“Wait! Just wait there for a moment! Hold your blades!”

Just as I was about to open another can of carnage, Kholdrum called out to the other group to stop them from angering me. Sheesh, I wasn’t going to kill them… just leave them bloody for a little bit.

“Out of the way, dwarf! This thing’s one of the scalekin, an enemy of the Southern Kingdoms! Seeing how it easily disposed the earlier men, this thing’s beyond dangerous!”

“Then let me ask you a question… do you think you and your men can defeat him despite being on the losing end of the fight with your attackers earlier?”

Looking like he swallowed something bitter, this guy who’s in charge seems especially upset about being reminded of their predicament earlier.

“… then what do you propose we do? Sit around and twiddle our thumbs as we die? Or perhaps are you asking us to beg for mercy? Either choice is none we shall have!”

“I’m not asking you to do anything that involves any of the sort! In case you’ve forgotten, this one has saved your lives! If he really wanted you dead, he could have left you all well alone to die or killed every last one of you himself! Now… are you all thinking clearly yet?”

Looks like Kholdrum finally got them with that last bit. Their boss didn’t seem too convinced since he still kept his guard up, but he did signal his men to lower their weapons. Soon, tensions started to die down, and I could hear some of them murmuring about me. I was begging for a fight, so I decided to shut up and let Kholdrum do the talking this time.

“… very well, you’ve made your point. However, how do we know he truly isn’t an enemy? From what I could tell, you lot are suspicious yourselves for being quite friendly to such a creature.”

Tch. This guy seriously just doesn’t know when to give up. Since this has gotten way too annoying I decided to shut him up by showing my Adventurer’s Badge.

“! M-Mithril Ranked Adventurer!?”

This move seems to have done the job quite nicely as a lot of them started dropping their jaws and gulping the air like fish in water.

“… would you please… let me see that?”

“Be my guest.”

He seemed surprised when I responded in a clear voice, but like a professional at his job, he simply came forward as he sheathed his sword and took the badge to check its legitimacy. While this knight was busy with this I decided to take a peak at their group. Some people started coming out and looked in our direction, but what really caught my eye was an elegant looking carriage… no, to be more precise, the one who was in it.

It was a girl who looked to be in her teens, which had dark blue and wavy hair tied with a red ribbon and wore a black dress with bits of red colors here and there. She was pale but not in a sickly way and held a closed fan in one hand. She had a cute face while her hair stylishly covered her right eye, but what really drew me in was her exposed left eye that seemed dark while shining with small lights like stars.

Noticing me, she soon stared at me in seemingly the same way I stared at her, with curiosity. It wasn’t that I was attracted to her in that way, but there was a strange feeling that welled up in me… as if… I felt relieved from seeing someone familiar. She smiled mysteriously as she lightly unfolded her fan and covered her face leaving only her eye, watching me.

“By the gods, it’s real! And it’s even marked by the Silver Lion… to think that Sir Gren himself has appointed you… with regards to my earlier behavior, please accept my sincerest apologies.”

My attention was suddenly brought back as the young knight’s tone changed and apologized to me. Somehow, I’m in a good mood, so I’ll let him off.

“Think nothing of it, I get that a lot. On the other hand, do you have an idea about those attackers? They didn’t fight like simple bandits.”

“…”

He didn’t respond immediately and seems to be in thought as he stared at the ground.

“… all I can say is that they may be related to the events revolving around Llorden. For some reason or another, the Margrave has barred all exits despite allowing entry. As forces belonging to allied nobles, we of course were exempt from this, but I didn’t think we’d be attacked. In fact, we were on our way out of that city to return to our liege until this happened.

Forgive me for being forward, but despite being of Mithril ranked, I’d advise you to stay clear from Llorden until the capital sends people to investigate. Things currently aren’t right in that city.”

That’s unexpected. At first I was excited at the prospects of seeing a more developed city, but it seems this place has some issues as well. Is trouble following me or something? Or perhaps…

I shook my head at the thought. If the agents of the Dark Gods are setting a trap, then they wouldn’t have let it be known so easily, especially since I can just make a detour and avoid this city. Now that I think about it, would those beings really be after me? Although I’m somewhat strong and one of the Dragons, I’m still only a mortal. It’s not that I doubt Nabolros after he was freed, but the idea that they’re out to get me just seems so unrealistic since I don’t think I’ve done anything to garner their attention… oh right, I broke that eye thing that came out of the centipede, but is that really enough? How much of a hold do these gods have in this world?

I shrugged as I realized that it’s pointless to be thinking about this now. The young knight seemed to think I might have been contemplating this situation in my silence, so I decided to respond.

“Thanks for the warning. I’ll keep what you said in mind.”

Hearing my answer, he shrugged then saluted and walked back towards his group. From then on, Kholdrum just finished up some talks with the people in charge. As their business concluded, we all went our separate ways.

…

“My lady, is something the matter?”

Within an elegant carriage used by those of nobility, a short brown-haired maid was busy attending to her mistress when she noticed her attention was distant. This lady was none other than the dark-blue haired lady that Camus saw in within the carriage.

“Oh it’s nothing Cecily. I was simply… lost in thought.”

“Well, our recent encounter was indeed frightening after all, and it’s understandable that you’d normally be out of it… but you’re not thinking about that are you?”

“Hee hee… nothing gets by you, does it, Cecily?”

It was only natural her young maid, Cecily, would be able to discern her thoughts. After all, she has cared for her mistress since they were both children. Hence, it wouldn’t come to one’s surprise that both treated each other as friends or even sisters instead of master and servant during private occasions.

“Knowing my Lady Agñes, very few things would cause you worry… or lose yourself in thought… is it perhaps, the one from before? That… scalekin?”

There was slight revulsion in Cecily’s tone when she mentioned the scalekin they encountered, but opposite of her, Agñes was instead smiling as if remembering something pleasant.

“Don’t be like that Cecily. He did save us after all.”

“While that may be true, I still don’t see why we shouldn’t be wary. Those scalekin are cunning and perhaps it had plans…”

“Well, even if he did, it doesn’t matter now does it? After all, he headed straight for Llorden and we’re on our way back home to father’s villa. Though… it’s a pity I couldn’t meet with him earlier.”

Cecily’s eyes widened and apparent shock was on her face at Agñes’ reply.

“Why in heavens would you want to meet with that… creature? Though it saved us, there’s no reason we have to meet with it directly. After all, it’s but a… a…”

“Lizard, Cecily? I say, please do stop being rude to our benefactor. Though he’s not here, it saddens me when people speak of him like that.”

“… I apologize, my Lady. Though still… I have to ask… why do you defend him so? This is the first time I’ve seen you show much interest of anyone, much less a scalekin.”

“Hee hee… well… do keep this a secret… when we both looked at each other… I couldn’t ‘see’ him!”

“?.... !!”

At first, Cecily showed a confused expression but upon remembering her mistress’ ability, great shock showed on her face.

“No way! Are you saying you can’t see him within the ‘Flow of Fate’!?”

“Shh! Quiet down you!”

So great was Cecily’s reaction that she soon started speaking in a less polite tone. Realizing her outburst, she immediately calmed herself as per her training, and spoke to her mistress in a low voice with a solemn expression.

“Agñes, this is serious! There has never been a precedent where you could not ‘see’ anyone! We need to report this at the Temple! … Or at the very least, your mother!”

At Cecily’s request, Agñes mildly twitched in reaction, but kept her calm.

“Don’t be silly Cecily! Although I said I couldn’t ‘see’ him, it doesn’t mean I ‘felt’ something.”

Hearing this, Cecily’s tension slowly subsided, but still urged Agñes with a pleading expression.

“Oh alright… I’ll inform mother whenever I get the chance, but for now, we can just relax. Though I did say I couldn’t feel ‘it’, I did, however, feel ‘that’ instead from his presence.”

“Wait… then are you saying… he’s –“

“A friend, Cecily… and a powerful one whom we’ll need assistance from in the future.”

Cutting Cecily’s words, Agñes lifted the dangling hair covering the right side of her face to reveal an eerie yet beautiful golden eye that glowed with an uncountable number of strange runic symbols that overlaid each other while twisting and turning like the gears of a clock.

Seeing the faint glow and realizing what her mistress meant, she nodded in response and refrained from speaking any further about the scalekin. Resuming her duties, she instead talked to her mistress about pleasant topics as they continued their journey.

However, while she kept quiet, Cecily understood… with what her mistress said… a new feeling that she never thought would be possible ever since she’s been with her friend and mistress grew within her heart… Hope.