Chapter 171 "The Thief"

"So this is the arena."

　The arena in Strata, which I had seen before, was quite large, but this one is even bigger.

　In addition, it is well equipped.

　There is asphalt underfoot.

　The shops sell snacks that can be eaten inside, and a programme of matches is posted on the counter, so that the schedule can be seen at a glance.

　Next to this is the ticket office, where betting and other activities are handled, and where the uniformed beastmen, who look like officials, are busily at work.

　The number of people crowding the counter shows how busy this arena is.

　A little further away, a group of self-proclaimed forecasters were selling themselves as betting on the next match for a fee.

　I don't know what to say, maybe this is what a racetrack is like.

　I've never been there, so I don't know.

　I thought about going to have a look around a bit, but decided to get a place to stay first.

　It's not funny when you get there late and there are no rooms.

　The arena is not escaping, and if you want to see it, you should see the big event, the King's Championships.

For the time being, I'm happy just to have felt the atmosphere.

　I looked briefly at the shops and other places to make sure I had the right information, and then turned on my heel and left the place.

...Again.

　I sigh inwardly.

　I'm being followed.　

　I check to make sure they don't notice me, and it's those kids from earlier.

　When I pass through the paved section, they appear as if they've been waiting for me.

　Two dog-eared kids close the distance.

　The rest seem to be checking my movements from a distance.

　That's depressing.

　I knew there were a lot of kids making a living as pickpockets and stuff, but never this many.

　It's annoying to have them hanging around forever, so let's just lead them to an unpopular place and talk to them, shall we?

　I take a narrow path between the buildings.

　I leap, as the two kids who had closed the distance rush to catch up with me.

　I go to the top of the building.

　I check below and the two kids look around for me.

　I check them and jump down.

　As soon as I landed, I grabbed one of them by the neck from behind and lifted him up.

"...na, eh?"

The kid who was grabbed tried to lash out as quickly as possible, but when I put pressure on the hand that grabbed him, he let out a cry of pain and quieted down.

　Feeling of metal in hand. With a collar, a slave.

　"It looks like you've been following me since a while ago, do you want something from me?"

　"What the hell are you doing out of the blue? Let go of Dern!"

　The dog-eared kid starts to say something stupid, so I snicker at him.

　"If you want me to let him go, why don't you answer the question?"

　"I don't know what you're talking about! We just happened to be passing through here! And then all of a sudden you do this! You can leave where you left off!"

　"Yeah? Before I came through here, you almost swiped my wallet a couple of times, is that your imagination, too?"

　The kid's expression changes.

　What makes you think you won't be noticed after being so blatant about it?

"I don't know, man! Don't make false accusations!"

　Oh, you're just going to cut the white hat?

　I've got an idea, then, don't I?

　"You two just happened to pass by here. You thought you were being followed and I attacked you, is that what you're saying?"

　"That's right! You did this to me! Compensation! Pay for my treatment!"

　Now you're imitating a hit man. That's the worst.

　If you're going to be like that, how about this?

　"Oh, yeah, yeah. Then there's no problem to talk to the four people waiting near this alley."

　The kid's expression froze at my words.

　He was about to say something, but he just opened and closed his mouth and didn't say anything.

　I'm going to go one more step.　

　"They're the kind of people who follow people. They wouldn't complain if i beat them to death. One person is enough to hear what's going on. Don't you think so?"

　"Uh... that's..."

Hey, hey.

　You've got to mend your expression a bit more.

　It's like a confession.

　"For the last time. Why were you following me?"

　"Chi, damn it. That's right! I've been following you! I'm after your wallet! That's it! You bastard! If you touch Pili and the others, I'll never forgive you!"

　"Good and honest."

I throws the kid out of my grasp.

　The kid, who was knocked to the ground, grunts in pain, but ignores me.

　I continue without taking my eyes off the kid in front of me.　

　"I just want to enjoy sightseeing in this city, and I don't want any trouble with people like you. If you don't mess with me again, I'll let you off the hook. If you break ...... well, you and all your friends will die, won't you?"

　"To, tourism...?"

　The kid's gaze turns indignant.

　The reaction made him tilt his head. I tilted my head.

　Did I say something to offend him? I wasn't sure, so I continued.

"Ah, yes, that's right. 'Yeah, that's right. I'm here to see that."

　"I'm struggling to stay alive and you're just sitting around, sightseeing! You're a good man! If you can afford to go sightseeing, why don't you give us some money? We can spend it much better than you can!"

　Hmm.

　I could see why they were angry, but I couldn't think of anything else to say.

　The kids' circumstances can be roughly guessed by looking at the collars around their necks.

　Most likely, if you don't contribute a certain amount of money to your master, you'll be penalised in some way.

　It's a novel trick to try to win sympathy by talking about your situation while losing your temper.

　It's not funny in the slightest, so there's no twist.

　"At ......? Do you promise? Or not?"

　The kid grits his teeth and glares at me.

　We stare at each other for a while, and then the kid suddenly looks flustered and smiles.

　What am I doing? I scowled.

　"Help me, eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee! I'm being killed!!!!!!!"

He shouted out.　

　Ho. So that's how it came to be.

　Hearing the commotion, people gather one after another.

　The kid makes a face as if he's done it, and then causes his companions to come over.

　"Heh! The military police on patrol will be here any minute after they hear the commotion. Well? If you give me all your money, I can tell them it was a misunderstanding."

　The kid beams with a nasty smile.

　"So... so? Are you going to give it to me? Or not?"

　Is this a retort?

　I see. I see.

　I smiled at him and said.

　"I'll kill you later."

　Well, I don't think he'll go out of his way to look for it, but if it comes back to haunt me, I'll deal with it.

　The kid's expression twitched for a moment as if he was pressured, but it quickly turned into a smile.

　I looked back and saw several armed beastmen coming at me with weapons pointed at me.

"I heard a commotion and came here. Would you like to explain what's going on?"

　A leader-like tiger beastman steps out, carrying a battle-axe.

　"Military police! Please help us! He's suddenly violent just because we're slaves!"

　The kid is now shouting about something or other.

　No, about what's not there? No, it's all lies.

　The Tiger-Beastman looks at me and the kids in turn and cries his shoulders out.

　"...Okay. I'll hear the details at the camp. Shall we all come? Are you slaves? Then contact your masters..."

　"Sorry, sir! We're in a hurry!"

　The kids ran off after saying that.

　The tiger-beastman let out a small breath, turned around and waved his hand to ward off onlookers.

"Hey Hey. Scattered Scattered"

　When he sees that the onlookers have moved away, he turns to me.

　"Sorry, can I ask you to come with me? I'm on a job, in case you don't know."

　Is it a good idea to run away?

　I nod and follow the instructions.

"You've had a bad day too."

　I was taken by the Tiger Beastmen to a small building like a police station, and for some reason I was given sympathy and even offered tea.

　When I wondered why, he laughed and continued.

　"You were almost pickpocketed or something, weren't you? There are a lot of kids like that. They're perpetrators, but when things go wrong, they play the victim. In fact, when I try to ask them about it, they run away like that, so I know instantly."

　Are there many cases like that?

　From the way they talk, it's probably a common technique.

　"...So, just tell me what's going on. You can leave when you're done."

　"I understand."

　Thank God he's a guy who understands what I'm talking about.

　I explained the situation... but it was a mostly empty story about how I got tangled up with a kid and had to fight him back.

"...... Okay, I get the story. Um, Mr Roe, is that right?"

　"Yeah."

　"You have unusual ears, what species are you?"

　"Human."

　"...... human... so you're a pure 'human'?"

　The Tiger-Beastman's eyes widen.

　"What? Are humans that rare here?"

There's enough of them over there beyond the forest to make you puke.

　"No, at least I've never seen them. I heard there used to be inbreds, like elves... Where the hell did you come from?"

　"Beyond the forest?"

　The tiger-beastman freezes, his mouth half-open.

　"Are you saying you came over those woods?"

　"Yes, I did."

　"How did you do it?"

　"By walking normally?"

I really wanted to say fly over.

　I dug into my memory and sure enough, there were no humans, and there was no particular talk of going over the forest.

　In fact, there is surprisingly little information about the forest.

The unchanging landscape makes you lose your sense of direction, and it seems that it is rare for anyone to like to go near the forest, as it is perceived as a magical land overrun by rabid monsters.

　Occasionally, there are people who venture into the forest in search of something, but a large proportion of them do not return alive.

From the point of view of the people of this country, the forest is a dangerous zone where it is not clear how far it continues and where the monsters attack.

　It is said that anyone who even thinks about crossing such a place is questioned about his sanity and called a madman.

　"Oh, I see. ......"

　The tiger-beastman nodded with an expression that said he was at a loss for a response.

　"What's going on out there in the forest? No, how did you get through safely in the first place? I'm pretty sure I heard that it's inhabited by rabid monster..."

After a bit of deliberation, I decided to make up a story as I went along.

　"I'm on the road. I went into the forest, but I got lost. I was wandering around and came across this place."

　That's a tough story to make up.

　"So that's it... that's a lot of work."

　He mutters sullenly. His gaze is even laced with sympathy.

　He believed it.

　"Hey, I'll buy you dinner, tell me about the other side of the forest!"

　The tiger-beastman said, his eyes shining like a child's.　

　It's going to be a while before I'm released.

　...Well, it's good that I can save money on food.

　Thinking so, I decided to agree to the conversation.