Chapter 89

"Thank you for your hospitality."

Kain said his thanks with a lively voice to the people seeing him off. The people from the Geretta family, who had taken care of him yesterday, were there to see him off.

"Did you entrust the letter? Still, are you sure you don't need a carriage to send you?"

In response to Santos' question, Kain nodded.

"I'm moving as an adventurer, so it's faster to go alone. I'll definitely deliver the letter to my parents."

Kain put the letter addressed to Galm and Sara in his pocket, bowed one last time, and said, "Next time, I'll come with my family," before turning and starting to walk.

Since he had come to the mansion by carriage, he hadn't had the leisure to look around the town, but by walking alone, he could see that the town was thriving. People were bustling about from morning, and there were many street stalls.

"What a nice town... I should bring Mother and Reine next time."

Kain muttered to himself as he walked through the streets toward the gate. After passing through the gate, he began walking down the road toward Marbique. Once he confirmed that there was no one around, he took off into the air. Kain flew at a height of several dozen meters above the ground, following the road.

As he got closer to the Marbique territory, more carriages with guards began to pass by. Finally, the capital of the Marbique territory came into view.

The capital of the Marbique territory is located in a place surrounded by mountains. The back of the city is surrounded by mountains, and smoke could be seen rising from various places.

"Could it be... a hot spring?"

Kain, who had the memories of his previous life and was originally Japanese, loved baths more than most people and was particularly fond of hot springs. He landed a little distance away and started walking toward the territory gate, hoping he might be able to enjoy a hot spring.

At the gate, the guards were inspecting the cargo and allowing passage after obtaining permission. Kain joined the line at the end and gradually moved forward.

"Next! I don't recognize you. Are you an adventurer with that outfit?"

It was Kain's turn, and the guard looked him over and asked.

"Yes, I'm an adventurer. I came to this town alone because I wanted to see it."

Kain showed his guild card from his pocket. The guard was surprised to see the A-rank card, which shone with a golden light.

"To be A-rank at your age... Your luggage is... just that? Alright, you can pass."

With the guard's permission, Kain passed through the gate.

The town, despite being a duchy, wasn't that large. However, as he walked through the town, he saw buildings that looked like hot spring inns. In front of the inns, many people were trying to attract customers.

"Customer! Our hot spring is the best! Please come in!"

"Ours has even better hot springs!"

Kain pushed through the crowd of people trying to attract customers and continued to walk through the town, looking around.

"There are so many hot spring inns, I don't know which one to choose..."

He had already passed more than twenty inns on the streets he had walked.

"Hmm. I don't know which one to choose. Oh, I should ask at the guild."

Thinking that the best way to find out about the inns in this town was to ask the locals, Kain asked a passerby for the location of the guild and hurried over.

The guild was located in the central area of the town, with a building that had a sign of a sword and shield. Although it wasn't as large as the adventurer town of Drinthal, it was still a grand building.

Kain opened both doors and entered. For a moment, the adventurers inside focused their gaze on him, but once they realized he was a child, they quickly lost interest.

He stood in front of an available receptionist and spoke.

"Excuse me. I just arrived in this town today. Could you recommend a good hot spring inn?"

The receptionist, who had thought Kain was there for a quest, smiled when she realized he was asking about inns.

"Hot spring inns, you say... The inns we can recommend vary depending on the adventurer's rank."

"I'm registered. I'll show you my adventurer card—"

"Get out of the way, kid! Iron for a bath? That's luxury! If you want a bath, ask the people doing the street promotions!"

Just as Kain was about to show his card, a rough voice came from behind. Sighing, he turned around to see a large, warrior-like man with a slightly red face, apparently drunk.

"…You should leave now."

The receptionist behind him spoke, but Kain, with a blank expression, replied to the man.

"I'm in the middle of asking, so could you not interfere? I'll leave as soon as I'm done."

Kain, showing no concern, turned back to the receptionist. The man's face, already red from drinking, turned even redder as he became angry.

"You little brat!"

The moment the man raised his hand, Kain instantly turned, swept the man's feet, and thrust a straight punch in front of the fallen man's face.

"Are you going to continue...?"

Kain's words left the adventurer, who didn't understand how he had fallen, stunned. The other adventurers, who had been watching out of curiosity, were also taken aback.

Kain then took out his guild card and placed it on the counter. The boy in front of them looked like a child, but the card he presented was golden and shining.

"W-What, A-rank!? I apologize."

The receptionist, clearly surprised, her voice echoed throughout the hall, which had fallen silent. The adventurer who had confronted Kain and the onlookers were equally shocked.

Kain sighed, realizing his A-rank status had been revealed. While listening to the whispers of the surrounding adventurers, he spoke to the receptionist.

"It's fine if the price is a bit higher. I want a place with good baths and food."

"Y-Yes! Please wait a moment. I'll bring you the information right away."

The receptionist, who had suddenly become cold, hurriedly got up and fetched the information.

She quickly prepared the materials and began explaining.

"For an A-rank adventurer, I recommend this inn... It has an outdoor bath and the food is highly rated. You should get a discount if you show your guild card."

"Okay, that's fine."

Kain, feeling the gazes of those around him, took the map and quickly left the guild.

"Why do drunk people always pick on kids..."

The recommended inn was a bit away from the guild, and he walked through the town, looking around.

Just before the recommended inn, Kain turned into an alley.

This was because a few people were following him from behind.

When the pursuers entered the alley, Kain turned and smiled at them.

"Do you have something to say?"

The adventurers, who were not surprised and were greeted with a smile, stopped and drew their swords. There were five of them, including the warrior who had fallen earlier.

"You're A-rank, a kid? Don't make me laugh. Did you cheat or take it from someone? And you made me look bad earlier, didn't you?"

"This kid must have a lot of money if he's trying to stay at a good inn. Hand it over quickly. Then I'll let you off with just a beating."

The five men approached, grinning.

Kain, driven by the desire to quickly get to the hot spring, decided to settle things quickly. The opponents had already drawn their swords and had no intention of holding back.

In an instant, Kain entered one of the men's guard and punched him in the stomach. With his overwhelming stats, Kain could move at a speed that ordinary people couldn't see.

"Ugh!"

One man was punched by Kain and flew out to the main street.

The sudden appearance of a person from the alley caused a commotion on the main street.

"Next!"

Kain said and delivered a roundhouse kick to the next man.

"Ugh!"

Kain threw the men who had confronted him at the guild, one after another, onto the main street.

"Only you are left..."

The man, trembling at Kain's overwhelming strength, swung his sword at Kain's head.

Just as he thought the sword would reach Kain's head, Kain stopped it with his index and middle fingers.

"Can you do anything with that?"

With those words, the man dropped his sword and stumbled backward, sitting on the ground.

"M-Monster..."

"Calling a kid a monster... That's pretty bad, isn't it?"

Kain kicked the man's face, which was at the perfect height because he was sitting on the ground. The man was then thrown out to the main street.

"Really. I was looking forward to the hot spring..."

Kain muttered and returned to the main street.

Just as he was about to head to the inn after leaving the alley, he was called out.

"You there! Did you do this to these people?"

Kain turned to see a guard approaching.

"These guys followed me from the guild and demanded money, and one of them even tried to attack me with a sword. It was self-defense. Please ask them for the details."

Kain, driven by the desire to quickly get to the hot spring, explained in one breath and tried to head to the inn when more reinforcements arrived.

This time, it wasn't guards but five knights. One of them, wearing elaborate armor, stepped forward. He was a young man, just an adult, with short, light purple hair.

After hearing the situation from the guard, he approached Kain.

"I am Delita von Santana. Regardless of the circumstances, assault in this town is not allowed. Please come with me."

Kain could have escaped, but the mention of "Santana" made him nod obediently.

(He must be Silk's family...)

Delita was satisfied with Kain's compliant response.

"Yes. I appreciate that. Hey, carry those guys who are lying there! Take them with us."

Under Delita's command, the guards carried the unconscious adventurers.

"Please come with us. We won't treat you badly, but you'll need to walk with guards on either side."

Knights stood on either side of Kain, and they walked under Delita's lead.

(I wonder if I can still go to the hot spring...)

Kain's mind was already focused on the hot spring.

A few hours later, Kain was in a cell.

Thank you as always.