Chapter 19: Reality of the streets.
Translated and Edited by: luccayn.
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“Bwah?! —W-Wait! Noel Reisssssss!!!”
While hearing Buffon’s desperate cries, who finally called me by my name, I kept Rokoko in my arms and headed straight toward the exit of the Forest of Bewitching Trees.
“U-Uwah?!”
Since it wasn’t nighttime and I was awake, I didn’t have to bother with Invisibility. Rokoko was also with me. Assured and without glancing aside, I zipped past the trees.
In the underbelly of society, the renowned Reiss lineage of assassins continued from generation to generation. My abilities had been honed as an heir to that same bloodline. Swift decision-making, broad perspective, agile movements. And also the technique to divert one’s attention from me—I used all I had been imparted to the fullest.
“Woof…?”
The senses of magical wolves.
“Creak…?”
The magical detection of Treants.
“Caw caw…?”
The eyes of monstrous birds.
Sometimes, I’d leave them behind with speed. Others, I’d deceive their perception, or slip through, or even drive their attention elsewhere. It was good to practice these skills whenever possible.
And then, we finally left the feared forest without engaging in any form of combat.
“Mmm, nggh…!”
Rokoko’s slender, delicate arms wrapped even tighter around my neck as I continued to whizz past everything. Even after leaving the forest, I didn’t put her down.
After all, I wanted to get her to the city as soon as possible. To feed her delicious food until she couldn’t eat another bite, to get her clean and healthy, to buy her new clothes, and to get her the softest bed I could and cover her in warm blankets.
Several hours had passed since I left the premises of the forest. Occasionally replenishing my stamina with potions, I kept running in strides until we reached the somewhat large city where Rokoko had come from—Lireizen. I gently let her down on the floor.
However, I would soon come to realize the harsh reality there.
Not a single soul accepted us both for lodging or meals. The main reason for that was Rokoko’s scent. While I had gotten used to it after being together for quite a while, to others, it smelled like death.
While it was understandable to a degree, I couldn’t accept one of the innkeepers’ remarks. He’d scrunched his nose, glared at us, and spat, “It’s like the smell of a dirty stray dog.”
However, in this situation, cleaning her up was my priority. Nothing would change if I couldn’t help her there.
“Noel… I’m sorry. It’s Rokoko’s fault,” she muttered dejectedly.
“Hahaha, what are you saying? Don’t worry about anything. Just wait a bit. I’m thinking about what to do now,” I patted her head. She had been wearing my black coat over her tanned skin since we stepped inside the city.
Looking around, I ponder. What should I do? If inns with baths are out of the question, what about public bathhouses? No. Of course, they’d be separated by gender there, and I wouldn’t be able to keep an eye on and protect her. Plus, there might be various kinds of unsavory fellows there, so it could prove risky.
In the first place, we might possibly get turned away at the entrance just as we had at eateries and inns. Still, I had no other place I could think of. And while there was a river flowing near the city, bathing there was prohibited. There were also no springs nearby.
What else…? Oh?! Could it be, there?!
Skimming around the city, I turned to look at an area I’d unconsciously avoid under normal circumstances. An idea had popped into my mind.
“Rokoko, let’s go! It’s a bit embarrassing, but I’m sure they’ll accept us there!”
“There…?”
Pulling her by the hand, a puzzled look on her face, I set my sights on our destination. We opened the establishment’s doors and were immediately greeted by someone.
“Welcome, welcome~! Oh my, such cute customers, aren’t you~? Hehe, hey there, young man? Did you come to have some fun with big sis over here~?”
“H-Hello! U-Um, it’s not like that! It’s, it’s really not what you think! Ah, I-I have a request! C-Could you please wash this girl?!”
After wandering through unfamiliar back streets for a while, I arrived at the door of a high-class brothel with Rokoko in tow. My face was beet red, and I stumbled over my words as I knocked on the door. I really wasn’t used to that, of all things.
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