Chapter 51
I deftly sidestepped Elena’s question, and we continued on.
Getting romantically involved would make the cost of maintaining our relationships skyrocket. On top of that, it would make it harder to keep women around me.
The caravan continued onward, fending off sporadic attacks along the way.
Eventually, we reached a checkpoint.
The sheer rock walls of the deep ravine narrowed the sky like the fingers of a giant.
Guards armed with crossbows watched us from the stone towers flanking the heavy wooden gate.
"Halt! Unload the cargo from every wagon! We’ll inspect everything thoroughly!"
An official bundled in furs shouted.
"Sir, that’s a bit much. If we unload all this cargo, we won’t reach Metzsilva before sundown. ...Could you make an exception and just check our ledgers?"
The merchant took a heavy leather pouch from his sleeve. The official’s eyes fixed on it.
"Hmm... In consideration of your honesty, I’ll let you through with just a visual inspection this time. But open the covers on the three wagons at the back!"
They seemed content to give the wagons loaded with grain and fodder a cursory inspection, just enough to make it look as though they’d done their jobs.
"All right, move along! There’s a line behind you!"
At the official’s signal, the heavy gate finally opened.
After passing through the checkpoint and traveling a little farther, we finally saw Metzsilva, our destination for the night.
Beyond the simple gate, with only a wooden watchtower and a wooden palisade, inns and stables lined the street.
"Hey! Keep your hands off the cargo!"
A merchant’s shout rang out.
The streets were packed with people. Wary of cargo thieves and pickpockets lost in the crowd, we made our way down the main thoroughfare.
The caravan turned right along the way, passed beneath a stone arch, and entered the courtyard of a large inn.
Once the last wagon had cleared the gate, it was shut and secured with a sturdy bar.
We still needed to take turns keeping watch over the wagons, but apparently we could sleep in rooms tonight.
We ate dinner at the tables in the earthen-floored room facing the courtyard, then went upstairs.
One large bed stood in the middle of the room.
"It’s been a while since we’ve slept under a roof."
Elena murmured happily.
"All right, I’ll take the first watch again. Elena’s next, then Noah."
Lyle set the watch order and went down to the courtyard.
The three of us lay down on the bed, with Kai—the only one without a watch shift—between us.
Perhaps because of the exhaustion from our long journey, everyone soon began breathing softly in their sleep.
Before dawn, Elena gently shook me awake.
After a quick handoff, I went down to the courtyard.
Night dew remained on the cobblestones, making the soles of my shoes slip slightly.
I leaned against the wall and fixed my gaze on the wagons bathed in the full moon’s light.
The white light outlined them, while everything else sank into darkness.
There was no wind, and the trees stood motionless, as if asleep.
Before long, something caught at the edge of the mana I’d spread out.
Something was there.
But there was no presence.
A shadow slipped in without a sound.
No footsteps, no rustling of clothes. It didn’t even stir the air.
—So this is 'Stealth.'
"I’ve been waiting for you."
Before she could lay a hand on my shoulder, I turned toward her.
"…!"
Mireille froze in place, her hand still raised.
A beat later, she gasped, then lowered her hand as if all strength had left her.
"Sigh... You really do have an extraordinary sense of detection. So? What story are you going to tell me?"
Her profile, illuminated by the moonlight, looked somehow cold.
"It was the night before last. Glen-san approached Hans-san’s wagon while making his rounds... and tampered with something for a while."
"In that darkness? And in a blind spot... Wait, you could sense that?"
"Yes."
I gave a small nod.
"And Hans-san’s wagon had a cut in its axle. —Though I’ve already repaired it."
The air turned chilly for just an instant.
"You fixed it...? Isn’t that destroying evidence?"
"The cut alone wouldn’t identify the culprit anyway."
Mireille furrowed her brows.
"Even so, your testimony alone is a little thin, isn’t it?"
"Yes. But this time, the Baron’s family has lost face."
I continued after a brief pause.
"If we let Glen-san continue moving freely, the Baron’s family will make a move on its own."
"But then the Guild’s reputation..."
"If we catch the attackers and uncover their connection to the Baron, wouldn’t that put the Duke in our debt?"
"...I see."
Mireille narrowed her eyes.
"Besides, if the Guild deals with Glen-san, the Baron’s family will have no one left to direct their anger at. They might turn on us instead."
"...And?"
"Let’s make a deal."
I met her gaze.
"I’ll testify after Glen-san is attacked."
Mireille didn’t answer right away.
Neither of us looked away; only time passed.
"Sigh... Fine. I’ll play along."
She turned both palms upward and shrugged dramatically.
"Still, you’re not just an ordinary twelve-year-old, are you? Who are you?"
Her gaze pierced me directly.
She silently bore down on me, as if waiting for a reaction.
"I wouldn’t advise you to pry."
With that, I fell silent.
Silence returned to the courtyard.