“Ah... Now that I think about it. I forgot to mention this because it’s obvious to us. You must fight the ‘strength’ competition with your own strength, without any help from others.”
"...What?"
“Even so, since it is a matter directly related to safety, His Majesty the Emperor’s direct inspection unit will be on guard on the third island where the test will be held. In case a wolf or other difficult-to-catch wild beast appears.”
“Wait a minute. There’s a beast inside it?!”
Am I the only one surprised? Am I the only one? I looked back at Thalia, but she just widened her eyes.
Well, she won't even come in. She'll just sit on the comfortable sofa and wait for the results while I'm struggling inside! A sense of injustice surged in from an unexpected place.
“Not only wolves but also bears and foxes...”
Thalia, who had been answering innocently, only closed her mouth after being poked in the side by Irina.
“Anyway, I heard that in dangerous situations, they escort you to a safe place.”
“But they only patrol the third island. What if you encounter a wolf, a bear, or something on the second island?”
“I heard that the second island isn’t that big. They probably have taken care to keep dangerous animals out, and the roads are well-paved, so you should be able to get there quickly by horseback.”
“So then, so then... If we just pass the second island, there will be people there?”
“Ah, the inspection unit won’t be noticed by Your Highness. It will only be patrolling in case of an emergency.”
Bang!
When I got there, I heard a faint gunshot. Along with a shout that it was a hit.
The shooting range where Veronica was supposedly practicing shooting seemed to be not far from here.
A second gunshot rang out after a brief pause. It seemed to hit again.
“You really shoot well...”
I slumped my shoulders helplessly at Thalia's oblivious words.
How did I win... I still don’t know how to ride a horse, and I can’t even take my hands off the reins to hold a gun.
After all, nobles enjoy hunting as a pastime, leisurely riding horses and shooting guns, but when commoners like us go hunting...
At that moment, a brilliant idea flashed through my mind.
“Didn’t you say that once the competition starts, you can’t leave the island?”
Irina answered with a puzzled expression.
“Yes. We strictly control entry and exit to ensure the safety of the people inside.”
“Then, strictly speaking, it hasn’t started yet, so I can go out and come back, right?”
“Yeah, it does...?”
Irina seemed to have a feeling that something was ominous.
I did the same. This decision was probably the most impulsive one I've made since entering the palace. But I couldn't think of a better one.
I grabbed her trembling hand.
“Then let’s go out for a bit!”
If we had used the Princess's carriage, it would have been too conspicuous, so Irina cleverly procured a carriage from somewhere. It was a good carriage that did not have the family crest and was plain-looking, so it did not stand out.
When we went out, I couldn't resist the pressure to take Sir Enoch with me, so in the end, Enoch, Thalia, and I got on the carriage together.
Although they were strict when entering the island, they didn't seem to require any separate identification for those leaving.
It was an invitation that Thalia had received as my maid, so I had no worries about returning. It was a good thing for me.
As I moved away from the island, I opened the window and felt the wind in my hands. I felt a thrill of joy at the not-so-distant escape I had experienced after a long time.
Enoch, who had been riding silently, said:
“Miss, please tell me your destination.”
I smiled brightly at the name I heard after a long time. Yes, this was comfortable. I leaned out the window and answered.
“Just go to the nearest town. At top speed!”
“Why in the village? If you need anything, you can just send me or Irina...”
Thalia asked, tilting her head innocently.
“I’m going to go to the Hunter’s Guild.”
“The Hunter’s Guild? There’s such a place?”
“Yeah. You probably don’t know, but...”
For the nobles, hunting was a hobby, not a livelihood. Usually, people were not interested in the existence of such a union, and the fact that its members kept their activities secret was also one of the reasons why it was not well known.
In fact, in the eyes of the upper class, they were no different from a group of criminals. That was why I took action myself instead of sending Irina or Talia.
Since the good lands were all taken over by the nobles as their personal hunting grounds, all the hunters who had been in business since ancient times, except for a few, went into hiding.
Hunting on the lands of the nobles was illegal, as without it it was impossible to catch animals large enough to eat or sell.
The carriage soon entered a village not far away. This rural port town, which would normally be very small and quiet, was already bustling with people.
They say that when the race for the successor begins, people from all over the place gather, and that is exactly what happened. Even before that, there were drinking parties and gambling tables everywhere, with people betting on who would win the race.
Perhaps because there were no accommodations for the nobles' servants or grooms in the Winter Palace, they all seemed to have been taken in from nearby villages.
And as if that wasn't enough, people were sleeping in wooden barrels and even tents that were put up in the shacks.
“I’ll go alone.”
Thalia blinked and asked with a worried face.
“I, no, Young Lady. Is that okay? It would be better if all three of us moved together.”
“Yes. If you move like that, you’ll only be noticed by people.”
It will only heighten the vigilance of the hunters' guild members.
Enoch said, sounding worried.
“Then, you stay here, young lady. I will go and come back alone.”
I scratched my cheek sheepishly. They must think I'm in some lowly place where I shouldn't be...
Actually, this place was the most comfortable and nicest to me. It wasn't called a back alley for nothing.
To be honest, this place was much cleaner and had a more human-like smell than George's slums. After all, this was the affluent South, a port town at that.
“If you’re that worried, just wait at the entrance. I’ll go in alone.”
As I insisted stubbornly, Enoch sighed.
“...If you have any problems, please blow this horn.”
He took off the small necklace he had been wearing and put it around my neck. I put the necklace inside my clothes so that it wouldn't be visible and put on a thick shawl.
If you have a keen eye, you can tell that the fabric peeking out from under the shawl is not ordinary... but, well, it is something that can be done about it.
After walking halfway around the village, I found the Hunters' Guild disguised as a butcher's shop.
Looking closely, it was different from a typical butcher shop in that there were arrow and bow symbols carved under the wooden sign.
Enoch's hand, which was leading me, became a little stronger.
"No way..."
"Why?"
“That is a bad place for you, young lady.”
Although it was a lowly place for 'Her Highness the Princess' to go, 'Sasha' had been to the butcher shop and the market countless times since she was young.
Even though Olga raised me with great care, I still had to run small errands for her. Of course, before my eleventh birthday, I held Olga's hand and went around with her.
I listened to the verse Enoch had given me again.
“I’ll be waiting right in front. And there’s this too.”
“...Young lady, you don’t know the malice of people.”
Well, I couldn't agree with that. Being born and raised in the slums meant you had plenty of exposure to human malice.
I've had a few encounters with men who tried to seduce me by force. When Olga was in good health, she protected me, but ever since she got sick, I carried a knife with me whenever I went out.
Anyway, since I was the object of ridicule and admiration, called a Princess and all, that kind of thing didn't happen often. Also, the ladies who were close to Olga would protect me without me having to do anything.
“It’s okay. It’s similar to the place I lived when I was young.”
"But..."
“I understand your concerns, Enoch, but this is the only way for me now.”
“...”
“I’ll be back soon. Don’t worry.”
Only then did Enoch nod, his eyes still filled with worry.
It was only for a brief moment, but I could feel that the concern was not for the lord, but for the lady.
It was an emotion that I didn't even know when it had become so deep. I barely opened my dry mouth.
“It's here.”
I took another deep breath and opened the old wooden door. The first thing that greeted me was the unpleasant smell of a butcher shop.
I blinked several times to adjust to the dark interior. An old woman's voice could be heard from the darkness.
“Come in. What would you like?”
“I would like to buy a tilata.”
The look in the other person’s eyes changed immediately at my words. Even if the region is different, the word Tilata will be the same. In George, Tilata meant the most skilled hunter in the hunter guild.
To be honest, I wasn't confident, but when I saw the owner's eyes change, I knew I had figured it out.
The older woman said, wiping her hands on her apron.
“That’s expensive.”
If it had been George, or if I had just been dressed in normal clothes, I would have just passed through. Commoners usually came here to get precious medicines or animal parts.
But this woman seemed to have noticed that the fabric peeking out from under my shawl was not of ordinary material.
I had brought something for such a time as this. I handed over the small turquoise ring I had on my finger.
“Is this enough?”
The woman held the ring up against the hole in the wall, looked at it, and smiled, revealing her yellow teeth.
“Follow me.”
I followed the woman inside, pressing down on the marks I could feel inside my clothes with my hands.
"...What?"
“Even so, since it is a matter directly related to safety, His Majesty the Emperor’s direct inspection unit will be on guard on the third island where the test will be held. In case a wolf or other difficult-to-catch wild beast appears.”
“Wait a minute. There’s a beast inside it?!”
Am I the only one surprised? Am I the only one? I looked back at Thalia, but she just widened her eyes.
Well, she won't even come in. She'll just sit on the comfortable sofa and wait for the results while I'm struggling inside! A sense of injustice surged in from an unexpected place.
“Not only wolves but also bears and foxes...”
Thalia, who had been answering innocently, only closed her mouth after being poked in the side by Irina.
“Anyway, I heard that in dangerous situations, they escort you to a safe place.”
“But they only patrol the third island. What if you encounter a wolf, a bear, or something on the second island?”
“I heard that the second island isn’t that big. They probably have taken care to keep dangerous animals out, and the roads are well-paved, so you should be able to get there quickly by horseback.”
“So then, so then... If we just pass the second island, there will be people there?”
“Ah, the inspection unit won’t be noticed by Your Highness. It will only be patrolling in case of an emergency.”
Bang!
When I got there, I heard a faint gunshot. Along with a shout that it was a hit.
The shooting range where Veronica was supposedly practicing shooting seemed to be not far from here.
A second gunshot rang out after a brief pause. It seemed to hit again.
“You really shoot well...”
I slumped my shoulders helplessly at Thalia's oblivious words.
How did I win... I still don’t know how to ride a horse, and I can’t even take my hands off the reins to hold a gun.
After all, nobles enjoy hunting as a pastime, leisurely riding horses and shooting guns, but when commoners like us go hunting...
At that moment, a brilliant idea flashed through my mind.
“Didn’t you say that once the competition starts, you can’t leave the island?”
Irina answered with a puzzled expression.
“Yes. We strictly control entry and exit to ensure the safety of the people inside.”
“Then, strictly speaking, it hasn’t started yet, so I can go out and come back, right?”
“Yeah, it does...?”
Irina seemed to have a feeling that something was ominous.
I did the same. This decision was probably the most impulsive one I've made since entering the palace. But I couldn't think of a better one.
I grabbed her trembling hand.
“Then let’s go out for a bit!”
***
If we had used the Princess's carriage, it would have been too conspicuous, so Irina cleverly procured a carriage from somewhere. It was a good carriage that did not have the family crest and was plain-looking, so it did not stand out.
When we went out, I couldn't resist the pressure to take Sir Enoch with me, so in the end, Enoch, Thalia, and I got on the carriage together.
Although they were strict when entering the island, they didn't seem to require any separate identification for those leaving.
It was an invitation that Thalia had received as my maid, so I had no worries about returning. It was a good thing for me.
As I moved away from the island, I opened the window and felt the wind in my hands. I felt a thrill of joy at the not-so-distant escape I had experienced after a long time.
Enoch, who had been riding silently, said:
“Miss, please tell me your destination.”
I smiled brightly at the name I heard after a long time. Yes, this was comfortable. I leaned out the window and answered.
“Just go to the nearest town. At top speed!”
“Why in the village? If you need anything, you can just send me or Irina...”
Thalia asked, tilting her head innocently.
“I’m going to go to the Hunter’s Guild.”
“The Hunter’s Guild? There’s such a place?”
“Yeah. You probably don’t know, but...”
For the nobles, hunting was a hobby, not a livelihood. Usually, people were not interested in the existence of such a union, and the fact that its members kept their activities secret was also one of the reasons why it was not well known.
In fact, in the eyes of the upper class, they were no different from a group of criminals. That was why I took action myself instead of sending Irina or Talia.
Since the good lands were all taken over by the nobles as their personal hunting grounds, all the hunters who had been in business since ancient times, except for a few, went into hiding.
Hunting on the lands of the nobles was illegal, as without it it was impossible to catch animals large enough to eat or sell.
The carriage soon entered a village not far away. This rural port town, which would normally be very small and quiet, was already bustling with people.
They say that when the race for the successor begins, people from all over the place gather, and that is exactly what happened. Even before that, there were drinking parties and gambling tables everywhere, with people betting on who would win the race.
Perhaps because there were no accommodations for the nobles' servants or grooms in the Winter Palace, they all seemed to have been taken in from nearby villages.
And as if that wasn't enough, people were sleeping in wooden barrels and even tents that were put up in the shacks.
“I’ll go alone.”
Thalia blinked and asked with a worried face.
“I, no, Young Lady. Is that okay? It would be better if all three of us moved together.”
“Yes. If you move like that, you’ll only be noticed by people.”
It will only heighten the vigilance of the hunters' guild members.
Enoch said, sounding worried.
“Then, you stay here, young lady. I will go and come back alone.”
I scratched my cheek sheepishly. They must think I'm in some lowly place where I shouldn't be...
Actually, this place was the most comfortable and nicest to me. It wasn't called a back alley for nothing.
To be honest, this place was much cleaner and had a more human-like smell than George's slums. After all, this was the affluent South, a port town at that.
“If you’re that worried, just wait at the entrance. I’ll go in alone.”
As I insisted stubbornly, Enoch sighed.
“...If you have any problems, please blow this horn.”
He took off the small necklace he had been wearing and put it around my neck. I put the necklace inside my clothes so that it wouldn't be visible and put on a thick shawl.
If you have a keen eye, you can tell that the fabric peeking out from under the shawl is not ordinary... but, well, it is something that can be done about it.
After walking halfway around the village, I found the Hunters' Guild disguised as a butcher's shop.
Looking closely, it was different from a typical butcher shop in that there were arrow and bow symbols carved under the wooden sign.
Enoch's hand, which was leading me, became a little stronger.
"No way..."
"Why?"
“That is a bad place for you, young lady.”
Although it was a lowly place for 'Her Highness the Princess' to go, 'Sasha' had been to the butcher shop and the market countless times since she was young.
Even though Olga raised me with great care, I still had to run small errands for her. Of course, before my eleventh birthday, I held Olga's hand and went around with her.
I listened to the verse Enoch had given me again.
“I’ll be waiting right in front. And there’s this too.”
“...Young lady, you don’t know the malice of people.”
Well, I couldn't agree with that. Being born and raised in the slums meant you had plenty of exposure to human malice.
I've had a few encounters with men who tried to seduce me by force. When Olga was in good health, she protected me, but ever since she got sick, I carried a knife with me whenever I went out.
Anyway, since I was the object of ridicule and admiration, called a Princess and all, that kind of thing didn't happen often. Also, the ladies who were close to Olga would protect me without me having to do anything.
“It’s okay. It’s similar to the place I lived when I was young.”
"But..."
“I understand your concerns, Enoch, but this is the only way for me now.”
“...”
“I’ll be back soon. Don’t worry.”
Only then did Enoch nod, his eyes still filled with worry.
It was only for a brief moment, but I could feel that the concern was not for the lord, but for the lady.
It was an emotion that I didn't even know when it had become so deep. I barely opened my dry mouth.
“It's here.”
I took another deep breath and opened the old wooden door. The first thing that greeted me was the unpleasant smell of a butcher shop.
I blinked several times to adjust to the dark interior. An old woman's voice could be heard from the darkness.
“Come in. What would you like?”
“I would like to buy a tilata.”
The look in the other person’s eyes changed immediately at my words. Even if the region is different, the word Tilata will be the same. In George, Tilata meant the most skilled hunter in the hunter guild.
To be honest, I wasn't confident, but when I saw the owner's eyes change, I knew I had figured it out.
The older woman said, wiping her hands on her apron.
“That’s expensive.”
If it had been George, or if I had just been dressed in normal clothes, I would have just passed through. Commoners usually came here to get precious medicines or animal parts.
But this woman seemed to have noticed that the fabric peeking out from under my shawl was not of ordinary material.
I had brought something for such a time as this. I handed over the small turquoise ring I had on my finger.
“Is this enough?”
The woman held the ring up against the hole in the wall, looked at it, and smiled, revealing her yellow teeth.
“Follow me.”
I followed the woman inside, pressing down on the marks I could feel inside my clothes with my hands.
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