Not Taking the Usual Route

"So this is the 'somewhere else' you were talking about?"

Shane crouched behind a tree, unable to hold back a complaint.

Frieren crouched beside him in silence.

Two hours earlier, they had reached the gates of Gostan City, only to be stopped outside because they had no identification.

The city was in a sensitive period after being attacked by an unknown force. Even with the merchant uncle offering to vouch for them and even offering to pay a security deposit, the guards at the gate still refused to let them in.

"What a responsible soldier."

Frieren had even given the guard her highest praise at the time.

Then she'd turned around and snuck him over to the foot of the city wall...

The moon hung high in the western sky.

It was quiet outside the city.

The red glow from a row of torches on the battlements moved slowly by, stretching the patrolmen's shadows long across the ground.

After taking a quick look, Frieren said in a low voice, "Once they pass, we'll run to the foot of the wall. You can swim, right?"

"I can, but..."

Shane felt he had to say something. This plan was far too childish. If the guards caught them, it would surely lead to a serious misunderstanding. But before he could think of how to put it, Frieren had already gotten up and run ahead.

"Huh?"

With no other choice, he followed.

Between them and the foot of the wall lay a moat several dozen meters wide. It wasn't very deep, but it was spring, and the water was bitterly cold at night.

Shane tentatively dipped one foot in. A shiver ran through him at once.

Frieren didn't wait for him.

The elf girl raised her staff and stepped gracefully across the water, jogging all the way to the other side without even wetting her skirt.

Shane stared, dumbfounded.

As expected of a noble mage. Even sneaking around, she managed to look elegant.

After silently grumbling to himself, Shane resigned himself to sinking into the water and swimming slowly forward.

Frieren glanced at the speed of the torchlight moving along the wall, then turned to urge him on. "Hurry up."

At last, Shane managed to climb ashore before the patrol returned.

He stood shivering beneath the wall with his arms wrapped around himself and his back pressed to the stone. He tried to keep his teeth from chattering as he waited quietly for the soldiers to pass.

Swish.

Once she was sure it was safe, Frieren waved her staff. Clothes-Drying Magic landed on Shane, and a wave of warmth swept through his body. His soaked clothes were instantly dry again.

Shane felt alive again.

Then, just as before, Frieren grabbed him by the scruff of the neck and used Flight Magic to carry him into the air. The two of them quickly flew over the city wall.

They landed safely in the inner city just as the patrol turned back, the red torchlight sweeping past once more.

Their timing had been impeccable.

Just as Shane let out a sigh of relief, Frieren suddenly took a step back.

"Uh-oh."

After dropping that brief remark, the girl turned and ran.

??

Shane's face was full of question marks.

By the time he understood what had happened, it was too late.

There was a patrol in the inner city too!

And the city was under curfew! There wasn't a single person in the streets!

"Who goes there!"

"Someone's infiltrated the city!"

"Be on alert!"

The soldiers reacted quickly, immediately chasing after the two of them.

Since they didn't know the area, they could only dash aimlessly through the streets and alleys. More and more pursuers gathered behind them, and they were about to be cornered.

"Do you have any magic that can put people to sleep?" Shane couldn't help complaining.

"Attacking soldiers is a serious crime. You'll be executed."

"..."

They couldn't keep this up!

Shane scanned his surroundings, his mind racing. Got it!

He pulled Frieren into a house that faced the street.

They were in luck. It was a tailor shop.

He quickly pushed open every window at the front and back of the shop, creating the impression that someone had escaped through them. Then he decisively pulled Frieren into a crouch in the corner.

Goddess's Barrier activated.

Bzz—

A barrier silently spread through the air, concealing everything inside it.

Frieren sensed the energy fluctuations beside her but had no idea what was going on. She stared at Shane in surprise and was just about to ask when he clapped a hand over her mouth.

At the same time, three soldiers rushed into the tailor shop.

"Where are they?"

"Where did they hide?"

The soldiers' voices woke the owner of the shop.

A little girl with green hair appeared on the wooden stairs leading to the second floor.

She looked about seven or eight years old and was clutching a rag doll. Rubbing her eyes, she asked sleepily,

"Big sister, are you staying up late making clothes again?"

She even pouted a little in displeasure.

But when she opened her eyes and saw the three soldiers downstairs, she froze completely.

The person she called her big sister, dressed in a long robe for sleeping, came hurrying up behind her. She scooped the girl into her arms.

"Ubel, don't be scared. I'm right here."

The little girl was slow to react. Tears instantly welled up in her eyes, but she bit her lip and didn't cry. Her little hands just clutched her sister's clothes tightly.

Her sister gently patted her back, soothing her.

"Officer, may I ask what happened?"

"We're chasing some suspicious people. We just saw someone run into the house. Did you see or hear anything?"

"No, sir. We've been asleep upstairs this whole time. We only just woke up."

"Sorry, miss, but would you mind if we searched the place?"

"...All right, but please don't frighten my little sister."

With her permission, the three soldiers began searching the cabinets and beneath the tables. They didn't leave out the rooms upstairs either. Clattering sounds rang out one after another as the two girls waited nervously by the stairs.

After searching the place, they found nothing.

The three soldiers frowned in unison. They returned to the first floor and carefully examined the layout of the room.

One of them pointed to the open window and said, "Could they have jumped out and gone somewhere else?"

"Possible. Tell the other patrols in the city to be more alert. I'll report this to General Glucks and ask him to send more men to search the nearby streets. We must not let the spies infiltrate again."

"We sincerely apologize for disturbing you so late at night, miss. Please understand that we're only trying to protect Gostan City."

After bowing in apology, the three soldiers finally left the house.

The tailor shop fell quiet again.

"Big sister..."

"Don't be scared. It was just a misunderstanding."

"Were the suspicious people the soldiers mentioned bad people?"

"Don't let your imagination run wild. They might just be a couple of lost kittens. Don't be afraid, I'm here. Come on, I'll sleep with you tonight."

The little girl called Ubel was still shaken. Her sister gently picked her up and carried her back to the room, singing a nursery rhyme as she went.

She rested her head on her sister's shoulder, but her eyes looked past her sister toward the corner on the first floor.

Her brows furrowed slightly as she murmured,

"Maybe they were two little kittens."

Meanwhile, hidden in the corner, Shane felt his heart inexplicably rise into his throat.

Could the little one have noticed something...

Ubel? That name sounded so familiar. Had he heard it somewhere before?