= Unnamed POV =

  The two of us decided to follow the path the kidnapper had taken earlier. Of course, we had no idea where this road would lead us any further. The difference was quite significant: the kidnapper rode a horse, while we walked on nothing but shoes that were already terribly worn out.

  I need to stay alert to my surroundings right now. Someone could easily jump out of these dense bushes and brutally rob us on the spot.

  It would be hirious if this strange thought of mine actually came true. I mean, our status is still a criminals, if we get robbed by fellow criminals, does that count as cannibalism? Ahahaha.

  “Hey, kid!” That damn Albert always makes my heart nearly leap out of my chest with his loud, sudden voice!

  “Are you thinking about the girl who was kidnapped earlier?” he asked.

  “Of course! Do you think I—”

  “So my guess was right, haha! You like that girl.”

  “Watch your mouth! I’m not the type who can easily be blinded by love at first sight!”

  “Oh? Then what do you call someone who’s willing to abandon everything just to save that girl?”

  Damn it, what am I supposed to answer? My goal really is to save that girl, and at the same time rid my life of Silthroat’s influence…

  Seems like this time I’ll choose to stay silent. Any answer that slips out of my mouth could easily be used by him to humiliate me even further…

  “Ah, no need to be so stiff, kid.” His rough hand brushed through my hair with a gentleness that was surprisingly unexpected.

  “I once chased after a woman who had long become a shard of starlight in my heart…”

  “And then?” I asked.

  “Then fate had other pns. In the end, I married my own close friend.”

  “That’s… quite surprising, I suppose…”

  “Ah, forget it. I’ll tell you the full story someday, when we’re no longer being chased by the shadows of the past. Deal?”

  “Deal!”

  That conversation truly made the journey feel short. We could already see several buildings ahead of us. But among all the structures that came into view, there was only one that made my mouth gape in awe all on its own.

  A pace, perhaps? But what kind of human would willingly build a pace that towers so high it looks like the moon at night. So high that even the houses beneath it haven’t fully been touched by the morning sunlight?

  When I gnced to the side, turned out Albert was also looking upward with the exact same expression as mine. Maybe having a travel companion isn’t always a bad thing, as long as they don’t suddenly do something stupid—

  “Just barely…”

  “Bwah! What’s wrong with you?! Why did you suddenly cover my mouth and pull me back?!”

  “Sorry, I didn’t mean to cover your mouth that hard. But look at what’s right in front of your feet…”

  What?! That… that’s the flower that killed our comrade before… It’s completely unexpected that they’d pce a trap in a location where people are likely to pass through.

  “Strange, isn’t it? They even pced that damn trap just dozens of steps away from the house over there…”

  So cruel. If I were the ruler of this kingdom, I’d choose to build strong, towering fortresses to protect my people. Just look at this chaos! I haven’t even seen a single bit of fortification they’ve built, truly careless…

  On top of that, there isn’t a single guard in sight. The two of us could practically be said to have infiltrated the territory of the Kingdom of Altheria, yet not a single patrol can be seen.

  We stepped onto neatly arranged stone roads, completely leaving the forest of death behind us, at least that’s what I decided to call it.

  “Feels like a dead city, doesn’t it, Albert?” He only nodded. Not like him to respond that way.

  Maybe if we walk around a bit more, we’ll start seeing people. At the very least, I could ask the locals something.

  Every step feels like being pulled toward a trap. My eyes refuse to stop scanning the surroundings. Every alley feels like it’s hiding a trigger, ready to fire an arrow at anyone who passes, and of course… it’s all just in my head.

  “Hey, kid! Get up here, quick!”

  As always, thanks to Albert’s ridiculously loud voice. At this rate, we might suddenly get surrounded by dozens of knight ptoons…

  “Wait, how did you even get up there?”

  “Obviously by using the wooden dder ri—” Suddenly Albert’s voice shrank, as if he was no longer sure about what he was about to say next.

  “Uh… where was it again…”

  “Albert, stop joking around! What if someone suddenly kidnaps me down here?!”

  “Shut up, you noisy brat! I’m sure the dder’s around here!”

  “You’re the noisy one—Ahhhh!”

  “Hey! What’s wrong with you? Why are you suddenly screaming like that, huh?!”

  What did I just see…

  An eye… so huge, staring at me from behind the gss window of a house. But it only happened for a split second, my rear smmed hard onto the stone road because I was genuinely startled…

  The hairs on the back of my neck are standing up now. It feels like I’m being pressed down by something invisible. There’s no way I saw something that bizarre just now, am I seriously that sleep-deprived?…

  “Hey, kid! Are you deaf or what?!” Albert shouted from atop the house. Seems like he didn’t see me nearly scare myself to death earlier. Good.

  “I’m not deaf! Just sleep-deprived! You hear that, huh?!”

  “With all my heart, I’m listening to you, kid!”

  “Hah! I already knew tha—”

  “YOU THERE!”

  Huh? Another shout all of a sudden? But… why did it come from behind me, don’t tell me—

  “Stop right there. Move even a muscle, and your head will be the price!”

  Damn you, Albert! That shout really drew a guard’s attention, or maybe several guards, or even an entire ptoon?! Why are there so many footsteps?!

  “Rondo, are you sure about capturing him?” someone behind me asked.

  “Yeah, he looks pretty weak,” another added.

  “Believe me, just from his appearance alone, he’s not from around here. Quickly, bind him!”

  “Wait! Listen to me—”

  They quickly smmed me to the ground, my hands bound with incredibly strong chains. I did not even get the chance to finish my words when they began covering my entire head with cloth.

  I do not know whether they also noticed Albert’s presence on the rooftop. But I hope he is safe, and that he can escape this cursed city as soon as possible. It seems everything always ends badly for me, even when my intentions are good for once.

  My hearing began to fade, the guards’ shouts turning into an indistinct ringing in my ears. But I could still feel faint touches on my weakening body, as if they were carrying me somewhere. Oh… it seems I am being forced to sleep for a while… good night, everyone…