BSS 126

chapter 126

“Wow! So, all of you are going together?”

“Maybe.”

“Good idea. I’m free today too.”

I found it annoying. My bad-tempered personality was showing, so I kept quiet.

“I saw yesterday that there’s a play in the square honoring Lord Crowell. Shall we go? It might be entertaining for the kids…”

“No!”

That was exactly what I had seen!

The nightmare I’d slightly forgotten resurfaced. Lox’s taste was really peculiar.

“I don’t like it either. Circus sounds more fun.”

Thankfully, Chad agreed with me.

“…You guys don’t get it! How can you compare something like the circus with Lord Crowell’s play? That’s sublime!”

“Enough of that! You just don’t get it. Lox is a huge fan of Crowell, so he keeps insisting we go. I’m done with it.”

Unlike delicate and thoughtful Lox, Chad was straightforward and bold, typical of a swordsman.

It was natural that their opinions often clashed.

“Speaking of which, Ash isn’t easy either. When rumors about Jeannie Crowell first spread, he got all flustered and teary-eyed. You’d think someone he knew had died.”

“Chad, that kind of story…”

“He cried from being moved?”

“It wasn’t that, really.”

Ah. Now I understood why Ash hadn’t recognized me at all. He believed the rumors—I was supposed to be dead.

So even if he did remember my face, he’d have to dismiss me as just someone who looked like her.

It was an ironic situation.

I couldn’t reveal that I was Jeannie Crowell, and Ash had to hide himself as well.

For some reason, we met at the exact moment we both needed to be completely hidden.

Technically, I could tell the truth, but even then, Ash couldn’t reveal himself.

Thinking about it, I had saved the rich one—first the prince, and now the emperor.

I deserved a title among the empire’s meritorious nobles. That I could admit.

“Oh? By the way, Jeannie, your name’s the same… and you’re from the same hometown as Dmitri? Blonde, blue-eyed… ‘Jeannie’ is common among commoners but rare among nobles. Judging by your behavior, you must be noble… Could it be…”

Uh-oh, was I already caught?

Lox’s eyes shone sharply.

“Are you related?”

“No.”

It’s me, actually.

“Then what a coincidence! You’re so similar to her!”

He looked at me with absolute disbelief that I was the symbol of sacrifice and the saint of this era.

I felt a rush of relief. Even if others suspected, Lox would never doubt me.

As long as his illusions weren’t broken.

Even if I introduced myself as Jeannie Crowell, he’d probably just treat it as a joke.

He might even be offended at the audacity of impersonating her.

Should I be thankful for that?

[Uh… Excuse me? Master?]

The three men started discussing where to go sightseeing, and I stood a step back, like I had nothing to do with them.

I wanted to retreat to my room and sulk over my troubles, but instead, I’d end up sightseeing the town.

[Master!]

[What now?]

[What about the black one? The one you were going to give to the king or someone from Rare!]

Uh… that was on my back… wasn’t it?!

The precious item I had intentionally carried instead of leaving in the room was nowhere to be seen.

Even though I remembered this morning vividly, when I had shouldered it and opened the door, I looked down at Rai with anxious eyes.

Please let me be wrong.

[It’s… not in the room?]

[No! I didn’t see it when I left!]

“Uh? What the hell…”

I performed the frantic “I lost my wallet” dance, but the massive thing couldn’t possibly fit in a pocket.

Magi had given me a lot, but the infinite pocket couldn’t be used because Adelaide had confiscated it. Rai could absorb it, but couldn’t spit it out with a sharp blade, so I had been lugging it around for a month.

No one who hasn’t carried that in a dense forest would know how cumbersome it was.

Curses rose in my throat. But I had to cherish it as a bribe…

And now it’s gone!

“My sword!”

“Wha-! You scared me!”

Ash and the others turned in surprise at my scream.

“What happened?”

“My sword is gone!”

“The one wrapped in cloth?”

“When did you last see it?”

I hurriedly recalled. When I left the Mage Tower, it was definitely on my back.

I still felt the long strap dangling on my shoulder.

I had it when buying skewers in the square, eating octopus and bread, having a cup of pea soup, negotiating for just one grape from the fruit table… even when I bought a lollipop.

Ah, damn it, all I remember is eating.

Then during the performance… Rai came…

[Rai, when you found me in the square, did I have my sword?]

[No. It definitely wasn’t there.]

Oh my, heavens. My coin pouch is gone too! It had about 30 gold, and Lubao’s compass with it.

“Damn it, I must’ve been pickpocketed.”

“A pickpocket?”

“Tsk, I did stand out. It’s not like I’m a swordsman carrying something like that.”

How was I supposed to carry such a long thing on my side?!

“If you wrap it up so tightly, of course it draws curiosity.”

I hid it to prevent theft, and yet they stole it! What do they want from me?!

“You… you…!”

“Is it important? Is everything else okay?”

Everyone except Ash was just yelling angrily.

My blood pressure soared; I was speechless. I’d been completely robbed while distracted by the play.

As embarrassing as being called a saint.

“Idiot? If you carry something like that on your back in a dangerous town, of course it’ll be stolen.”

“Chad! You don’t have to say it like that!”

“You should’ve been careful. If you’re the victim… Ouch.”

“Then is there anyone who carries their sword on their head too!”

I kicked Chad’s shin, but my foot hurt worse.

“Just wait. I’ll make you regret that!”

“Huh?”

“First, let’s find my sword!”

“How can we find something already stolen… Hey!”

“Jeannie!”

The longer I waited, the less likely it would be to recover the stolen item.

Not the time for this.

I dashed out of the inn and ran toward the square, releasing the creatures I summoned.

“Undine, Undain, Ador!”

Rai ran closely beside me, and among the three summoned, only Undine flew high to find the task on her own.

Our clever little cutie!

“Everyone, find my sword. The thief couldn’t have gone far.”

Undain nodded and flew off in a different direction.

Ador lazily twinkled and followed beside me.

Ugh, brat!

[What should I do?]

“Idiot! Find my sword!”

[How?]

“Fly high up!”

[Ah!]

After sending even the slowest one into the sky, I ran full speed—but Rai clung to my coat.

Why are you doing this! I’m in a hurry!

[Master! The square is the other way!]

“Oh.”

I had to run a few more steps with momentum before turning.

It had been years since I ran at full speed like this.

Those thief bastards—just wait! Dare touch my belongings. May they be cursed.

By midday, cheers erupted in a secluded alley.

Two men hiding in the shadows of buildings repeatedly counted the enormous fortune in their hands, unable to believe it.

Inside the pouch were all gold coins.

“Can you believe this? We’re rich now!”

“That’s not all! Look at the gems on this sword. The shine… it’s just dazzling.”

“What did I tell you! That girl reeked of money!”

They couldn’t contain their excitement.

Stealing the heavy coin pouch was thrilling enough, but the object wrapped in cloth was a treasure even seasoned pickpockets hadn’t seen before.

Removing the cloth revealed a sword so magnificent its value was impossible to estimate.

“Look at this. I once stole a bracelet with tiny gems and sold it for 3 gold. But this scabbard is covered in jewels.”

The gems were extraordinary. Selling even a few could match the weight of a coin pouch.

“Ha! Finally, this job pays off.”

“I still can’t believe it. How foolish to carry such a treasure without guards.”

“See! I told you to steal the sword too! I knew it wasn’t an ordinary item.”

Long experience taught pickpockets which pockets were worthwhile.

Today, the two were scouting the square when they spotted a striking figure—an exceptionally beautiful blonde woman.

Her unguarded, leisurely demeanor enticed the thieves.

Her shiny hair, smooth skin, and pristine hands indicated nobility.

“Picked the target perfectly!”

“Hey! Don’t forget, I helped steal the sword too! Without me, you’d only get the pouch.”

“The fact she was distracted by the play helped too! She didn’t notice us stealing everything!”

“Ha! Nobles are so easy to rob.”

“True. Though if we get caught, we’d be dead.”

The pickpockets laughed heartily at their high-risk success.

The risk was high, but so was the reward. Stealing, if one could call it that, had paid off.

“Carrying such wealth around is like charity anyway! Isn’t it?”

“Of course. Nobles live well even without this money. We did a good deed!”

“Pfft! Not really.”

“Who cares? They need good deeds sometimes! It’s all our taxes anyway! I haven’t paid taxes in decades.”

Suddenly, raindrops fell on the two thieves.

Drip.

Enough to run down their necks. Reflexively, they looked up.

The narrow patch of sky between buildings was a deep blue.