139 – So, we’re not on those terms. (13)
From Noble mtl dot com
Time passed faster than expected. Adrienne, with a smile on her lips, dragged me around, observing the increasingly lively festival scenery.
“Try that one!”
She pointed to a dart-throwing vendor. With skillful precision, Adrienne hit the bullseye with all her darts. When did she practice such a thing?
Having obtained a small hairpin as a prize, she pinned it to her hair and asked, “Does it suit me?”
It wasn’t a high-quality hairpin, but considering the owner of the hairpin, one couldn’t say it didn’t suit her. After all, the face completes the fashion.
“It suits you well.”
“Oh… I should try this again later.”
“When did you practice darts?”
“Oh, I learned it as a self-defense technique from the knight commander.”
“….”
Next, we came across a group of hefty individuals engaged in arm wrestling. Adrienne glanced at me and asked, “What do you think? Senior, do I have strong arms?”
“Wouldn’t your arms be stronger than mine?”
“Oh, I’m fragile.”
“…Lies.”
“If I say so, then it must be true. You know that, right?”
“Rather die than admit it.”
I glanced at the arm-wrestling arena and signed up. Yes. Today, instead of Adrian following my plan, I also followed Adrian’s.
“Can you win with such thin arms?”
Some of the older brothers seemed to say something like that…
Thunk!
The older brother’s arm fell over in an instant. The silence of the surrounding spectators was natural. The next challengers couldn’t turn my arm to the opposite side either.
Of course. Even if I don’t use magic, would I lose to a slightly stronger ordinary person? I’ve endured Arion’s heart, nearly died countless times, and undergone insane extreme training.
As for the prize for winning the arm-wrestling competition, it was a bracelet imbued with the protection of a priest. Of course, this level of item would be precious to them.
I handed the bracelet to Adrian. Since the bracelet wasn’t particularly useful to me anyway.
“Oh, are you giving this to me?”
“Weren’t you the one who made me participate in the first place because you wanted it?”
“I just thought it would be fun… I’ll gratefully accept it, senior.”
Adrian smiled brightly.
And so, enjoying various parts of the festival with her, time flew by unnoticed.
Yes. Now it was really time to get to work.
I discreetly told Adrian.
“Arien. It’s time to get going.”
“Ah… Time has passed so quickly.”
She looked around with eyes filled with deep regret. It was already the beginning of sunset.
It was time to do something soon.
Today, for the first time, I took Adrian’s arm and led her.
“This way.”
“It seems like you’re heading to a slightly shady place… Is that correct?”
“Yes. It’s a place those troublemakers at the festival would enjoy.”
“…I see. I suppose so.”
“Right now, even if they’re disguised, I don’t look particularly strong on the outside, and I seem to have a lot of money, right? And you’re beautiful. Naturally, when lowlifes see a pretty woman, their eyes wander.”
“…Senior, you do have a tendency to say such things without hesitation.”
“What do you mean?”
“The part about being beautiful.”
“Isn’t it just an objective fact? Even if you’re disguised, your appearance isn’t the kind that’s easily hidden.”
Adrian had a look of realization at my words.
“Indeed. I understand why there are so many women around you, senior.”
“What’s with the sudden comment…”
“It’s nothing. Let’s go, senior.”
We turned our steps towards a slightly shady place.
– aaah!
Suddenly, a piercing scream echoed in our ears.
There was no lack of red-light districts in the Holy Empire. While the Empire valued asceticism and faith, the people who lived within were ultimately just ordinary individuals.
Indeed, the place where Adrian and I set foot was the pleasure district of Sacrum… commonly known as the Red Lantern District.
As the saying goes, where the light is bright, the shadows are deep. True to that, the Red Lantern District of Sacrum was more assertive than other cities. Yet, despite its cautious nature, the district seemed to have embraced the festive atmosphere, with people gathering in good numbers.
However, conspicuously absent were the knights.
The reason for the absence of knights in a place bustling with people was simple.
Knights and priests were, after all, human. While they led ascetic lives, they too had their limits as humans.
Moreover, the Holy Empire did not advocate absolute asceticism and did not view human instincts as something to be abhorred… recognizing the necessity of establishments like red-light districts.
Hence, knights were not stationed in such places. Whatever happened there, it was deemed the fault of those who failed to uphold asceticism.
Knowing that such places existed throughout Sacrum, I had entrusted the task to Adrian. A place that maintained the fervor of the festival, a place run by ordinary people with average wares… such a place.
Though ordinary, Adrian and I, dressed in fine garments, attracted attention as soon as we appeared in the district.
Eyes fixated on us as if wealthy nobles and ladies had come to play pranks.
Adrian’s face flushed suddenly upon hearing a distant bell tolling from a building. It was a maiden-like reaction.
…While I didn’t have personal experience, memories of modern life lingered in me… so I couldn’t help but feel slightly immune to such sounds.
Even if the soundproofing wasn’t perfect, it was something I occasionally heard.
“…How long should we stay here?”
“You don’t have to wait long. Probably.”
“I feel eyes on us…?”
“It’s inevitable to feel eyes on you. But soon, the interest will fade. People might think the wealthy lady and gentleman came for a prank.”
“A prank…?”
“I’m not saying that’s the case… just how they perceive us. Don’t worry.”
“Is that so?”
“Perhaps soon… they’ll make a move.”
At that moment, some individuals approached me.
“Hey, noble lady. You seem to have money. How about sharing some with us?”
They were a group of ruffians. But I hadn’t instructed anything to Adrian yet.
– Dantalion.
I sent a message to Dantalion.
– Yes. Did you call for me?
– Are the men you hired not near me yet?
– No. I was planning to send them immediately if you called. What’s the matter?
– Nothing, just… it seems these men are not the ones I called… They must be ruffians who see Adrian and me in a different light.
“Wow, the lady is… remarkable.”
As we remained silent, the ruffians, perhaps deeming Adrian and me frightened, shifted their gaze towards Adrian.
Then, they began spouting all sorts of lewd comments towards Adrian. About how attractive she looked, how her figure was exceptional, and how they wanted to have a go at her.
It seemed quite familiar to them, approaching in such a manner to extort money or commit assault against women, as if it wasn’t their first time.
Moreover, our attire wasn’t that of the high-class, but rather the attire of well-off commoners, making us even more tempting prey.
But did they know? Did they realize that their current target was the successor to the relentless hammer that crushes enemies’ heads, the heiress of Sentoohi?
A strange mix of anger and disgust crossed Adrian’s face.
Quietly, I whispered in her ear, unheard by the ruffians.
“Arlen. Just hold on a bit. Those guys are not part of my plan.”
“…Yes.”
“Still, it’s actually a good situation.”
“Is that so?”
“Yeah. At least, we can definitely draw some attention.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Nothing much. It’s none of your business.”
“Oh, I see. You’ve got quite the guts, huh? So, with that confidence, your pockets must be deep too, right?”
At the mention of pockets, I shook the coin purse I had towards the guys.
With a jingling sound, the guys’ gazes, previously directed at Adrian, fixed on the purse.
“Pockets? Of course, they’re deep. But, this won’t become your money, will it?”
“Oh, planning to fight, huh? Hey, buddy. It’s better to set aside your pride a bit, don’t you think? If you don’t want to be embarrassed in front of your lover… Oof!”
Just as those words ended, my fist struck the guy’s face.
Sometimes, a bit of noise is necessary to get their attention. Well, it’s better this way… It’s good to have all eyes on us.
I started knocking down the guys rushing towards me, and I said to Dantalion,
“Dantalion. You can send them now.”
“Got it.”
I could feel the surrounding gazes gradually turning towards us. Good. If the attention is this focused on us, rumors will spread like wildfire.
I smiled with satisfaction. Of course, during the process of knocking down the thugs, I only exerted a moderate level of force. It would be troublesome if the guys Dantalion sent were afraid of me.
From Noble mtl dot com