novelraw Chapter 260
Chapter 260
Chapter 260
We decided to have Emotion stay behind for a while. If she's not wearing her cloak, even if she's in the bag, her appearance still draws attention. It seems like living in this city would become difficult if she were mistaken for Talvani. In the worst case, we could insist we picked her up in the desert.
'We should avoid unnecessary risks. I'll stay hidden so Mr. Asban doesn't find me.'
"I'm counting on you."
Rather, it might be better to have Emotion return to her humanoid form and prepare clothes or a hat that can cleverly conceal her mechanical parts.
I don't know how the people here distinguish between Talvani and others, but I doubt they would perceive Emotion's mechanical appearance in a favorable way.
In any case, no matter how perceptive the people of Mardila may be, they probably wouldn't be able to detect Emotion if she's seriously trying to hide.
"Well then, I'm off to see Mr. Asban."
'Take care, Captain.'
With Emotion's words at his back, Kait left the guest room.
He went down the stairs and headed toward Asban. Asban turned toward him as if just noticing him.
"Oh, you came."
"Well, yeah. If there's work to do, best to get started quickly."
"I see. It's a good thing to have more serious folks like you in this city. So, Kait, are you planning to settle down here?"
"No, not really. Once I've earned enough, I plan to head to my next destination."
"Oh? So you already have a destination in mind?"
Unlike Garmaph, Asban's tone still carried suspicion. He was sure to start searching the room once Kait left the inn. Emotion wouldn't be found, but having someone like that monitoring your living space wasn't pleasant.
"I just want to try Dangaresion once."
"Danga...? What the hell is that?"
"Oh, you don't know? A traveler who passed through my hometown told me about it. Apparently, it's incredibly delicious meat."
"Meat, huh? Meat's meat, doesn't make much difference. Danga or whatever, you've got odd tastes."
Mardila has undergone drastic environmental changes over time. Kait and Emotion have been observing the Dangaresion's habitat from above, but it's not surprising if the locals know nothing about it.
After all, even Kait himself didn't know every regional cuisine back when he lived on Earth.
"Well, whatever. If you want to earn, there are two jobs. The rest are already being handled by locals."
"I see?"
"In short, they're jobs where we're short on hands. Either removing the sand from the city's outer wall or taking care of the Talvani. Which do you prefer?"
"Removing sand from the outer wall... you mean that piled-up sand?"
"Yeah, you've seen it since you came from outside the city, right? That's the one. If we don't clear it, thieves might sneak in, so we assign people to remove it when the time's right."
It's true that if sand piles up on the wall meant to block external threats, it could affect the city's safety. It's clearly hard labor. No wonder few want to do it. The other job is caring for the Talvani. Considering the city's hostility toward them, that's also understandable.
"Who should I talk to about the sand removal?"
***
At a building on the outskirts of the commercial district, several well-built Mardila people had gathered.
Most of them looked like bears, and none shared Kait's appearance.
It was natural for the strong to gather for this kind of work. One of them, noticing Kait, approached him without hesitation.
"Hey, you here for something?"
"Mr. Asban referred me. I came to help with the work here."
"Asban's guy? Wait, are you the traveler Garmaph mentioned?"
"That's me. I'm Kait, nice to meet you."
"Name's Darbo. Still, someone like you doesn't have any Pautri."
Another unfamiliar word. Probably a racial term. He knew words like 'skinny guy' or 'weakling.'
"They said the only other job was taking care of the Talvani. I'd rather not get glared at by Mr. Asban and the others."
"Ah... yeah, sounds like something Asban would say. The old folks in this city hate the Talvani. I don't think the ones here now are particularly harmful, though."
Kait couldn't tell the difference, but it seemed Asban and Garmaph were older Mardila. Meanwhile, Darbo was younger.
The older Mardila hated the Talvani, while the younger ones weren't as hostile. Apparently, the city had some kind of trouble with the Talvani in the past.
"See, there's one over there. They're surprisingly decent once you talk to them."
"Huh."
Looking over, he saw a few people with builds similar to Kait's among the larger ones. They were probably Talvani.
He felt a slight twinge of curiosity, but Kait kept a neutral expression and gave a vague response.
Darbo seemed a bit let down by his reaction, but he gestured for him to follow and called into the building.
"Old man! He's a referral from Mr. Asban and Garmaph. Lend him a full set of tools!"
"Oh... this skinny one, huh? We don't have any tools for Pautri types."
The one who came out was an old man with impressive horns protruding from his forehead. Probably a goat. His build was comparable to the bear-like Mardila. He was clearly strong.
"I'm Kait. Nice to meet you. I don't mind whatever tools you've got."
"I'm Villere. Still, skinny one, big means heavy. I don't think you can handle this."
As he spoke, he brought out a shovel nearly as tall as Kait. For clearing the sand piled on the outer wall, something that big was probably necessary.
"Well, I'll do my best as long as I've got the stamina. If it's too much, I'll ask for help again."
"...Can't be helped. It's our fault for not preparing the tools. Do your best."
He took the shovel handed to him. It was definitely heavy, but for Kait, whose body had undergone body modification, it wasn't a problem.
Both of them looked surprised as Kait easily lifted the shovel, but it wasn't anything he needed to cover up.
"So, where's today's work site?"
"Oh, right. Follow me."
Darbo's voice had a hint of unease—Kait hadn't misheard. The stares from the others were also strange.
***
Kait thrust the shovel into the sand mound and lifted with strength.
The sand squirmed, and a lump separated from the mound was cleared from the wall by the shovel.
"That's insane."
Darbo watched Kait's work in stunned silence.
The shovel Villere had handed over was the heaviest one he had used in his youth. The aged Villere could only carry it, and neither Darbo nor Garmaph could swing it.
Kait swung it around without so much as a change in expression. It was the first time they'd seen a Pautri with such strength.
However, he didn't seem to have any ties to the Talvani. Asban and Garmaph were probably concerned about that too, but they hadn't shown any interest.
"Who the hell is he? Isn't that something only a few of your people can even use?"
"...Shut up, Talvani bastard. Don't talk to us."
The one who spoke was the leader of the Talvani who had lived in this city a long time. Darbo, born and raised here, obviously had deep-seated hatred for the Talvani. The question he asked Kait had no real purpose beyond provocation.
The Talvani didn't seem bothered by the harsh tone and looked at Kait with curiosity. Judging by that, they probably weren't acquaintances.
"He's interesting."
Talvani.
They claimed to be scholars who investigated the giant monsters appearing in the desert at night, but in truth, they were just a bunch of freeloaders—or a band of thieves targeting the city. To the city's residents, the Talvani were only ever one or the other.