Chapter 6: Reputation in Town
“Well, so that’s why you’re on high alert.”
A few days after Wymar’s Younger Sister, Princess-sama, arrived, Ivern came to my home carrying maternity clothes and baby supplies for Meileen.
“Yeah. Even after I sent them packing with some harsh words last time, they still had the audacity to come back. Who knows what tricks they’ll try next? So, I thought it best to stay vigilant.”
On the way here, I explained to Ivern why I had set up such precautions after he got lost in the trap I had laid.
The trap I set was a magical barrier designed to prevent anyone without permission from reaching this place.
When I set it up, I hadn’t granted Ivern permission, which is why he couldn’t get through.
If someone gets caught in this barrier, it sends me a signal, and when I checked it out, I found Ivern and Yulia wandering around lost.
“I was seriously panicking when I got lost on a path I know so well. Yulia was even on the verge of tears,” he said.
“Sorry about that. I couldn’t inform you in time. Here, take this permit; it should make up for it.”
I handed Ivern a pendant-shaped permit.
“Oh, so this is the permit?”
Ivern examined the permit with keen interest.
“Yeah, without that, you won’t be able to reach here. And could you channel some magic power into it?”
“Magic power, huh… I’m not very good at it.”
Since Ivern is from the Human Tribe, handling magic power isn’t his strong suit.
However, it’s not that he can’t do it; he just struggles with it.
Channeling magic power into the permit is a necessary security measure.
“Alright! Hnnn!! …Phew! How’s that?”
“Yeah, that should do it.”
I cast a stabilization spell on the permit, now infused with a bit of Ivern’s magic power.
“Now, this permit is exclusively yours. Even if someone else has it, they won’t be able to break through this barrier.”
As I handed the permit back to Ivern, he stared at it in awe, exclaiming, “Wow. This security is perfect! Why didn’t you do this sooner?”
Well, it’s only natural he’d think that.
With this barrier in place, troublesome bounty hunters wouldn’t come knocking.
“If you have such a barrier, it feels like you’re hiding something bad, doesn’t it? Why should I have to sneak around like that?”
I didn’t want to expend that kind of effort for the sake of this world.
Ivern seemed to understand my reasoning, at least to some extent.
“Yeah, that’s true. You’re supposed to be a notorious criminal with a massive bounty on your head, yet you haven’t committed a single crime. The people in the nearby towns and villages are puzzled. They wonder if you’re really the villain everyone claims you to be.”
“Huh? Is that what they’re saying?”
I was taken aback.
Extremely taken aback.
“Well, at first, everyone was scared. The bounty on your head was unprecedentedly high, and a wanted criminal living nearby? The towns and villages around here held daily strategy meetings at first.”
“Oh, really?”
“Really. And you…”
“I don’t care at all. They’re just scared on their own and being cautious for no reason. Why should I feel guilty about that?”
When I said that, Ivern’s expression turned to one of resignation.
“Well, I can understand that now, but back then, I was seriously considering how to deal with you.”
“So that’s why you came to hunt me down.”
“Just so you know, I don’t regret my actions back then at all. I didn’t know anything about you then, and I was convinced it was the right thing to do.”
“I’m not blaming you.”
Though we haven’t known each other for long, I can tell that’s just how he is.
Ivern acts based on his own thoughts and beliefs, not swayed by others’ opinions.
The fact that we’ve formed a friendship now is a result of Ivern observing me, listening to my story, and making his own judgment.
I have no intention of criticizing Ivern’s actions from before he came to that conclusion.
“That’s good to hear. However, the disappointment everyone felt when they learned I had failed to defeat you was something else.”
“…Am I being treated like some evil king from a story?”
When I said that, Ivern chuckled wryly.
“At that time, it felt just like that. Well, once I explained to everyone what you told me and that you weren’t a bad person, their perceptions began to change little by little.”
“Huh? You talked about me?”
“Of course I did. If I didn’t, you’d remain misunderstood forever. Back then, I wanted to be your friend. It wouldn’t be fun for a friend to be misjudged, would it?”
I was left speechless by Ivern’s unapologetic attitude.
“I haven’t done anything wrong for this long. Now everyone knows you’re not a villain. They even know I’m delivering supplies to you. When I bought maternity clothes, they thought Yulia was pregnant.”
Ivern laughed as he said this, but I felt a sense of urgency at his words.
“…Does that mean the townsfolk know Meileen is pregnant?”
Noticing my serious expression, Ivern looked a bit taken aback but nodded, “Y-yeah.”
“…Hey, Ivern. When you were in town, did you ever get approached by any strange individuals or feel any odd stares?”
Ivern took a moment to think about my question.
“Most of the people who approached me were acquaintances. As for the stares… I’m not very good at sensing those kinds of things…”
Well, I guess it’s tough for a human to pick up on such presences without being from the Demon Tribe.
“That can’t be helped. Still, if that kind of talk is circulating in town…”
I turned my gaze outside.
“Maybe it was a good idea to set up this barrier after all.”
At my words, Ivern showed a hint of unease.
“By the way, why did you decide to set up the barrier this time?”
Ivern asked me that, but the answer was obvious.
“Meileen is pregnant, you know? What if something happens?”
“Oh, right, for Meileen’s sake.”
“Of course. And don’t tell the townsfolk about this barrier, alright?”
“Huh? Why not?”
“And Ivern, just act as you normally would. Don’t be overly cautious.”
“Why not? Why?”
Seeing Ivern getting flustered, I grinned and replied.
“If all goes well, we might just lure in some fools.”
When I said that, Ivern’s face twisted in discomfort as he muttered softly.
“…I sincerely hope the kingdom exercises restraint to prevent that from happening.”
Well, let’s see how things unfold.