Having departed from the Dandole Barony, it took me approximately three weeks to reach the Seyles Barony, located in the northernmost part of the Kingdom of Claydale.
The journey itself involved only minor incidents, nothing particularly concerning.
However, being a woman and a child, I felt that I was approached more often by both bad and good people compared to when I was a filthy street urchin.
I cannot accurately judge the goodness or badness of others. Even if they seem normal at first, they might suddenly attack like those boys did.
Therefore, from the latter half of the journey, I changed into men’s clothing bought in a town along the way and continued my journey, avoiding the main roads and instead following the animal trails in the adjacent forest.
The season is approaching summer. In the Kingdom of Claydale, where it doesn’t snow even in winter, summer can get quite hot, but even so, being in the north and with a river flowing to divide the town from north to south, the wind felt slightly cool.
“…A big town.”
The territory itself is smaller than the Horace Barony where I lived, but most of the towns and villages are located along the waterfront, seeking the blessings of the river that flows from the mountains visible to the north even from here.
Perhaps because of this, the entire area is like one large town, and the town where Baron Seyles, the center of it, resides, seemed more developed than the Horace Barony.
The river is quite large, and I could see large ships, probably used for transporting goods. However, as is often the case in such waterfront towns, I couldn’t see any fishing boats or small boats anywhere.
The river’s current was faster than I expected, and when I asked the shopkeeper while buying preserved food at a stall, he said that the high water level was due to the frequent rains this season, and the reason there were no fishing boats was that monsters occasionally appeared in the river flowing from the Monster Habitat.
Water-based monsters rarely appear. Still, a few fishermen are harmed each year while catching fish by the water, so no one swims in the river, he said.
Currently, I am walking through the town disguised as a man. The dark brown jacket and trousers I bought in a town along the way cost me six silver coins for the set, as they were for travel. A poncho-like garment for both boys and girls up to the age of 10 would have been cheaper, but apparently my body is growing more than I thought, and exposing my arms and legs makes me look less like a man.
Perhaps it’s also because my face is gradually becoming more feminine. I reluctantly wear the shawl Viro bought me over my mouth, but it has become a somewhat suspicious look in the summer. …I should look for something thinner next time.
I haven’t cut my hair as promised to Theo, but I tied it up with leftover thread.
It’s the thread I use for the Pendulum, but it’s really just cotton thread with no strength, so I want to do something about that eventually.
The reason I’m walking through the town with such troublesome men’s clothing is that I wanted to know the state of the town before starting work and to obtain necessary information.
Almost everyone knew about the “Weirdo” who had been appearing in the town for about half a year.
But the details varied, sometimes it was a man, sometimes a woman. Sometimes an old person, sometimes a child, there was really no consistency.
However, in the story of the young ladies being targeted now, it seems that the one who appears is a fat man.
…It’s really a mystery.
I also wanted to know the situation outside the town.
Around here, monsters appear even around the town. And if the town is this large, the area outside the town would also be vast, and there was a possibility that bandit groups were hiding around.
The woman’s magic teacher lives in the outskirts of the forest outside this town.
It’s a distance from here, so I won’t head there yet, but I was thinking of hiding something important, like that Herbal Compendium to return to the teacher, in a safe place somewhere in the forest.
I couldn’t investigate in great detail, but the forest along the river not far from the town seemed like a good place.
If I go along the river where people don’t approach much, I don’t have to go through the gate and pay one silver coin.
There is a risk of encountering water monsters, but the probability is low if it’s only a few times a year, and I think I can escape with Stealth in my current state.
“…Is this a good place?”
I decided to use a large tree in the forest in a sunny spot as a temporary base.
It’s not that I considered the sunlight for living, but because monsters don’t approach such places much.
I cut down several straight saplings about 4 centimeters thick, passed them over the thick branches of the tree, and tied them with vines. I didn’t make a roof or walls. The tree branches and leaves would be the walls and ceiling, so I didn’t feel much need.
Just in case, I burned insect-repelling grass and applied the juice of poisonous plants that wild animals dislike to the tree, so there would be no need to worry about rats gnawing on the herbs. …Probably.
Before sunset, I explored the surroundings and looked for herbs.
With my current 【Heal】 and 【Cure】, I don’t need herbs that much.
But even without the Alchemy skill, some poisonous plants can be expected to have a certain effect just by powdering them, so I collected a few and hung them on the tree branches.
As the sun set, I wiped my body with a wet cloth and climbed the tree.
I lay down on the wooden sticks passed over the branches, finished my meal with just Blackberries and black bread, and looked up at the starry sky visible through the gaps in the leaves.
I still don’t have enough “strength.”
Certainly, I defeated the Rank 2 Bandit Leader and Hobgoblin, and even the higher-ranked Rank 3 Thief.
But every battle was a close victory, and I haven’t reached the strength I seek yet.
【Dagger Arts】, which is my main force.
【Martial Arts】, which I use for fighting and evasion.
【Throwing】, which I use for ranged attacks.
【Thread Manipulation】, which controls the Pendulum.
【Light Magic】, which heals the body.
【Dark Magic】, which manipulates illusions.
【Non-Attribute Magic】, which I use for Body Enhancement and Combat Arts.
【Mana Control】, which governs all of them.
【Stealth】【Night Vision】【Detection】 for acting in the shadows.
【Poison Resistance】, which is essential for me who uses poison.
I have acquired the basic skills that I assume I will use in battle.
I am a woman and still a child, so I will inevitably be inferior to men in close combat, but that doesn’t mean I can’t win.
Even with the same skills, there is a considerable difference depending on the usage and proficiency. Now, I will hone these skills and sharpen myself as a single “Blade.”
The next morning, I woke up before sunrise.
After confirming that there were no other presences around, I climbed down from the tree, used the Utility Magic 【Water】 to carefully wash my hair, wiped my body with a cloth, and prepared my “equipment.”
I put on thin socks and laced-up short boots, fastened a Black Knife and a thin Knife to my calves, and eight Throwing Knives to my thighs with leather straps.
After wearing a white blouse on my bare skin, I put on a long-skirted black dress and hid one Throwing Knife and a Pendulum each in the cuffs.
As Sera had taught me many times, I arranged my hair, straightened my clothes, and headed towards the town with the minimum amount of luggage.
As I entered the town, several gazes were directed at me as I walked straight without shaking my head in my going-out appearance.
I changed because I couldn’t knock on the door of a noble family without a decent appearance, but this outfit is still conspicuous.
Even so, I somehow arrived at the Seyles Baron’s mansion, and when I showed the gatekeeper-like man a letter of introduction from the Dandole Family, the man widened his eyes slightly and hurriedly ran to the entrance, returning with an elderly butler in what felt like about three minutes.
“I have received the letter of introduction. There is no problem as it is an introduction from the Dandole Family. Now, please come this way.”
“Excuse me.”
As I entered the mansion, I received subtle glances from several servants.
Not understanding the meaning of those glances, I was led further inside, and it seemed I was to be introduced to the family first, so I was guided to a room that seemed to be the Baron’s office.
The butler knocked on the door and entered the room, and a middle-aged man who didn’t seem to have a strong personality greeted me in a restless manner.
“…It was written that I should hire you from the Dandole Family. To make you one of my daughter’s caretakers…. Are you perhaps that…”
My position is that of a mere young maid who has served the Dandole Family since childhood.
I am still a child, so even if I said that I was sent from a strange organization to solve the problem, it would normally only arouse suspicion.
Therefore, the plan was to infiltrate as a general maid and solve the problem from the shadows, but the Baron seemed to vaguely sense my true identity, which was sent by the Dandole Family to seek help. …No, is he adjusting the information flowing to the Baron so that it would be so?
If I was told from the beginning that I was personnel for that purpose, he would be suspicious of me as a child, but if he reached the conclusion himself, he would not doubt it.
Then I should behave accordingly.
“Baron-sama, please refrain from prying.”
“Y-yes, of course, I understand. Now, let me introduce you to my daughter, Maria.”
Satisfied with my answer, the Baron had the butler call for the Baron’s daughter in a flustered manner. …Shouldn’t I be going?
The Maria-ojousama who arrived was 12 years old, but perhaps because she didn’t have much Mana, her appearance wasn’t that different from her actual age, maybe like a commoner of 13 at most.
She seemed gentle and lovely, but perhaps because she was troubled by the Weirdo problem, there was a slight fear in the way she looked at me.
For the time being, my job was to help the elderly woman who took care of the ojousama. This female housemaid seemed to be married to the butler from earlier, and they said they served as a family.
After being shown around the mansion and greeting all the servants, I finally understood why they were acting so strangely.
The mansion’s staff consisted of the couple and three maids. There were two men who handled the heavy work, doubling as gardeners and gatekeepers, and two cooks, but that was really all.
I only knew “Princess-sama,” who had nearly 100 servants and guards just for her recuperation, but it seemed this was normal for a noble family of a local Baron.
The Margrave of Dandole’s ojousama was probably similar to Elena. They seemed to be afraid that if I, who was ‘introduced’ from such a high-ranking noble family despite being a child, did something that seemed like a country bumpkin, I would be scolded.
…Well, whatever. Maybe the fact that I don’t have much of an expression is also a reason why they’re scared, but if there’s no unnecessary interference, it’s easier to move around.
Thinking that, I was investigating the mansion while helping out when I noticed someone approaching me.
“Hey, you, the maid! You’re the one who’s scaring my sister, aren’t you!”
The little brother has appeared.
Next time, the threat of the Weirdo approaches Aria as she investigates.
The next update will probably be on Tuesday or Wednesday.