Chapter 71
“So, what exactly should I do?”
Although I’d been asked to be a shot in the arm for this land, I had no idea what I was supposed to do, so I asked Commander Cyril.
“Well, I’d like you to tour the area with Curtis and me. Even if you don’t do anything, the residents who see you will react strongly. You could say that you’ll make them stop being stuck in place and start thinking.”
“I see...”
As I nodded at Commander Cyril’s words, he gently took one of my hands.
“Fia... Please tell me right away about anything the residents say or do when I’m not with you.”
“Understood.”
Knowing how worried he was, I smiled and answered.
Even so, Commander Cyril kept holding my hand as if he still couldn’t stop worrying. Being a commander must be hard, I thought.
...Well, his worrywart side and his kindness are both good qualities. I don’t think there’s anything wrong with them.
I tilted my head and checked with Commander Cyril about what we should do next.
“Commander Cyril, Fabian and I were planning to go shopping in town. Should we change our plans?”
“...No. In that case, I’d like to accompany you.”
At Commander Cyril’s suggestion, everyone there decided to go into town together.
Commander Curtis seemed relaxed, since he knew the area well, but Commander Cyril looked restless.
...Hmm, Commander Cyril seems like the type who worries about everything and makes life hard for himself.
I resolved not to do anything troublesome, at least, so I wouldn’t give Commander Cyril any more cause for concern.
As if he’d heard my thoughts, Fabian glanced at me.
“What are you thinking about with such a serious look, Fia? I think you should act as you usually do. If you try to do something different, I have a feeling you’ll attract trouble.”
“H-How rude! I’m an obedient, quiet rookie knight, as always.”
“...”
“...”
“That’s right. I think you’re a modest knight.”
For some reason, only Commander Curtis agreed with me.
Feeling a little annoyed about that, I entered the town.
As befitted a town in a duke’s domain, its streets were bustling.
The roads were wide, with shops packed tightly along both sides.
Many people were out and about, enjoying themselves—some strolling as they munched on fruit, others chatting with friends while peering into shop windows.
There were all kinds of shops, from places selling food like bread and meat to stores dealing in daily necessities and knickknacks. Even just looking around seemed like fun.
Suddenly remembering something, I turned to the three of them with a proud smile.
Then I whipped the envelope from my inner pocket out with a flourish.
“Look! I have spending money this time! Believe it or not, Commander Desmond gave me a parting gift!”
The envelope I waved around for them to see held the money Commander Desmond, commander of the Second Knight Order, had given me as a parting gift.
“Huh, Desmond gives a parting gift to a subordinate who doesn’t even report directly to him? That’s kind of surprising.”
Commander Curtis tilted his head in puzzlement, but Commander Cyril dismissed the idea without hesitation.
“Desmond doesn’t have a wife or girlfriend, after all. Though he’s well paid, he has neither anyone nor any occasion to spend his money on. He must have plenty to spare if he can give Fia a parting gift.”
“Um, what should I get Commander Desmond as a souvenir?”
The conversation seemed headed somewhere troublesome, so I tried to steer it back to my own question, but they started chiming in from the side.
“I think a charm to ward off trouble with women—or, conversely, one to bring about a good match—would be a good choice.”
“Commander Cyril’s idea is good, too, but for Desmond, wouldn’t food be better? Meat, meat, and more meat. If it’s smoked, it’ll keep well, so I recommend that.”
While I was at a loss over the completely different souvenirs they’d suggested, Fabian offered another idea.
“Sutherland is famous for its shells, so how about a chessboard made from shells?”
Ugh, could you stop suggesting different things?
Whichever one I chose, someone was bound to take offense.
But if I bought them all, I’d probably spend more than the money I’d been given...
Wondering what to do, I decided to buy the leaf-wrapped stewed fish being sold right in front of me.
“One, please! I’ll eat it right away.”
The shopkeeper smiled and started to hand it over, but the moment he saw my hair, his eyes widened in alarm.
“Huh? D-Did something happen?”
He looked so startled that I couldn’t help asking.
“N-No, it’s nothing...”
The shopkeeper mumbled as he handed me the food, then clearly averted his gaze.
Wow, is this the “red-hair rejection reaction” Commander Cyril told me about?
It’s so obvious, there’s no way I could miss it.
Thinking that, I peeled back the leaf and flaked the fish apart so it would be easier to eat.
“Oh, it really is stewed. I always picture this fish grilled...”
This fish, known for its round green spots, is only found in the waters around Sutherland. I remembered eating it grilled in my previous life, and how delicious it had been.
The shopkeeper heard my mutter, looked up as if struck by something, and stared at me.
...H-Huh? Did I open my mouth too wide while eating the fish?
Or did I have sauce around my mouth? I discreetly wiped my lips with the back of my hand, but there was no sauce on it.
Ah, is being stared at as if they could bore a hole through me another “red-hair rejection reaction”?
Thinking that, I turned to Commander Cyril, Commander Curtis, and Fabian.
“This fish is really delicious. Would you like some, Commanders?”
All three of them shook their heads in unison.
Oh, but it’s delicious.
Still munching on the rest of the fish, I moved away from the shop and peeked into the one next door.
The neighboring shop had several brown nuts lined up in front, each about the size of my head.
“Oh, this is that delicious nut juice!”
At my voice, the shopkeeper looked up with a smile, but when he saw my red hair, he flinched in surprise too.
...Oh, there’s that “red-hair rejection reaction” again.
When people flinch just from seeing me, it makes me feel like I’m some kind of monster. Rawr.
“Mister, does my red hair scare you? Or do I actually have a frightening appearance without realizing it?”
The shopkeeper seemed like a nice person, so I asked him honestly.
He was silent for several seconds, looking me up and down from head to toe. Then he spoke, apparently unsure of himself.
“Are you a knight, young lady...? Or a Saint dressed as a knight?”
“Yes, I’m a knight. I usually serve in the royal capital, but I’m visiting Sutherland to offer my support.”
“A knight, really...? Even with such red hair.”
“There are different kinds of red hair. The Great Saint-sama’s red was the color of dawn. ...I’m sure it wasn’t this color.”
“Ah, but what a waste. To have such red hair...”
Before I knew it, a crowd had formed, and people who’d overheard our conversation began speaking around us.
Just as Commander Cyril had said, the residents really did have strong feelings about red hair.
Part of their conversation stirred something in my memory.
“Dawn red... Now that you mention it, someone once described my hair as the red of dawn.”
Um, where was that?
It was definitely in my previous life, but everyone had their own way of describing my red hair.
“T-This hair color is the red of dawn...”
“This is... that...”
The residents suddenly began staring intently at my hair, as if they were looking at something impossible.
H-Huh?
Did I say something that would draw this much attention?
Just as I opened my mouth, wondering if I should say something, I felt a heavy thud against my back.
Startled, I turned around and saw a child sitting on the ground, having bounced backward after crashing into me.
On a closer look, it seemed to be one of the children I’d met by the sea earlier.
“Are you all right?” I asked as I helped the child up, but they began trembling violently, as if panicked.
“P-Please help! E-Everyone was attacked by monsters in the forest...!”
“What?”
I cried out in surprise, then crouched down to meet the child at eye level so I could calm them.
...Monsters?
I hope they aren’t too strong...
Just as I was about to speak, I realized that Commander Cyril and the others, who had been some distance away, were now standing right behind me.
...Oh, that’s right. I’m with three formidable knights.
Even fairly strong monsters won’t be a problem.