Chapter 45

To Mills

I lightly wash my clothes before I left the water .

I gently remove the dirt on my clothes with my hands .

Dirt sometimes create suspicions from the others .

On the other hand, cleanliness wins the trust of others .

Such an image makes a lot of difference .

I want to remove the dirt that could be removed from my clothing before I enter the city .

[......... . ]

I remember that woman that I had met earlier .

If I’m right, we are both aiming towards the same city called Mills .

That woman probably had some troubles herself .

We didn’t tell each other our names .

That’s because we don’t need those information at all .

We also weren’t going to travel together .

The woman must have thought the same .

It’s a situation where we would avoid stepping more than what’s necessary...

[Having troubles, huh... Well, I have some of my own as well . ]

I quickly finished washing my clothes .

[Well then, I guess it’s time to go . ]

[Piii!]

Pigimaru wraps around back into my robe .

I put on my clothes that seems to have dried up a bit and left the body of water .

Walking through the forest, I’m aiming towards Mills .

I stopped on the way of my journey .

It’s because Pigimaru is trying to say something .

[Pi?]

“What is it?”

That’s what I think it’s trying to say .

[It’s just that, I think I’m stuck on something... but what the thing I’m stuck on is... I don’t know . ]

It’s just like something is caught in between my teeth . I know it’s there, but I can’t get it off .

I can’t help but feel troubled as I resume walking through the forest while .

While walking through the forest, I looked upwards at the overlapping branches and leaves of differing trees .

Is it starting to turn into night?

However, even if the sun were to go down, I still have the light of my leather bag .

I also got used to the darkness because of the days I were in the ruins .

The day I spent in here was much easier compared to when I’m in that ruins .

However, I would like to arrive at Mills today if it were possible .

v

After a while, I could finally see a well-developed road in my path .

It seems that the road ahead were paved from here .

I stop for a while as I saw a wooden signboard on my path .

“Mills”

So I continued further into this long curved path, I would reach Mills?

If I keep going at this pace, it’s likely that I would arrive today .

When I continued walking further, I started passing by some people .

Most of them looks-like traveler by the way they were dressed .

I also passed by a carriage that had a luggage carrier on the back .

[Hmm?]

A high wall comes into my sight .

It’s probably the bulwark that’s protecting the city .

I found a simple gate in which I could likely pass through .

There are two gatekeepers standing near the gate .

One man and one woman .

They’re both wielding spears in their hand .

They also had a sword sheathed in their waist .

[......... . . ]

I should keep their first impression towards me to be as good as possible, right?

I talk to Pigimaru who’s hiding beneath my clothes .

[Keep quiet for now, okay?]

[Pii . ]

Pigimaru replied back with a soft cry of acknowledgement .

[And, if you’re to be found out... Well, let’s just do it just as how we practiced, okay? Do you still remember what our signal is?]

[Pii . ]

[Okay . ]

I drew a short breath .

Changing the consciousness within me...

I tried to pass through the gate .

[Wait . ]

I was stopped by the woman .

[You’re an unfamiliar face . ]

Does Mills scarcely have any outsiders who come in here?

Then, that means...

This place is on a scale where the gatekeeper could memorize who goes in and out of their gate huh...

[I can’t see any weapons on your body, but are you a mercenary?]

I softly laughed, showing an unreliable front towards them .

[Well... if there’s any work for me to do in here . ]

[Hahaaa~]

The female gatekeeper laughed a bit as she nodded in agreement .

[So you’re of those guys from the mountains who heard that there are people who are recruiting for people to raid that ruins, huh?]

Recruitment for raiding the ruins .

An unknown topic of discussion suddenly popped out .

I don’t think they’re talking about raiding that really dangerous Disposal Ruins but...

I don’t want to questioned here for saying otherwise .

I have to choose my words carefully .

[Yes, I heard there was some kind of interesting job in here . ]

If I say it this way, I would look like someone who heard of it but doesn’t really know the details .

I look up at the wall as if it were very unusual .

[However, I had nothing with this flourishing city so far so... I’m curious even with just these tall walls you have . ]

[Fuunnn... you’re saying that this is a “flourishing city” just with this scale huh... You must be from the countryside?]

The female guard looked at me from head to toe .

[It looks like your clothes were a bit dirty . ]

[It was a really long trip . Milles was far from home . ]

[It’s not Milles . This is Mills . Good grief... this is the problem with hillbillies who didn’t even hear the right information at all . ]

I laughed a bit, though it sounds forced .

[I’m sorry . ]

[Really... I don’t remember all the names of the people of this city . Hillbillies would always be hillbillies, you could spot one even if you’re not trying . But you, it’s as if you’ve never even went out of your village at all . It’s as if you’re completely dyed in the color of hillbillies . Umumu... with the ways things are, I don’t really know which one of us were living in the remote lands at all . ]

I think the gatekeepers have let down their guards a bit .

It may not be necessary, but I think I have to do some push .

[Please look at these . ]

I showed towards them my trembling arms .

[I’m actually really nervous right now when I have just seen your gate . ]

[Hahaha! Are you all right, young man!? Even the beautiful, slender woman who passed by earlier looks more like a warrior than you!]

A beautiful, slender woman .

Is that the woman I had met earlier in the forest?

The description is roughly described, but all the descriptions he had said applies to her .

The female gatekeeper put her hands on her waist .

The doubt on her face had completely disappeared .

[Well, I think if it’s just carrying the luggage of the mercenaries, you’d fit in just fine . Hey, this guy could pass through, right?]

The female gatekeeper confirmed it with man beside her .

[Yeah . In the first place, we were told by the marquis to accept the mercenaries who have gathered for the ruins . I don’t care if he’s going in . Oi you, get inside already . ]

I eased my expression a bit and thanked him .

[Thank you very much . I’ll do my best . ]

I’m finally passing through the gate .

A smile have been inadvertently lifted on my mouth .

...and I softly murmured out .

[It’s going well . ]

They didn’t inspect my body nor my luggage .

They are surprisingly loose on their security .

Everything seems to decide on the gatekeeper’s whims to some extent .

I cross over the bridge that pass through what seems to be a moat .

I exit out of the gate and found myself in a large street .

It could be somewhat similar to the villages, but you really can’t call this place a village .

It could be somewhat similar to the towns, but you really can’t call this place a town .

The impression I have of this place looks halfway between a town and a village .

This place closely resembles the image the streets of a rural area within Western Europe .

The street is a stone-paved road that extends straight through somewhere my eyes can’t see .

The surface of the stone pavements were a bit sooty .

It’s like the road had been there for a lot of years .

There are some people going here and there .

You can’t really say that this place is overflowing with people, but this place certainly is lively .

Is this the main street in this place?

[Well then . ]

First of all, let’s go look for an inn .

v

I had checked out three types of inns .

I’ve judged them based on the appearance of the people who went in and out of their establishment .

They all differ into high, middle and low-class .

I am now dressed like this .

For the time being, I think I should avoid going into those “high-class” inns...

I guess I’ll check out one of those “low-class” inns and ask how much their accommodation fees are .

I enter into the inn as I’m the mode where I give out the impression of an air mob .

[How much is one night in this inn?]

[800 Marks . ] (T/N: Maka)

The unit “Mark” seems to be named after the god of commerce .

I’ve heard this information from the woman where I had bought my bread earlier .

Well, I actually wasn’t asking her .

She just told me about it .

After hearing the cost of one night, I thought for a bit .

With this cost of a night in this inn, I should have enough money for quite a while...

However, it seems that this inn only have shared rooms .

I have Pigimaru with me so I really want to avoid sharing a room with anyone...

I left that “low-class” inn and checked out a “middle-class” inn next .

The accommodation fee for this one is 2000 Marks per night .

It seems that there are scarcely any rooms at all, probably because of that recruitment for the ruins raid .

But fortunately, there are still some unoccupied private rooms left .

I think it’s because there are hardly any rooms left, it’s possible that this is already the base price for the room .

After this room were filled up, do I have no choice but check out those “high-class” inns?

Let’s see...

It should be fine if I stay here .

[Hmm?]

The innkeeper is staring at me .

They clearly don’t look favorable at all .

Ah, could it be—

[Umm, I’ve actually just came from a really long trip so my clothes had become dirtied by the things I’ve encountered on my journey... If it’s possible, can you sell me something for me to wear while I wash my clothes?]

I take out a silver coin from my pouch .

I placed it down on the counter and presented it towards the innkeeper .

[This is just... a little something for the troubles . Ah... I plan to enter the room after I’ve changed my clothes, so you don’t have to worry about me getting the bedding dirty . ]

The innkeeper’s mood completely changed after hearing my words .

[Y— Yes yes! Certainly! Well then, should I show you around the inn!? Regarding about your change of clothing, we’re already preparing for a replacement for them right away!]

The innkeeper roughly checked the measurements of my body .

The innkeeper then smiled and nodded .

[Please wait for a few minutes!] n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

The unpleasant atmosphere they had at first had completely disappeared .

It’s completely fine now .

[Umm, excuse me . ]

[Yes?]

[If’ it’s possible, umm... I’d like to take my luggage into my room first...]

[Yes! Of course, it’s all right! Ah, now that I think about it, this sir’s name would be—?]

[——–]

Name, huh .

I think it would be bad if I give my real name here...

Fortunately, there’s no sign of anyone needing something similar to an ID card in here .

If that’s the case, using a false name could also be possible .

It’s bad if I take my time on answering .

It would be really suspicious .

I hurried thought up a false name and replied .

[I’m Hati Skoll . ]

I have arranged those names from that wolves that had appeared from Norse Mythology .

Well, they were fairly famous names back there, but I expect that it wouldn’t be the same in this place .

The people who could sniff out the meaning of those names were not in this place either .

[Hati-sama, is it? Certainly!]

The innkeeper writes my name in some kind of book that looks like the register of this place .

[This is the key for the room! While you’re placing your luggage in there, I will prepare the washroom and your change of clothes~]

Based on how he responded, it seems that the way he deals with customers changes depending on who he’s dealing with .

I think I’m being treated as a good customer .

Well, enough about that .

It’s also difficult for me to say that I’m troubled since he had a strong impression about him giving others strange generosity .

But, I think this should be many times better than him being suspicious of me .

v

I went up the stairs and entered the room where I would be staying .

This should be about 8 tatami mats wide?

There’s a bed beside the window .

The other furniture were kept on the minimum and the room is quite simple .

However, the room is clean .

They must have been thoroughly cleaning this place .

I place down my leather bag and lock the door .

Confirming that there are no signs of people around, I call out towards my partner .

[Pigimaru . ]

[Pyuu . ]

Pigimaru descends down to the floor and turned back to his round, jiggly shape .

[Can you hide somewhere in this room for a while? I don’t think you can’t hide anywhere when I’m changing clothes . ]

[Pii~!]

Pigimaru turned into the green of affirmation .

[Good boy . Also, when something unexpected happens—]

[Pigi~!]

Pigimaru did it before I even finished saying it .

He turned into his spherical form .

But, the size have turned a bit smaller .

Kotsu, kotsu~

The surface of his body became really hard .

Yes— it’s as if he turned into a crystal ball .

[It’s perfect . ]

[Pii . ]

If he were to be exposed to the public, I’ll just say that I’m involved in a “business that uses a crystal ball” .

If they still persist and ask what this business is, I’ll say that I’m a fortune teller or a magic user in the middle of training .