Chapter 89 - Heads Along the Riverside
We, the Kikyo Society, managed to reach the river without incident, pretending we hadn't seen the mysterious village. From here, it's just a matter of following the river downstream to reach the Royal Capital. No more worrying about getting lost. The weather is nice, and despite the slightly warm climate, walking along the river is quite refreshing. The clear view and the wind on our faces from the Bloomstar Galaxy make us feel optimistic about the rest of our journey.
Until we come across a scene that ruins our cheerful mood.
"Onee-sama, what's that?"
"...I wish we hadn't seen it."
I can tell what it is, thanks to my sharp eyes, and it seems Valeria can see it too. What they want to know is how it got to be like that.
The others start to notice as well and become restless.
We're running along a path a bit away from the riverbank, but the problem is right there, close to the water. As we get closer, I wish I could pretend I didn't see it and keep going, but the commotion from the others makes that impossible.
Reluctantly, we stop near the river and walk over the gravel to get a closer look. The curious young men are oddly excited, but I don't see what's so amusing.
"President, what are they doing? Playing a game?"
"They're having fun, right?"
I don't find it amusing at all...
The problem is a row of people buried in the sand, only their heads visible. They're lined up like ducks, a pitiful sight. They're moving and occasionally shouting, so they're clearly alive. If they were dead, we wouldn't have bothered to come closer.
"Hey, you ladies! You came just in time. Can you help us out?"
"Please, we're running out of options! We'll pay you back, I promise!"
They all look pretty rough, with faces that seem even more menacing due to the beatings they've taken.
I'm not sure what happened, but it looks like they got beaten up and buried in the sand, right at the edge of the water. If it rains, they'll be underwater in no time. Maybe we're their saviors, appearing just when they needed help.
"You mentioned a reward. I heard you, so I expect to get it. What do you have to offer?"
I was going to help them out of the holes regardless, but since they mentioned a reward, I'll take it. They offered it, after all. The young men behind me are muttering something, but I'll pretend I didn't hear them.
"You're a tough one, aren't you? We don't have any money... but how about some delicious fish? What do you say?"
Free food isn't a bad deal. Plus, if they're here, there must be a town nearby. We've been traveling without meeting anyone for a while, so maybe a short detour wouldn't be too bad.
"Give us plenty of fish. And tell us why you're in this situation."
"Can you at least get us out of these holes first?"
Reluctantly, we all help pull them out of the sand. To our surprise, they're tied up with ropes. It must have been a serious effort to trap them like this. Whether they were meant to be killed slowly or just left to suffer, it's not a normal level of brutality.
I admire their captors' thoroughness as I forcibly untie the ropes. The others do the same, and we free the men.
Seeing our effortless strength, the men look at each other and nod.
Once freed and unbound, they seem to relax and start explaining.
"Phew, thanks. You see, we've been in a long-standing dispute over fishing rights on this river. We finally decided to settle it with a contest, but the other side hired a pro angler as a bodyguard. They're dirty players!"
"...Fishing?"
"Yeah, we were supposed to settle it with a fishing contest, but they brought in an expert we couldn't beat. After we lost, we attacked in a rage, but the bodyguard was too good. This is the result."
I thought it was some kind of gang war from a nearby town. Fishing rights, huh?
It's a fight between tough fishermen, and I'd rather not get involved. Besides, the idea of a shady angler expert is a bit worrying. Leading these guys into town would likely cause trouble.
If their town is too far, it's not worth the trouble, and I might just pass on the fish and keep going.
"Can you tell me how far your town is and the distance to the Royal Capital?"
"We're from a town a bit south of here. It's within walking distance, not far at all. The Royal Capital is a long way off."
It turns out their town isn't that far. We have a deal for fish, and the journey to the Royal Capital is still long, so we might as well stop by. It's bound to be troublesome, but it's fine.
The fishermen usually walk to the river, but we decide to take them in our large jeep. They seem impressed by Delta, and after a moment of surprise, they start praising it. It's nice to meet people who appreciate Gradena's style.
The town comes into view after a short drive. It's small but well-fortified, probably enough to keep large groups of monsters at bay.
The guards at the gate are on high alert as a mysterious group approaches. They're right to be wary. A flashy Delta, along with multiple bikes and cars, is bound to draw attention.
Not wanting to alarm them further, we approach slowly. As we stop and get out, we're surrounded by armed men.
"Women, huh? What are you lot? Prostitutes, get lost. There's no inn here!"
Ophelia and the others get off their bikes with intimidating faces. I don't try to stop them. There's no need to back down to these backwater guards. Even in a society where women are often seen as inferior, not every woman will take it lying down.
Ophelia and the others don't have weapons, but they can easily take on armed groups with their bare hands or magic. The guards seem to sense the danger and start to panic.
"Wait, wait! These are the people who saved us!"
"Yeah, stop being rude, Guardner! Give them a chance!"
The fishermen tumble out of the jeep and desperately try to calm the guards and Ophelia.
"Hey, Hengel! You're safe!"
They seem to know each other, but they're awfully tense.
After some discussion, the guards learn that we're their saviors and are just stopping by for a short visit.
"Sorry, we've had some issues in town lately. We're a bit sensitive to outsiders."
Is this about the angler bodyguard?
We enter the town, but we're asked to park outside. I don't mind, but if anything happens to the Bloomstar Galaxy, I'll make a scene. We don't plan to stay long, so the nobles and maids will wait in Delta. No need to cause trouble by bringing them in.
"Here, don't be shy. Have some drinks!"
We're led to a nearby tavern, and drinks and fish are quickly brought out.
We don't hold back, enjoying the free food and drinks. The fishermen, impressed by our appetite and drinking, join in, despite their bruised faces. They become talkative as they get drunk, praising us for our strength and bravery.
They tell exaggerated stories of how we effortlessly pulled them out of the sand, broke the ropes, and faced the guards without flinching. Ophelia and Gradena, flattered, start telling their own exaggerated tales. Some of the fishermen, trying to flirt, are politely rebuffed or, in the case of the more aggressive ones, thrown out. Their reactions only fuel the party.
Feeling the festive mood, I perform a trick, creating and crushing a piece of metal, which impresses everyone.
As the night wears on, some of the fishermen pass out at the tables or on the floor. I take a sobering potion and wonder what to do next. We could spend the night here, but I'd prefer a proper bed.
I support a sleepy Valeria and take a small drink. Quiet moments like this are nice, even if the snoring is a bit loud. It's not too bothersome, though.
I watch the bartender polish glasses, and the door opens. Someone new has arrived, unfazed by the scene. A regular, maybe?
Without looking up, I wonder who it could be. The newcomer approaches.
"Hey, you're the ones who helped these guys, right?"
"Who are you?"
I brush off his hand and ask.
He's an elderly man with a bald head and a weathered face.
"Got the story from Hengel. You saved these guys."
Hengel must be one of the fishermen we helped. The old man sits next to me and orders a drink.
"Looks like things got interesting while I was away. You the leader of this tough group?"
"Pretty much. And you are?"
"I manage these guys."
The old man takes a sip and starts telling a story without being asked.
"This is a small town, but there are good fishing spots nearby. The fishermen used to respect each other's territories and help out in times of need. But then, some started forming gangs and acting tough. Others formed their own gangs to compete. It's been a cycle of pointless fights."
I'm not really interested in the town's politics, but I listen anyway. Human nature doesn't change much, it seems.
"After all the fighting, the town's fishermen are now split into two groups. One is in league with outsiders, a bunch of troublemakers. They're overreaching and causing trouble. Those snake bastards!"
He suddenly gets angry, remembering something. He smashes his glass on the counter but then calms down, laughing and thanking us again. It's fine, I don't mind.
Still, "snake bastards"? Metaphor or something more direct? It's intriguing but not worth worrying about.
"Many have been badly injured, but no one has died. This time, though, it was different. If Hengel and the others hadn't been rescued, they might have died. You really saved them."
"It was a coincidence. We're not interested in your disputes. We're just traveling to the Royal Capital. We'll leave in a day or two after a short rest."
"Still, thanks for helping. This town has nothing, but the fish is delicious. Stop by for more before you leave."
We listen to his rambling for a while, but I start to get sleepy. I ask about a place to stay and learn there's a fishermen's meeting hall we can use.
We accept and try to wake up the Kikyo Society members, but a few are missing. They must have slipped away at some point. The leaders are all there, but some of the young men are gone. They're all capable, but I hope they're okay.
With a bad feeling, I wake everyone up and lead them to their sleeping quarters.
As we walk through the night, my bad feeling is confirmed.
There are some women, stripped and abandoned. Of course, they're the missing Kikyo Society members.
Sigh, what are they up to now? These guys are hopeless.