At this moment, around a corner of the square, a dozen or so people had gathered in scattered groups.
Some of them were Knights, while others were adventurers. One side wore standardized armor and carried standardized swords, while the other had their own assorted gear, making the difference immediately obvious.
They had gathered around several carriages. Among them was one whose compartment was fitted with iron bars like a cage, clearly intended for transporting prisoners.
By the time Shien arrived, everyone in Vivian's Squad was already there. Vivian was speaking with the captain of another adventurer squad and several members of the Knights. Tier leaned coldly against a carriage with her arms folded, while Lumya and Merika stood beside her, speaking softly and looking rather reserved.
That was probably because the adventurers and knights in the square kept stealing glances in their direction. Even the patrolling knights and soldiers occasionally looked over at them in secret, making them feel uneasy.
"Considering this place is full of old men who spend all day sweating under the blazing sun for training and work, tossing a few sweet little girls in here would turn this into the plot of some sketchy manga in minutes if things got any less proper."
Shien could not help but make that remark before stepping forward and joining them.
Of course, Shien did not join the group of old men. He joined the gathered adventurer squads and Knights instead, immediately drawing quite a few eyes.
"You're here?"
Vivian, who had been speaking with someone, noticed Shien and smiled at him.
It was not just Vivian. Tier, Lumya, and Merika all reacted to Shien's arrival. One raised her head to look at him, while the other two hesitated over whether they should approach him. Even so, it told everyone