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Troubling as their situation was, being armed once more, Yuliana felt considerably more confident towards the future, as she left the unfortunate blacksmith's store with her companion.
“W-was that way of going about it really necessary…?” she couldn't avoid expressing her misgivings, however. “If you truly thought this weapon to be worthwhile, I could have gone to request more funds from the bank...I did not think eighty was that bad a price, to be honest. Now it looks like we deceived the poor man. Moreover, did you have to...um...”
“Bank? You have a bank?” Izumi blankly asked in return.
“Why, we do. You are familiar with the concept?” Yuliana answered. “Langoria and Luctretz have a banking union, which means your account in one is also valid in the other. Most of the human nations also use the same currency, where gold marks are valued the highest, and copper lowest. The empire is an exception, however. They have their own bank and the imperial strata is based exclusively on silver. Whatever currency we have, we must exchange to theirs as we go to their territory.”
“There is an 'empire' too?”
“Yes. Tratovia. It borders Luctretz on the north. There are quite many countries in this world, you know. Human and not. Although Tratovia is the single largest human nation on the continent.”
“Right. I wonder if this planet is bigger than Earth?” Izumi pondered. “Now that I think about it, we really should've bought a map.”
“I don't know about your world, but a large portion of Ortho remains uncharted to this day. Accurate maps are rare to come by. There are races that don't care much for drawing borders on their habitats, and some that make exploring theirs too dangerous, which is why we people must stick to the areas where we may survive. Which reminds me, what made you think the blacksmith was related to dharves? That was quite possibly the worst insult to a merchant. He could lose his customers if the word were to spread, true or false.”
“Eeh? You actually have dwarves? What's wrong with them? Doesn't everybody love them?”
“Um, just to be sure, what exactly are the dharves like in your world?”
“Eeh, well, they don't exist, really. They're just fantasy. Small people with beards, who dig under mountains and hack stuff with axes.”
“Fantasy?” Yuliana repeated, frowning. “Dharves do tend to live in the mountains and like axes, but they aren't very small, I believe. They're generally larger than normal humans are. Not that I've ever seen one myself. They don't come this far south, thank the Divines.”
“Tall dwarves?” Izumi scratched her head. “Well, never mind that. There are some races and beings that are dangerous to people, right? Does that mean exterminating them is good business?”
“Not really, no,” Yuliana answered with a shudder. “Most mercenaries earn their upkeep by protecting people or property against other humans, outlaws, thieves, bandits, or pirates. Picking fights with other races tends to end poorly for the human side. They usually respect our lands, we should do the same. If any trouble comes up, leave that kind of thing to soldiers and guards.”
“Meh, that's boring. You won't become a legend if you're scared of a tough fight,” Izumi yawned.
“A legend?”
“That's right. A top tier player!”
“Player...In what sort of game…?”
Yuliana felt a sweat drop gather on her brow, as she tried to understand the otherworldly lingo her companion kept throwing around at every turn.
“What about daemons?” Izumi suddenly asked. “Is that another word for monsters? They sound like something you can kill without guilty feelings.”
“Throw that idea off your mind,” Yuliana gave the woman an alarmed glance and warned her. “And do not speak that word in broad daylight.”
“Why? What's the big deal?”
“Meeting a daemon would be the death of you. Yes, even you. No question about it. That is all you need to know.”
“If you act so secretive, I'm only going to get more curious...What did they do? Have you ever seen one?”
“I haven't. I'm here, aren't I? There are none in Noertia, and that's all that matters. Look, we're here!”
It was then that they arrived again at the notice board, in the corner of the town square. In a hurry to escape the unpleasant conversation, the princess turned her attention to the posters and—
“What in the name of…!”
——Immediately stepped back, as though smitten.
All the dozens of notices, requests and announcements from last night, which had covered nearly every available inch of the wooden board, had been cleared away.
In their place, right in the middle, a poster much larger had been nailed.
Staring back from the poster was a drawn image of Yuliana herself, in good likeness.
WANTED!
Her Highness, The former First Princess of the Kingdom of Langoria, Yuliana Da Via Brannan of Walhollem.
For the grim crime of high treason against the Throne of Langoria and her people, for the murder of the Baron of Troms and four of his knights; present her royal highness DEAD OR ALIVE, or any information resulting in her successful arrest, to the nearest office of law, for the high bounty of EIGHT HUNDRED MARKS IN GOLD.
Risk level: High. Armed and dangerous, likely to resist arrest. Possibly not alone.
Yuliana thought she was going to faint on the spot. Then, regaining mastery over herself, she leaped forward and ripped the poster off the board in one quick sweep.
“W-w-what is this!?” she stuttered, reading the heavy lines again and again, as if expecting them to reveal themselves as a misunderstanding, a prank. “Why this fast? What do you mean 'dead or alive'? This can't be...Father, did you order this…?”
“Eight hundred?” Izumi muttered, looking over the girl's shoulder. “That sounds sort of a lot, but not really...If a night at a tavern should be sixty copper, and a sword is eighty silver, then with eight hundred gold...You can't buy a house with that, can you?”
“Is that all that matters to you here?” Yuliana cried. “Wait—what!? Y-you can read this, what is says!? How!?”
“It's even got the difficulty level? That's pretty handy, don't you think?” the woman went on without answering. “But why is there no mention of exp anywhere? I think an important detail like that should be told upfront. How else would you know if a quest is worth taking? Or is it a story mission that doesn't give you any? That's a little lame...”
The princess blinked her eyes. “What are you talking about?”
“Well, how do I level up, if I don't get points?” the woman explained. “Or is this one of those stupid modern games without levels and you only get an occasional ability point or two to unlock skills with? I think there's just no sense of progress if I don't have the level number comfortably in my field of vision. Which reminds me, I've been testing since yesterday, but haven't found any way to open a menu or anything, where I could check my stats. This world is not very accessible, in my opinion...”
“Is this really the time for your nonsense!? Get a grip!”
“And why is there not a word about me?” Izumi pointed out. “This should've been the start of my legend, but...'Possibly not alone'? That's all my effort was good for? A side note for a princess? Or doesn't the game know how to process the player? That's lazy programming.”
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“Oh, do I feel sorry for you!” Yuliana angrily responded. “Don't you see? This poster has made me a target for every mercenary, bandit, and other greedy wretch out there! Can't you understand that!?”
“Well, of course, I do. I kinda figured that out last night.”
“My life is as good as over! My mission...! How many do you think have already seen this since the daybreak? How many more posters are there, spread around the town? This is a nightmare! We're never getting out of Grelden now...Wait a minute, what did you just say?”
“I know it's bad, okay?”
“No, not that, the other bit.”
“I knew there was a bounty?”
“Eh? How...?”
——“There she is!”
Before Yuliana could get an answer, a shout from the other side of the square reached her ears. Turning to look, she saw a squad of knights armed with spears approach from around the corner, from the inn's direction.
Their uniforms were different in fashion from the Langorians last night, though the general template was the same. A long chain mail with a surcoat dyed in the local colors—olive green—over it, the town crest visible on the chest, a utility belt with a sword, pouches, and keys, and a metal helmet to shield the head. The town guards’ pot-like helmet didn't cover the whole head but left the face visible, and there was a tall, spiky extension on top.
One of the knights had already spotted Yuliana, since she had the hood of her cloak down, and at once the whole group picked up the pace and jogged their way. The princess looked for an escape route in the opposite direction, but that only caught the attention of another pair of soldiers patrolling the markets. They quickly clutched their spears and stepped to meet them.
“Halt! Throw your weapon on the ground!”
“Hands where I see them!”
Clicking her tongue, Yuliana kept looking. She could have tried to cut across the markets, but the citizens nearby had already been alerted to what was happening, and their defiant faces made it clear they were prepared to oppose the criminal, if necessary.
And what about Izumi? Her skirt and apron made running difficult. She wouldn't have been able to keep up. There was no way out, it seemed, except by fighting.
It would have meant either slaying these men, who were only doing their duty in the town's protection—or else be slain or wounded by them in the attempt.
Rationally weighing the risks and rewards, only one option was left.
“I surrender,” Yuliana bitterly announced and removed the purchased sword from her belt, knelt and set it on the pavement, free hand raised. Glancing at Izumi, she nodded for her to do the same.
“Eeh,” Izumi frowned, looking like she really didn't want to. “Is it okay not to resist at least a little?”
“Enough jokes!” Yuliana exclaimed. “We can't fight these men. They're only doing their job!”
“But that's what they always say, isn't it?”
“Why, you! I won't let you—ow!”
Before Yuliana could finish her sentence, armored hands had already grabbed her by the arms and dragged her back.
“Your highness,” the guards' leader stepped forward, removed his rounded helmet and spoke to her. He was a young man, a bit over his twenties, with short hair and tidy mustache framing his upper lip. Passable for a prince by his looks, albeit just a soldier. “I am Selmon, captain of the guard. My apologies, but I am placing you under arrest by the order of the lord of the land. Your weapon and other personal effects will be confiscated, for the time being, by the city of Grelden. Please, come with us without resisting and you have my word that no bodily harm will be inflicted upon you.”
“I should believe that, after seeing how you treat royalty, Captain Selmon?” the girl bitterly responded. “You have no authority to arrest me! Tell your men to unhand me at once!”
“I have been informed that you no longer enjoy the diplomatic immunity that your former position entitles you to, having turned to treachery and a murder. Considering your merits, I believe the treatment to be of exceptional quality. I suspect you will be shortly turned over to the officers of your kingdom, where they will show you whatever level of reverence you are rightfully owed. But for now, you must contend with our ways.”
Nodding to the guards, Selmon had them take her away.
Watching the princess be dragged to captivity, Izumi frowned.
“What about me—” she was about to ask the captain, who suddenly turned her way and interrupted her with his piercing gaze.
Then...
“Are you hurt, madam?” he asked with unexpected politeness.
“Eh?” Thrown for a loop, Izumi hesitated. “N-no...I don't think so...”
“Good. I understand this has been a disturbing incident for you, good mother, but rest assured, everything is under control now. Thank you, for your composure and bravery in such a frightening situation. Go safe. And my best regards to your family.”
Bowing his head briefly, the knight captain turned on his heels and strode after his departing squad, while Izumi was left standing alone before the notice board.
“Ehhh…………?”
——“And there she goes,” a voice nearby spoke.
Izumi glanced to her side and saw a girl leaning on the corner of the board. By her tanned face and curly black hair, she could be identified as the maid from the inn, Riswelze—but her attire today looked very different.
Instead of her worn-out, patched dress, she wore a slim leather vest, riding pants, and tough-looking boots, in addition to an inconspicuous, gray-brown cape.
“Um, this didn't go quite as I planned it,” Izumi muttered.
“What else did you expect, 'good mother'?” Riswelze laughed. “You have no self-awareness, do you? Even with a sword in hand—Hel, even with a daemon sitting on your shoulder—there's no way anyone with a functional pair of eyes would view you as a criminal or a threat of any kind.”
“That's a bit troubling, though,” the woman lamented. “The point was to break Yule out of prison from the inside, after learning who set the bounty. Breaking in and then breaking out again sounds a lot harder and I don't like to put effort into things.”
“Consider this your good fortune instead,” the assassin told her. “Never could call this plan of yours a smart one. I don't know where all that confidence of yours stems from, but people generally don't just walk out of prison once they find themselves in. Not where I'm from, anyway. So long as you're free, you options are unlimited.”
“Then, Rise, why don't you come up with a plan for me? I honestly don't know what to do now, other than walk in through the front gate and kill everybody. Even in games, I only ever follow what the quest text says. There's too much freedom of choice here.”
“Who do you think you are? God?” Riswelze shook her head and laughed. “I can't tell whether you're insane or just lazy. Probably too much of both. Well, thanks to the loose-lipped cap Selmon there, we did learn something of importance. The guy behind the order was the lord of the land. That would be Duke Walington, the Mayor of Grelden. And he's not somebody short on coin. Give me until nightfall, and I'll see what more I can learn. I'm going to raise my bounty now.”
“You're already in for eight hundred gold, but you still want more?” Izumi raised a brow. “Though I did ask you to help, I figured you'd be riding off into the sunset now. Or are you just that deep in debt?”
“Eight hundred?” the girl snorted. “Even if I never had debt, the kind of a lifestyle I have in mind is not one where a paltry eight hundred marks of gold is enough for anything. Oh, and speaking of coin, would you mind telling me one thing? You knew they'd come for the princess, since you had me tip them off, so why did you make her buy the sword beforehand? To further distract the guards on which one of you really was 'armed and dangerous'?”
Izumi pouted at her words,
“Since when did you start tailing us? I didn't notice at all. Geez, you're making me sound like some kind of an evil mastermind. Really, all I thought was that when we eventually make our great escape, retrieving one sword would be faster and easier than looking for so much coin.”
“Or, rather, could it be because you judged that stealing a few coins would go smoother than taking the whole purse? Less difference in weight, see. Ha. So long.”
In the next moment, Riswelze was already gone, vanished.
Izumi dug through her skirt pocket and held out five pieces of silver in the sun.
“That Rise...As I thought, her eyes are just a bit too naughty. Before this is over, I need to punish you some more, don't I?”
Shoving the coins back in her pocket, Izumi left the town square.
Things had gone more or less as expected.
Which raised the question, was a rescue really needed? Whatever the foreign noble wanted with Yuliana, he was unlikely to harm her, despite the bounty. On the contrary.
Why was it that nobles ever captured princesses?
This would have been a good place for the two of them to painlessly part ways, forever. After all, with the kind of a lifestyle Izumi had in mind, she wasn't likely to grow much older. And neither would Yuliana, if they continued to travel together.
Yes, this had to have been the best, the least painful option for everybody.
But as determined as she had been to follow through with it, the woman's feet abruptly stopped.
—We're sticking together, day and night.
—I swear I recognize the sword as yours for the time being and will never attempt to take it from you against your will. If, in turn, you are willing to lend it to me at times when I need it, for my own safety.
The cold hand of regret tightly squeezing her heart, Izumi had to take support from a nearby wall.
“...I really was this lonely, huh?”
After so many years, she was certain she had succeeded in becoming an unfeeling monster, with no pain or tears. But though it wasn't death she feared and though the danger of being returned home was removed, there were still many more things left that continued to frighten her.
It seemed it was too late already.
There was a point where a person feared losing another so much that they started to fear coming close even more. Should they end up coming close to someone regardless, then there would soon be a horror awaiting them behind every corner.
“Guess I'll go look for a room for one more night...Someplace cheaper.”