Chapter 43 (1/2)

Like Something Hard to Describe

Well then. I was currently in a bit of a mess with a rough looking old man. Things were going so well on my way to the clothing store up until I turned the corner. As a newly arrived visitor to this city, it was only natural for me to walk around with my nose inside of the guidebook. I did occasionally look up to make sure I was headed in the right direction, but I was clearly not paying enough attention where it mattered. You reap what you sow.

“…and that is what happened. I am terribly sorry.”

“Ah, so it is your first time in this city! You should have told me sooner! You!”

He laughed boisterously and began to repeatedly slap me on the shoulder. I felt like I was being hammered into the ground every time his hands came down. I do a quick bow.

Then the rough looking man asked me where I was headed, so I told him the name of the store. Then he said he would take me there. What a surprise, he was actually a perfectly decent person. I thought we would move according to that old template of how these things always go. But that was a big mistake. This world wasn’t going to be like that.

“Oh, the name’s Pinzoro. I’m an adventurer in this here city. I’d say you and that lady over there are adventurers too, by the looks of you? Perhaps we’ll be meeting again!”

“Thank you for helping us. I am Asagi. This is Daniela. I hope we will meet again.”

“Hey, hey, hey now. No need to act so stiff between us adventurers! It makes my skin crawl!”

He says as he exaggeratingly scratched his arms. I laughed. Perhaps he was right. After all, we were adventuring ruffians. Kids were scared of us.

“Alright. Thanks, Pinzoro.”

“Bah! See you later, Asagi, Daniela!”

Pinzoro waved a hand as he went back down the street. Ahhhh, for a second I wondered what was about to happen, but thankfully, it was nothing. But Pinzoro huh… I wonder if he gambles.

Now that he was gone, the street we were on was suddenly very quiet. I turn around and see Daniela, who was about as quiet as the front of the train station at midnight.

“Uh, Daniela.”

“Mm? What?”

I ask her something that I had been wondering about for a while. But I could never really find the right timing to ask her about it.

“You’re always so quiet whenever we talk with someone for the first time.”

“Ah…”