After convincing the elder to take them together to the city, Jin and his companions stayed at the village, where they spent an entire night. They didn't have any issues with their stay, but Kira still became an inconvenience for Jin, with her constant complaints about the small wooden house they stayed at. The comfort she experienced with the guild and perhaps his own room had spoiled her too much, and the thought of staying at a worn-out, dirty house had become unbearable for her.
Though annoyed, Jin remained calm, and he was able to get her to stop - by telling her that he would leave her in the guild and he will go to the city alone with Evelyn. When Jin said that, his only intention was to convince her to stop; saying that she wouldn't get to see the city she was so curious about. Of course, her usual reaction was she pouted and got angry. However, what she said later has confused Jin that he wasn't able to say anything else after.
'She will not let him get the chance to have a date with Evelyn alone in the city,' That's what he understood from what she had said.
It was like the time when Ariel got angry, rather, jealous. But, no; that cannot be possible. While Ariel was programmed to service him, it wasn't possible that she would get jealous of Kira or any other woman. Then, Kira - she's like a little sister to him, and he's like a bigger brother to her. Her, harboring feelings for him would only occur in an Eroge.
He convinces himself that it was nothing but misunderstandings. To him, that would be more logical.
Now, it's morning, and the wagon they will use is already prepared. Jin talked with the elder, and it was decided that they will get to stay together with him and Anna.
"Sorry, Jin-sama... we'd like to get you your own ride, but we just didn't have enough of them."
"It's fine." Jin nodded, looking at the two wagons in front of them that are both being pulled by two weak-looking horses each. One of the wagons was completely stacked with all kinds of goods, while the other, was only-half filled with large sacks. Jin has a rough idea of what their contents were, given that Tabimiko has already informed him.
"By the way... I'm not seeing Tabimiko-sama?" The elder said, turning his head around to look for the person he mentioned. Anna was the same and has a worried expression on her face.
"Tabimiko-san already went back to our base."
"Eh?" Both the elder and Anna looked surprised.
"Don't worry, we provided him equipment. He will be able to go back himself." Jin said to reassure them. But despite that, they remained worried, and the look of suspicion also appeared on their faces.
'These are not normal NPCs, alright,' Jin thought as he openly converses with Anna and the elder.
"Anyway... how long before we arrive in the city?" Jin shrugs the two of them and asked.
"We-well... since the city's not far... we might arrive at sunset."
"Oh... right..." Almost forgetting they would ride on wagons, Jin was a bit disappointed at how long the time they would take to arrive.
If he could, he had already gone to the city they were going to alone at a much faster speed. But because he doesn't know the rules of society in this world yet, he wanted the villagers to guide them there first. The rules he was accustomed to in his previous world might not be the same as in this world. He was just acting cautiously.
A moment later, Jin and the others had finally entered the wagon. The one who was commanding the horses at the front was the elder, while everyone else was inside. As usual, Jin and Kira were inseparable; Evelyn on the other hand is sitting together with Anna on her side of the wagon.
"U-Umm... Jin-sama... are you the leader?" Earlier, it was only the elder who was talking; sitting right in front of Jin, this time, it was Anna who initiated the conversation.
"That's right." There was no hesitation in Jin's reply.
No matter what their disguises are, the person who will always have the higher position in Altair was Jin. Kira and Evelyn agree to that too, and they have no complaints whatsoever. Jin was the only leader they will follow, and that's something that has already been embedded in the guild's hive mind, may it be from the NPCs or the members themselves. Jin knows this, and he shows it outside, almost boasting. He takes pride in his leadership - leadership whose sole purpose is to pursue their guild's benefit and success.
"Then, Jin-sama, you're Tabimiko-sama's superior?" Curiously, Anna asked once more.
"You can say that." Jin nodded.
"Then, can I asked things about Tabimiko-san?" With hopeful eyes, Anna looked at her. The expression she had when he first met her was still there, but it seems that she was able to conceal it for now as she was filled with dedication to hearing his answer.
"You're free to, as long as I know the answer." Jin nodded and smiled, which instantly gave Anna a bright look on her face.
"Then! Does Tabimiko-sama have a lover?"
"A lover, huh?" Jin said as he did the usual gesture he does when he starts thinking. Then, he turns to look at Kira and Evelyn. Mentally, he's trying to get them to answer because he was not so sure. But, like him, it seems they don't know either, rather, they most likely wouldn't know since they weren't close with Tabimiko in particular.
"Well, we've been friends for years, and I haven't seen him with a girl before." Jin awkwardly said.
He and Tabimiko have been playing the game together for a few years, and as he said, he hasn't really seen him together with a woman before. Obviously, it would be because they were inside the game. Tabimiko doesn't have bad relationships with the female members of the guild, but he's not that close with them either. Outside the game, he also hasn't mentioned a woman with who he was close.
One thing he knows regarding Tabimiko was that he was a dedicated salaryman. He always tells him how he was busy with work, that's why Jin thought that he must be single and doesn't have any current relationships.
"Hmm... You seem to have gotten close with him, did he mentioned anything?" Thinking, Jin asked Anna back. But as he was removed from his memories and looked at her again, it seems that she turned a bit flustered; looking angry while blushing pink.
"So, Tabimiko-sama was lying?"
"Eh..." Jin heard the quiet self-muttering of the girl and he couldn't help but let out his voice.
"U-Umm! Please, don't mind me! I just remembered something Tabimiko-sama said to me."
"Ahh... is that so? What is it about?"
"Well, it was just a bluff... I'm sorry, but I already forgot about it." Anna whispered the first line and said what comes after while scratching the back of her head.
'She was definitely hiding something,' Jin thought as he observes her unusual reactions. But, whatever it is she was trying to hide, he's sure it's just some kind of trivial matter regarding her and Tabimiko. He doesn't want to dwell on it deeper, so he did not question Anna further.
Just as Jin thought that it was the end of the conversation, Anna has given him one more question to answer. This time, it was about him.
"How about you, Jin-sama?"
'Now she's asking personal questions, huh?' Annoyed, Jin internally said to himself.
"Well, I had..." Before he continues, the wagon suddenly hit a bump on the road, interrupting him. Then, as if the question wasn't asked, Jin decided not to answer.
"Haah... well, it doesn't matter anyway..."