kscans

Chapter 162 - A Strange Encounter

Four days after leaving the Kingdom, we arrived at a port town in the Republic.

The place was even more vibrant than the last time we were here. The number of food stalls had increased, and they were selling all sorts of things.

Accessories. Clothing. Weapons. Armor. Food.

Looking at it all, I wondered, "Is there a festival going on, or are they just not over the last one?"

"That could be part of it, but it might also be a new policy," Tina said. "Look, there’s a sign over there."

Where she pointed, a huge sign proudly declared: ‘Street Stalls Open for One Month.’

Was it for tourism? An appeal to the residents? Either way, it was bound to be a success. Everything for sale looked fresh and new, and the crowds were huge. Adventurers, residents, and even merchants were buying things.

We decided to grab lunch at a random stall. A new item on the menu caught my eye: ‘Seafood Dumpling Stew.’

"Want to try this?" I asked, seeking Tina’s approval.

She nodded.

After ordering from the staff, I asked Tina, "You think this recipe came from the Empire?"

"It has to be," she replied without much thought. "The nations are all cooperating now. Sharing recipes through trade is hardly a big deal."

I didn’t think too deeply about it either. This was something decided between countries; it had nothing to do with a mere adventurer.

After a short wait, a pot and a stone stove arrived at our table. The fire was fueled by wood shavings and small branches. Simmering inside was a medley of shrimp, clams, squid, and sea bream, along with vegetables like green onions and cabbage. The broth was a rich miso color, and at the bottom lay the flour dumplings. They looked like they had soaked up the flavor perfectly.

I took a bite. The flavor was miso-based, but I could also taste soy sauce. The essence of the vegetables and seafood was fully drawn out, creating a rich yet refreshing taste.

"They’ve really studied this," Tina commented. "To advance from a basic seasoning to this level… you can feel their dedication."

She was impressed.

I had to agree. It’s difficult to build upon a basic foundation. It’s often easier said than done. I remembered a great person from long ago saying that success is built upon a mountain of failures. I could feel that in this stew. The pride of a chef. Just then, a waiter brought over a heaping bowl of rice.

"This is to finish your meal," he explained. "After you’ve eaten all the ingredients, please add this to the leftover soup and let it simmer." He bowed and left.

Seeing this, I was baffled. "How do they know about finishing a hot pot with rice?"

"What are you talking about?" Tina asked. "The other day, when we served hot pot to the children at the orphanage, you made porridge with the rice they had, didn’t you?"

Her answer was simple and direct.

Come to think of it, when I’d made that miso-style pork stew, one of the kids said they’d gotten some rice from a neighborhood lady, and I’d immediately thought of making zosui porridge.

So they learned it then. Well, it is a simple dish.

"Well, I guess it’s a good thing," I said, forcing myself to accept it.

Tina looked slightly exasperated, but she ignored me and continued eating.

After we finished our meal, we left the stall. We considered getting a room at an inn, but the request had sounded urgent, so we decided to leave right away.

We started on foot, and once we were far from the capital, I created an iron cart and we headed straight for the Empire.

Along the way, we encountered some bandits in the forest. There were five of them, armed with swords, spears, and one even had a staff.

"Alright, hand over your money, your luggage, and the woman," the sword-wielding bandit sneered, licking his lips. "I’ll take real good care of a pretty lady like you."

The height of vulgarity. Tina replied, "I refuse. I already belong to him." She linked her arm with mine.

The bandit’s eyes lit up. "Snatching another man’s woman and having my way with her is the ultimate pleasure!"

He raised his sword and charged.

Tina sighed, drew her sword, and the bandit’s head went flying.

The others saw this and raised their weapons in unison. I drew my sword and took a stance. Looking at their formation and posture, they were barely more than amateurs. Not a threat.

But they were still bandits. They’d be more accustomed to using dirty tricks than anyone. I hadn’t encountered any like that so far, but maybe I’d just been lucky. I wouldn’t let my guard down.

A bandit with a spear thrust at me, aiming for my stomach. But his attack was slow, and I easily dodged it. As I passed him, I swung my sword horizontally. His head went flying, just like the first one’s.

Three left. The one with the staff shouted, "Take this! Fireball!"

A ball of fire the size of a bowling ball came flying at me.

Its speed was about ten kilometers per hour. Pathetically slow. I sidestepped to the right.

"Fire Shot!"

I launched a fireball of the same size, but at thirty kilometers per hour.

The bandit’s face was frozen in shock as it hit him head-on, and he was incinerated. Was it really that surprising? Milfy did things like this all the time.

Meanwhile, a bandit with two short swords was attacking Tina. He was using his agility to move deftly between the trees as he closed in.

Tina held her sword at the ready, her expression calm. "Skill: Spatial Perception," she chanted quietly.

To an outsider, it would seem like nothing had happened. But Tina could now perceive everything within that space as if she were seeing it with her own eyes. The dagger-wielding bandit appeared behind her in a flash of movement.

Convinced of his victory, the bandit threw a dagger at Tina’s left leg. But Tina dodged it with ease and lopped off his head. The bandit’s face was a mask of confusion.

Only one left. An unarmed bandit. I thought he might be a hand-to-hand combat expert, but he didn’t take a stance. As I watched him warily, he pulled something from his pocket and threw it.

It looked like a green baseball.

In an instant, I shouted, "Tina! The wind!"

At my command, Tina activated her Wind Magic.

Green smoke billowed from the ball. But thanks to the wind, the smoke was blown back toward the bandit. He panicked, but it was too late. He inhaled the smoke and was instantly paralyzed.

Paralysis gas. That was a close call. I wasn’t confident I could have kept moving if I’d been hit by that.

I approached the bandit to deliver the final blow.

"W-wait! Please! I surrender! J-just spare my life…"

To the terrified bandit, I said, "Too bad for you. If there were soldiers on patrol nearby, I might have handed you over. But as it happens, I’m not in the mood to take prisoners."

And with that, I finished him off.

I buried all the bodies in the ground. May they at least become a cornerstone of nature. A year ago, I thought that burning even villains was a form of memorial, but a news special on Earth said that plants and animals buried in the earth become part of nature. I’d changed my thinking; burying them was better than burning.

We continued on, and when night fell, we decided to make camp.

I created an iron hut, built a bonfire, and we huddled close together for warmth.

"Once we get to the Empire, things are going to get busy," Tina said, her face slightly flushed. "So… um… shall we, now?"

"It’s a tight space, so I’m tying both your hands," I said, creating a pair of fetters.

I moved behind the armored Tina and bound her hands with the fetters. Now that she was immobilized, I touched her chest from the front. I couldn’t feel anything through the iron, but the situation—being able to do whatever I wanted to a helpless female knight—was exciting.

"Ah… mm… haah… huff…" Tina’s breathing grew slightly ragged.

Her face was red, and my own excitement was rising. I hugged her from behind, inhaling her scent. I pressed my face against her hair and cheeks, drinking it in. I continued to touch every inch of her body before pushing her down. Just as I was about to kiss her, a scream echoed from outside.

I instinctively sat up, ready to go check, but leaving Tina tied up was out of the question.

I started to remove the fetters, but Tina stopped me. "Don’t worry about me, just go! It could be urgent!"

At her words, I grabbed my sword and went outside.

I sealed the hut with a wall and ran toward the source of the scream.

After a short run, I found a small, hooded person and three goblins armed with swords. The small person was backed against a tree with nowhere to run.

"I don’t know who you are, but I’m here to help!" I shouted as I leaped into the fray.

The goblins saw me and immediately charged. They had no formation, just a straight-on rush. I coated my sword in fire and charged back. One of the goblins in front of me swung its sword diagonally, but I simply overpowered it, shattering its blade. With a return stroke, I cleaved the goblin in two, and it burst into flames.

The other two, now wary, stopped their advance and kept their distance. But it was too late. The moment they felt fear, they had already lost. I kept my momentum, extending my flaming sword and cutting down both goblins with a single horizontal slash. Goblin extermination: success.

"Whew… You’re safe now," I said, approaching the small person. "Are you hurt?"

The person was trembling, clearly frightened.

"It’s okay," I said. "I’m an adventurer. You don’t have to reward me for saving you. So…"

As I continued to speak, I felt a strange sense of unease.

The small person wasn’t saying a word. Just as I was thinking this, they tried to run, but their foot caught on a tree root and they stumbled.

As they fell, their hood slipped off, revealing a red-colored goblin.