Chapter 181

The head slowly tilted to the left before tilting back to the right.

I subtly moved my eyes to examine Ms. Seri’s appearance, but her face wore only a harmless smile.

Hmm, is it real?

“…I’ll let the outfit slide.”

I’m not a fashion expert, and Ms. Seri would know better about this aspect, so I accepted it for now.

“But isn’t this pacifier a bit much? No matter how much of a disguise it is, using this too—”

Chin.

Ms. Seri’s hand rests on my shoulder.

“Edu, not at all! Rather, since you’re wearing this outfit, you should use that.”

“Yeah? What do you mean by that?”

“Don’t you understand? Then, let me ask you in reverse, Edu, how do you plan to cover your face while wearing that outfit?”

“Um…?”

I hesitated for a moment in response to the sudden question.

“Can’t I just wear a disposable mask or something?”

A common and practical face protection—mask.

But Ms. Seri shook her head when she heard my answer.

“That won’t work, Edu. Masks are a sign of amateurism.”

“Uh… Is that so?”

“Yes, Edu, you’re overlooking one thing from the start. It’s rare for a child to walk around outside wearing a mask in the Fangju, you know?”

“Really?”

My eyes opened wide at Ms. Seri’s explanation.

“Is that true?”

“Yes, it’s common for toddlers to receive non-face-to-face consultations at home through an ID, so it’s almost unheard of for them to roam outside while sick.”

“Oh.”

I see.

Well, in an era where personal biometric devices like IDs are commonplace, there wouldn’t be a need to handle everything face-to-face.

After thinking this, I realize that the academy maintains a lot of old-fashioned practices.

“If your face wasn’t well-known, a simple disguise would suffice, but Edu, you can’t afford that, can you?”

“…That’s true.”

No matter where I go in the Fangju, there are countless people who recognize me, regardless of age or gender.

In that state, if I roam around in baby clothes without properly covering my face… wouldn’t I be featured in the newspaper or media the very next day?

Little Hero! The hero becomes a baby! With such headlines.

“And that’s why this is necessary. A perfect accessory that exploits the gaps in your thinking!”

Ms. Seri pointed at the pacifier with a quick motion.

“A gap in my thinking?”

“Yes, who would dare imagine the little hero of the Fangju wearing a pacifier while dressed in baby clothes and riding in a stroller? That would be impossible.”

“….”

Uh, what is this? Just hearing the explanation gives me a headache.

“Huh…”

Involuntarily groaning and feeling conflicted.

However, despite my feelings, what Ms. Seri said wasn’t wrong.

As she mentioned, ordinary people would never imagine me acting that way.

But why do I feel a sense of discomfort as if I’m continually falling into a trap?

Is this right?

“Edu, is this really something to worry about? If it were a man in drag, that would be different, but you’re a girl, aren’t you?”

“You’re right. Being small and cute is not a crime.”

Ms. Simonia chimed in, agreeing with Ms. Seri.

“….”

I involuntarily narrowed my eyes at those words, but ultimately realize there’s no escaping this hole.

Sigh, such is my fate.

“I guess there’s no help for it, I’ll follow Ms. Seri’s advice…”

“You’ve made a good decision. Then, leave the disguise to me, and I will ensure it’s done properly.”

“Yes….”

…

Ding ding~

The gentle sway of the stroller produces a beautiful chiming sound from a small bell.

But aside from that, my mind was troubled.

“Oh my, the baby is so well-behaved.”

People approached with friendly voices.

A middle-aged woman, mistaking me for a real baby, smiled as she came closer and poked my cheek.

“Uh, umm….”

“Oh, how cute.”

“The baby resembles her mother a lot.”

“Indeed, how could they look so alike?”

A hand reaching towards my cheek.

The middle-aged woman, who had been stroking the coarse scales on my cheek for a while, stepped back with a satisfied expression.

“Oh my, the baby is so cute, I lost track of time. I’m sorry, I have work to do.”

“Yes, take care.”

Ms. Simonia smiled brightly as she waved goodbye.

The appearance of the first legion commander, who treats her subordinates coldly and harshly, was nowhere to be seen, replaced by a truly innocent reaction as she pulled the pacifier from her mouth.

“…You act remarkably well.”

“I had a friend who liked such things, so I learned by osmosis.”

There was a hint of loneliness in her answer.

Thinking back, it reminds me of a setting not covered in AOE, where Ms. Simonia had such a friend.

An incident significant enough for her to return to Mos, who walked a different path than her father, Mos Halet.

Although it wasn’t intentional, since the topic came up, should I ask about it?

“Ms. Simonia, I’m curious about that incident—”

“Wait a moment, Edu, we’re at the Fangju wall now.”

“Oh.”

Turning my head to check ahead, I see the high walls of the Fangju.

‘We’ve arrived already.’

Quickly, I popped the pacifier into my mouth and leaned back into the stroller as soldiers from the Fangju Defense Force approached.

After a few exchanges, the gate opens.

“Things seem to have improved recently… but do be careful as the Outlands have unstable security.”

“Yes, thank you for your hard work.”

I lowered my head and answered the warning from someone who appeared to be the commander, then Ms. Simonia resumed moving.

After putting enough distance from the soldiers, Ms. Simonia leaned over from above the stroller and poked her head in.

“Are things really better nowadays? Is something going on?”

“Indeed, let’s head towards the busy area.”

“Alright.”

With the sound of the bell ringing, the stroller moved forward without hesitation.

Before long, the Outland cityscape unfurled before us.

“Have faith. Brothers and sisters, our Nongnong sect’s doors are always open!”

The first thing that caught my eye was a man dressed in white standing on a platform and shouting in a loud voice.

“Oh, how holy~ Nongnong always watches over us~”

Behind him, a group of people seemed to be singing something akin to a hymn.

The atmosphere was reminiscent of a religious choir.

That part wasn’t weird, but the problem was the face of someone emblazoned in the center of the man’s clothes.

“…Edu. Isn’t that your face?”

“Indeed.”

My face was prominently displayed on the clothes worn by the people.

It looked like a shoddy print that someone overflowing with narcissism would wear, yet the individuals wearing those clothes seemed utterly unconcerned about the print’s quality.

What in the world is that?

I was taken aback by the unexpected use of my face, and just then, the man’s voice rang out again.

“Now, please come inside and share a feast together while singing about Nongnong’s greatness.”

“How holy~ how holy~”

“….”

The gaze of Ms. Simonia turned toward me.

“…Edu, you haven’t secretly formed some kind of cult, have you?”

“…That’s impossible.”

“Of course—huh?!”

Ms. Simonia suddenly stopped speaking.

Then, her figure appeared right in front of me, and beyond Ms. Simonia, I saw a person I had never met before.

A woman in shabby, ragged clothes with a brown scarf around her neck, lacking any distinct features.

“You don’t need to be so wary, Ms. Simonia. I’m an ally of the two of you.”

“…Who are you, and how did you recognize my identity?”

Ms. Simonia threw questions without responding to the stranger’s words.

“I’d like to introduce myself right away, but… there are too many eyes here. Would you follow me this way?”

The woman began walking ahead.

I nodded in agreement, signaling to Ms. Simonia to follow.

Thus began our company.

After navigating through the crowd for some time, we arrived at a clearing between buildings.

It was a stark contrast to the bustling street, a desolate place devoid of any signs of life.

As soon as we reached that spot, the woman knelt before us and bowed her head.

“I apologize for the late introduction, Edu. It is truly an honor to meet you like this.”

“Um… You knew who I was?”

“Of course, it would be a blasphemy not to recognize the Savior while being part of our sect.”

She said this with a beaming smile.

“And I’ve been officially recognized as a first-class Nongnong practitioner, so there’s absolutely no way I wouldn’t recognize you, Edu.”

“Uh….”

Nongnong practitioner? What’s that?

“By the way, what brings you to the Outland, Edu? If you need assistance, please don’t hesitate to let me know, we will be your hands and feet.”

The woman bowed her head politely once more.

Ms. Simonia’s face suddenly popped out from above the stroller.

“…Edu, what will you do?”

“Um….”

I carefully observed the stranger’s appearance.

It’s a sudden situation, but there were people during the improvement ceremony who called out to me for help like this woman, and she did not seem to be lying.

I nodded, thinking that if things go well, it could make things easier.

“Then shall I accept your help?”

“Thank you for trusting me! Edu!!”

The woman responded loudly and bowed her head again.

“Well, if Edu thinks so, I’ll follow suit.”

“Thank you, Ms. Simonia. Then, since this likely isn’t an ordinary situation, how about we continue our conversation in the sect building?”

“Let’s do that.”

“Sounds good.”

“Yes! Then this way, I will guide you.”