Having short legs was really a disadvantage. At first, I thought perhaps having a smaller body would be good, since I would make a smaller target. However...

"Hehe, hurry up, shorty!" Yelled the overly cheerful Jo. I would have to re-educate him later, as soon as I found another tree...

True, I did have to take three steps for each of theirs, but because I didn't get tired I could still manage to keep up. However, it was a blow to my pride having to run to keep up with someone who was walking at a leisurely pace. The road stretched far out in the distance, and the crunch of gravel under boots was the only prevailing sound.

If I had to say, I would call this land a plain. Hehe, "Plain." Tall grass and soft soil lay to either side of the road, and no trees were within sight. This meant an absence of sticks, so now that I had broken my "Encouragement" stick, I had no way to replace it.

Still, all this running was getting to me. I don't know if it was a psychological memory from when I was alive, but I felt drowsy. Though, I did use a huge amount of mana just last night. Even after twelve hours, I had still only recovered about half. This would make things dicey if we ran into anything...which we will. Oh well, it's all right. The worst that could happen is that all five of us die.

Which reminds me...

Thin Nose, who I had decided to dub "Unpaid worker I" Or "U" for short, had continued to follow us after he dug himself up.

When I told the three that I had buried Thin Nose, I wasn't lying. I just left out the part about me raising him from the dead. Yeah...I'm gonna have a guilty conscience. Nothing new.

Whew, all this running is making my legs feel stiff. I'll have to stretch them out again. So troublesome-

"Ahh!" I exclaimed as something lifted me up into the air. Looking down, I was gently set down on Plains' shoulders.

"w-what are you doing?" I said while struggling.

"It is faster this way." He said in a monotone.

I thought about it, went through about five different methods of torture in my head, then gave up and just put my head down and rested it in his hair. My mana would recharge faster this way, anyway. So soft...

Before I noticed it, the city's wall was looming over us, and the bustle of the gate was loud in my ears. "Move along! Move along!"

"Keep moving! Hurry up!"

"Out of the way! I'm in a hurry!"

'So noisy...'

We waited for about half an hour before finally getting to the front of the line, where the rude guard took one look at us, told us to cough up or get out, and went back to playing cards. When Plain produced a fat purse, the guard took it and handed us a couple coins, before shoving us in and swearing at us. Huh, he was actually pretty nice. Most people would have taken the money then given a beating to the owner.

Maybe the city really is more civilized!

---

Plains' POV

This little girl was confusing.

One moment, she would swear at you and mutter about how if she had just pushed a little to the right, all of her problems would have disappeared. The next, she would look concernedly at your back and tap her chin thoughtfully.

She was always lying, even when she told the truth.

Maybe that was why I was so interested.

As an orphan, being raised in a monastery, I had been taught that people should always be honest. But, if that was the case, then why was such a nice person lying?

Even when they had been walking, she seemed like she could walk forever. But, at the same time, it seemed like she would collapse at any moment. Which is it?

Is she strong? Is she weak? Is she good? Is she evil? Where did she come from? Where is she going?

Even now, her body was cold as ice. Every movement that bumped her into me sent shocks of cold running up my spine. How is she alive with such a cold body?

So many questions that only she can answer. I bumped into someone, and made sure to give their hand an extra squeeze as I pulled it out of my pocket. Honestly, I don't understand those who steal. If I had anything to spare, I would just give it to them.

Sadly, I think that the world isn't as pure as what I had been led to believe in my childhood. At least two of my brothers are still with me. There used to be dozens of us, staying at the monastery, and now there was only three of us left.

I walked past several alleys and winding streets, looking for a particular sign. When I found a wooden board with a dragon painted on in cheap and pealing paint, I knocked on the door and walked in.

The smell of beer, stale food, and unwashed bodies hit me with an unpleasant strength. Followed by Jo and Jo I walked in and headed toward the counter. When I had caught the innkeep's attention, I arranged for a room to be prepared. I tried to ask for two, but the girl insisted that she needed to keep an eye on us, so that she can take care of us.

At first, I thought she had finally shown her true colors, but...

"...Hehe, when they fall asleep I can smother them while they have nowhere to run..."

This book's true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.

Still lying.

"Oi!" a Loud, obnoxious voice called from a table in the back. Looking over, I saw three burly pi--men getting up from their seats, foamy mugs sloshing over onto their shirts. "I see you have a cute little sister!"

"...We'll see how "little" you think I am when I tear out your spine and choke you with it..."

Laughing a little loudly to cover up he muttering, I nodded with a big and stupid smile. It would be best to avoid offending anybody, and the best way to get along with somebody was to make them think they are smarter than you. "Yeah, she's just an angel, huh?"

"...Just you wait, I will rip your heart out and use it as a sponge..."

Looking at her with a lustful grin, he said "So, how much?"

"...Your ears would make great pig food..."

"How much for what?" I replied, keeping the stupid look prevalent on my face, and praying that they leave it.

"...How about I cut your legs off at the knees, then we will see who is the short one..."

With his friends laughing, he spread his hands and confirmed my fears. "Why, for your sister! I bet I could get a good price for her from...my sources. How about you leave her with me, and I'll pay you for your trouble."

She stopped talking. Instead, she was looking at me, but it wasn't in fear...

It was curious, as if to see what I'd do. Like she was testing me. When she noticed me returning her gaze, she grinned and twirled a strand of my hair in her finger, and whispered in my ear. "Perhaps that would be for the best. It's a good deal, and he sounds like he'll actually come through. With that kind of money, you should be able to provide for the two while you find a job. Chances like this don't come too often, you should take it."

I was speechless. In her eyes lay nothing but...resignation. As if this was just one instance in a long series of events that all led to the same destination.

I felt horrible. How could a little girl talk like that? How could she tell me to sell her and comment on the reliability of the buyer in question? What happened to make her like this?

My fingers twitched. My brothers backed off, and went behind the counter. They had seen this happen once before.

I picked the girl up and set her on the ground. She turned to the men and took a step, but I grabbed her collar and tossed her to the two. Turning toward the three men, I felt my jaw tighten.

"Father Jerome always told me to treat every living being with kindness..." My fingers curled into a fist.

"U-um, I don't know any father, but you are starting to scare me-"

My eyes froze them in place. "So, I will kindly tell you..."

---

Tree's POV

Being the only tree in the middle of a city was boring. In tree years, I was just older than sixteen. I wanted to talk to someone, maybe eye some other trees acorns...

But, sadly, I was alone. I had been planted in the middle of a road to provide shade, (Which is top quality, I might add) and since then nothing interesting has happened. I'd waited and waited, year after year, and yet the most exciting thing to happen was a parade, when some kids hung lamps from my branches. Ever since that time, nothing has happened. Humans lives are too short, and all their problems are trivial.

Though, there has been this one human who consistently comes by and sits on my branches, and eats my apples. A squire from the battle school higher up and closer to the castle. He always looks troubled, and I feel interested. Damn these blasted roots...!

A strange atmosphere was coming from the inn near me. If I had to describe it, it was like the breath the sky takes right before it lets loose a thunder bolt. I heard a faint voice from inside...

"I will kindly tell you..."

Huh, I wonder why he sounds so angry when his words are so nic-

"TO GO FUCK YOURSELVES!"

A fat pig-man flew out of the wall, and crashed into my branches. Feeling surprised, I shook slightly and tried to dislodge the man, but-

"AHHH!!!"

FIrst one, then another man came flying out of three different holes in the wall. When a few seconds had passed, a dark haired man strode out of the door, and kicked me. Just like that, the three men fell from my branches and lay sprawled out on the ground.

Even though the kick had hurt, I had to admire his skill.

Leaning down, the man grabbed one of them by the collar and shook him. A small pouch fell from his pocket, then the man turned toward the gate, and threw the pig-man so hard that I heard a crack against the wall. The pig-man was soon joined by the other two, and the puffing man spat on the ground, and turned away. Two other men came out, and one surreptitiously picked up the pouch while the other distracted the black-haired man and led him back inside.

As the door closed, I saw a little girl poke her head out of the door.

Her face bespoke everything she ever knew being proved false before her eyes.