Did she already know what I would ask her for?

Chapter 337: Ch 336: That’s for the best

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Sorry for the delay

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"So... Considering what you told me earlier, I understand that your relationship with your cousin is often somewhat tense, isn’t it?" I say to the girl as we walk through the streets of the capital of Drial Cenit towards her home.

I look around carefully as she leads the way.

I’m on the lookout for anyone who might recognize me, but also for anyone who seems to be paying too much attention to my young companion.

I thought it would be a beneficial idea to ask her a few questions about herself as we walk.

Partly to try to keep her calm and distract her from the situation she’s been through.

But also to find out how badly I’ve messed up by getting involved in a situation that has nothing to do with me.

"It’s not like that... We’re just very different. He’s a year older than me. Despite that, he’s much more emotional and... thoughtless than I am..." she says, frowning as she utters the word.

’Slipping away from home because of a childish dare is not something a ’thoughtful’ person would do...

But she’s a little girl...

There’s no point in contradicting her...

Hmm...

Her cheeks have a slight natural blush that contrasts with her pale skin...

When I rescued her, I thought that color was because of the fear she felt...

But now she’s calm...

In about 10 or 15 years, when this girl grows up, she’s going to be a real beauty...

Ha! Good thing Zariche is in my inventory...

If he were out here, he’d surely be mocking me for that thought...

Now that I think about it...

What was it he said to me just before all this kidnapping madness started?’

"... I guess that’s why Grandfather prefers him... He says I’m too cold to him, but I’m not interested in the stories of knighthood and military exploits he tells us every time there’s a family gathering. As I told you today, I don’t like violence. I think it is an awful thing. My cousin, on the other hand, loves it. He dreams of being a knight like Grandad. Ha! With him being such a crybaby, I think it’ll be difficult."

’So her grandfather is a knight...

Hmm... that doesn’t mean he’s a nobleman...

But he’s not a civilian either.’

"So your grandfather is a knight then?" I ask, testing the waters.

"Yes. And an important one too, according to him..." says the girl, sighing with exasperation in a comical way.

’Bingo!...

I suppose they wanted to kidnap her for ransom...

Haa...

At least that’s better than the alternative.’

"... But I’m not interested. I want to be a merchant, like my mom. Money makes the world go round, not violence. She always says that, and I think it’s true. After all, people need money much more than they need knights."

’Hmm...

Maybe her grandad isn’t the only reason for the kidnapping...

Maybe her whole family is quite wealthy.’

"Hmm, I think people need a little of both... You say your mother has a business in the capital?" I ask distractedly, trying to piece together why a criminal group would target this girl.

"Yes. I..." she says with a cheerful smile, but her smile quickly disappears as she frowns.

"...Why are you so interested in my family?"

"I was just trying to find something to talk about while we walk," I lie shamelessly.

’Haa...

This is what I get for not paying much attention to the conversation...

I thought that, being a little girl, she wouldn’t notice these kinds of things...

But it seems she’s much sharper than I thought.’

"Aha... And you, what do you do? I mean, apart from saving girls," she says with a surprisingly sly and haughty smile.

At the same time, I notice that her gaze suddenly changes and begins to resemble that of a predator, far different from the gaze one would expect from a girl her age.

’What the hell?’

"Nothing in particular. I do a little bit of this and a little bit of that..." I say, smiling mockingly at the look of confusion my words bring to the girl’s face, causing her disturbing gaze to disappear as if it had never existed.

"... I’m a free spirit."

’She’s definitely clever, but she’s still just a little girl.’

"You’re a vagabond... That’s... curious... how do you get money to live on?" she asks, frowning and tilting her head slightly to one side.

’Hahaha... looks like she’s the one asking the questions now.’

"I have my methods," I say, and make a considerable pile of gold coins appear in the palm of my hand.

"You’re not a thief, are you?" She asks with a strange gleam in her eyes, narrowing them and looking at me calculatingly.

But she doesn’t seem concerned about the possibility.

"Do you think a thief would have helped you?" I ask with a smile.

"I... I don’t know..." says the girl, and the comical expression of confusion reappears on her face.

"...that’s my house."

’Oh?...

That’s curious...

I imagined there would be people outside her house looking for her...

Hmm... maybe it wasn’t long ago that she slipped from her home.’

"Well. I’ll leave now, but first I want to warn you about something. I don’t mean to scare you, but I think you should be very careful from now on..." I say, looking worriedly at the door of the house she just pointed out to me.

"... I think it’s very likely that those people I left tied up in the alley knew exactly who you were and where you were going to be."

"That doesn’t make sense. No one knows I snuck out of the house... except my cousin, but he’s just a child like me," she says with a skeptical look.

"I know it sounds crazy. I don’t fully understand it either, but I’m not the one they’re after. Think about how quickly they located you, caught you, and took you to the alley..." I say, and she begins to frown more and more at my words.

"... Think about the ropes and gags they had ready in that alley. Those people were very well prepared and were surely not acting alone."

"I-I... What should I do?" she says, and an expression of panic and concern appears on her face.

’Haa...

I knew she would react like this...

But she has to be aware of the danger she may be in.’

"I think the best thing to do is to tell your family what happened. They will probably punish you for sneaking out of your house, but it is better that they know you may be in danger. That way, they won’t leave you unprotected in public places," I say, kneeling beside her to look her seriously in the eyes.

"Hmm, ok... I’ll do that," she says with a resigned grimace.

"You’re a smart girl. I’m sure you’ll know what to say so that the punishment isn’t too severe," I say to try to cheer her up.

’I have to get out of here as soon as possible... a relative of the girl could show up at any moment.’

"You say that because you don’t know my mother. She’s really smart," she says with concern.

"Maybe, but you’re her daughter. You have the potential to be just as smart as her, if not smarter... Anyway, I’m leaving now," I say as I stand up, trying not to let my impatience show in my voice, and make a move to walk away.

"Wait!..." she says hurriedly as I start to walk away.

’Haaa... What now?’

"...What’s your name? I just realized that I don’t know who to thank for bringing me back home safely. I... I have some money saved up in my piggy bank... I promise I’ll find a way to pay you back for what you did for me today."

"My name is Emir... but I don’t need any reward..." I say with an amused smile at the girl’s comment, despite how eager I am to leave this place and return to the safety of my solitude.

’Right now, the last thing I need is to attract the attention of some important family in Drial Cenit...

There will be a time for that, but that time has not yet come.’

"...you see, money isn’t the only thing that makes the world go round. Besides, violence doesn’t have to be a bad thing... it all depends on the reasons behind those things. What I did today to save you could be defined as violence, but it is not a bad thing. If it weren’t for that, you wouldn’t be back home today."

"Yes... I suppose so. It appears that Mummy can be wrong too," she says with a shy smile.

"Goodbye. Take care of yourself and don’t leave your home alone again. Remember what I told you a moment ago," I say as I start to turn away.

"Goodbye. Thank you so much for being there for me, Emir. I’ll never forget you," she says, waving one of her hands enthusiastically as she flashes a cheerful, childish smile with a missing tooth.

’Haa... yeah, sure...

Chances are, in a week you won’t even remember my name...

And that’s for the best...

After all, we’ll never see each other again.’