“Uh? Miss, didn’t you say you were going to rest at home today?”
“Hahaha! I thought it might be better to do something that helps the Eastern Trading Company instead of resting! I know how to fight a bit, so I came out to lend a hand on patrol!”
How could she have such a lovely mindset?
I applauded Sowol, who spoke proudly, and stuck a praise sticker on her forehead.
“Ah?!”
“That intention to help around the house was nice.”
“Thank you!”
As Sowol hurriedly removed the sticker and tucked it away in her notebook, I turned my gaze to Ryla.
She looked a bit flustered by Sowol’s appearance, but her smile had not faded.
“Shall we head out for patrol then, Sowol? But wait, are you patrolling alone?”
“Yes. It was a last-minute decision, so they said I don’t have a partner.”
“Oh, I see. Hang in there.”
“Eh?!”
“What?”
“I mean, how can you let your student patrol alone?”
“That’s true…”
“Ah! Master!!”
Just then, a cheerful voice rang out.
Turning that way, I spotted the red-headed Ann, who was neither freckled nor too skinny.
Since she was wearing armor, it seemed she wasn’t there to enjoy the festival and was possibly out patrolling alone.
“I heard you were participating in the patrol for the Eastern Trading Company. Were you joining us as well, Master?”
“Yep. But what about you?”
“Ah, even though today is a holiday, I thought it wouldn’t look good for a knight of the territory to relax while receiving support from the Eastern Trading Company. So, I’ve come out to patrol separately.”
Wow, impressive!
Truly a model knight. By the way, patrolling alone? Well, this worked out well.
I patted her shoulder and pushed her towards Sowol.
“Huh?”
“Sowol also needs a buddy for her patrol, so you two can stick together.”
“Uh…”
“That doesn’t sound too bad!”
The animosity Ann had towards Sowol completely disappeared when Sowol defeated the race. So, it shouldn’t be a big problem for them to patrol together.
“Alright then, Ryla, let’s go!”
“Yes! Miss! See you later!”
Ryla greeted Sowol with her typical bright smile. Now, where should we go?
“Ah! How about we check over there?”
Ryla pointed towards a dark alley. I wondered if there would be some festival activities happening there too.
“In places like that, there are often fake products for sale or scams where they lure people in with low prices and force them to buy at high rates or even rob them!”
“Oh. That does sound about right.”
Seems like she has some experience with this kind of thing; she’s quite insightful. Anyway, if such a place exists, we can’t skip the patrol.
“If we patrol over there, it’ll be lunchtime by the time we finish. Let’s grab a bite afterward.”
“Hehe! Yes!”
Choosing to patrol the alley was a wise decision.
As soon as we entered, we spotted a shady traveler trying to sell odd items for outrageous prices.
We caught someone trying to blackmail travelers and forcefully sell stuff not once, but twice!
“Nice work!”
“What? You see this stuff everywhere when you’re out doing business.”
“Really?”
“Yep. A proper merchant should know how to sell the right goods at the right price. Those guys aren’t merchants at all.”
The traveler, being dragged with his hands tied, smiled awkwardly.
Ryla frowned at him and let out a small sigh.
“Merchants often face disdain from others. Especially a big company like the Eastern Trading Company.”
“Is that so?”
“The reason merchants are looked down upon is because of people like them. They think they’ll do anything for profit.”
“Can’t argue with that.”
“In the East, it’s different. Even a merchant chasing profit understands righteousness and morality. Our Eastern Trading Company is rooted in the East, so we haven’t lost that sense of righteousness.”
Such a statement was filled with pride.
Ryla smiled with satisfaction after saying what she did.
“Is that them?”
“Yeah. They were running a scam in the alley.”
“I see. Hey! Take them all away!!”
After exiting the alley, we handed over those we had captured to the nearby soldiers.
And that wraps up the morning patrol.
Checking the time, it was almost lunchtime.
“Let’s grab some food…”
“Oh my!! What a coincidence!!”
Wait?! Is that voice?!
I turned around and spotted Sowol and Ann over there.
Breathless and blushing, they seemed to have worked hard on their patrol.
“Did you finish your morning patrol?!”
“Yeah! Did you finish too?”
“Yes! We wrapped up our patrol! I can’t believe how much there was to do! With the festival, it seems like all sorts of troublemakers are out and about!!”
Hearing Sowol’s enthusiastic words, Ann nodded in agreement. They must’ve had a tough time too.
“Well done! We’re going to grab lunch. Want to join us?”
“Are you talking about lunch? I don’t mind either way, but if you insist, I can’t say no!”
I didn’t quite insist that much.
But, whatever.
Looking at Ryla, she seemed equally nonchalant about it.
After all, meals are better when shared with others.
“Let’s go. I’ll treat you.”
Since I received my paycheck from Soojung yesterday.
It seems it was a bit early for lunch because there were plenty of seats in the restaurant.
We found a table where the four of us could comfortably sit down.
“What do you want to eat? I’m going for the set meal. The set meal here is delicious. You should have it.”
“What comes with the set meal?”
“Steak, bread, and an omelet. Plus, they’ll give you a drink.”
“Oh, then I’ll have that too.”
Sowol also liked meat like me, so she smiled and ordered the set meal. Ann did the same.
Just as Ryla was about to nod with a smile, Sowol spoke up.
“Ryla, you don’t like meat, right?”
“Huh? There are people who dislike meat?”
“Yeah. Ryla prefers bread or vegetables.”
But why was she trying to order the set meal then?
When I looked at her, Ryla scratched her cheek.
“Hehe… Since you’re treating, I felt a bit wrong to say anything…”
“That’s no reason to force yourself to eat something you don’t like. Ryla can order whatever she wants, right?”
“Of course.”
Only after I said that did Ryla order what she wished—salad, soup, and bread with jam.
“Hmm…”
After we placed our orders, Sowol, Ryla, and Ann began chatting excitedly.
As I observed them closely with my hand resting on the table, I said,
“Ryla, aren’t you holding back too much?”
“Yes?”
“Of course, this isn’t a formal gathering with the lord’s guardian and a precious member of the trading company here, but it seems like you’re holding back even when you have things you want to say…”
“…Haha.”
“Ryla tends to do that.”
Seeing Sowol agree with my observation, I must’ve been right.
“In my view, you’re holding back too much. Upholding righteousness means sacrificing your desires. Not that it’s bad, but people naturally move according to their desires. So, it’s good to express your feelings every once in a while.”
“Uh… is that really okay?”
“Of course. It’s all about moderation. Moderation.”
After lunch, nothing particularly special happened.
We continued our patrol as we did in the morning.
I frequently ran into Sowol during the patrol, but that didn’t seem significant enough to bother about.
As our patrol duties wrapped up, we were nearing the end of the day.
“Master.”
“What?”
“Master, am I… your partner for this festival?”
“Yeah.”
“I was wondering if you could be my dance partner for the campfire after the patrol?”
A campfire?
They have one of those too?
Checking the schedule, it indeed showed such an event. They really have it all.
“Can’t you just go with Sowol?”
“The lady will be going to the castle with the trading company chief tonight.”
Ah, right. I remembered when Sowol mentioned that with a sullen face when we happened to run into her for the sixth time earlier.
“That shouldn’t be hard, but wouldn’t it be better to choose another partner?”
“Hahaha. Nobody would want to be partners with a plain-looking girl like me.”
“Plain-looking? You’re pretty enough! Hmm… But wouldn’t it be teased if a middle-aged guy like me was your partner?”
Sure, I’m in my mid-twenties, but Ryla is around the same age as Sowol.
Just like how Sowol referred to me as an ‘uncle’ for the first time, Ryla would likely think the same.
In this case, wouldn’t a peer be better as a dance partner?
“It would be an honor for you to be my partner, Master.”
“Oh really? In that case, I can’t decline anymore. A promise is a promise.”
“Hehe. Thank you! Oh, and one more thing.”
“What is it?”
“I can’t dance.”
Goodness.
She asked to be a partner without even knowing how to dance?
I was impressed by Ryla’s guts.
What a bold spirit, indeed. You’ll go far.
“Why did you want to dance then?”
“I just wanted to try it at least once. You told me not to hold back, right?”
Ryla’s face, speaking like that, was full of a youthful smile that matched her age.
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