Chapter 168: Decision
As usual, we head towards the island with the old man as our boatman.
“Wash it with seawater and hang it up. Don’t fall in!” The old man tosses a leather water flask to Soleil.
It’s probably filled with alcohol, so I guess he wants us to disinfect. Soleil thanks him and obediently sits on the edge of the boat to wash his feet. I move to the opposite side of the boat to maintain balance.
“Wrap this around your foot.” I pretend to pull it from my pocket but actually retrieve a hand towel from [Storage], tearing it in half and handing one piece to Soleil.
A handkerchief is convenient for pocket storage, but a hand towel has so many more uses.
“Thank you.” The streets are cobblestone, so he won’t get too many scrapes, but there are germs everywhere. Even a small scratch can lead to an infection.
It seems that in the western regions, showing your legs is more embarrassing than exposing your chest, but that’s not the case in Naruadeid or Kanum. Still, isn’t it a bit too much to show both…?
If it were Dean, he wouldn’t be able to look away! I gaze at the approaching island, trying to distract myself!
“Which side should we dock?”
“Will the fortress side be in the way? Let’s go with the pier.”
“Got it.”
The dock on the fortress side is bustling with boats transporting materials. Since large ships can’t get close, they have to transfer their cargo to small boats and make multiple trips.
The fortress clings to the cliff on the eastern side of the island. It’s the highest point on the island, likely built to keep watch for enemy ships approaching from the sea and to make landings difficult.
Between the remnants of the town and the fortress lies a valley, connected by a stone bridge. Both have been abandoned for quite some time, but they’re still being maintained.
Since it’s a fortress and not a fortress city, it feels somewhat separated from the town. Moreover, the village where people currently live is conveniently located near the coast.
When we reach the pier, children playing by the seaside—actually gathering shells and securing snacks—run over to us, peeking from a distance. Whenever I ask them for something, they dash off on an errand.
“Hey, can you go get Kin and Gin?”
“Sure thing!”
“And buy some shoes for this person.”
“Got it!”
I toss a few four-silver coins to the children.
I’ve earned the respect of the island’s kids, mostly through pocket money and treats.
The restoration of the town’s remnants is progressing, and Kin and Gin have been spending more time over there, but I can’t have a woman with an injured leg walking that far. “Down” refers to the barn near the coast, which was our initial base.
“Isn’t this a place to carry someone?” The old man teases me. Please don’t expect that kind of treatment from a Japanese person.
“Oh, if it’s about solving the problem, it can be done with either strength or wealth. It would be troublesome if I dropped her along the way.”
Wait a minute, Soleil? Are you subtly insulting my strength while pretending to support me? If it comes to it, I could lift the whole boat!
After all, having the height and muscles of someone like Dean or Dinoss would be… I drink milk, but it hasn’t helped much.
“I bought sandals at the shoe store! Here’s your change!”
“Share the change among yourselves.”
After a while, the first group returns.
I take the shoes and hand them a bag of candy. The shoemaker seems to be doing well, as there’s a demand for shoes due to the construction site. Some vendors have even set up stalls for food distribution, and many of them are like nimble festival merchants.
As we head towards the barn, Kin and Gin are already waiting for us. And there’s a maid with them.
“Well, well.”
“Auro, Kiel. I’m here to collect a debt.”
Auro gives me a questioning look, wondering what’s going on.
“What kind of acquaintance is this?”
I’m the one who wants to know first. And what’s with the maid behind you?
“After we escaped from the ambush, we were taken care of by Soleil’s family.”
“Actually, it was her father who made various arrangements, but it was Soleil who asked for help.”
Gin and Kin explain.
Their family was attacked, and everyone except the two of them perished. They escaped through the Fairy Path. To enter the Fairy Path, Kin had to take a bit of humanity from Gin.
The attackers weren’t mere bandits but armored knights, and it seems they’ve already taken proper revenge. There must be difficulties living apart from humans, but it seems they’ve chosen to dwell in the Underworld for that reason.
“So what’s the outcome?”
“I’m hoping to get a job.”
I respond to Kin’s inquiry.
“What happened to the trading company?”
“I folded it.”
Gin furrows his brow and asks Soleil, who gives a brief reply.
For Soleil, business is likely an important part of her life. It’s probably also because it’s someone else’s trading company, but being able to decisively end it is impressive.
“I can’t imagine you being a maid or a servant…”
“You won’t know until you try, right?”
Soleil replies a bit provocatively to Gin, who looks skeptical.
“Oh. For the position, I’ll take the Lord’s deputy, the steward. If there are no issues with that job, I’ll leave the buying and selling of goods to you, so please take care of it.”
“…You just dangled bait and dumped everything on me!”
“You’re quick to catch on…”
Kin and Gin are saying something, but I’m not paying them any mind!