Episode 104. missing (2)
“How do I find my brother?”
On top of the rattling wagon.
Tira asked with the girl in her arms.
The girl fell asleep in the arms of Tira, perhaps because of the exhaustion she had been through in the woods for days.
Carl said to Tira who stroked the girl’s forehead.
“I’ll have to throw the bait.”
“If it’s bait… … ?”
Not only Tira, but everyone’s curious expression.
Old Crete nodded as if he alone knew something.
Soon after, a wagon driven by Brand and Terence pulled into the village entrance.
The two horses the party rode in were tied to the back of the carriage.
“It’s a fairly large town.”
“Because it’s Derdrang’s sphere of influence. Originally, villages near big cities tend to go along with the growth of big cities.”
“indeed… … .”
It’s not as far as the castle wall, but there is a fairly high wooden fence that can defend against the invasion of bandits, bandits, and small monsters.
The guards were also equipped with leather armor and wielded steel weapons.
It was hard to compare with Derdrang or other cities, but it was fine as a village boundary.
hee hee hee!
The horse stopped at Terrence’s reins.
Soon after, the guard at the entrance approached.
“Where are you from and where are you going? What is the purpose of your visit?”
“We… … .”
Brand on the driver’s seat briefly met Carl’s eyes.
“This is a company that departs from Derdrang and leaves for a city in the eastern part of the Empire. They deal in anything that can be bought and sold, such as fruit, leather, and weapons, hahahaha.”
The brand skillfully responded.
If they inform that they are a group of priests coming to help Derdrang, they may get involved in other matters, so they hid their true identities.
Everyone had kissed according to Carl’s order in advance.
The attire was also changed from priest’s attire to everyday attire.
“Hmm… … is the top right? What are those women over there?”
Most of the top ranks are made up of men.
Because I have to go up and down the rough road for days, and I have to camp.
However, there were three women in Carl’s party.
Fortunately, the guards did not recognize the fallen girl.
“hahahaha, all of us are family members. All the girls over there are my daughters. The old man behind is my father.”
“… … You don’t look too much like a daughter, do you?”
The guard’s eyes scanned the women’s faces.
Especially Meisa, who is a great beauty with blonde hair.
He looked back and forth between her and the brand’s face and made a puzzled expression.
Seeing that, Hanson almost burst into laughter.
Crete old man next to me gave me a warning by prodding his side.
“Kuhm… … .”
The two exchange opinions with their eyes.
The blind old man of Crete surprisingly knew how to perform such tricks.
It was an old man’s skill to convey his intentions with just his blind eyes.
“Do you think that old man is blind?”
“… … Yes, my father is blind. While leaving the business, I also took the road to meet the priest in the eastern city. This is the great priest who appeared in Meirium. Have you heard?”
“Ah, I’ve heard of that too. Isn’t it true that a miraculous priest who heals people with divine power appeared in the Temple of Dawn in Meirium? Did he say his name was ‘Terry’?”
“… … This is Miss ‘Tira’.”
Tira, who was listening, flinched.
“Ah, it was Tyra. I get it anyway. Instead, if you make a fuss in the village, I will never let you go. There are a lot of bad things happening in the village these days, so it’s ugly.”
“Is that so.”
“Be patient if you feel that people are a little unkind. It’s not the time to be generous with strangers.”
“Yes, then… … .”
Brand quickly reached into his arms.
Then, after counting the number of guards at the guard post, he took out crones equal to the number and held them out to the guards.
“At least a cold beer after work.”
“Oh oh… … After all, merchants are good at spending! thank you! Come in quickly!”
“then.”
slap!
Brand swung the reins and the horses galloped off.
After passing the checkpoint, Meisa, who was behind, asked.
“Brand, why did you give me crones? I could have just passed by.”
“Because I can open my face for a few pennies.”
The one who answered was old Crete.
“A face?”
Meisa grew up in an aristocratic family and never went out of Tournoble.
Her uncle, the Cretan old man, continued to speak.
“If you just pass by like this, you will remain an outsider for them to manage or cause problems. If you don’t, hand over a few crones and you’ll be a grateful visitor for a beer. Meisa, if you were the town guard, which one of you would help out in case of trouble?”
“ah… … However, giving crones is a bit… … . Wouldn’t that be unfair to those who didn’t hand over the money?”
“The world is like that. It’s an unfair place from birth. However, you just have to find a way that you can do within it and move forward one step at a time. Brand, who drives our wagon, is a seasoned merchant.”
“Ha ha ha!”
The brand I was listening to laughed out loud as if it was embarrassing.
Soon after, the carriage stopped in front of a plausible inn.
[Clouds on the Beach]
The party got off the wagon one by one.
Brand decided to stay in the wagon.
He had to look at the state of the horses, but more than that, it was because of the large treasure chests on the wagon.
“I’ll give you a shift every three hours, Brand.”
“All right.”
Brand leaned against the driver’s seat in a familiar position.
A boy ran out of the inn.
“How old are you? Meals, lodging and bathing are all available!”
A boy about the same age as Tira.
It was very cheerful.
“seven. First of all, I’m going to tie it for two days, and during that time, I eat twice a day. Take a bath once a day.”
“then… … .”
The boy folded his fingers and counted.
At that moment, Carl tossed the thick money bag.
“Oh! So many!”
The boy who took it and unfolded it was surprised.
“If you need anything more, please ask. First, bring a meal to Brand over there in the wagon.”
“yes! Tonight’s menu is cranberry pie and pork stew. You have to pay extra for beer!”
“i get it.”
The party entered the inn.
However, the inside of the inn was filled with white smoke as if there was a fire.
“Cough, Cough… … .”
Tira and the others coughed.
It was cigarette smoke.
“It’s a specialty of our ‘Cloud by the Sea’ inn! It’s a hookah!”
“… … The cloud was cigarette smoke.”
Frowning couples.
As I was contemplating whether I should look for another inn, one person quickly jumped inside.
Then he sat down and cried.
“here! Bring me a grape hookah here! hurry!”
It was a Cretan inspiration.
***
“Write… … under… … .”
After a while, the group finished their meal.
Meisa, Tira, and the girl were resting in the lodging on the second floor.
Carl, old Crete, Hanson, and Brand were taking turns tasting the hookah equipment in the middle.
It was Terrence who was number one in the carriage.
“It smells fragrant. It’s pretty advanced.”
“Looks like it. Brand, what about you?”
“It’s been a while since I’ve seen such a high-end hookah, old man. How about Hanson?”
“… … It is a tobacco leaf to drink.”
All four nodded at the same time.
At first, cigarette smoke filled the entire inn, so I thought about moving it, but after taking a sip, everyone changed their minds.
[Clouds by the sea] The inn’s hookah was indeed excellent.
“Normally, this should make you dizzy, but there’s nothing like that. The fragrance is very good, and I also like the slightly tasted taste of grape juice mixed with water. This is what travel is like, hee hee.”
A meal after washing with hot water, beer, and hookah with it.
The old man of Crete, who was living in an undersea cave, looked ecstatic as if he had arrived in heaven.
It was because of him that everyone decided to stay at this inn.
Carl got up from his seat after eating.
“I’ll be back in a couple of hours.”
“Where are you going?”
“I’ll have to look around the town and get something to use for the bait.”
“hmm… … .”
“Captain, I will take care of you.”
Hanson stood up.
But Carl shook his head.
“You’re so big that you get attention when you walk around. Guard the party and the wagon here.”
“… … yes.”
“hehehe, Hanson is not a talent suitable for reconnaissance.”
Soon after, Carl vacated his seat.
The party moderately enjoyed cigarettes and beer before going up to the second floor.
***
after a couple of hours.
Everyone gathered in one room except for Terence, who was standing in the carriage.
“Did you get anything?”
A Cretan-inspired question.
I took something out of the backpack Carl was wearing.
It was a woman’s cloak.
Bright colors with pretty patterns embroidered on them.
Maya, who saw that, said.
“It’s a cloak worn by young women from aristocratic families.”
Far from being practical, a fancy and pretty cloak to reveal one’s identity.
Carl passed the two cloaks to Tira and Meisa respectively.
“Put this on.”
“Are we us?”
“Yes, wear it and walk around the village market right before it goes down. Then the guys who show interest will show up.”
“The bait was me and Tira.”
“Do you think it will be difficult?”
“No, I wanted to try. role like this.”
Meisa proudly puts on her cape.
Originally, Meisa grew up as a daughter of an aristocratic family.
The cape fit as if it had been made for her.
The problem was Tyra.
“that… … I am… … I’ve never worn such a classy cloak before, hehehe.”
“I will help you.”
Meisa lifted her cloak and wrapped it around Tira.
Then, I tightened the string under the neck and pulled the string inside to fit Tira’s body.
Tira said with an embarrassed face.
Even if not as much as Meisa, it was very good to see.
“I feel like a rich girl… … . But what can I do?”
“You can do nothing. Just walk around and if you think someone is following you, go into a dark alley. Then we will surround you from behind.”
“Ahh! It’s a live bait role!”
“yes.”
“Just in case, Maysa keep her rapier hidden inside her cloak.”
“Yes, chief.”
Thus, their respective roles were determined.
The two women are naive noble ladies who don’t know the whole world on a trip to a village away from the city.
Carl, Hanson, and Old Man Crete follow and escort them.
Brand was to remain at the inn and guard the room.
“Then go.”
The brand greeted the departing party.
The girl next to him also bowed her head.
“Rumors must have already spread that travelers with large wagons and loads of luggage are staying at inns. Watch out for brands too.”
“Yes, I will lock the door tightly. My son has a whistle too.”
“great. Then see you later.”
Two women in fine cloaks and a party left the inn.