Chapter 17

Emma's feet were heading towards a large park in the center of the town.

This park is a natural park and is quite extensive. Emma had come here before to collect insects.

When she heard the cat's meowing in her room, she never thought she would come this far, nor did she think she could.

Even when she made a big jump to avoid a drunk who tried to hassle her, a part of her mind recognized that it was strange. Still, the reason she didn't stop was because of the cat's meowing that continued to ring in her ears.

Putting everything else aside except for her main concern, even now, after the port had entered and recognized the reincarnation, Emma's nature couldn't be suppressed. Though she doesn't understand the mechanism, Emma and the port have become one personality without any sense of discomfort.

"Meow"

"Meow"

The cat is calling.

As she entered the park, she saw more people.

There were far more people than the drunk she encountered earlier.

"Where did it go!"

"Search, increase the lights!"

She ran past the men who were searching for something, their voices echoing around her. The men were dressed like the monster hunters who went with her father and brother, but the hunters in the Palis territory were more neatly dressed and didn't have the rough appearance of the men in the park.

They looked strong, but the hunters in the Palis territory were well-groomed.

Emma knew most of the faces of the hunters in the Palis territory, as she had been helped by them when collecting insects.

So, were these men bounty hunters from other territories? Or thugs?

She tried to pass by without getting involved.

"What the hell was that just now!"

The men behind her, who were surprised by Emma's sudden run, shouted.

"Was that a cat?"

"Did you find it!?"

"No, that was... a girl?"

"!? Way too fast!"

It seems the men were also looking for the cat.

Had they gathered here because they heard the cat's meowing from somewhere?

After all, a single cat is worth the price of a house.

... Emma twisted her neck while running.

Why are the men looking for the cat? It's right there.

Emma can clearly hear the cat's meowing. The cat is calling her. Why are they searching when it's so close? Even though she can't see it, she knows it's definitely there.

Just a little more.

Less than 100 meters to go.

Just as she was about to put more strength into her legs, something caught her foot.

She fell forward with a thud, still at full speed.

"Ow...!"

It seems a spider had released a web that cushioned her fall. She fell at top speed but was unharmed.

When she checked her caught foot, something was wrapped around it. Following the thing that was wrapped around it, she saw a bounty hunter's hand.

A whip?

The tip of the man's whip was wrapped around her foot.

"What are you doing!"

She shouted without thinking, but she should have run... Before she could untangle the whip from her foot, she was surrounded by countless men.

"Hey, little girl, running around at this hour of the night?"

The men gathered around her with unpleasant grins, leaving no room for escape.

"Ah... um..."

She often gets so focused that she doesn't notice her surroundings, leading to regret and reflection later, but this time it's no joke. She has a bad feeling, a sense of danger.

At least she wanted to help the spider, but when she put her hand to her head, the spider was gone. It might have fallen off from the impact of her fall.

"Nice head! She's a good catch, isn't she?"

"Her clothes are made of fine silk, too."

One of the men approached, trying to touch Emma's clothes.

"Don't touch me!"

She instinctively slapped the hand that reached out.

"Ouch! You little brat, you're getting too cocky!"

The man who was slapped got angry and raised his hand.

She closed her eyes and covered her head with her hands, bracing for the impact.

But nothing happened.

"?"

While still crouched, Emma heard a whistling sound slicing through the air, followed by a thud.

She heard the sounds, but felt no impact.

"Whoa!"

"What the—!"

The men's panicked voices reached her ears.

Whistling sound

Thud

Whistling sound

Thud

"Whoa!"

"Yikes!"

Whistling sound

Thud

Whistling sound

Thud

She cautiously raised her head...

Whistling sound

A man was sent flying...

Thud

He fell... with a thud.