The two headed towards the settlement to seek help from the Kinnara tribe, to whom Yola had introduced them.
“Hello, um, is there something I can help you with?”
She timidly asked, clearly uneasy. They were armed, and Philiana, in particular, must have seemed intimidating. Centaurs wearing iron armor and carrying long swords were not a common sight around here.
“Sorry to bother you all of a sudden, but we have something we need to discuss with everyone. Can we speak with the person in charge here?”
The girl then led them to an old tent. In the back, an elderly man was squatting and weaving a basket. The woman next to him, knitting, was surely his wife.
“Excuse me, Chieftain. I’ve brought some people who wished to see you.”
A youth sitting to the side glared at them. He was likely wary of these unfamiliar visitors. The Chieftain paused his work and slowly raised his gaze.
“Well now, this is unusual. Ah, is it perhaps the explorers from that new town that recently opened nearby? What was it called… explorers, was it?”
“We are not explorers, but travelers. My name is Arisugawa Hiroaki, and this is Philiana. We apologize for our abruptness, but we need your help.”
The Chieftain nodded in agreement. His wife continued knitting as before. I explained the situation regarding the Centaurs living nearby.
“Haa, so that’s what happened. I had thought that with a new town opening, trade would become possible. I had heard that negotiations hadn’t gone well, which is unfortunate. However, there’s nothing we can do to help you.”
Just as Yola had said, the Kinnara did not seem to be a very warlike race. If they were, they would have already been attacked by the time they approached the settlement. It was then that Philiana, standing beside me, spoke up.
“Please, we beg you. If this continues, they will be forced to move their injured along with them. There are still people who haven’t been captured.”
“Eh, what did you say?! Move?! That’s a problem! No, no, why would they do something so reckless? If they leave, we won’t be able to make a living.”
The Chieftain sat up in surprise. In this vast wilderness, a decrease in connections meant a decrease in people who could help them.
“Hmm, could you give me a little time? I need to discuss this with everyone. Ah, travelers, you must be tired. Please, rest here.”
The Chieftain asked the young girl to show them to a place to rest and then instructed the youth beside him to gather people.
