Vol 2 Chapter 4 (2/2)
He answers by raising his hand to the friendly coachman It would have been better if he had knocked
As he closed the , the carriage shook with a bang Hiro gets up and prepares to alight
The stagecoach does not heard directly for the Imperial capital of Zeitral It stops at a station closeby, three sels (9 km) away
「Thank you very much」
Hiro gives his thanks to the coache
「I see… This really is a big city」
He was taken aback by the large number of people
nobles, co with people of various backgrounds
Leaving the crowded station, a nice breeze and the scent of fresh leaves tickled the nose
A carriage bound for the Io by foot because so him
(I’ followed by someone)
If they plan to attack him here, it would be a bit troublesome
He wants to avoid involving in any innocent bystanders to his utmost abilities
As he quickly walks along a shalloay carved into the side of the road, he counts the presence of the people following behind him at the same speed
(Three… six… eight people, huh)
He gets the feelings they’re amateurs, but it may be too soon to decide that
He strokes the eyepatch covering half his face and sly
(Should I go with the “first strike wins” strategy?)
He doesn’tfor theuards will hear the commotion and come over
Not having any form of identification on him, Hiro would likely be taken in if he were questioned
Even if he did have one, if the guards orking under so he would kept restrained
He’s in no situation to waste tiht now
(Noho should I go with?)
After he probes for the closest presence to him, Hiro turns around assertively
The space before his hand split open, and one short sword—the handle of a spirit weapon ca out
After pulling it out, he goes around to the back of the suspicious man, who is noticeably shaken, in an instant
He pressed the point of his sword to his back and spoke quietly
「I’ll kill you if you struggle If you understand, I’d like it if you would tell your friends, too」
「A-Alright I got it, so don’t kill me」
The suspiciousto be a traveler
As he does, his friend raises his arms above his head and crosses them over and over
After sensing the presence of a nu distant, Hiro pushes the back of the suspicious es him to walk forward
「I’ to ask you a number of questions You don’t have to answer them if you don’t want to I’ll just kill you and ask someone else」
He ainst him below
His slightly dirty clothes split apart, and the suspicious oes pale
「I-I’ll tell you anything, so spare me」
It was just a threat, but it looks like it was extremely effective
(He’s an amateur after all…)
Hiro mutters in his head, then questions the man
「Who was it that hired you, I wonder」
「I don’t know He suddenly gave us money… and told us to attack you」
「Ohh, think you can tell me what happened in detail? 」
「A-A strange man appeared before me when I finished my field work」
「A strange man?」
「He wore a robe and I couldn’t see his face, but it was a man’s voice」
Hiro quickly turns the short sword around in his hand and presses the poe him forward
「He told uards I wasn’t planning to take hiold coins is enough to ht with your own kid Anyone would accept that offer, right?」
「I see」
Hiro goes into thought He probably won’t get any more information even if he presses this man any further
It looks like he’s just a farmer as blinded by ers like him, too
「You can go But if you act strangely, I’ll kill you And don’t ever appear before ain If I see you somewhere, I’ll kill you without hesitation Got it?」
「G-Got it I’ll never appear before you again」
The man furiously nodded his head over and over, then ran off into the plains away fro back
Seven men followed after him
After watching them leave, Hiro continued on to the Imperial capital
(… There’s a chance they’ll be killed by their client, though)
The reas exceptional compared to how simple the job was— In other words, it means they’re supposed to succeed no matter what
Not realizing that and failing, they’ll be killed by their client, even if it is their just desserts
(But still, the fact that he use farmers bothers me)
If he hired soht If he caused a couards
While Hiro alking lost in thought, he realized that he had arrived right before the Iate