Chapter 45 - To Mills (1/2)

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.

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.]