A Stuffed Cheonma in my Head - Chapter 24



Only Noblemtl

Episode 024. The Good Siblings

* * *

“oh.”

Fortunately, it looks like I won’t have to stay up all night today.

Because we arrived at the next village before the sun set.

In the distance I could see the castle walls, dyed red by the sunset.

This town was so huge that it was embarrassing to even call it a town.

It would be more appropriate to call it a city rather than a village.

The gates and walls seemed twice as large as those of Akhenaten, whom I had visited before.

Because so many people come and go, the security checks will be even more lax than those of Akhenaten.

Besides, I had already created a mercenary group.

They’ll probably check your mercenary badge and let you in without even looking at your face.

As I was about to head straight to the castle gate, Shushuruta grabbed my sleeve and pulled me towards him.

“why?”

Shushuruta pulled me to one side and pointed into the forest that had now become dark.

“The informant is waiting.”

“Informant?”

“Yes. There is an informant from the Thieves Guild nearby who knows the circumstances of the Scarab you see over there. It won’t be too late to go after hearing the details.”

The city name seemed to be Scarab.

I had no choice but to nod.

“Well, that’s what it is.”

I followed behind Shushuruta, who was walking ahead.

Although it may seem like a farce, it seems that the story of running a thieves’ guild is not entirely a lie.

‘Surely not the guild leader. An elder? Isn’t an elder supposed to be an older person? Then he’s not an elder. Maybe he’s the branch manager like Colin.’

With that thought in mind, I followed Shushuruta into the forest where darkness had already fallen.

After a while, Shushuruta entered a forest with few people, stared at a tree, and knocked on it three times.

Then a man fell from the tree like an acorn.

“Ouch, that’s a surprise.”

I couldn’t help but be surprised, since I don’t always spread my wings wide.

Who wouldn’t be surprised if a dark-skinned man fell from a tree like an acorn?

The man who fell from the tree like an acorn had a surprisingly ordinary-looking appearance and expression.

I thought that if you were a member of the Thieves’ Guild, you’d be wearing all black with only your eyes exposed.

The acorn man nodded at Shushuruta.

“Are you here?”

Shushuruta simply nodded in greeting.

“Report.”

Then the acorn man glanced at me and began to explain earnestly.

“Currently, the wanted posters for the Red-Eyed Demon have been spread all over Scarab. The royal family’s response is faster than expected. After all, this is what happens when it happens… … .”

“colleague.”

Shushuruta interrupted the acorn man’s words that had been going on diligently.

The acorn man looked at Shushuruta with a slightly bewildered expression.

“yes?”

Shushuruta spoke in a serious tone.

“Ashvan is not a demon in the red eye, he is my comrade. Be careful what you say.”

The acorn man blinked in surprise, then bowed his head to Shushuruta and me in turn.

“Oh, excuse me.”

Shushuruta nodded and said.

“Let’s continue.”

“Yes. I will explain further. In conclusion, the security checks have been strengthened. Originally, they only checked your ID and let you in… … but now they are checking not only your ID but also your face. So… … it will be a little difficult to enter as it is.”

I looked at the acorn man with slightly wide eyes.

If I had gone straight to the castle gate, I would have been in trouble.

“Here, take this.”

The acorn man held something out to Shushuruta and me.

It was an identity card.

I took mine and looked at it.

It was a wooden identification card with another name written on it.

“… … Banshua?”

Shushuruta explained.

“Sometimes, just reversing a name can make it a completely different name. It’s like saying that it’s dark under the lamp.”

I don’t know what it is, but it seems to be a technique often used by the Thieves’ Guild.

“What are you?”

Shushuruta held out the identification card he was holding in front of my eyes.

It said ‘Evelyn’ on it.

“Not you?”

“Not me.”

“Why not you?”

“Isn’t Tarushushu a bit strange? It stands out.”

“Shushurutana tarushushuna.”

I suddenly checked the acorn man’s expression.

He was quietly watching Shushuruta and I talk with a curious expression on his face.

I asked him.

“I said my wanted poster was spread.”

“Yes.”

“What exactly does it say?”

“First of all, Ashvan is depicted as having black hair and red eyes. He looks better in person.”

“Oh, really?”

I feel slightly better.

“Yes. The dragon’s face is depicted as a bit more gruesome.”

“I see. And?”

“Underneath it is written, ‘Enemy-Eyed Demon. 100 gold. Life or death.’”

I opened my eyes wide.

“What? 100 gold?”

“Yes. Exactly 100 gold. It could go up even more. The crime is so serious.”

“… … .”

I heard from Cale that there was a wanted notice and a huge bounty on his head.

I thought it would be like this.

100 gold is 10,000 silver.

Wouldn’t that be enough to live off of for the rest of your life?

I thought for a moment and then asked him again.

“What that means is that my name isn’t even known. Is there really a need to wear a fake ID like this?”

“Of course, Ashvan’s name is not known yet, but just in case, it would be better to use the identification badge I just gave you. If your name is known later, it will be easier for pursuers to track you down.”

“I see.”

I nodded in understanding.

At first glance, it may seem like the mercenary pack was made for nothing, but it’s not like something you make will run away. It will be useful later on. The money you have right now was earned with it.

“Also, Ashvan-sama’s red eyes are so conspicuous. If you just cover your eyes, you’ll be able to pass the security check easily. Please take it.”

The acorn man handed me a long black cloth.

“Wear this over your eyes. If you pretend to be blind and lose your eyes in an unfortunate accident, they won’t suspect you much.”

“… … .”

I stared blankly at the black cloth in my hand.

Pretend to be blind.

As we live, we end up doing all sorts of things.

The acorn man continued speaking.

“They are brother and sister.”

“What the hell are you talking about?”

“We are Banshua’s older brother and Evelyn’s younger sister. It is clearly stated on the identification badge. You can pass the security check by pretending to be good siblings.”

“… … .”

I looked at Shushuruta with a trembling expression.

Shushuruta responded calmly.

“What are you looking at, Brother?”

“… … .”

I asked the acorn man.

“Do I really have to go this far?”

“I just looked for the simplest and easiest way. The Red-Eyed Demon would never imagine that he would be with his pretty younger sister. He wouldn’t be suspicious at all.”

“… … That’s true.”

I was resentful of my understandable situation.

Shushuruta said with a smile.

“Why? Are you afraid of hitting a wall, brother?”

“Shut up.”

“Don’t worry, I will guide you well.”

“… … Quite a lot.”

The acorn man, who had been watching with a somewhat pleased expression, spoke as if he had forgotten.

“Oh, one more thing. The royal family has dispatched a knight.”

Shushuruta asked.

“Did you figure out who it was?”

The acorn man shook his head.

“I haven’t figured that out yet.”

Shushuruta nodded and said.

“Except for the extreme cold, they are all similar. Anyone can easily be shaken off, so don’t push yourself too hard. When the time comes, you will know, even if you don’t want to know.”

“Yes. Okay.”

The acorn man bowed his head slightly and disappeared into the forest.

Originally, the Thieves’ Guild had a dirty image, like a bunch of mercenaries.

In Maya, there was a strong perception that it was a somewhat more secretive mercenary guild.

This neighborhood looked different.

It seemed to move surprisingly secretly and systematically.

“… … So, I should put this on my eyes and pretend to be blind?”

As I stared blankly at the black belt, Shushuruta snickered.

“Give it to me. I’ll tie it up for you.”

“… … .”

I stared blankly at Shushuruta and handed him what I was holding.

Shushuruta whined and tried to wrap a cloth over my face, but then tapped my shoulder.

“Bend down a little. You can’t reach it.”

“… … .”

I had no choice but to bend my legs because if I left it alone, it would eventually flow down my face and strangle my neck.

Shushuruta fidgeted for a while and tied the cloth behind his head.

“… … I’ll do it all.”

“Almost done.”

Even though my vision was obscured by a curtain, I felt no anxiety at all.

It wasn’t just because we could read the world through our senses even if we couldn’t see.

… … It wasn’t a good phenomenon.

Because the back of the head gets hit by someone who turns their back.

I grabbed the hilt of the knife to sharpen the blade in my heart.

“Shushuruta.”

“Something.”

“Do you really want the legacy of Oposis so badly?”

Stop.

For a moment, her hands that were tying the cloth stopped.

But soon he tightened the last knot and answered in a calm voice.

“Ugh. Dude, too hard―”

“Of course. Otherwise, why do you think I am accompanying you?”

I asked, pulling at the knot that was pressing on my eye to loosen it slightly.

“What are you going to do with that?”

“You don’t know.”

“I see.”

“Yes.”

Shushuruta said as he looked at the sunset leaning towards the west.

“… … The sun is setting.”

I said, taking steps toward the east.

“Let’s go. Sister Evelyn.”

Shushuruta followed along, responding with a slightly smiling voice.

“I guess so. Brother Banshua.”

Then suddenly his steps quickened, he stepped forward and spoke.

“No, I should be the one guiding you, so why are you leaving first? Can you see ahead? Is the fabric thinner than I thought?”

“But how old are you?”

“Asking a lady’s age. How rude.”

“Don’t be rude.”

“So how old are you?”

“Twenty-eight.”

“lie.”

“Really? So how old are you?”

“… … It’s a secret.”

* * *

We became friendly siblings as planned and headed towards the castle gate.

Shushuruta slowly led me while holding one of his arms, and I unsheathed my sword and walked forward, feeling my way forward like a cane.

Suddenly, Shushuruta waved his hand in front of my cloth-covered eyes.

“Brother. Can you see it?”

“I can’t see it.”

“Lies. But how do you walk so naturally as if you can see ahead?”

I don’t want to bother explaining, so I’ll just say it roughly.

“I’m pretty good at it.”

“… … How amazing.”

As we approached the gate, a guard stopped us.

“Stop. Show me your ID.”

We each gave each other our identification cards.

The soldier glanced at our identification tags and our appearances, then nodded.

“… … Hmm. Go through.”

Fortunately, I managed to pass through the gate without any trouble.

We pretended to be good siblings and naturally entered the city through the gate.

As we entered the city, all kinds of noises came rushing in like waves.

The sound of people’s footsteps, their voices, their laughter, the voices of merchants selling things on the street with loud voices, the sound of children running and talking, the sound of beggars begging, etc.

Shushuruta whispered softly as he slowly led me.

“Brother. Be careful not to take off your blindfold in here. Your wanted posters are posted everywhere.”

“I became a celebrity without intending to.”

“There will be many who are after you. You are literally in the middle of enemy territory. You must not make a fuss. If a fight breaks out, you must definitely avoid it.”

I simply nodded.

“check.”

Shushuruta whispered.

“Is there anything you want to do here?”

“Not really.”

Originally, I would have had to buy a sword, but thanks to Bok-sil, I don’t have to.

This city was nothing more or less than a transit point for me.

“Then go straight to the inn and rest. I will take you to the inn.”

“What about my sister?”

“I will go to gather information to find out the secrets surrounding the dagger of Oposis.”

“You must be busy.”

“Are you busy?”

I said, releasing her hand that had been holding my arm until then.

“Then go.”

“… … ?”

Shushuruta looked at me.

I couldn’t see his detailed expression, but he probably had a puzzled expression on his face.

“You said you were busy. I’ll find a hotel and rest there, so go ahead.”

“Are you okay? I can’t see anything.”

I said with a snicker.

“It’s true. The fabric is thinner than you think.”

“Ah, so that’s what it was.”

Shushuruta was convinced.

“Then I will go.”

“okay.”

Shushuruta was walking somewhere and looked back.

I smiled and waved.

Shushuruta, who confirmed it, waved his hand slightly and blended into the crowd.

After sending Shushuruta, I scratched my eye mask and muttered.

“… … I can’t see anything.”

Of course it was a lie.

The fabric was so thick that I couldn’t see anything in front of me.

I completely closed my eyes and spread my energy around me.

He looked at the world like that, pretending to be blind, using his sword as a cane, and wandered around looking for an inn.

After a while, I entered a quiet street and stopped for a moment.

After making sure no one was looking at me, I lifted my blindfold and looked at the signs on the street.

Even though I could see the world through the chi, I couldn’t help it because I couldn’t even see the store signs.

Just then, there was a building that looked like an inn right in front.

“Snoring fox? Why are all the inns in this neighborhood named like this?”

I grumbled, pulled the blindfold back down, opened the door to the inn and went in.

The sound of chatter and the smell of fragrant food wafted in with the warm air.

“Come on in!”

The innkeeper looked at me, glanced behind me, and asked.

“Did you come alone?”

I nodded.

“Please give me something delicious. Please give me a beer first.”

Then he groped for an empty seat, swinging his sword like a cane.

The beer came out right away.

The owner said as he put the beer down on the table.

“You’ll have to wait a bit for the meal.”

“Just wait.”

I leaned my sword lightly against the table and sipped my beer to kill time.

At that moment, there was a “creak” sound of a chair being pushed.

A guy at the table across from me got up and said, “I’m going to drain some water,” and then he started to move toward me.

I took a sip of my beer like I didn’t know anything, and he brushed past me, bumping into me slightly.

“Oh, excuse me.”

In that brief moment, the bastard’s arm quickly went into my arms.

Tub.

I snickered, holding the bastard’s arm.

“Are you caught in the act?”

“… … !”

“Trying to steal money from a poor blind man. What a wicked man!”

The guy was startled and tried to pull his hand away.

“What, what are you talking about! You crazy, retard-eyed bastard!”

“You’re blind.”

I got angry on behalf of all the blind people in the world.

I put a little strength into the hand I was holding.

Woohoo!

It felt like my bones were cracking.

“Kwaaak!”

The bastard’s screams echoed throughout the inn.

Will this appease the anger of the blind people all over the world?

It was something I didn’t know.