Chapter 72

The path from the simple gate to what seemed to be the village chief's house was a gentle downhill slope.

The village of Donolbo was situated along a coast scattered with rocks of various sizes, and the village's pier, which was built on a gentle slope, was paved with small rocks, allowing wooden fishing boats to be pushed out to sea from there.

Midway down the slope to the pier, the village chief's house, which was a bit larger than the other houses, was situated, overlapping with several other houses.

The walls of the house, which seemed to be made using the surrounding stones, were uneven and sturdy, but like the other houses, including the village chief's, they were damaged in places.

Zangin found a group of people in front of the village chief's house and felt dizzy and nauseous, stopping to look down from a little distance away.

In front of the village chief's house, a group of the "Moon Goddess's Attendants" wearing deep green robes and leather armor, as well as Akikawa, who looked somewhat dejected with eyes like a calf being sold, and the female knight who was his overseer, were present.

Of course, the dizziness and nausea were just in his head.

However, Zangin seriously considered going to another village, but when he saw Azurona's single eye, full of hope as she gazed at the sea, he felt it would be a pity to turn his back on the sea here.

He also had a few things he wanted to do.

He hadn't done anything wrong, and he didn't feel guilty or inferior towards them.

He could also check if Akikawa had told the female knight any secrets.

Zangin, looking gloomily at the group, organized his thoughts.

If Akikawa hadn't revealed any secrets and Fanfu wasn't there, he would operate here.

If Akikawa had revealed secrets or if Fanfu was there, he would immediately retreat.

That would be the line.

All he had to do was avoid contact as much as possible.

Zangin decided to wait for everyone to leave the village chief's house.

To pass the time, he tried to tie his snow-white tail in a knot, but when he had tied it once, he was hit by a punch-like blow from the angry snow-white, who was annoyed by the tail knot.

Thinking that the trouble would be less if he waited for everyone to leave, Zangin sighed.

The Moon Goddess's Attendants and Akikawa were heading this way.

There was only a gate here.

Zangin had thought that if they had just arrived in the village, they might turn back, but he decided to go to the village chief's house with Azurona on the back of the snow-white, thinking it couldn't be helped.

Since contact was inevitable anyway.

Akikawa was the first to notice Zangin's presence.

He bowed his head in a Japanese-like manner.

Zangin was about to bow as well but held back.

A single gesture could reveal him. Since the female knight, who likely knew the summoner, was there, he didn't need to be overly cautious.

The female knight noticed Akikawa's action, and by the time they passed each other, all of the Moon Goddess's Attendants, including Agasa, had noticed Zangin's presence.

Fanfu was not among them.

The female knight stopped in front of Zangin.

Since the path was not very wide, the group behind her inevitably stopped as well.

Akikawa looked apologetic.

It seemed more like he was apologetic for the actions of this air-headed woman rather than for revealing any secrets.

The female knight, showing no fear of the snow-white behind Zangin, spoke.

"--- I apologize for the other day, I am Vanis Garland. Are you here as a hunter as well?"

Her tone was nothing but resolute.

"Kurando. Sort of."

The female knight, showing no sign of being offended by Zangin's short answer, smiled for some reason.

"Is that so? Then would you like to join us in fighting the pirates?"

Zangin was momentarily speechless.

Perhaps because it was so sudden and so carefree, he didn't feel any resistance.

Her short, messy blonde hair, which seemed to be in the way of her helmet, was even more roughly tied up.

She was a head taller than Zangin, with a sturdy build that was not at all slim, but with ample curves, and her face, though severe, could be described as beautiful.

The longsword on her back, the silver light armor, and the kite shield with no emblem but clearly made as a set, made her look like a knight straight out of a story.

Zangin was distracted by her words and appearance for a few seconds, but when he saw Akikawa behind her, he smiled wryly.

Akikawa was bowing his head repeatedly, looking apologetic.

Zangin almost felt as if he were in Japan.

"I get seasick badly. It's beyond me. If there are any small requests, I'll take care of them here."

At this answer, several of the Moon Goddess's Attendants behind Vanis, who had heard Zangin's response, laughed through their noses.

There was no friendly look towards Zangin, who was in conflict with Agasa over Fanfu, and with this answer, even more of them looked down on him.

To them, Zangin was a cold-hearted person who had tried to kill a girl they were supposed to protect, so this reaction was not strange, but it was not a pleasant feeling for Zangin. To be honest, it was unpleasant.

But Vanis, not noticing such a reaction, invited Zangin.

"I'm here, and so are the Moon Goddess's Attendants. I don't think you have much to worry about."

It seemed that she was implying that Akikawa's name would not be mentioned.

"I don't want to get shot in the back."

Vanis, about to scold Zangin for his careless words, was pulled by the arm by Akikawa behind her and said no more.

Zangin, silently, tried to pass by.

"You're despicable and cowardly. There's no point in shooting your back."

As they passed, a tall woman with white eagle wings said this.

Zangin didn't dislike tall women, but at this moment, her imposing height was annoying.

"You don't even introduce yourself.

Well, I admit I'm a coward. But I think the one who interfered with a duel is despicable. Besides, don't bring up something that's over. Can you take responsibility for it?"

Zangin said this and headed straight for the village chief's house.

The white eagle bird person seemed to want to say something more, but when the snow-white, who had Azurona on her back, stopped and glared at her, she shut her mouth with a look of disgust.

Vanis, the female knight, seemed to have no intention of revealing Akikawa's true identity or getting overly familiar with him, and she appeared to be forced to accompany the pirates and was being bossed around by Vanis.

At this distance, Zangin had nothing to say.

Moreover, Fanfu was not there.

There was no obstacle to Zangin's activities in Donolbo.

He could ignore the Moon Goddess's Attendants. There was no need to get involved with them.

However, there was something that bothered him.

The villagers' eyes on the snow-white and Az