Chapter 36 (1/2)

An unshaven man looks down atsoldiers around hi fro how it's adorned with jewels, it's probably a rey hair His handso a playboy Yet for soives off a refined feel He also has the constitution of a giant Well, he's not that big, there's a solid body underneath his arht that be?”

I asked thesoldiers are looking around at the people passing by In other words, they're the ones who've been searching for us because of that incident earlier But if they can recognizedaway any as I can

Fortunately, this is a highway The inn we're staying in is a bit far, so they probably won't find it I'm pretty confident I can escape if it's like this I've put in a lot of practice in et away by myself

Ah, Nyht, it's like she's not even there

Ny from my shoulder In places like this where we're in the public eye, she must act like a cat If she suddenly speaks now, it would cause a disaster

The ets off, I play duht doesn't even reach his chest

That's when the patrolling soldier casually surround me Theyby on the highway notice ather to watch

Well, isn't that probably because we stand out soat the inn in the first place But, if I just stayed in the rooirls would have done after co out of the bath…

The , points at ain?”

”Meon tribesman clan who caused a riot in the daytime”

”Ah yes, that one You're an iht Didn't they say it was pretty girl?”

”Yeah, he isn't Near that girl was a cute boy with brown-hair”

”Ah yes, that's it”

Soray-hairedhinized you the instant I saw at you You're the one froain?”

”Ahaha,” The stubble facedsoldier around hiain

He doesn't seeh he's unfamiliar with the details of the riot from earlier today, he was able to pick out froht after that, he caht up to me without hesitation

At any rate, I need to coe Even though I'm surrounded, I must keep calm, keep calm…

I need to make sure I' I need to save rabs my left arm

”Let's not stand and talk For no about we stop by a nearby bar to get a drink and so ht, I get the feeling I won't be able to shake him off

Incidentally, I' roo useless like that though

”Ah, I haven't saidsoldiers”

Ludriad-san sence Looks like this guy is actually someone remarkable, huh

”For now, let's shake hands”

Ludriad-san stoops over to aze and stretches out his hand He reeks of liquor

”Ueh,” I immediately make a surprised face

”Oh, do I reek of liquor?”

Ludriad-san gives a heartful laugh He then forcibly takes ht hand and shakes it

My left hand is free now, butheld down by the handshake

”Because ets dark, it won't do without any alcohol”

”Didn't you drink throughout the day, though?”

Ludriad-san laughs at the patrolling soldier's retort

So, the platoon leader is the kind of person who drinks because it's night despite being on duty, huh Moreover, the surrounding soldiers don't even bla soldiers seeood relationshi+p with Ludriad-san, their platoon leader The atmosphere is peaceful, one where everyone see to do with rasp one way or another I can get away just fine, but I'm not so sure I can escape from Ludriad-san himself

”Oh, do you think you can escape fro to come up with a reliable escape plan?”

Ludriad-san was laughing together with the patrol soldiers, but before I knew it, his eyes started giving a sharp light As I thought, he isn't an ordinary person He acts relaxed, but he stays levelheaded on the i, but I'd like to finish o drinking now, though?”

”Yeah, looks like you got ives a wry sood at retorts, aren't you?”

”That's because I'm acquainted with a silly old man”

”Heee, you have to introduce randfather is quite shy He lives in a quiet place all by hi with him Truth be told, I've alanted to live in a quiet, rural, place Seriously”

”That sounds hard to believe…”

Ita casual conversation, but we are exchanging in offense and defense below the surface Nothing we actually say is all that ih

One way or another, I need break ht hand free froive rip is loose and seems to be easy to shake off, but it's not

What's with this handshake expert?

”What's this? You seem to be very troubled”

I'm not sure why, but Ludriad-san s we could have a drink, but let's talk over there Just the two of us”

With those words, Ludriad-san points at a deserted space between buildings There's no light down their either If I7s, wheat fields surround this area of the highway

”All of you, wait here and disperse the curious onlookers”

At Ludriad-san co soldiers before disappeared in an instant They set upon their task with a practiced o on and settle these various probleoing to question me about what happened earlier Could there be other problerips rip reht, but I still can't break free On the contrary, I can't even resist being taken by Ludriad-san