I was able to rescue Piyo by outsmarting my opponent with the camera I had.
“Thank you for saving me.”
“No problem, I’m glad I could help.”
With Navis’s help, I managed to rescue Piyo. We immediately got into the carriage and left the party venue.
“Was it really alright? My joining you might lower your standing with Navis.”
“Hahaha, are you worried about me? Well, you might be right, but I got to see something interesting. This camera is quite amusing. I might get hooked on photography.”
He then took out a different camera than the one I had. When did he prepare that?
“I didn’t take the photo, but I’m excited to see what comes out.”
Perhaps his servant, Horsa, took it? He was controlling the carriage now, but he might be quite capable. By the time we reached the hotel, Piyo was fast asleep. I thanked Navis and returned to my room.
“Oh, welcome back. How did it go? Judging by your appearance, it seems to have gone well.”
And for some reason, Chamber was in the room. I wanted to tell him not to make himself at home in someone else’s room, but his help was also partly responsible for this success.
“Well, I managed to save our companion.”
“But what? Isn’t it happily ever after?”
As Piyo had said, she was saved. But this didn’t solve anything. It just meant another sacrifice would take her place. Even though I knew I couldn’t do anything about it, my heart ached.
“Anyway, get some rest today. Lady Nina, you must be tired too.”
“I have to thank you too. Thank you.”
“Ehhh, heh heh. Likewise~”
I kicked Chamber, who was grinning like an idiot, out of the room and put Piyo to bed. In the quiet room, my gaze met Nina’s.
“Haa, that’s that. But we’ve been thrown into a terrible place. What are we going to do from now on?”
“North. We’re heading north.”
I told Nina what I had heard at the library. She let out a deep sigh, as if to say, “I see.”
“That witch, knowing that, sent us in the opposite direction, didn’t she? Hey, aren’t you going to go back to the world you came from? Well, it’s too late to regret it now.”
Waving her hand dismissively, Nina went to take a shower. With these two companions found, and seemingly sent to relatively close locations. It seemed even a powerful witch couldn’t scatter them to opposite ends of the world. For now, I was very tired. I took off my clothes and lay down next to Piyo.
The next morning, I took a shower after waking up. Looking at my face in the mirror, I remembered that I had put on makeup. When I got out of the bath, Piyo was also awake.
“Piyo, are you alright?”
“Yes, thank you for saving me. Hiro, you were so cool, heh heh.”
Piyo smiled at me with her usual bright smile. Right, I should report to the Guard Corps that I’d found one of them. As I was getting ready to do so, I heard a knock on the door. It was Chamber, whom I had kicked out of the room the previous night.
“Yo, sorry to bother you so early. Navis wanted to see you. He seems to have a favor to ask.”
This is convenient. I can repay his kindness when I go to thank him. I visited Navis with Nina and Piyo.
“My, haven’t you dressed up today? A shame.”
“Thank you for yesterday. By the way, what is this favor you wanted to ask?”
“About that, there’s a valley a short distance from here. Merchants often pass through it, but there’s a nuisance there. We’d like you to take care of it if you don’t mind.”
“Leave it to us!” Nina happily accepted. I was also in favor of it. If I could help his business, I would do my best.
“So, what kind of guy is it? Have I seen them before?”
“Nothing special, just a stray, so to speak. We hire guards too, so we usually kill such guys without mercy. Knowing that, they generally don’t attack us either. But lately, for some reason, they’ve started to attack.”
Thugs and thieves are everywhere. Since he’s wealthy and hires guards, they must be strong. If they’re willing to risk their lives to steal, they should just work for daily wages, I think.
“They say there’s a skilled thief. Someone who steals things without hurting anyone. I believe it was a cat beastman.”
A cat-type? Cats are naturally athletic animals. This could be troublesome.
After accepting Navis’s request, I headed to the Guard Corps.
When I reported to Kyle that I had found one person, he greeted me with a bright smile. The other members also said, “Glad to hear it.” Among them, one familiar face sat imposingly at a desk in the back. How could he be so brazen as to sit there? I quietly approached him.
“Does the wound I gave you still hurt? Please be serious from now on.”
Glancing sideways, I heard him grinding his teeth in frustration.
