Chapter 7 (1/2)
7 Tahfu
The firewood in the cresset crackled
“—Who goes there?!” About ten steps away, a ed Kei
The villager’s face was flushed with nervousness Full of suspicion, his gaze pierced through Kei
The other men around him also had the same look They were hunched over and held any weapons they had on hand; clubs, hoes, and lumber axes readied, prepared to move at any time
It was their entire cole one of them even tried to hide their wariness toward Kei
…What a elcome this is
Their focus on Kei sent a tingle down his spine Not quite bloodlust, but it was obvious that he was an uninvited guest
Kei briefly thought to hi? He couldn’t stay quiet forever “I’ them knoasn’t an enemy came first
“’Not anyone suspicious’…?”
The villagers confronting Kei murmured with each other quietly
A new o for a stroll
He came out from the darkness on horseback without a torch
His entire body is covered in leather armor A sword at his hip, and a heavy bow in hand
Lastly, he’s holding a young girl in his left arm
Her broas slick with sweat, she was pale like a sickly person
She wore foreign black clothes that they had never seen before
But for sohed up by someone
The front of her clothes were cut open, exposing her white chest
“…”
—He’s suspicious He’s way too suspicious
That was the consensus of the le non-suspicious point about him
“…So, who are you?” thehis spear once more
They’re being even more cautious of ht To put it frankly, ere just attacked by robbers and wound up here after escaping”
He then summed up exactly what their situation was
They were surrounded by fog and before they knew it they were somewhere unfamiliar The sun had set so they set up caroup of thieves before escaping into the grove of trees
After that, he noticed torchlight in the pitch black and went toward it That was the situation
He didn’t tell a single lie Although, he did keep the fact that they were players froame called 『Demondal』hidden He spoke as if they were norh
After listening to Kei’s story the tough faced villager slightly lowered his spear and asked with a bewildered yet cautious expression, “…So, in the end, what is it that you want?”
“Honestly, we didn’t come here with any particular desire We just caht was… Why exactly were you all up andabout at this hour?” questioned Kei
“…I’ll answer your question,” said a deep-voiced man casually
It caishly came out from the shadows of a small house, perfectly in Kei’s blind spot
His face was good looking He looked sullen with the lower half of his face concealed by a reddish brown beard The ht brown clothes wrapped around his body and a feather decorated leather cap adorned his head
“I’ htly removed his cap
Kei realized that he had yet to give his name “I’ an archer himself, his eyes were naturally drawn to the bow Mandel was holding
It was a silossy finish, while the handle rapped with black cloth Several other villagers also carried bows, but Mandel’s gave off the i day after day
Mandel’s hat drew Kei’s attention next Specifically, the feather on it He stared at the feather on Mandel’s hat
“…”
For a aze
Smiles crept up onto both of their faces A silent understanding The men around them all wore perplexed expressions
“…And as for ere ht-faced as if nothing happened and continued to speak, “just a bit ago, we suddenly heard a terrible howl Everyone roused themselves out of bed… It may have been a ferocious monster”
“Monster?”
“Yeah They occasionally come into human territory from the woods or the et attacked while we sleep… We’ll probably sleep in shi+fts tonight” He gestured to the villagers around hi?”
“H like that beast you mentioned”
Even thinking back upon it, he couldn’t think of anything Only the Hound Wolves sent by their assailants carove
“I suppose that even if there were a monster you wouldn’t be able to see it in this darkness,” the man with the spear cut into the silence with a hint of irritation
“Mikazuki—the horses weren’t alerted, so at the very least, there wasn’t anything in the area For what it’s worth, both this guy and I can see pretty well in the dark,” he patted Mikazuki’s neck
The villagers eyed up Kei and then the darkness with suspicious expressions Mandel just nodded and honestly replied with, “I see”
“—Pardon us while you’re in the middle of your conversation”
The sound of footsteps on stone approached froe
From the darkness appeared a hunched old ed man
“Welcoe ‘Tahfu’”
“I’m his son, Danny”
A small smile rose on the old man hite hair, Bennett’s, face His pluhty attitude
I see So the village leader and leader-to-be have shown up
Keito observe the two
The village leader, Bennett, seelance he appeared kind, but below his eyebrohich were pulled down into a ハ shape, his gaze nonchalantly took in all of Kei The words ‘devious old man’ came to mind
On the other hand, there wasn’t ood or bad, gave off the impression of a born aristocrat In a way they were alike, but unlike Bennett, he didn’t have a tiaze toward them was rude He specifically see held by Kei
And they call this village ‘Tahfu’…
Kei had never heard of the village in the gaa on horseback My naawa is my family name I’m sorry for the ruckus we’ve caused” He said confidently as he re his face
The villagers quietly began talking a face seeed, but Danny’s eyebrows perked up and his complexion became somewhat stiff
“…Nogawa-dono[1] What can our village do for you?” Bennett asked politely with his insincere smile
“Just Kei is fine We just finished discussing that earlier, but we didn’t coh,” his eyes fell to the girl in his arms
She eating still and h…”
Kei resuood shape If possible, I want to let her rest…” He asked the rest with his eyes, How about it? He continued further, “Of course, ill provide appropriate compensation”
“I see, I see,” Bennet slowly responded agreeably “As you said, your friend doesn’t seem too well However, I ae will have anything of use to you… I will ask the other villagers Danny, Cronen, help me”
Bennett bowed as if to say, ill return shortly, and then turned and walked away Danny and the spear wielder—apparently named Cronen—followed suit
As Kei watched theave off a siure behind them, “…Mandel”
“Hm…? What is it?”
“That guy, Cronen, the spear wielder, is he related to the leader?”
“Yes, he’s also his son… The eldest is Danny, next is Cronen”
“I see Thank you”
Satisfied, Kei thought to hiap between the two brothers, unaware of the griers around him wore
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