The more I thought of myself as a noble family member, the safer I felt. No commoner would want to mess with their superiors.
Kidnapping and extorting money was honestly something that only happened in novels. In particular, these secret societies would be very careful not to upset the nobles.
"Ah."
I followed her blankly, then, startled by the woman’s words, checked the ground I was about to step on. A large trap was locked with an unpleasant creaking sound. I heard a phlegmy laugh.
“It’s pretty quick.”
“...Is it okay to play a prank like this?”
“What can we do with a trap set there? People passing by should be careful.”
...That was right. I looked around a bit more and slowly followed the woman.
I walked for a long time through long, narrow alleys and old scenery that were familiar to me.
Finally, a woman stood before a shabby tent. She lifted the worn curtain and said,
“What are you doing? Why aren’t you coming in?”
“Uh... So...”
“It seems like you left your wits in the shithole.”
The woman laughed again, this time in a loud voice. So this woman was Tilata, the most skilled hunter in the area.
I entered the tent. All kinds of bows, arrows, traps, dried herbs, etc. were hanging haphazardly on one wall.
I thought it might be a scam, but it turned out to be a real tent.
“Yes. What brought our precious daughter here?”
Since she probably thought I was noble when I gave her the ring, she wasn't surprised and got to the point.
“Have you ever hunted in Antaria, Zarantello?”
“You’re talking about the Emperor’s hunting grounds. Do you believe that a country bumpkin like me can wander there?”
“It’s Tilata. There must be some achievement that would have earned you recognition among the hunters around here, but it can’t be explained unless you’re an Antaria from Zarantello.”
“...It’s not like I don’t have any sense at all.”
The woman sat down on the worn-out armchair, neither completely trusting me nor wary of me.
“Yeah. I guess I can’t help it since I got caught. I’ve been caught a few times.”
“What’s the most precious beast you can catch there?”
“White-horned doe.”
“That’s the stuff of legends...”
Before I could finish my muttering, the woman lifted the cloth next to her.
I almost bit my tongue in surprise. It was a real stuffed white-antlered doe head. The whole body was white as if it had been made of pure snow.
“Do you believe me now?”
She said, winking her wrinkled eyes. It was a sight she couldn't believe her eyes.
“This is, so...”
“They only roam around during this season. You can’t catch them by shooting them, whether it’s with a bow or a gun.”
“Then?”
The woman laughed heartily.
“You want to get all the capital for my business just by giving me a small ring? That doesn’t make sense.”
It was a business ploy, but it was true. In other words, it was like asking for the secret to becoming a Tilata.
I took out the pouch of gold coins from my inside pocket and placed it on the woman's withered hand.
“Is this okay?”
She weighed the leather pouch with her hand without even opening it, then smiled, revealing her yellow teeth.
“There is absolutely no way to catch it.”
“What is that?”
“Don’t rush, young lady.”
She laughed heartily, showing her teeth. I was becoming more and more comfortable here.
The woman's attitude was somewhat similar to that of the people of Olga and George's slums, where I grew up and where I consider my true roots, no matter how far away they are.
“It seems that noble people think that hunting is only about leisurely hunting with hunting dogs and guns and bows. How can people like us, who live hand to mouth, be so leisurely?”
I shrugged my shoulders to indicate my agreement.
“You have to use all the means available, whether it’s traps or poison. Of those, if you want to catch them, you have to use traps. Wooden traps are good, but they can’t handle the strength of a deer.”
“...”
“Of all of them, the one I used was this trap.”
She placed an old wooden box on a worn-out chair, and I sneezed loudly because of the dust, which caught me off guard.
What the woman took out of the box were very sharp iron traps. The teeth were tightly meshed, and there was not a single rust spot on them.
“If you go into the forest, there is a valley at the very innermost part. If you look closely next to it, there are red berries. In early spring, they often come out to eat them. If you are lucky, you might run into them once during this time.”
“Then, should I just hide this trap in the grass?”
“They are so sensitive that something like that won’t do. When they smell iron, I crush up some kitsch and apply it to them.”
“What is the solution?”
“Kichira grass.”
She glanced at me as if she didn't know that either.
This time too, I could only shrug my shoulders. Having been trained by Cesare and the palace masters, such stares no longer tickled me.
The woman reached deep into the box, rummaged through it for a while, and then pulled out a leather book. It was more like a bundle of low-quality parchments wrapped in leather than a book.
She untied the knotted strings and took one out.
“Now, look at this.”
She said, shoving a stinking piece of parchment in front of my nose.
The parchment had long, saw-toothed patterns drawn at various angles. In one corner was a map of an unknown location, with several X-marks drawn in various places.
“I’ve tried many other types of glue, but this one works the best. There are probably a lot of similar ones around you, but you can tell them apart by the fluff. If you run your hand over it, the front side will be smooth, but the back side will have rough fluff.”
“How much is this book?”
“Just take it. If you have any money left, you can give it to me.”
“Is that okay?”
“Because the content is already all in my head.”
The woman patted my head and said.
I smiled and put the leather book in my arms. After that, I bought a few things as Tilata recommended.
One large trap and two small ones, some iron tools suitable for carrying on your person, and even a small iron pot and a fire starter that would be helpful when camping.
All of them were of fairly good quality for something found in a slum like this.
“Is it okay to sell all your hunting gear like this?”
“It’s about time for me to retire. Take that with you.”
She tossed a handful of herbs onto the bundle as if it were nothing special. They were probably expensive in this alley.
In George, even this lowly herb was worth a few dozen rams per pinch.
I slung the heavy leather bag strap over my shoulder and gave a word of thanks.
“Thank you for your help.”
It was a sincere greeting from my heart. Although they sold information and hunting gear for money, the Tilatas usually never told others about their hunting techniques.
She provided much better quality information and sold better items than I expected.
If she really thought I was a noble, she would never have done that. The Hunter's Guild kept their identity completely hidden from the nobles.
I opened the door and was about to go out, but then I looked back at the doorway. She was still looking at me, and our eyes met.
I hesitated and then asked.
“Can I ask why you gave me such detailed information? It’s the foundation of your business.”
“...How many people would ask about Antaria in a time like this?”
“...”
“Honestly, I thought it was just some tall tale made up by idiots about a Princess who grew up among the poor in the back alleys... I never thought it would be true.”
“...”
“It seems that miracles still happen in the world.”
She smiled, winking at one wrinkled eye. It was a big, bright smile that showed off her few teeth.
“Princess of the back alleys, our Princess. Please become the Emperor of the lowly and reign for a thousand years.”
“...”
I didn't know how to respond to that belief, so I just kept my mouth shut.
Even if I win the competition, I won't become the Emperor? There's a high chance that I'm a fake created from the beginning?
When I saw the face of old Tilata, a forgotten sense of guilt came flooding back to me. I realized all too vividly what kind of person I was to them.
All I could do was run out of the store.
The situation in the back alleys of any neighborhood was obvious. It was a slum where poor and wicked people lived.
Criminals and vagrants have dug holes in the alleys, making them even more tangled and complicated. Tents that look like they could collapse at any moment are pitched between dirty buildings.
It didn't seem like much time had passed since I had followed Tilata, but as I wandered the path alone, I had a hard time getting a sense of where I was.
I considered blowing the whistle to call Enoch, but that would only draw more attention.
Normally, it would be extremely dangerous for a foreigner like me, a woman alone, to travel to a place like this.
Fortunately, the leather bag I received from Tilata served as proof that I was a guest and helped block out the menacing gazes to some extent. Of course, even with this, it is true that it is not completely safe.
I walked a little faster. It was just as I was turning the corner.
"Ahhh!"
Someone suddenly grabbed my arm and pulled me down, so startled that I screamed.
The man covered my mouth and quickly dragged me, who was struggling, to a corner.
In an instant, all sorts of thoughts sent a chill down my spine. Just before I could bite him with my nails and teeth, a voice came first.
“Shh, Your Highness, please remain still.”
Kidnapping and extorting money was honestly something that only happened in novels. In particular, these secret societies would be very careful not to upset the nobles.
"Ah."
I followed her blankly, then, startled by the woman’s words, checked the ground I was about to step on. A large trap was locked with an unpleasant creaking sound. I heard a phlegmy laugh.
“It’s pretty quick.”
“...Is it okay to play a prank like this?”
“What can we do with a trap set there? People passing by should be careful.”
...That was right. I looked around a bit more and slowly followed the woman.
I walked for a long time through long, narrow alleys and old scenery that were familiar to me.
Finally, a woman stood before a shabby tent. She lifted the worn curtain and said,
“What are you doing? Why aren’t you coming in?”
“Uh... So...”
“It seems like you left your wits in the shithole.”
The woman laughed again, this time in a loud voice. So this woman was Tilata, the most skilled hunter in the area.
I entered the tent. All kinds of bows, arrows, traps, dried herbs, etc. were hanging haphazardly on one wall.
I thought it might be a scam, but it turned out to be a real tent.
“Yes. What brought our precious daughter here?”
Since she probably thought I was noble when I gave her the ring, she wasn't surprised and got to the point.
“Have you ever hunted in Antaria, Zarantello?”
“You’re talking about the Emperor’s hunting grounds. Do you believe that a country bumpkin like me can wander there?”
“It’s Tilata. There must be some achievement that would have earned you recognition among the hunters around here, but it can’t be explained unless you’re an Antaria from Zarantello.”
“...It’s not like I don’t have any sense at all.”
The woman sat down on the worn-out armchair, neither completely trusting me nor wary of me.
“Yeah. I guess I can’t help it since I got caught. I’ve been caught a few times.”
“What’s the most precious beast you can catch there?”
“White-horned doe.”
“That’s the stuff of legends...”
Before I could finish my muttering, the woman lifted the cloth next to her.
I almost bit my tongue in surprise. It was a real stuffed white-antlered doe head. The whole body was white as if it had been made of pure snow.
“Do you believe me now?”
She said, winking her wrinkled eyes. It was a sight she couldn't believe her eyes.
“This is, so...”
“They only roam around during this season. You can’t catch them by shooting them, whether it’s with a bow or a gun.”
“Then?”
The woman laughed heartily.
“You want to get all the capital for my business just by giving me a small ring? That doesn’t make sense.”
It was a business ploy, but it was true. In other words, it was like asking for the secret to becoming a Tilata.
I took out the pouch of gold coins from my inside pocket and placed it on the woman's withered hand.
“Is this okay?”
She weighed the leather pouch with her hand without even opening it, then smiled, revealing her yellow teeth.
“There is absolutely no way to catch it.”
“What is that?”
“Don’t rush, young lady.”
She laughed heartily, showing her teeth. I was becoming more and more comfortable here.
The woman's attitude was somewhat similar to that of the people of Olga and George's slums, where I grew up and where I consider my true roots, no matter how far away they are.
“It seems that noble people think that hunting is only about leisurely hunting with hunting dogs and guns and bows. How can people like us, who live hand to mouth, be so leisurely?”
I shrugged my shoulders to indicate my agreement.
“You have to use all the means available, whether it’s traps or poison. Of those, if you want to catch them, you have to use traps. Wooden traps are good, but they can’t handle the strength of a deer.”
“...”
“Of all of them, the one I used was this trap.”
She placed an old wooden box on a worn-out chair, and I sneezed loudly because of the dust, which caught me off guard.
What the woman took out of the box were very sharp iron traps. The teeth were tightly meshed, and there was not a single rust spot on them.
“If you go into the forest, there is a valley at the very innermost part. If you look closely next to it, there are red berries. In early spring, they often come out to eat them. If you are lucky, you might run into them once during this time.”
“Then, should I just hide this trap in the grass?”
“They are so sensitive that something like that won’t do. When they smell iron, I crush up some kitsch and apply it to them.”
“What is the solution?”
“Kichira grass.”
She glanced at me as if she didn't know that either.
This time too, I could only shrug my shoulders. Having been trained by Cesare and the palace masters, such stares no longer tickled me.
The woman reached deep into the box, rummaged through it for a while, and then pulled out a leather book. It was more like a bundle of low-quality parchments wrapped in leather than a book.
She untied the knotted strings and took one out.
“Now, look at this.”
She said, shoving a stinking piece of parchment in front of my nose.
The parchment had long, saw-toothed patterns drawn at various angles. In one corner was a map of an unknown location, with several X-marks drawn in various places.
“I’ve tried many other types of glue, but this one works the best. There are probably a lot of similar ones around you, but you can tell them apart by the fluff. If you run your hand over it, the front side will be smooth, but the back side will have rough fluff.”
“How much is this book?”
“Just take it. If you have any money left, you can give it to me.”
“Is that okay?”
“Because the content is already all in my head.”
The woman patted my head and said.
I smiled and put the leather book in my arms. After that, I bought a few things as Tilata recommended.
One large trap and two small ones, some iron tools suitable for carrying on your person, and even a small iron pot and a fire starter that would be helpful when camping.
All of them were of fairly good quality for something found in a slum like this.
“Is it okay to sell all your hunting gear like this?”
“It’s about time for me to retire. Take that with you.”
She tossed a handful of herbs onto the bundle as if it were nothing special. They were probably expensive in this alley.
In George, even this lowly herb was worth a few dozen rams per pinch.
I slung the heavy leather bag strap over my shoulder and gave a word of thanks.
“Thank you for your help.”
It was a sincere greeting from my heart. Although they sold information and hunting gear for money, the Tilatas usually never told others about their hunting techniques.
She provided much better quality information and sold better items than I expected.
If she really thought I was a noble, she would never have done that. The Hunter's Guild kept their identity completely hidden from the nobles.
I opened the door and was about to go out, but then I looked back at the doorway. She was still looking at me, and our eyes met.
I hesitated and then asked.
“Can I ask why you gave me such detailed information? It’s the foundation of your business.”
“...How many people would ask about Antaria in a time like this?”
“...”
“Honestly, I thought it was just some tall tale made up by idiots about a Princess who grew up among the poor in the back alleys... I never thought it would be true.”
“...”
“It seems that miracles still happen in the world.”
She smiled, winking at one wrinkled eye. It was a big, bright smile that showed off her few teeth.
“Princess of the back alleys, our Princess. Please become the Emperor of the lowly and reign for a thousand years.”
“...”
I didn't know how to respond to that belief, so I just kept my mouth shut.
Even if I win the competition, I won't become the Emperor? There's a high chance that I'm a fake created from the beginning?
When I saw the face of old Tilata, a forgotten sense of guilt came flooding back to me. I realized all too vividly what kind of person I was to them.
All I could do was run out of the store.
***
The situation in the back alleys of any neighborhood was obvious. It was a slum where poor and wicked people lived.
Criminals and vagrants have dug holes in the alleys, making them even more tangled and complicated. Tents that look like they could collapse at any moment are pitched between dirty buildings.
It didn't seem like much time had passed since I had followed Tilata, but as I wandered the path alone, I had a hard time getting a sense of where I was.
I considered blowing the whistle to call Enoch, but that would only draw more attention.
Normally, it would be extremely dangerous for a foreigner like me, a woman alone, to travel to a place like this.
Fortunately, the leather bag I received from Tilata served as proof that I was a guest and helped block out the menacing gazes to some extent. Of course, even with this, it is true that it is not completely safe.
I walked a little faster. It was just as I was turning the corner.
"Ahhh!"
Someone suddenly grabbed my arm and pulled me down, so startled that I screamed.
The man covered my mouth and quickly dragged me, who was struggling, to a corner.
In an instant, all sorts of thoughts sent a chill down my spine. Just before I could bite him with my nails and teeth, a voice came first.
“Shh, Your Highness, please remain still.”
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