Living as an Unemployed in Another World

105 – 4. Silence in the Helm (21)

21.

“Jin.”

I was awakened by someone grabbing my shoulder and shaking it. As I groaned as I untied my arms, a pink silhouette approached me in my blurry vision.

“Mmm.”

“Get up now. Everything is here.”

It was a mummy. She gently pulled me up and held me by the shoulders as I yawned. You think you’ll lie down again, you know me too well. I had no choice but to strain my back.

“You sleep really well. It must have been noisy just by crossing the gate.”

That’s Hilda’s voice. Come to think of it, I woke up once because it was noisy in the middle and went back to sleep. It must have been when I passed through the checkpoint. I swallowed a yawn and gently pulled back the tent. The carriage was clattering along the stone pavement, and a chaotic street that looked like a market floor was in view. It was obviously flat even before I fell asleep, but Mira added an explanation for me to understand the situation.

“It is already the royal road. We’ve passed the checkpoint, and we’re looking for a place to park the wagon.”

“Really?”

I yawned as if it was no big deal and lay down again. Mira, knowing that I could not overcome my stubbornness, turned my head and lent me her knee. Seeing me reposition her to lie down, Hilda stuck her tongue out as if she was speechless.

“Oh my God, aren’t you curious about the outside world? Jin, you said you’ve never been to the capital.”

With that said, she pulled up the tent. Sitting at the end of the wagon, poking his head out, anyone could see that he was excited. Gerald looked at me and giggled.

“Leave it alone. Even when the ice kobold appeared, he didn’t budge from the wagon. Can you see the scenery of the royal capital?”

“That’s right. Oh, and there’s a weapon shop over there. Shall we all go together when we get off?”

“You idiot, why are you thinking about going downtown? If you go all the way to Middletown, where the guild is located, there must be many better armor stores.”

“Is that so?”

I crouched down overhearing their conversation. The warmth you feel from Mira’s thighs is your only respite. She ran her fingers through my hair and tickled it.

Exactly two and a half days from the outskirts to the royal capital. Wherever I went, the journey wrapped in the cold of winter was never smooth. Even though there were two wizards riding, they couldn’t light a fire in the middle of the wagon, so they couldn’t be free from the cold. At best, it was best to block the cold wind from outside with Zenith’s protection spell. My body is sore from lying down all the way, but it’s cold and I have to think about moving.

“By the way, Gerald, you know it strangely well? Isn’t it your first time on the royal road, just like us?”

“Huh? No, I have ears too.”

On the way, a group of ice kobolds appeared and attacked us while we got off the wagon and started a fire, but it wasn’t a big problem. A kobold is a two-legged monster in the form of a reptile. It is said that they only ride in winter, but there were five adventurers who were full of energy all year round on this side. Except for me and Janice.

I glanced at Gerald as he scratched his cheek. Whenever I feel embarrassed or lie, I always do that. Well, I don’t know what he did before settling in Cornfield. Anyway, my first meeting with him was an unsightly appearance with blood dripping from being beaten by goblins. That much is perfect for reminiscing and making fun of him.

By the way, I also told everyone including Hilda that I had never been to the royal road, but once I stopped by downtown to exchange the things I had when I ran away from her witch. It wasn’t even a few days, it was for a while, and he immediately arranged a carriage to leave, but at least it wasn’t the first time. It is not a lie at all to say that it is the first time since the memory of it is vague now.

“… ….”

I don’t know about Janice. He said he was in the Mage Tower, but Gerald said he didn’t even know where he was in the Mage Tower or what country he was in. Mr. Sukhbat seems to have come from a distant people from the kingdom in the first place, and Alphonse said that it has been less than 10 years since he first started living with humans. So among us, Mira must have been the longest in the capital.

“How is the mummy? Why don’t you visit the guild for a day before going?”

“Huh? Ah, um.”

Mira put on a troubled expression at Hilda’s suggestion. No wonder, as soon as we get off the wagon, we have somewhere else to go. Then the driver gave a signal, and the carriage slowed down slowly, and before we could wait for it to stop, one or two jumped out of the carriage. He’s really quick-tempered.

As I leaped onto the stone pavement for the last time, the horses stopped with a clatter. Looking around, I saw a complex row of one- and two-story buildings in a general style that were no different from those on the East Side. Is it still downtown? The coachman had a conversation with the stablekeeper and then told us.

“I will be staying near this stable, so please visit me if anything happens. I will go see you as soon as the meeting ends tomorrow. Apparently, Middletown is too expensive for me to stay.”

Gerald stroked his chin. It seems that the expenses provided for us by the guild do not include the cost of the stable and the coachman’s lodging. After all, there is no such thing as a salty person. Gerald said he had a hard time getting here. He handed him a piece of silver and turned his body around to ask us.

“Yes, but what should I do? Shall we all go to Middletown and unpack? The guild is there too. Before the conference, I looked around and ate delicious food. ‘Song of the Siren’ won’t lose, of course, but the inn in the royal capital will be different.”

Saying that, Gerald gave a sinister smile. It seems that the only thing in my head is to come all the way here and see the s*xy maids. Hilda shook her head in disbelief, but since no one objected, it seemed that it was an agreed upon point for everyone to head to Middletown together.

“Oh, that, we have somewhere else to go.”

──Excluding me and Mira. When she interjected in an uncharacteristic timid way, all eyes except for me turned to her.

“Where? Didn’t you say it was your first time in the royal capital?”

“That’s the case, but that… ….”

Mira dragged on her words and looked at the other guys. It’s strangely a bit depressing when the story of his days as a thief is involved. I can’t help it. I said shyly, pulling her shoulder lightly.

“Everyone has a place to go. We’re going on a date, so don’t interrupt without notice.”

“Heo Eok!”

Gerald and Hilda opened their mouths so that their jaws would fall out. Mr. Sukhbat and Alphonse nodded nonchalantly, and Zenith…… I’m staring at this side as if I’m not in a good mood for some reason.

“Where are you going?”

“Huh?”

When Janice, who is not very interested in other people’s affairs, boldly asked, I chose my words. Suddenly, the expression of Hilda standing next to her became subtle. As if to leave it to herself, she put words like “This time” In her mouth and pulled Janice by the hem of her dress. Soon she walked away, her drooping shoulders drooping. Why do you do that

“Then see you at the inn in front of the guild tonight! Will you come to the meeting tomorrow?”

“I have to go.”

Only after receiving my confirmation, five people, including Alphonse, walked away from us. It’s been a long time since we were left alone. After seeing their backs recede, I looked around the quiet neighborhood and asked Mira.

“So, where is that hideout?”

“Mmm, that’s it.”

Mira mumbled, avoiding my gaze. Apparently, she only heard that there was a secret hideout somewhere in the royal capital, not just the master and herself. I’ve never heard of it being underground or hidden in a building. I’ll know if I go, I’ve never asked.

“Actually, there is a place I need to visit before that.”

“Go to visit? Isn’t it a hideout?”

“Well, it’s complicated to explain.”

Mira seemed to be at a loss as to how to say this. Why do you do that? While I was distracted by her slender face, slightly heated by the cold, someone approached me with a loud voice.

“Hey, you two! Are you on a trip?”

“…… ?”

“Looks like it’s just the two of us, so let’s not talk complicated, shall we just sit in the corner for a bit?”

I looked up and down the three or four men. Judging by the clothes he wears, he doesn’t have a high status, and judging from his wobbly gait, he doesn’t seem to be very disciplined. Seeing that he deliberately rips his sleeves to reveal his big forearms in the middle of winter, is he just a bully? As if to clear my doubts, she sighed and took a step forward.

“Did I tell you when I came? Just because it’s a royal road doesn’t mean it’s safe. This is downtown.”

“Is that so?”

I was convinced. The royal capital is not the size of a city, befitting its status. The closer you get to the capital, the higher people live, so on the other hand, the farther you get from the center, the more difficult it is to maintain public order. Considering that Mira’s case is rare, it can be said that downtown, the lowest neighborhood, is overflowing with petty criminals.

Then Mira approached her, her hands hidden in her cloak, and her men exclaimed as they scanned her from head to toe.

“What, are you kidding me? Sister, where are you from?”

“Look at the body, it kills me.”

“Let’s leave that poor kid alone, shall we have fun together? It’s not very cold, but I take off my clothes that are restrictive…….”

I can’t listen anymore. I’m not really worried, but when the guy in the front reached Mira’s chest, I reflexively took out the wand I borrowed from Janice. Then, somewhere else, a loud scream rang out.

“Fools, run away!”

I don’t know who it is, but it’s late. As Mira pulled her hand out of her overcoat, a solid silver line was drawn over their silhouettes.

At last, a red droplet splashed over my field of vision.