Chapter 09
Well, from the eagle’s perspective, a monster would be a bite-sized snack, so it wouldn’t be able to get close to one. The wyvern being a sworn brother was just a strange exception. Even if it did know a monster, there was no guarantee it would help me as willingly as the wyvern.
I couldn’t trust any human, so animals were definitely the best option. First, I’d have to decide on a destination, and then I’d need to scout for animals that could help me.
I unfolded a map. Deciding on a destination wasn’t hard. I just had to aim for the furthest and most secluded place.
But the problem was how to get there. Looking at the surrounding geography, it was mostly mountain ranges.
“To make contact with animals, I’ll have to go into the mountains first.”
That meant I’d inevitably have to camp. And if I failed to persuade wild animals in the mountains, the risks to me couldn’t be ignored. Just because communication was possible didn’t guarantee all animals would help me.
Ultimately, it meant I needed to have at least minimal protection for my safety.
“Would there be a magical tool shop in a rural place like this…?”
I thought money would solve everything, but if there was nothing to buy with it, that was also a problem. If I hadn’t thrown away my bag in the previous city to avoid the paladins’ search, the situation would have been better.
[Anelli, I have to go now. My kids are waiting for me.]
“Oh, okay.”
I was already at a loss, and now the eagle was leaving too, making me even more flustered. I forced a smile and sent the eagle off. Anyway, it would be hard to get the eagle’s help in a heavily wooded area, so having it accompany me would be useless anyway.
[I’ll introduce you to my kids later! Anelli is my friend.]
“Yeah. Take good care of them.”
I wondered when I’d ever see it again… I gazed up at the eagle soaring into the high sky.
I stood still, watching it until it became a dot, and then finally turned around.
I was hungry. Even a small rural village must have a restaurant, right?
The exterior was so shabby that I almost passed it by, hardly believing it was a restaurant. If it hadn’t been for the noisy chatter and delicious food smells coming through the slightly open door, I wouldn’t have even glanced at it. After hesitating for a moment, I boldly opened the door.
Along with the smell of food came a mix of sweat and body odors. The air inside was quite stuffy and hot, as if it wasn’t ventilated.
I knew I wasn’t in a position to complain, but my stomach turned so much that I almost forgot my hunger.
The restaurants I’d visited in the big city weren’t this bad. Come to think of it, those places catered to a lot of tourists, so they were bound to be better.
This was truly an unexpected obstacle. I unconsciously pinched my nose and stood there, and at that moment, I made eye contact with a waiter hurrying past with a dish in hand.
I quickly lowered my hand, but they must have already seen my action. The way they coldly turned their back without even a greeting confirmed it.
Covering my nose upon entering a restaurant was indeed quite rude. I couldn’t really blame them for their discourtesy.
I looked around for an empty seat. A dozen or so people sat shoulder-to-shoulder at a long wooden table. From the looks of it, I’d have to share a table.
I’d be in worse situations than this from now on, so I’d naturally have to get used to it.
Ah, but I still needed more time. I’d never eaten at a place like this, not when I was at the Temple, nor when I’d left it and moved between lodgings.
“Excuse me, can I take food to go?”
I thought it’d be better to eat alone in a cramped inn room. At least I could prevent the disaster of choking or vomiting from the smell.
“To go?”
The waiter let out a hollow laugh, as if he’d heard something absurd.
“I don’t know where you’re from, but we don’t do that.”
He didn’t even try to hide his mocking tone. Though he called me ‘distinguished,’ he clearly didn’t feel the need to treat me as such.
Probably because I was alone. A truly distinguished person wouldn’t be wandering around by themselves like this.
“Then is there a bakery nearby…”
“The village is small, so you won’t need directions. But even if you go to the bakery, do you think you can eat there? Flies mix into the dough, you know.”
Maybe I should just starve.
As I was seriously considering that, I noticed a few farmers sitting inside the restaurant looking my way and whispering among themselves.
At the same time, I turned around without a word. I immediately left the restaurant and started walking aimlessly, but I could hear several sets of footsteps behind me.
I tried to hurry along as if I hadn’t noticed, but they soon caught up.
“Hey, wait a minute.”
“What’s the rush?”
A rough shout carried a hint of laughter. Gritting my teeth, I pretended to be composed and turned to face them.
How much would it take to placate them? As I narrowed my eyes and scanned their faces, they frowned back.
“You don’t really fit in around here, miss.”
“If I take you home, can I get a reward?”
“She looks like a wanted fugitive to me, with that attitude.”
At their murmuring, my mouth went dry. It was fortunate they didn’t recognize my face right away, but at this rate, they might look up wanted posters and compare faces.
“My situation is none of your concern. Go on your way.”
“None of our concern? A lady like you is a walking money pouch, nine times out of ten.”
“Yeah, yeah. Such a good opportunity…”
The farmer trailed off. It was because of a black shadow that suddenly leaped in. Something that had swiftly jumped out silently between the farmers was a large, gray wolf.
“Aack, what beast is this?”
“It’s a wolf!”
Frightened by the wolf’s threatening posture, baring its teeth and growling, the farmers hesitated and backed away. Of course, I was also frozen in surprise.
[Many against one! It’s wrong to bully your own kind!]
I was startled by the wolf’s righteous cry.
“Hurry, call the vigilantes!”
“A wolf has come down to the village!”
Realizing the wolf wasn’t about to attack them immediately, the farmers, who had been cautiously keeping their distance, turned and started running.
The wolf, which had been baring its teeth and glaring at them as they ran, turned its head toward me. Its black pupils held the savagery of the wild.
The wolf bared its teeth.
[It’s dangerous to stray from your pack. Where is your leader?]
Oh, what a stroke of luck. A righteous wolf.
Suppressing the excitement welling up inside me at this unexpected fortune, I was just about to open my mouth.
“Hey, I told you not to rush in!”
[Cowardly and weak males are not worth fighting.]
Someone suddenly appeared in my field of vision. Tall and lean, he immediately bowed his head to me and apologized.
“You must have been very startled! I’m so sorry!”
Because of that, the first thing I noticed was his disheveled red hair. Covered in a fine layer of dust, his curly hair revealed his life as a wanderer.
Expecting me to be frightened, he hurriedly made excuses.
“I’m really sorry. Please don’t be scared—he looks fierce, but he won’t bite.”
He gave a harmless smile, trying to reassure me.
Between his long, swept-over bangs, I caught a glimpse of clear golden eyes. They were round, yet the corners slightly upturned, just like a cat’s eyes.
A cat, yes—but one that somehow seemed gentle. Like a dog-like cat, perhaps?
…That sounds like an insult, but there was no better description. With his shabby appearance added, he really had the feel of a stray cat that acts like a dog.
[You were going to ignore the danger to your own kind. At this rate, you’ll never become a leader!]
“Hey, you scared her!”
[Let go of me, you weakling! When are you going to grow into a proper male!]
“Don’t worry, he’s full right now. He’s just like this because of all the commotion.”
[Having such a weak male in my pack is a disgrace!]
I quietly watched the man, who was holding onto the wolf’s head firmly even as the wolf thrashed wildly, being dragged around by its strength.
This man was the wolf’s guardian… or owner, or subordinate—I wasn’t sure, but it was clear they were together.
It also seemed they couldn’t communicate with each other at all.
“You can let go of him.”
The man, struggling while clinging to the wolf, looked up at me with difficulty. It didn’t seem like he was actually restraining it anyway.
“I’m not scared. I avoided a dangerous situation thanks to that wolf.”
“…Is that so?”
[Foolish creature! My fur is all messed up!]
As the man pulled away, the wolf shook its body vigorously. Ah, that wolf was really tempting.
“You don’t seem to be a local…”
Without taking my eyes off the wolf, I cautiously brought up the subject. There was no benefit in letting the man know I could communicate with the wolf, so I wanted to create a situation where we were alone.
First, I needed to get rid of this man.
“Oh, yes. I’m just an ordinary adventurer.”
“Would you sell me this wolf?”
“Huh?”
The man’s eyes widened in surprise at my proposal. I smiled at him and spoke in a deliberately generous tone.
“I need a brave wolf like this. I’ll pay whatever price you name.”
Looking at me with bewildered eyes, the man awkwardly smiled and glanced at the wolf.
“I’m sorry, but he’s not for sale.”
“I can afford whatever price you set.”
“No matter how much you offer, I won’t sell him.”
The man’s voice as he answered was quite firm. After frowning and staring at him for a moment, I decided to change my target. Looking the wolf straight in the eye, I spoke kindly.
“I like you. Come with me. I’ll feed you fresh raw meat every day.”
