Somehow, I feel more tired than usual… Was a rescue mission always this tiresome…?
We've reached the river border of the inner walls towards the inner district. The Altruist's Castletown. Just past this circular river will be a safe zone. But I can't just let my guard down yet. No one knows what's to occur.
"Maybe well hit the town for a little rest?"
"Yes, please… It's a little bit embarrassing, but I also require some relief." Said the princess with a shying red face. Ahh… I see. A lady's thing?
"You have to pee? Ouch!"
"I'll smack you, you shameless knave!"
"You've already did!" She slapped me from behind, straight to the face…
"You deserved that! Have you any shame saying that towards a maiden?" She whined, balling her hand to a fist and hit the back of my head consecutively. It did not do any damage of course it only made her seem like a child throwing tantrum.
"Okay, okay. I'm sorry. We'll hit the town and rest for the night."
I jumped off the edge of the river and run over the slowly flowing water, straight towards the wall of the capital. The width of the river was roughly fifty feet, so that ain't not much of a trouble.
"Y—you can walk above waters?! T-that's amazing!"
"Huh? This isn't much. Brace yourself, princess."
"What? Kyaaaa!" The sooner the wall became visible, I put strength to my feet and lifted us both above the fifteen-meter wall. I stealth us both as to not cause any ruckus with the patrol guards and kick off the other side of the wall to propel us towards the nearby vacant lot; inside the Castletown.
"Wow, we really reached the Castletown in a short period of time."
"Told you so."
"Why so smug?"
"Well, anyway, let's find some place to rest. Well leave first thing in the twilight."
"As the man says so, the damsel listens." there she goes again,
"Let's find an inn. Let's grab something to eat first."
We've found and open inn quite so easily and checked in for a night. After securing a room we went down the first floor where they serve food as part of the deal.
I never noticed this when we first came in, but as soon as we brought ourselves to the sitting room the true nature of the inn showed its own worth. The smell of the alcohol permeating through the atmosphere, the rough looking guests, a lone woman in a robe with a long-pointed hat, men in both heavy and light armors, toned women with gears and weaponry, and most of all the aroma of the food being served; this place is an adventurer's haven.
"This place might be too much for a princess to handle, but we don't have any other choice."
"Aw, come on! You know that is not true." She alleged, puffing her cheeks. Hmm, adorable.
"The food here was good, but it's all ordinary, okay? Don't go asking me for something fancier later."
"Fufun~ Do you know what my favorite food is?" She quired and I answered instantly.
"No idea."
"A ball of a fried-coated octopus! A street food!"
"That so? Why so cheek?" And why do I get the feeling of her being proud about every little thing?
"Fufufu. I find this kind of place fascinating. Worry not, my little mercenary. I can eat here without problem."
"If the princess says so, then the mercenary listens. So be it."
"Hmph!" I used her words against her, resulting her to puff her cheeks.
We sat at an open table nearby the window. I'd like to avoid a placement such as this for it makes us vulnerable for sniping archers. But being overly cautious will also bring us more trouble than we need. The poster girl came to our table as soon as we settled.
"Stop looking around like a kid. What do you wanna eat?"
"I am not! I'll just take the same thing you order!" She's puffing her cheeks again… this time her face tinged red.
"Okay, okay… stop squirming around."
"What would you like me to get you, dear guests?" asked the poster girl with a quill pen and a piece of paper in hand.
"Two buttered chicken with bread and salted noodles… ah, with lots of meats, 'kay?" I said excitedly. Finally, food!
"Two buttered chicken with bread and salted noodles. Would that be all, sir?"
"Hmm, oh… please include the drinks as well. Would you mind bringing us water as we wait?"
"Certainly. Please wait for a moment." After getting our orders, she nodded with a smile and bowed before leaving for the counter.
When I peeled my eyes of the poster girl, I found the princess stabbing a whole with her eyes at me.
"What? Why are you staring so hard?" what's her problem? Her gaze was sharper than the usual…
"How can you speak 'oh, so politely' with her and not with me? I'm a princess!"
"Huh? Well, she serves us food and asked politely. Unlike you, a princess who does nothing, she works diligently. She deserves respect." I told her as a matter-of-factly.
"Grrr! This is discrimination against royals and princesses!!!" she complained gnashing her perfectly aligned teeth. The sight of her grouchy made me laugh.
"Pffft, what's that again? This is the first time I've heard such a thing. Keke. A discrimination against royals? Kek."
"Hey! You always makes fun of me!!!" she exclaimed.
That's because you're so fun to tease.
"Well, it's your fault for being so—"
"Ohoho, what do we have here, what do we have here?" before I could even reply, my words were cut. Sigh, there it is… the 'more trouble than we need.' I really don't like standing out during a mission…
"A brat and…" As his gaze wandered from me to the princess, his eyes went round, "Oh! Here, brothers! We've got a good catch!" The guy laughed so loud that it resounded all throughout the inn. Wait, did he target us because he thought we were just a boy and a girl? Well now, that makes me real angry.
His four other goons went near us, getting a full look on the princess.
"Wow, just look at her face. Even the nobles would fall below her beauty!"
"What a good night this is. Hey girl, leave that brat and come with us. We'll make sure you'd have fun tonight!"
"…" Oh, I almost cut him down. My, oh my. My temper seems so not great today.
"Come with us." The guy in a light armor reached his hand to the princess, and the lass did not even move nor she was threatened.
He was about to touch her and just an inch, he will lose his life. But in that very moment, a faint, trembling voice called out to the men.
"P—please, don't cause trouble for the guests…" the poster girl came, a pitcher of water in hands. She was shaking in fear and yet she went to speak her mind. She's a brave girl. I admire that.
"Don't meddle in our business, girl!"
"Kyaa!'" The guy who's almost two-meter-tall pushed the poster girl away—with his huge stature, the force was enough to make the girl stumble. Wasting the pitcher of water that she had fetched.
"Oh, I've got an idea!" said the man with a spiky hair, "she looks pretty cute, too. How about we take her as well tonight? Kuhahaha!" The tall guy picked up the petite poster girl and lifter her almost as if she was a child.
"Le—let go of me please… please…!" she cried.
"You'll be coming with us! We'll send you to heaven! Kuhaha!"
I heaved a sigh.
Her tears slowly slid from her eyes to her cheeks. Her distressed expression. Her fear. Well, that's it… I've reached my limit. The princess took a glance at my face and closed her eyes. I've got her permission, is that it?
Well then,
"How about I send you all to heaven first?" I tapped the handle of my blade strapped in my waist and the wind went swishing. Just that instant, the arms of the tall man, grapping the poster girl went rolling to the floor, his blood staining the clean table. Before the girl fell, I went my way to catch her.
"Huh?" It even took time for the man to realize that his arms were now missing. He glanced at the bloody arms at the floor and then, "Arrrrgggghhhh!!!" he wailed in agony.
"Yo—your arms!!! What happened?!"
"I don't… Ughhh! Help, help meeee!" The blood spurts and never stopped gushing. If they don't stop the bleeding, a few more minutes and the man will die by blood loss.
"Stop the blood!"
"Magic! Use magic to seal off the wound!!!"
"Bu—but if we did that, we will never be able to attach his arms again!"
"NOoooooo!!!"
"Healing magic, then! Heal it!"
"No one knows healing magic in our group!" they discussed in terror.
I turned to the poster girl.
"Are you okay? I'm sorry we caused you trouble. I will make sure to compensate."
While the men were frantically shouting and yelling in panic, the poster girl in my arms was in daze. She was only staring at me with face flushing red. Did the incident scare her this much?
"Haaaa. I don't know if he's doing this on purpose. But if not, then trouble will surely find me in the future." The princess mumbled, not even moving an inch in her seat.
"What do you mean by that?" I asked, turning to her.
"Hmph! Nothing!" She's pouting again. That's becoming her manner.
"You!!! You did it! You cut his arms!" Exclaimed the man who first went to us, his finger was pointing at me hissing angrily. I was about to slit his throat but it was not me who confronted him.
"Hmph! Fool. The moment you set your eyes on me, your life has forfeit! You're lucky enough to be still alive. Leave now, and I will have my little mercenary here spare your life at least." She said haughtily. Hey, where did she learn to taunt? Is that some kind of a royalty's hidden skill?
"You asked for it! Boys! Kill them!"
I chucked another groan.
"Oh, lass… Is trouble actually your best friend?" I exhaled feeling heavy touching the sword hanging in my waist.
"Hmph! How rude!"
"Well, then… why don't we clean up some trash before eating?"
***
Their group was composed of this line-up; The big guy (now without arms) was their supposed tank. The chubby man was their rouge (equipped with battle axe). The spiky haired guy, was their thief (an assassin type). The thin guy was a mage. And their leader was their striker (the main swordsman). It should have been a perfect party if they'd have a healer with them.
"Where are you going?!" the leader asked, impatience mixed in his voice.
"What? Are you in a hurry to die? Let's do it outside. I don't want to destroy the place where I'll be sleeping tonight."
"You think I'll let you live? I will make sure to cut you into pieces!" He threatened.
"Oh? I've heard something interesting. How about I do that to you?" I headed out the door and moved to a safe distance from the inn. The four of them followed, leaving the big guy at the entrance. He was in a deathbed for sure. Some of the guests followed us outside, while the others watched us through the window.
"Hurry it up, my little mercenary," called the princess from inside, "the food will be served shortly."
Wow, she really is something… It's maybe the first time I saw a sophisticated girl act so composed before the act of violence.
"Miss, le—let me clean the blood stains. And, uhmm… would you like to change to other table?" I saw the poster girl come over to her with cleaning tools in hands.
"Ah, that won't be necessary. I can do it like this." the princess smiled at her then pointed her index at the blood over the table, just a second and her finger started to emit a white light. That was all it takes to clean everything from table to the floor.
"Oh, that's…" The poster girl stared in awe.
Ohh, so she can do that, eh. She can use magic.
She glanced at me through the window, a cheeky smile she wore.
"…"
I was at loss on what to say to her.
"You heard my boss. How about we get started?" I pulled the sword hanging at my waist, at the same time they fixed their positions. The rouge and striker at front, mage in the back and the thief in the middle. Hmm, not bad. That's the classic positioning. These guys were a veteran party. They seem to know what they're doing.
"Mage start chanting! Thief find a good spot for a surprise attack. Rouge and I will take the front!" Commanded their leader. Sigh. What a waste. If not for their meddling with me in the middle of my mission, they could have been a great adventurer party. Really. What a waste.
"Haaaaa!!!" The rouge started to charge and swung his axe in a wide range, his intention was clear.
He wants me to jump back. And the reason? The striker went around finding himself behind me. What? You think you've got me? I'll entertain you both.
I jumped back as the axe threatened me—just as they intended. The guy smirked thinking their plan took shape. As I jumped back, the striker prepared his blade—then with all his strength he swung at my back…
"You're dead!" Clang! "What?!" he bellowed. He was taken aback that his strike which was supposed to cleave me in half was met by a loud metallic sound. My blade was already there, blocking him from below. Or I should say, my other blade.
"Why so surprised?" I taunted, "Your intentions were clear as the sun!"
"You meant clear as the day, didn't you, little mercenary?" the princess shouted in wisecrack, a piece of chicken hanging in her mouth. That sight sure is not princess-like.
"Shut up!" this girl… and she's already eating without me?!
"I'm ready!" The magician declared.
"Good! Roast him alive!" As he yelled that, the striker stepped back as well as the rouge. They gave the magician a good, clear view of the target. Me.
"Come to me! Oh, flame! Burn my nemesis in cinders!" He raised his staff and a torrent of fire roared at me like an ocean wave. Even if I dodge to my side, it was already too late, so all I can do is to face it head on… but still…
"Arrrggghhh!!!" A fire is a fire.
"I got him!" The magician rejoiced.
"KAHAHAHAHA! All talk, brat!" The striker laughed mockingly. I hate to rain your parody, but…
"Kek! Just kidding!" As the flame dispersed, I was standing there. Unharmed.
"What?! You've got to be kidding me! That's a third level fire spell!"
"Ha! Ib you dhink you can kill my rittle mwewcenawe with just that mwuch, youw dweemeng!" (Ha! If you think you can kill my little mercenary with just that much, you're dreaming!) Is what the lass said. I guess?
"Don't talk with your mouth full!" I yelled at her.
She gulped, "Fufufu! Wake up, fools! Ugh, cough, cough!" See…? What did I tell you…?
"Wha—what's that blue trace around him?" Oh, observant eyes. As expected of a mage.
"This? Mana skin. haven't heard of this?"
"Bullshit! Mana skin?!" The mage cried in retort. "A defensive barrier made with pure mana making someone perfectly immune to all magical attack?! Why do you know such legendary level spell?! The only one who should be able to use that is the 'Child of death'—the 'mage hunter' Gier!"
"Oh? Is that so? I wonder why I could?" I said nonchalantly, my eyes narrow as my hidden lips curved upwards.
His eyes widened. "Co—could it be… You are—Arrghhh!"
"Knowing too much will cost you your life." I said after throwing a knife straight to the mage's forehead.
"One down. Who's next?"