chapter 398 lost in the streets

After four hours of waiting, we were finally able to get into the capital

Unlike what happened in Urmut and Bestia, there weren’t any conflicts with other adventurers here, which is a good thing.

Our first order of business was to go to the guild. Barbra’s guild head wrote us a recommendation letter to show to the guild master of the capital.

As we walked in the city, we could see a lot of ancient looking building, considering that this city was more than a thousand years old, I guess It is not that surprising. The alley we walked along was narrow and lined with rows of black buildings. These seemed to have been built without observing any kind of planned layout, making the city into a sort of giant maze.

The only reason why I am having these reflections at this time is that we’re totally lost.

“We should have stayed on the avenue instead of trying to take a shortcut”, I sighed.

– Do we jump up? (Fran)

“This is the capital, we don’t know anyone and people might not know us, so let’s not draw too much attention. Let’s try and look for the main street.”

– Got it. (Fran)

The outer arts of the city, along the fortress walls looked new and orderly, which was not the case for the part we were located in. The part we’re in dates back to a time where the city was expanding extremely quickly and as such, no planning was done.

As we walked along, we passed through underground passages, tunnels going through buildings, etc… This little adventure got both Fran and Urushi in a good mood

This place would be quite terrifying to go through if it was deserted, it would be a perfect ghost town… if the place was deserted that is.

Cheapt taverns, public canteens as well as a bunch of other suspicious establishments could be seen everywhere. Because of this we could see drunks and flirtatious women anywhere we looked… This was definitely not a good place to live in, you could feel the chaos just by being there.

Surprisingly though, Fran seemed to like this atmostphere. Well I guess she doesn’t have anything against this kind of lively atmosphere, she was walking along in high spirits despite the fact that we were lost.

Of course, being in this environment and looking like Fran does, you get lots of people sizing you up. Fran simply ignored them all as well the presence we could feel in our back. Given how poorly he can hide his presence, he was simply not our opponent.

Sensing that he was discovered, it seems he tried in vain to hide his presence again, but he was simply not able to. Recognizing this fact, he gave up. A small fry but an intelligent one, I guess.

“We’re really completely lost aren’t we?” I said.

Everything was so densily built that we couldn’t even see any landmarks, like the palace, to try and orient ourselves. Fran has a skill called “Direction sense” but considering how many dead ends we ran into, it doesn’t seem particularly useful

– We need to ask for directions. (Fran)

“Yeah, it seems we have no choice on the matter. ” (Master)

Now the only question is where to ask, do we ask someone in one of the establishments along the road?

Before I could arrive to a conclusion, Fran did an 180 and went the opposite way of the way we were going.

“Fran, what are you doing?” (Master)

– I know the way. (Fran)

I didn’t even have time to ask who she was going to ask for information that she came up the guy who was tracing us earlier.

– Excuse me, where do I need to go to get to the Adventurer’s Guild? (Fran)

– How the hell did you notice me? (young man)

The voice belonged to a young man who had followed Fran’s trail for almost half an hour. Probably one of the locals. He looked surprised but did he really hope to go unnoticed?

I don’t think he was following Fran, or anything like that. If the goal was surveillance, then he would carefully hide his presence and move heels very carefully. Because of this fact Fran’s instincts did not find him to be hostile. Or at least, he was not considered an enemy worthy of attention.

“I want to join the Adventurer’s Guild. (Fran)

– Huh? What are you talking about? (young man)

I thought the young man would rebuke her, but he remained surprisingly calm. Fran might look weak at first glance, but the sword on her back as well as her ability to sense someone’s presence hinted at her strength. Well, the fact that Urushi was besides her also helped.

– Of course, it wouldn’t be hard for me to tell the way, but how much are you … (young man)

– Hey, wait a sec! (grown man)

As the youg man in front of us we going to ask us for payment, a greedy grin on his face, another man interrupted him mid-sentence. This one seemed way more experienced, his piercing gaze seemed to look through everything

He joined the young man in tracing us after him and was actually pretty good at it from the way he talked us. He should be comparable to an adventurer skilled in terrain recognition.

Fran did also recognize that this man was not one to be underestimated but he did not seem to have anything to do with us, his gaze was directed at the you man before us.

– Kalk-san, what are you doing? (men)

– Don’t mess with this girl. (Kalk)

– Why are you saying that? I just wanted to sell her information, that’s all. (young man)

Unsurprisingly, the young man made a displeased face upon hearing such words from the man he named Kalk. He might think that he was trying to take his “prey” away from him.

“Just don’t mess with her. (Kalk)

– What are you talking about? (men)

– It’s not your damn business! Get out of here, quickly! (Kalk)

– Fine… (men)

Kalk’s menacing expression forced the young man to leave. Just Before leaving, he glanced at Fran again, only to be kicked by KalK.

He was sent face first into a wall and crashed to the ground. It seems he didn’t expect to receive such a beating. His face was now full of fear

– I told you to go as calmly as possible but I do not mind sending you away in a bag if you keep this up, disappear right now!!(Kalk)

– Iii … I’m Sorry ! ( youg man )

The man he stumbled and ran away, terrified. Kalk then stopped and bowed his head low in front of us.

– I apologize. He’s just a fool who has no idea about the difference between his and your strength. Will you be so generous as to forgive him? (Kalk)

– Nn? (Fran)

“I didn’t mean to make you angry. Anyway, you wanted to find the way to the Adventurer’s Guild, right? (Kalk)

– Yeah. Will you me show the way? (Fran)

– Yes. Please follow me. (Kalk)

It looks like he decided to show us the way personally.

– why not just tell how to go to the guild? (Fran)

– I have to be your guide. This kind of fool are everywhere and I do not want to imagine how this place would look like if one were to start a fight with you. (Kalk)

Kalk muttered these worth without hiding his fear. It seems that man was good at assessing other people’s strength and his skill “Eye of frailty” was the cause. It seems it allows him to know exactly how strong someone else is relative to him. In this case Fran must look like an absolute monster.

If any of these fools ended up in a fight with her, they would very much regret it for the short time they’d be able to and there’s no telling the amount of destruction that might bring. It seems that’s what this man fears most.

Whatever the reason, Kalc did not lie when he said he was going to deceive us himself. He seems to have a good understanding of these places, so we should rely on him.

– i see. Let’s go.( Kalc)

– Please this way (Master )

edited