as a memento, but that pig probably carries it to show off his magical prowess... It's a warning to the discontented townspeople to keep them from causing trouble... Ugh, what a pain."

While they were talking, a hand was placed on Kanata and Loa's shoulders.

Startled, Loa trembled, perhaps because they had been criticizing the lord.

"Who's there? Who's badmouthing our employer?"

"O-Oh, Captain..."

"I was scared..."

The person who had tapped their shoulders was Uval, the captain, who smelled of alcohol from the morning. His unshaven face, marked with old scars, peered at them, and Loa looked down guiltily.

"Hey, kid... What will you do if the employer hears you? Don't you realize we're getting paid by him?"

"S-Sorry..."

"We make a living by taking jobs from people like him... Don't talk about it where you might be overheard."

"Y-Yes... Sorry..."

Loa, who trembled and avoided Uval's gaze as he quietly lectured her, was an orphan who had been taken in by the mercenary group out of kindness. If Uval, the leader of the mercenary group, lost faith in her, she would be left homeless.

Loa closed her eyes tightly, fearing she might be kicked out.

"Loa was just explaining things to me."

"Huh?"

"K-Kanata..."

"I was the one asking questions, Captain."

Kanata stood beside Loa, looking straight into Uval's eyes.

"Hmm... I see..."

Uval looked at Kanata with interest. By the time he finished observing, the lord Danres and his knights had passed through the main street.

The main street gradually returned to its usual state, but the three of them remained there.

"Then will you take the punishment?"

"Sure, I don't mind."

"Maybe you could hand over the next magic residue you find?"

Kanata froze at Uval's suggestion.

The only hobby and enjoyment for Kanata, a battlefield scavenger, was suddenly on the line.

"U... U... U... Umm... Okay...!"

"You hesitated quite a bit, despite trying to protect her."

Kanata nodded awkwardly, as if resisting something invisible, which seemed to amuse Uval greatly. He burst into laughter, and some of the townspeople glanced their way, but it was a common enough occurrence for no one to pay much attention.

"Damn, I almost thought you were growing up... But it'll be a while before you become a man."

"I am a man, though?"

"That's not what I meant. Well, I'll go easy on you this time because of your spirit."

"So, the magic residue is okay...?"

"As I said before, I don't need that trash even if you offer it."

With that, Uval removed his hands from their shoulders.

Loa, who had been trembling, seemed relieved and patted her chest.

"Good payers are a must... If you can't help it, do it where no one can hear you."

"Okay..."

"Okay."

With that, Uval headed back to the tavern, apparently still in the mood to drink.

"Hey, Captain. You're a magic swordsman, but you can't use magic, right?"

"Huh? Of course not. Magic is for those who studied it. Do I look like I have that kind of education?"

"Then why can you use mana?"

"Why are you asking that all of a sudden... Are you trying to become a magic swordsman?"

Kanata was about to say "No," but he remembered Guriare's words.

—Make sure Uval doesn't find out.

According to Guriare, Uval hated magicians. If he said "No," he might have to explain his own magic, which he didn't want to do.

Kanata suppressed his voice and nodded awkwardly again.

"From a battlefield scavenger to a mercenary... What a dreamless goal..."

"Captain!"

Uval muttered sadly and turned away from Kanata.

"I had a role model. Knowing the right answer and training accordingly makes it faster... Well, I was a genius, so just seeing was enough."

With that, Uval entered the tavern.

As they watched him go, Loa tugged at Kanata's sleeve.

"Sorry, Kanata... It's my fault you're getting punished..."

"It's okay, I don't really dislike Captain."

Many of the battlefield scavenger children disliked or feared Uval because of his appearance, but Kanata didn't mind.

Being harassed when Uval was drunk was a minor inconvenience.

"...The right answer...?"

Kanata muttered Uval's advice and had a realization.

"Right!"

"What? W-What is it?"

This time, Loa was surprised as Kanata grabbed her shoulders.

"Right! That's it! But will I get in trouble...? But I think I can do it..."

"Are you going to do something that will get you in more trouble on top of taking my punishment?"

Kanata couldn't suppress his smile as he looked at the puzzled Loa.

How to sense mana. Uval's offhand advice was indeed a hint.

"...I'll do it secretly."

"Wow... You can look so devious..."

"Captain said to do it where no one can see, right...!"