"So this is what you ant by 'sowhere else'?"
Shane crouched behind a tree, unable to hold back his complaint.
Frieren crouched beside him, silent.
Two hours earlier, they had arrived at the gates of Gostan City, only to be stopped outside due to lacking identification.
With the city currently under threat from an unknown force, even the rchant who tried to vouch for them—and offered to pay a deposit—couldn't persuade the guards to let them in.
"That is a very responsible soldier."
Frieren had even praised the guard at the ti.
Then, the next mont, she dragged him to sneak along the base of the city wall…
The moon had already climbed high in the western sky.
Outside the city, everything was eerily quiet.
A row of torches flickered atop the battlents, their red glow moving slowly as the patrolling soldiers cast long, slanted shadows.
After observing for a mont, Frieren whispered, "Once they pass, we'll run to the base of the wall. You can swim, right?"
"I can, but…"
Shane felt like he had to say sothing. This plan was far too reckless. If they got caught, it would definitely lead to serious trouble. But before he could figure out how to phrase it, Frieren had already stood up and dashed forward.
"Huh?"
Left with no choice, he followed.
Between their position and the city wall lay a moat over several dozen ters wide. The water wasn't deep, but it was spring, and the river was freezing at night.
Shane cautiously stepped one foot in—and instantly shivered.
Beside him, Frieren didn't wait.
The elf raised her staff and walked gracefully across the water, her steps light and elegant. She ran straight to the other side without even getting the hem of her dress wet.
Shane stared in disbelief.
As expected of a high-tier mage—even sneaking around looked elegant.
Muttering a complaint under his breath, Shane resigned himself and slipped into the water, slowly swimming forward.
Frieren glanced at the movent of the torchlight atop the wall and urged, "Hurry."
Finally, just before the patrolling soldiers returned, Shane managed to climb ashore.
He wrapped his arms around himself, shivering as he stood against the wall, pressing his back tightly against the cold stone, trying to keep his teeth from chattering as he silently waited for the patrol to pass.
Whoosh.
After confirming it was safe, Frieren waved her staff. A spell to dry clothes landed on Shane, and instantly, a warm current spread through his body. His soaked clothes dried in an instant.
Shane felt like he had co back to life.
Then, just like before, Frieren grabbed the back of his collar and activated flight magic, lifting him into the air as they swiftly crossed over the city wall.
They landed successfully inside the inner city just as the patrol turned back, the red torchlight sweeping past once more.
The timing was perfect.
Just as Shane let out a sigh of relief, Frieren suddenly stepped back.
"This is bad."
She tossed out those words and imdiately turned and ran.
???
Shane was completely baffled.
By the ti he realized what was happening, it was already too late.
There were patrols inside the city too!
And there was a curfew! The streets were completely empty!
"Who's there!"
"Intruders!"
"Stay alert!"
The soldiers reacted swiftly and began chasing in their direction.
Unfamiliar with the terrain, the two could only dart through alleys at random. More and more soldiers joined the pursuit, and it was becoming impossible to evade them.
"Don't you have a 'make people fall asleep' magic?!" Shane complained.
"Attacking soldiers is a serious cri. You'll be executed."
"..."
This won't work!
Shane quickly scanned the surroundings, his mind racing. Got it!
He pulled Frieren into a shop along the street.
Luckily, it was a tailor shop.
He quickly threw open all the front and back windows, creating the illusion that they had jumped out to escape, then decisively dragged Frieren into a corner and crouched down.
[Goddess's Barrier] activated.
Buzz—
An invisible barrier silently spread through the air, concealing everything within it.
Frieren sensed the fluctuation of energy beside her but had no idea what it was. She looked at Shane in surprise, about to ask, when he suddenly covered her mouth.
At the sa mont, three soldiers burst into the shop.
"Where are they?"
"Where did they hide?"
Their voices woke the shop's owner.
On the wooden stairs leading to the second floor, a small green-haired girl appeared.
She looked about seven or eight years old, clutching a stuffed doll, rubbing her eyes as she mumbled sleepily,
"Big sis, are you working late again?"
She even pouted slightly in dissatisfaction.
But when she opened her eyes and saw the three soldiers downstairs, her little head froze completely.
At that mont, the person she had called "big sister," wearing a long night robe, hurried down behind her and pulled her into an embrace.
"Ubel, don't be afraid. Big sister is here."
The little girl reacted a beat later, tears welling up in her eyes. But she bit her lip and didn't cry, only clutching her sister's clothes tightly.
Her sister gently patted her back, soothing her.
"Officers, may I ask what's going on?"
"We're pursuing suspicious individuals. We saw figures enter this house just now. Have you seen or heard anything?"
"No, sir. We were asleep upstairs. We were only just awakened."
"Apologies, ma'am. Would you mind if we search the place?"
"...Alright. But please don't frighten my sister."
With permission granted, the soldiers began searching—checking cabinets, under tables, even the upstairs rooms. The sounds of rummaging echoed through the shop as the two sisters stood by the stairs, waiting nervously.
After a thorough search, they found nothing.
The three soldiers frowned and returned to the first floor, carefully examining the layout.
One of them pointed at the open window. "Could they have jumped out and gone sowhere else?"
"Possible. Notify the other patrol units to stay alert. I'll report this to General Glux and request additional manpower to search nearby streets. We cannot allow spies to infiltrate again."
"Apologies for disturbing you so late at night, ma'am. Please understand our duty to protect Gostan City."
After nodding in apology, the soldiers finally left.
The tailor shop returned to silence.
"Big sis…"
"It's alright. Just a misunderstanding."
"The suspicious people the soldiers ntioned… are they bad people?"
"Don't overthink it. Maybe it was just a lost kitten. Don't be afraid. I'm here. Co on, I'll sleep with you tonight."
The little girl called Ubel still looked unsettled. Her sister gently picked her up, humming a lullaby as she carried her back upstairs.
Resting her head on her sister's shoulder, the girl's eyes wandered past her, toward the corner of the first floor.
Her brows furrowed slightly as she murmured,
"Maybe it's two kittens."
At that mont, hiding in the corner, Shane's heart skipped a beat.
Did the little one notice sothing…?
Ubel? That na sounds familiar… where have I heard it before?
User Comments
0 comments from readers