Chapter 64

Louilin may lack social skills, but there wasn’t actually anything wrong with her personality or anything like that.

Or maybe not. To those who value social skills, it probably did look like a flaw.

Like that time right before boarding the ship when she got into an argument and, without flinching despite being faced with an opponent twice her size, immediately kicked him right in the groin.

“Ow!”

Every single man watching instinctively grabbed their crotches.

“Captain! There’s nothing wrong with our course!”

“Good! Once everyone’s on board, we’re moving out immediately! What are you all doing?! I told you to raise the anchor hours ago!”

“Not true! You just told us now and you’re talking about hours?!”

“Don’t backtalk me! Or I’ll make you fish food!”

The boat seemed a bit too big for six people to handle, but once inside, it was clear they had quite a lot of stuff packed in.

Though assigned a corner as her spot, it was hard to stay still.

“What’s with that sword? And does it even fit properly into its sheath?”

“This? I’ll fix it later.”

While Ellie’s sword might be normal, the one bent like it was broken by her only barely fit into its sheath. It’s no wonder doubts would arise seeing the warped hilt clearly visible.

I thought about fixing it during my free time in Carriel, but somehow missed the chance.

I even visited that small workshop near the local forge for that purpose, but they said they don’t handle weapons, so I ended up giving up.

“Customer, your face looks fine and what you possess seems valuable, so why are you trying to illegally enter another country?”

“Is that relevant to your mission?”

“You figure it out. My response will differ depending on whether this is a simple trip or an escape journey.”

Carriel pondered for a moment.

“It’s a trip, not an escape. Though someone might chase after us… they likely won’t try to capture us unless it’s something extreme. Probably.”

“I hate uncertain answers like that.”

Life is uncertain enough as it is, so how are we supposed to breathe if even that’s uncertain?

Even while grumbling不满地抱怨着, Louilin soon seemed to have organized her thoughts and lightly listed some precautions.

“Then we should focus on issues with people we encounter along the way rather than pursuers. Also avoid unnecessary trouble. Seeing your imperial crest and cross-sword, are you a knight? Or an aspirant? A candidate?”

“…think whatever you want.”

“Thank goodness.”

What an unexpected response.

“What?”

“A stubborn knight wouldn’t utter such uncertain words. Don’t go making a big fuss and ruin everything. As long as you don’t do that, our journey should be fine unless fire falls from the sky… though saying that might invite disaster…”

For someone who appears so calm and collected, once she starts talking, it’s non-stop like an elf firing rapid-fire magic spells.

“Though faster than walking or riding, you’ll still have to endure some boredom. Do you get seasick? Not on the sea per se, but if you’re unfamiliar, even lying down needs caution. With the direction being this way, if you want to lie down…”

…

By the time we disembarked, I couldn’t tell if this was land or the deck.

Even standing still, the ground felt like it was swaying.

…After just a few days and it’s already like this, I can’t imagine how those who spend months at sea manage to adapt.

“Let’s load the ship.”

But Louilin didn’t seem affected.

“Here is…”

A fief with an actual fortress.

Outside the fortress walls were a village and docks capable of accommodating several ships, though not particularly large in scale.

With various people coming and going, but with the distinct prevalence of reddish-brown tones compared to the empire…

“Unfortunately, we’re within the Dabas Kingdom. Due to circumstances, we can’t sail further up the river.”

“…Reason?”

“That’s none of our business. It’s common. No one risks their life for pointless adventures nowadays. Still, don’t worry. There are other ways to proceed. First, let’s load the ship. Who knows when we’ll eat again. Consider our movement and buy what we need. If we’re not riding horses, we’ll have to walk, which will make the journey longer… oh, you said you’re good at mountain paths, right? Then let’s head that way…”

“Understood, let’s go.”

She may lack social skills, but she sure talks a lot.

Contrary to the initial impression of being taciturn or fierce, if you fall for her seemingly cold and indifferent attitude, you’d never see this side of her.

If her guard against others doesn’t drop, she tends to answer in short sentences. If understanding isn’t achieved through that, the word count increases, and if the other party still doesn’t show signs of comprehension…

Her hands will move directly. Like now.

“Ugh, aaah!”

“Want your head cut off or hand over what you have? Why are you eyeing other people’s pockets?”

The man caught by Louilin had everything he possessed taken away before being thrown aside, clutching his twisted wrist.

After roughly checking the small money pouch, Louilin fixed her gaze on it and asked,

“Customer, are you good at fighting?”

“Why?”

“There’s work available. We also need to load the ship… and you can’t run away from flies buzzing around, can you?”

“…”

“In places like these, those kids usually belong to organizations. Individuals don’t operate because it causes ripples that won’t be ignored. Even beggars nowadays need permits and special emblems. How else would it be? Unauthorized begging is illegal, did you know? So, they’re all connected front and back. They even pay taxes apparently? The pickpocket gangs give ‘taxes’ to My Lord, did you know?”

“…”

Hearing this for the first time.

Is it because it’s not the empire, or is it a unique tax system of the Dabas Kingdom?

…Or maybe I just didn’t know, but this happens in the empire too?

Following Louilin, we filled our stomachs appropriately at a restaurant.

“What kind of reckless brat is this?! Who dared touch our group?!”

As Louilin predicted, a bunch of big guys showed up.

“They’ve arrived.”

With a smirk, Louilin immediately stood up from her chair.

“It’s me, you pig!”

And with that,

she threw a dagger.

Thud!

“What the hell is this crazy girl doing?!”

Could it be because of the dagger embedded right next to his shoe?

As everyone’s eyes turned that way, she darted forward like lightning and hurled herself at the opponent.

Then, without hesitation, kneed him in the face.

?!

That wasn’t the end.

Still gripping the opponent’s face with one hand as he tried to push her back,

she raised her right arm high

and slammed her elbow down towards his eye area.

Crack!

“Eh?!”

Before the surrounding men could recover from shock,

Louilin swiftly slid to the right.

In the blink of an eye, she had tripped another man standing nearby, causing his face to smash into the wooden floor.

Boom!

“Huh, Older Brother?!”

Too late reaction.

Louilin promptly stomped on the ankle of yet another guy with her heel, much like a warhorse rearing its hind legs.

Crack!

“AAAAAAHHHHH—!”

With steel-reinforced boots, getting hit must be excruciating.

“Hand over everything you have! Otherwise, I’ll chop off all your wrists and ankles, you hear me!”

The knife she suddenly pulled out had a blade curved at a right angle, resembling something used to cut herbs.

What is this thing? Something you’d use to cut bushes or branches in the jungle?

Seeing her wield it so menacingly, how terrifying must it be?

Indeed, when someone’s finger got chopped off along with a metal ring flying through the air,

a chilling scream erupted.

“AAAIIIEEE! MY HAND! MY HAND!”

“It’s your fingers, idiot! Did I sever your wrist? Huh?! Want me to do it?! I’ll do it! Come here! Won’t come?! Hurry up! Right now! Get over here!”

She goes berserk.

…This person is a natural-born butcher.

“That’s enough.”

“What the hell?!?”

Without distinguishing friend from foe, Louilin was suddenly tackled and thrown down.

“Eh? Wha… What?!”

Confused about why she fell, Louilin sat half-upright in a somewhat graceful manner. Her silver eyes widened significantly as she tried to understand the current situation, clearly evident even to Carriel.

“But why…”

More importantly…

“My knife! When did you take it from me?!”

“This?”

“Just now.”

“Why interfere with my work?!”

“Work?”

Carriel looked around.

Despite losing consciousness for only a brief moment,

“Isn’t this enough?”

“We didn’t even take heads or wrists…”

However, the standard between Carriel and her must be vastly different.

Squish squish!

Save meee!

Gurgle gurgle!

Blood was splattered everywhere.

Flesh was torn off in many places.

Moreover, although they weren’t dead, leaving them like this might result in fatalities?

“…”

“…”

Indeed.

Quite an extraordinary individual.

Turns out she had secretly accepted a commission to partially clean up these guys.

In exchange, she planned to safely leave the place along with some information and commission fees as bonuses.

“If you didn’t personally accept the job, there’s probably some place that mediates jobs and assigns them to you from time to time?”

“Wow, impressive deduction.”

“That’s logical.”

Although I wasn’t actively monitoring her, having not seen her accepting any commissions during the observation period led me to this guess.

The method of receiving jobs must involve something discreet that regular people wouldn’t know about.

“One must work diligently to earn a living. Especially since I eat so much.”

“…”

That’s true.

Carelessly speaking, this might tear a hole in my pocket, but she had already received the payment regarding this, right?

Had she silently demanded Carriel to cover the meal expenses, asking “Pay for me instead,”

…I might have seriously considered it.

“Normally it’s like that, but this time the client specifically instructed me not to cause trouble.”

“Does that include flaunting that?”

“You catch on quick? That means I showed proper effort. You’re respected?”

Not only planting seeds of good impressions with the client,

maybe she’s older than she looks despite her appearance?

Thinking in human terms, she might be a child, but if she’s not entirely human?

“I’m human, but not pure-blooded. I’m a half.”

“Half of what?”

“You’ll hate me if you find out.”

“Do I look like someone who discriminates based on race?”

“If the bloodline incites discrimination even among those who shouldn’t?”

“…I get what you mean.”

“Then how do you know if I didn’t even say it?”

“…”

Probably that.

Daemon lineage.

Not because I think someone became my guide through Edenlevan Legion connections or anything.

“Frankly, it doesn’t matter.”

“…You’re a strange customer.”

“Are you more strange?”

Carriel, carrying the slightly increased luggage, stepped out of the entrance of the village in front of the fief.

There was a cart nearby heading to the neighboring village, and they intended to hitch a ride.

“The forest and mountains get cold at night; are you okay with that outfit?”

“As long as it’s not winter, it’s fine.”

“That’s why mage tools are scams.”

I stroked the small fur on my hood while speaking.

“Exactly.”

At that comment, I wholeheartedly agreed.

Anyway,

the display of skill earlier must have been partly to showcase her usefulness to me.

Whether it was her intention,

or the organization behind her’s intention,

is unclear.

I deeply feel the thoroughness of their system.

…Understanding this level of meticulousness can only benefit me.

While boasting isn’t my style, if one is observant and quick-thinking like Carriel himself, through this incident, one would naturally realize that both her and her backers are far from ordinary.

Even if someone completely fails to grasp that,

The skill display Louilin gave alone is enough to build sufficient trust.

Depending on the opponent, it could also serve as a threat to enforce compliance with instructions.

A past statement by the Demon King came to mind.

There are situations where ignorance leads to unavoidable defeat.

…It roughly made sense.

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