“So, how do you intend to do it, Hound?”

For some reason the people of the capital have started to call me “Mad Hound”. As if I was some kind of monster.

I don’t care. It’s a good name. It makes men think twice before trying to touch me.

“I will go through the same path I took to get here.”

“Are you sure the roads are open? What if there is something happened?”

The woman I’m talking with is called Hadra. She’s a Beginner Ranked adventurer and knows a lot about the surrounding region.

“What could have happened?”

“Sometimes roads disappear. Specially roads to places like your home village. It isn’t in any map, so you know there isn’t much commerce, right?”

“If I can find Purrit Village then I can get home. My uncle lives there and it’s only three days on foot from my parent’s house.”

“This one isn’t in the maps either.”

“But I can find Purrit Village if I find Lowriver Village”

“….”

“Which I can find if I find the Black Dragon Scale coal mine.”

“Black Dragon Scale mine? I remember hearing about it, but no one goes there these days. Besides, it’s over a month and a half from here!”

“Yes. It takes two months to get home. I should get there a little later because of the rain, but it’s no problem.”

She’s hanging with her mouth open.

“What?”

“It’s…. I can understand how you managed to become a Superior Being at your age when you talk like that. A three months’ journey, and you don’t hesitate even a bit before going. That’s amazing.”

“You shouldn’t say this kind of things. You’re much more amazing than me.”

“Me? Why would I be?”

“For not killing everyone on your party, that’s why.”

“Buawhahahahaah”

She’s laughing It off again, but that’s what I truly believe in. This woman is constantly used by the man in her team, and still she finds it hard to travel a couple months by herself. I can’t understand this.

“You’re always the same, aren’t you? Forget about that already. I almost feel bad about telling those things to you when you react like this. They are good to me.”

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“Right.”

I can’t stop looking at the bags under her eyes.

This woman alone saved their lives countless times. She has lost pieces of her flesh for them.

They climbed together from misery to Rank.

Still she’s treated as a private prostitute.

“Say Hadra, won’t you come with me?”

“What, me?”

“Yes. I want you to come with me to my village.”

“I can’t. The guys need me. Besides, I wouldn’t be able to keep it up with your rhythm. Gaspar is always complaining about how slow I walk after all.”

“Because they make you carry all of the cooking stuff.”

“Bah.”

She just waved her hand, like that.

 “I will get food for us in the way. And you don’t need to worry about walking with me. We can go a little slower.”

“Ah… don’t… ah, don’t mind it.”

Just like the others.

She doesn’t want to come with me, even if I have a better life for her.

“I’m talking seriously. I can protect you. And I want to help you.”

“Help me? What do I look like to you? I’m a ranked adventurer Hound, don’t you forget that!”

You look like a woman who lives at the mercy of others. Like someone who kills beasts but won’t receive a single copper for it because the men on your team will take your part and then use it to pay for a night with you. 

But you’re too proud to accept my help. And I don’t think you would come with me, even if I were to take you by force.

 “As you wish.”

“Right. I will be going then. I still have to prepare the poisoned arrows for later. See you.”

“Careful with the poison.”

“Don’t worry, I know how to deal with it. Goodbye.”

“Goodbye.”

I took the purse Hadra left on the table. There are a couple hundred copper coins inside, minus twenty or something. 

Knowing old Berta, this should be right.

She always takes out a few coins, forgetting that I can count, even if Hadra can’t. I will talk to her later. 

Then I will buy the boots I need to travel. 

I’m going back home!