We spent most of the morning around the shack before we decided to move out so we could arrive at the town right at lunchtime.
...
When we arrived at the entrance of the town...
"This town is pretty big but it looks almost identical to all other towns on the populace side." I muttered with slightly curious expression while I was walking next to Taeko with my hands behind my head.
There was a large inequality of wealth between people in this town...well like in all towns across the Empire. It only mattered on which scale but this type of inequality was on this world from time immemorial. Even in my old world which was very developed something like this wasn't rare. However, I must mention that the living conditions of the poorest people in my old world were much better than here.
Anyway...I have a slightly uneasy feeling ever since we walked in. I am pretty sure that something will happen in this town or at least not far away from it.
"That's the Empire for you." Babara sarcastically said with a smile while glancing behind her at me.
"Eeh, how cruel of you to say that, granny~" I said with a twitching smile and closed eyes while I emphasized the word "granny".
We decided that it would be best to play that we will act be quite close as if to not appear suspicious.
"*Taeko, can you do me a favor?*" I whispered to Taeko who was walking right next to me.
"Hm?" She turned at me with a confused expression but still eagerly nodded her head.
"*Can you walk a bit closer to me? It's a bit annoying, we are gathering a bit more attention than needed*" I asked her with a helpless smile and she looked around us more attentively just to notice numerous ladies looking at our group.
If I was wearing some better clothes, they would probably think that I am noble and therefore, most of them wouldn't even dare to look at me, at least that's how it worked in the Capital. Right now...the clothes I am wearing are the clothes of someone not too poor or rich, I would call it the typical adventurer's clothes but I don't know if people here would understand that.
"Pfft, no problem" She giggled a bit after seeing my helpless smile and got a bit closer to me and took hold of my hand.
Huh? Well, I didn't expect that but it will serve the same way, I am just slightly surprised that someone like Taeko would do that on her own. I just hope they won't misunderstand us for siblings since we have almost the same hair color and we are being led by an old granny...
I secretly prayed to the satan and after a few moments, the stares were immediately reduced by more than half times. Let's hope we won't meet any arrogant noblewoman who will want me as her plaything.
I hoped for such stereotypes not to happen.
"?..." Babara also noticed it but she only glanced at our joined hands before shaking her head.
Shitty granny, I will get back at you. I will make sure you won't die just to kill you myself in the end.
My smile widened in a crazy way when I noticed the look she gave me and thought of some sinister plans in advance while looking at her small and slightly bent back.
?! My smile immediately disappeared when I noticed the people in front of us.
Akame...I already expected her to be here but seeing her with my own eyes is still something else. Gozuki is also there together with 3 other girls. I know that girl with a ponytail...quite sad that I remember her due to her flat chest yet after 8 years she still has a flat chest...
I thought with a surprised look when I saw Akame and when I saw the girl with a ponytail hairstyle, pity immediately entered my eyes.
Anyway, Gozuki hadn't change that much, maybe he looks a bit creepier but that's all. Good thing I have this advanced disguise because Akame or he would be able to recognize me with only half-assed disguise. There is no way Akame would forget the face of someone who is taking care of her sister...I hope Gozuki didn't tell her any lies about how I would treat Kurome...
Because even if Kurome herself reassured Akame...there are still brainwashing drugs so it's very hard to say who would Akame believe. The only reason why I don't want to kill her is that Kurome would be sad if she died...However, I can't say this for sure but I think that in case Akame would attack me, Kurome would try to defend me. At first with the words and if the words wouldn't be enough...I believe that she would even use her katana I crafted for her. It's kinda unbelievable but Kurome actually spent more time with me than with her sister ever since she was born.
"Finally, this is the inn where we will stay, you two" Babara said and at the same moment, we walked past Akame's group.
It almost felt as if the time itself slowed down when my eyes met Akame's eyes. However, it wasn't even a second before I redirected my gaze in front of me with a cheerful smile from before.
"Yes" Taeko nodded her head, still holding my hand.
"Understood, granny" I said with a playful tone and a wide smile.
We entered the inn to register and to have a meal but not before we will meet up with Chelsea. However, before we entered, I took one more glance at one particular girl standing close to Gozuki.
----Akame's group----
"What's wrong Akame?" A ponytail girl asked with a curious expression while leaning her face in front of Akame's face.
"Huh? What do you mean, Poney?" Akame stopped staring at the entrance of the inn and looked at the Poney's face.
"Don't try to hide it...You have been staring at that boy for some time. Tehee, what is it? Did he perhaps charm you~?! Unfortunately, it looked like he already has a lady with him..." Poney giggled when she saw Akame's reaction and questioned her with a teasing expression and big smile before her a slightly sad smile appeared on her face when she mentioned the woman who was Taeko.
"No, that's not it..." Akame shook her head and replied with a thoughtful expression while returning her gaze at the inn's entrance.
'...What was that feeling? Why did he seem so familiar? I can't recall anyone with that appearance. *sigh* I guess there is no need to dwell on it.' Akame thought with a slightly disappointed expression before shaking her head to get rid of those useless thoughts, she came here to eat a lot of meat, no need to think hard about it.
Gozuki just glanced at Poney and Akame before looking at the inn's entrance with a thoughtful expression.
'That guy...his back was totally unguarded like a usual civilian, however, what is the reason behind that chill I felt down my spine when I thought of ambushing him? It was only for a small moment before that feeling completely disappeared but...what was that?' Gozuki thought while he recalled Katsura's carefree smile with his wide-open back.
"Well, let's go in."
----Back to Akashi----
...Who was that blonde girl? She looked a bit similar to Raksaya...
I thought with my mind a bit in disarray.
"What is it?" Taeko sensed that I was thinking about something really hard so she tightened her grasp on my hand to wake me up from my thoughts.
"...It's nothing" I was slightly surprised by her voice so I closed my eyes and reopened them after a few seconds with complete calmness.
"Mm" Taeko nodded with a smile after seeing me regain my calmness.
...That's right, I can't let something like that shake me, that's something not even Raksaya would want to see from me.
I thought when I saw Taeko's genuine smile.
Anyway...I understand that we are still in the main hall, waiting to be registered but why is she still holding my hand?
Well, it doesn't bother me so I won't say anything for now and see when she will distance herself.
Also...should I tell them who those assassins are? It's not like I am 100 percent sure that those girls and Gozuki are part of that group we are pursuing but for us to meet them here can't be a coincidence. 99 percent for them being the ones we are looking for. I will see how they are going to deal with it and after that, I will decide.
...Babara only took 1 room for all 3 of us plus a missing make-up girl. I hope the room is large enough. We went up by the stairs and even when we entered the room, Taeko had yet to let go of my hand.
"...How long do you 2 plan on holding hands? This is not your honeymoon, wait until this mission is done. But I must mention that it indeed gives us a better disguise." Babara also noticed this fact and glanced at our hands while asking with a slightly annoyed tone but under that tone, she wore a teasing smile.
"?...?! I am sorry, I forgot" Taeko looked a bit confused at first but she instantly realized that she is still holding my hand so she quickly let go with a slightly ashamed expression while blushing a bit.
.
.
.
We couldn't find Chelsea at all and she didn't come to us either, so we stopped waiting for her and instead went to get our lunch since it was already quite late.
...
"So what do you plan to do for the rest of the day?" I asked with a slightly curious expression and an amused smile.
"Wait..." Babara shortly replied while stuffing herself with a hamburger.
...Eh
I couldn't help but simply look weirdly at that sight in right in front of me.
"Are you looking for someone in particular?" I asked her with a smile when I noticed how she was sitting near the window, occasionally looking out of it.
"...Maybe but it looks like they already went somewhere so it's too late already. We will have to wait until tomorrow. Plus we don't have Chelsea with us, she is the best person for tailing someone." She replied with a slightly disappointed tone.
Did she actually notice Akame's group? She is really experienced...her age definitely means something. And I must agree with her that the make-up girl is the best for such a job with her means.
However, if I have to guess, she suspects Gozuki since he looks kinda creepy. But I still need to praise his skill to hide his aura.
Either way, there is no need to tell them anything if they are on their tracks. It's also a good way how to observe their skills in action. I have been thinking for quite a long time about recruiting those two and maybe even the entire Oarburgh clan but there is one problem...Merraid Oarburgh
The current leader and also a man-hater, my relationship with her is already quite bad and her clan wouldn't follow me without her approval. I will see what I can do...and even if I don't want to do "that"...I will still observe Babara, Taeko and even that make-up girl just to discover all their strengths and weaknesses in case I would need to get rid of them one day...But I hope that won't happen, at least in Taeko's case...I won't lie but even that granny is kinda funny to be around. Well, only time will tell if they are truly my allies and friends.