She didn’t push farther. I walked out back onto the street and headed back into the market. The walk was silent. A small brick building with a chimney billowing smoke was what I went into. Inside were walls filled with different weapons and suits of armor by the side. Spears, swords, shields, staffs, everything an adventurer could want. A bald man was sitting behind a counter, he was looking at but didn’t say anything to us.

  “Appraisal.”

  Mel was scanning the goods up and down with a disapproving eye.

  “Eh, there’s nothing really noteworthy in here.”

  The rough looking man scoffed at her.

  “Nothing noteworthy? And who are you, miss?”

  Mel was taken aback, she must have thought he was sleeping.

  “Uh… No one…”

  “I’m looking for some curse-resistant gear.”

  “Funny you should say that, I’ve just been working on one of those.”

  He stood up and walked into the back, rolling out a deep red cape with a black finish on a rack.

  “I made it so it doesn't have much defense, instead focusing solely on curses.”

  Armor Class - Cape: Crimson Curse Cape

  Armor Skill: Resists up to High-Level Curses

  Defence: 25

  Mel gave me a thumbs up while her other hand was making a circle around her right eye. As I grabbed 6 kitchen knives from a rack.

  “I’ll take it.”

  “I never thought I’d find a customer so soon, but this is made with expensive materials…”

  I reached into my storage.

  “...and with those knives… In total it’s worth I’d say-”

  “-60 gold?”

  “Pleasure doing business with you!”

  I handed him the money, stored the knives and took the cape. I put it on as I exited.

  “Come again!”

  “Did you really just spend all the money you got a second time?”

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  “Skill shop.”

  “Hey, don’t ignore me!”

  I went to sit by a bench under a tree.

  Use skill points:

  Medium-Level Smoke bomb: 10 points

  Max-Level Dash: 25 points

  Total: 35 points

  Yes

  No

  I pressed “yes” as I stared up at the sky above me. The sun left an imprint on my eyes when I blinked. I looked back down.

  “Nervous about meeting a princess?”

  “Yeah, I am.”

  “Whoa… I wasn’t expecting you to admit it.”

  “Well, it’s about time anyways…”

  “What do you mean?”

  I sat up.

  “Time to go to the gate, remember?”

  “Oh yeah.”

  While walking I saw people from all standings going about daily life. I guess I was one of them. This gate was larger than the one I went in, it seemed to be the main entrance.

  “Hey, Rein.”

  A girl in a short white dress with two buns in her red hair where her horns should be called out to me. I went up to her.

  “Hey.”

  “If you could wear it like that, why haven't you since the beginning?”

  “It comes out easily… Anyway, SHE’S almost here.”

  “Oh… Her… Ok, so what are we doing?”

  Liz looked at Mel then back at me.

  “We?”

  I sighed.

  “Yeah.”

  “Yes!”

  “She wanted me to meet her as she got in the gate, her carriage would be blue and white.”

  “You make it sound like she doesn't know me or Rein is coming.”

  “She doesn't.”

  “Huh?”

  “Just say we’re a party or something, it will work itself out.”

  “Ah…”

  Mel sounded even more confused from what she said than usual.

  “We’ll be executed if anything happens so…”

  “You're taking that lightly…”

  “I’ll be a lookout at the front, Rein, be a bodyguard and make sure she doesn't get killed… And uh… fairy…”

  I already left for the parked carriage while I heard Mel scream about not being a fairy from a distance. Two guards stopped me but didn’t say a word. I held up my guild card and they stood back. I pulled on the door as the girl inside who was pressed against the window almost fell out. She had long flowing silver hair, light blue eyes and a royal blue dress, she was also wearing gloves and showed almost no skin except for her face.

  “Oh… hello there!”

  In an embarrassed state she slid to the far end of the seating area.

  “Are you the adventurer I hired? Sorry, I had the idea that you were a girl.”

  “Well, I’m part of her party.”

  “I see! Well, please come in. I don’t want to be rude.”

  I sat at the opposite corner she was on, the inside was empty, just us. There was silence for around a minute when the carriage started moving.

  “So where is the rest of your party?”

  “They should be outside, on lookout duty…”

  “Sorry, I haven’t even asked your name! I am Princess Aleyssia Leidheart, of this kingdom, but you can call me Alya. What’s yours?”

  “Rein, just Rein…”

  The silence came back.

  “I know you seem hesitant around me… you must have heard the rumors… about my power.”

  I couldn’t bring myself to look at her.

  “Well, I-”

  The carriage stopped and Ayla jumped out the door.

  “-This is our stop. Come on, then!”