The next day
"Get moving, everyone."
"Pack everything up. Don't leave a thing behind."
The sky had only just begun to lighten when shouts rang out through the caravan's campsite. Several of its leaders urged their members to pack up their belongings and load them onto the wagons.
Vandhi's caravan had originally planned to stay for two days before moving on. But with the giant red wolf still out there, they feared being attacked on the road, so they waited until the cavalry returned to Three Towers Town before setting out together.
"Come on, hurry up! Lord Frien won't wait for us. If we're late, we'll never catch up." Vandhi came over to supervise and urge them along.
On the other side of the village, the cavalry had already risen and were gradually loading some of the wounded onto wagons. Frien and the old village chief were talking beside the square.
"Old Ponder, I'll borrow these two wagons. I'll have someone return them in a while." Frien hadn't brought any wagons with him.
"That's fine. But when you return them, you'd better bring me ten bows and some iron-jaw traps. Linden Village is short on those things these days."
"That won't come cheap," Frien said with a shake of his head.
"Even a White Wax Wood Longbow costs four silver coins, and with the arrows, it'll probably be five. Ten bows would come to fifty silver. The iron-jaw traps will cost about ten more. That's sixty silver altogether."
"Put in a request to the Baron. Tell him that if something happens to Linden Village, it'll be hard to pay next year's taxes." The old village chief leaned on his cane and waved a hand.
Baron Holin had more than enough power to bring Linden Village to heel. But the old village chief held great local influence. He was also Baron Holin's elder and a friend of the previous Baron Holin, so the current Baron Holin wouldn't pick a fight over something so trivial unless he had to.
"All right, I understand." Frien could only agree reluctantly.
At around seven in the morning, the cavalry and the caravan set out together, joined by a few villagers. Some were heading to River Stone Town, while others were bound for Scorched Stone City.
Sylutia and Talia rode in a carriage. Sylutia wore a reddish-brown wool cloak with a hood she could pull up whenever she liked. Underneath, she wore a newly sewn cotton dress. The merchant Vandhi had given her the cotton fabric, though judging by how pained he'd looked at the time, it had probably cost him a pretty penny.
In the Regas Duchy, wool wasn't expensive. It cost three times as much as linen, but cotton was far pricier, at roughly ten times the cost of linen. The duchy had plenty of forests and plains, with many villages raising cattle and sheep, so wool was abundant. Cotton, on the other hand, had to be imported from distant countries, which naturally kept its price high.
Sylutia's original plain white silk dress had been put away because it was too precious and conspicuous. It was now stored in the small wooden chest she'd brought along.
Speaking of the chest, it held Sylutia's silk dress, dagger, hair ribbon, and three silver leaf coins. That was all the wealth she had now.
Ordinary villagers in Linden Village earned around two or three silver coins a month. The three coins she had were payment from Frien for helping care for the wounded.
As the wheels bumped and turned, amid shouts and calls to the horses, the party left the village and headed west along the road across the open plain.
On the road.
Sylutia leaned by the carriage window and watched the scenery in the distance. Broad, rolling grasslands stretched around them, while mountains and forests stood clearly visible farther away. Now and then, flocks of birds flew over the woods, filling the air with their calls.
The road was bumpy, and the old-fashioned carriage had little in the way of suspension. Whenever Sylutia tried to sleep, the jolting kept waking her. She could only rest now and then by leaning over the table in front of her.
Across from her, Talia stayed energetic the whole way. She chatted with Sylutia about local stories and occasionally drew back the curtain to point out places outside, telling Sylutia what they were and what had happened there.
"See that big rock? Doesn't it look out of place, surrounded by nothing but flat land?" Talia chattered away again.
"Baron Holin's great-great-grandfather had it quarried from the mountain when he planned to build a castle. But the wagon carrying it overturned halfway here. The scholar traveling with them said it was an ill omen, so they abandoned the rock by the roadside. Now it makes a useful landmark. When people see it, they know River Stone Town isn't far away."
Sylutia looked at the rock and noticed patches of blackened ground beneath it. She guessed travelers sometimes lit fires there and spent the night.
The caravan continued on. By the time it reached River Stone Town, it was around three in the afternoon.
The sound of a river grew louder as they approached the town. A crude stone wall, three meters high, surrounded it, with vines and moss creeping over parts of the surface. A few idle guards sat in wooden shelters atop the wall, occasionally glancing down at the road and the town gate.
Captain Frien and Vandhi were both familiar faces in River Stone Town. After a brief exchange of greetings, the caravan entered. Compared with Linden Village, the houses here were much closer together, and many lined the streets, giving the place something of a town's appearance.
The party dismounted in front of the inn where they'd be staying for the night. It was still a long way from dark, but there were few places to stop for the night beyond River Stone Town.
"Let's get down too." Sylutia pulled up her cloak's hood to hide her striking silver hair, then climbed out with Talia.
The carriage stopped in the inn's back courtyard. The caravan members bustled about: some removed the harnesses, while others took a few of the wagons to the market to do a little business before nightfall. Still others planned to get something to eat and rest.
The cavalry was staying at the inn. Frien took out a bag of money and asked the innkeeper to prepare food. When Sylutia entered, he beckoned her and Talia over.
"How was the journey, Tia?"
"It was all right. The scenery along the way was new to me." Tia nodded.
Seeing that she was in good spirits, Frien gave a small nod. The girl was far less fussy than those noble ladies. He remembered the first time he'd accompanied Second Miss Sindhu on a long journey. She'd complained the whole way and given him a headache.
"Get a good night's rest." He wasn't a man of many words. After telling her that someone would bring food to her room later, he sent Sylutia off to rest.
Sylutia agreed, but she wasn't in a hurry to sleep just yet. Instead, she and Talia went for a walk around town.
River Stone Town had a population of around two thousand. Its main roads were paved with stone bricks, and there were brick houses along the streets. Plenty of villagers from nearby settlements had come to trade, and after walking less than a hundred meters, the two girls reached the town market. A simple fence enclosed it, with rough wooden stalls and shelters inside. Two local patrolmen sat lazily at the entrance.
As evening approached, the market had grown quieter. Sylutia walked along at an easy pace, browsing the various goods.
Talia followed behind her. She knew the town well and wasn't especially curious about it. She was already thinking about where to find something tasty that evening.
The village food was plain. Only Aunt Moti knew how to make bread and pies. Everyone else usually ate wheat porridge and vegetable soup. Meat was rare, and seasoning was scarce, so the food was always bland.
This trip with Sylutia to Scorched Stone City would probably be her only chance in the past six months to try something with a different flavor.
Sylutia curiously studied the various goods on display. Nearby villagers had brought vegetables such as White Wind Root, Purple Turnip, and Black Gravel Wheat, as well as local fruits like Ousang Fruit and Grape-Nut Fruit. Ousang Fruit resembled apples from her previous life, but it was yellower and irregularly shaped, with lots of little spots on its skin. Grape-Nut Fruit was similar to grapes, but its seeds were unusually large, leaving only a thin layer of flesh around them.
Other stalls sold honey, beeswax, hemp rope, straw sandals, woven baskets, jam, smoked sausages, animal pelts, tree resin, and more.
"The copper coins you use don't all look the same," Sylutia said, noticing that many people were holding copper coins of different sizes and shapes.
"That's right. Copper coins can be made in all sorts of styles, and lots of people don't want to accept them." Talia came back to herself and explained.
"Because nobles can mint copper coins, you see. Some cut corners, and others do shoddy work. The coins aren't even properly shaped. We call them junk copper."
"What about silver coins?" Sylutia asked, curious now.
"Only the great nobles are allowed to mint silver coins, and they keep an eye on one another. Taxes are usually paid in silver or gold."
"Gold coins?"
"Only the king can mint gold coins. One side bears his family's crest, which also stands for their reputation and trustworthiness. Even the duke, the most powerful person in the Regas Duchy, isn't allowed to mint gold coins. The gold coins in circulation right now all come from the distant Winter Kingdom."
"I heard making gold coins is complicated. Alchemists and craftsmen have to work together to engrave marks inside them to prevent counterfeiting."
"My sister told me there are even rarer special gold coins, but I've forgotten what they are."
After making a round of the market, the two bought a few Ousang Fruits and a small bag of Grape-Nut Fruits, then headed back to the inn.
After their figures disappeared at the end of the street and they entered the inn, a short young man cautiously emerged from a street corner. He stared at the inn for a long time before finally leaving.
A wool cloak, a cotton hem, delicate wrists. Was she a noble?
Night.
After finishing dinner, Sylutia and Talia sat in their room. A wooden plate of washed fruit rested on the table in front of them—the fruit they'd bought during the day.
"Whew, that bean-and-meat stew was so good tonight." Talia lay on the bed, still rubbing her stomach, savoring the memory.
Sylutia sat at the table, leafing through some old, yellowed notices. They'd found them in the inn's lobby on their way back, and they were all long out of date.
"Wanted: Capture the thief." "Hunt down a Gale Vulture." "Buying quality timber." "Looking for a brightly colored flower that grows on a cliff and gives off heat"...
A little text beneath each notice described the circumstances and what was needed.
When Talia noticed Sylutia wasn't answering, she got out of bed and came over to look.
"These? They're usually copied from the guild in Scorched Stone City and posted in nearby towns and villages, in case anyone has any luck. Yaaawn..." She yawned. It seemed the full meal was making her sleepy.
"If we complete one, do we get the reward?" Sylutia asked with interest.
"Yep. But ordinary people can't usually handle what's on those notices." She propped herself up with both hands behind her and tilted her head back to look at the ceiling.
That made sense. If the tasks were easy, there'd be no need to offer a reward.
"There are thieves every year. Gale Vultures show up during the years before Rising Wind Season. They're even more dangerous than Ti Wolves."
"The timber is probably for some noble or merchant who wants to make furniture." She was starting to look sleepy again.
"Bright flower... bright..." By then, she'd climbed back onto the bed and was leaning against her pillow.
Seeing that Talia was about to fall asleep, Sylutia couldn't help smiling. She stopped asking questions and covered her with a light blanket.
Once Talia was asleep, the room fell quiet. By candlelight, Sylutia read through the old notices a few more times. Then she stood, lowered the window's support bar, and got ready for bed.
Night deepened. Insects chirped more and more actively in the grass, and now and then, strange bat cries crossed the sky before fading into the sound of the stream flowing through town.
In the dead of night, a furtive figure crept into the inn's back courtyard. He first studied the area from a corner, then got to work.
The moon was hidden, and the sky was dark. His clothes were especially dark, covering his entire body. If he stood still in the shadows, he was practically invisible.
Candles were expensive in a little town like this. No one would leave one burning all night, so the streets were pitch-black. Without a torch, it would be hard to see the ground beneath your feet.
Familiar with the area, the figure moved through the darkness at a decent pace. He climbed over the wall, then used a stack of hay in the backyard to reach a corner of the inn's second floor. He steadied his breathing, held his hands slightly away from his sides, and walked down the hall as quietly as he could.
He knew the inn's layout and the arrangement of its rooms by heart. He couldn't be bothered to search the rooms of travelers who didn't have much money. This time, his target was the big catch he'd spotted during the day.
She looked soft and delicate. A cotton dress showed beneath her cloak, and she had an attendant with her. She had to be a noble. If he could steal that cotton dress, he'd be set for the rest of the year. If he could get his hands on some jewelry too, he wouldn't have to work for years.
The risk was high, but the reward was worth it.
He crept up to his target's door and paused to check his surroundings. Then he took out a thin iron pick and carefully slipped it into the keyhole. The faint click of the lock mechanism was almost inaudible in the night.
At last, after a tense struggle with the lock, a soft click sounded and it came free. He pushed the door open inch by inch, as slowly as he could, to avoid making any noise.
This was the most nerve-racking moment. If everything went well, he'd see two people fast asleep.
His eyes swept over the dim room. Both beds were occupied. He relaxed, joy rising in his heart. It looked like he'd struck gold tonight.
He adjusted his breathing and footsteps again, then bent over and slipped into the room, searching carefully for anything valuable.
Unfortunately, after looking over the entire room, he felt a wave of disappointment. There wasn't much luggage, and there was only one chest.
Didn't nobles bring lots of things when they traveled? Noblewomen in particular always brought plenty of clothes and jewelry. They cared a great deal about appearances.
What kind of noble had no money? Maybe she was a fake. His mood soured, and the patience he'd built up began to wear thin.
After searching the room without finding anything valuable, he finally looked at the small wooden chest by the bed. Sylutia's reddish-brown cloak was folded on top of it.
The cloak was nice. His mood improved a little, and he edged toward the space between the two beds.
The short-haired girl on the right snored softly, smacking her lips now and then. The person on the left was very quiet, almost breathing soundlessly.
As soon as his fingers touched the soft wool of the cloak, an Impact hit him in the lower back and sent him flying into the bedframe opposite. The pain made him groan.
The heavy crash and impact woke Talia. She groggily sat up, saw the strange shadow in the room, and screamed in shock.
"Ah—aaahhh—!"
She screamed once, then kept shrieking. By the end, the panic in her voice had faded, replaced by a strange excitement.
The shadow panicked at the shrill screams. He had no time to take anything and was about to crash through the window and jump downstairs to escape.
Before he could move, the cloak flew at him and covered his face. The thing he'd wanted to steal had suddenly become a nuisance.
He tore the cloak off and scrambled onto the table, ready to flee. Then something cold pressed against his neck, instantly bringing him to his senses.
A weapon. A sword. He assessed the situation quickly and stopped moving.
Stealing might earn him a whipping, but if he died now, he'd lose everything. As a habitual thief, he knew the difference all too well.
"D-don't..." He hurriedly begged for mercy, inching backward away from the window.
Only then did he see who had attacked him. During the day she'd had her hood up, and he'd been too far away to see her clearly. All he'd known was that she was probably a woman.
Now, in the dim room, her snow-white silver hair stood out. Her eyes were lively even in the dark. The girl held a sword in one hand and made him retreat step by step.
So she was just a little girl...? His eyelids lowered, then he suddenly sprang backward to dodge her swinging blade.
That speed... a Breathing Technique?
Sylutia stared intently at the shadow in front of her. Strange light shimmered in her eyes.
She chased after him, thrusting her blade toward the shadow. This time, she wouldn't hold back. She'd restrained her strength and speed just before, afraid of killing him with a single blow.
Strangely, Sylutia's thrust missed her opponent, as if her sword had passed through empty air. The unexpected sensation surprised her a second time.
After practicing for so many days, she was certain of her swordsmanship's precision. She might not have the strength of a sturdy adult, but she was superior to many people in accuracy, speed, and technique.
Yet her opponent had somehow dodged her. Six seconds had passed since Talia began screaming. The other people in the inn had already heard and were starting to get up and come out to investigate.
Even if Captain Frien rushed over, it would take at least fifteen seconds. The man calculated quickly, then dodged to the other side of the room and pulled a short blade from his belt.
Fifteen seconds. That was more than enough to deal with a little girl like her.
The shadow charged at the silver-haired girl again, swinging his short blade. It was almost impossible to see in the dim room.
"Clang—" The sharp ring of metal striking metal rang out in the darkness.
In those conditions, ordinary people couldn't see a thing. But the silver-haired girl wasn't ordinary.
With her [Identification Pupil], she could make out the glint of metal even in the darkness. Over the next ten seconds, they clashed several times, the sharp ring of steel against steel standing out clearly in the night.
Noisy footsteps and shouts came from downstairs and the hallway. The sounds made the shadow increasingly frantic. He began throwing caution aside, a fierce, vicious glint even appearing in his eyes.
I didn't want to do this, he thought bitterly. Then he shifted his footing, his blood surging through his body and flooding his muscles with greater strength. He burst forward again at astonishing speed, charging at the silver-haired girl.
Even as her opponent suddenly attacked, the girl's gaze remained calm. She seemed to have entered a state of intense focus. She turned, and the short sword in her hand traced a graceful, flawless arc through the darkness, flashing like a new moon as it struck the short blade coming down at her.
Sparks and shards of iron burst through the night. The shadow's palm went numb, and his short blade flew from his hand. Then the sharp sword came at him again, piercing his shoulder bone. The cold iron entered his body, filling him with terror.
"No, no! Please!" He fell to his knees, planted both hands on the floor, and begged in a panicked voice.
This time, Sylutia didn't let him go so easily. She pulled her sword out and pressed it to his neck again, this time with the bloodied tip.
Thick beads of blood trickled down his neck and into his chest. The strange sensation made him keenly aware that his life hung by a thread, ready to snap at any moment.
He was truly terrified now and no longer tried to resist.
Before you continue