Episode 132
“So?”
“… … Well, we too found our own way to live… …
“Are you looking for a way to survive by killing innocent travelers and stealing their money? “Don’t you think that excuse is too lame?”
“Yes, yes! you’re right. But I’ve never killed anyone! I tried to scare him and hurt him a little, but I never decided to do it.
The enemy I killed… …
“lie. “I heard you were trying to rip people off.”
“Well, that’s because our boss just wanted to scare the travelers… … I really am! Please believe me!”
The thieves of Asilo.
He said there was no special name to refer to them.
It has been almost a month since we began occupying ‘Asilo’, an oasis that had been abandoned in the northwest of the Great Desert.
《Nadia Nour》
《6-Star Assassin》
《Extreme martial arts, arm techniques, throwing techniques》
They have been robbing travelers of money and valuables, led by the 6-star assassin Nadia Noor.
Performance was poor.
It is said that only two groups of travelers visited Asilo within a month.
They say he has never killed anyone… … .
I asked the woman kneeling with her hands above her head.
“Really? Have you really never killed anyone?”
She couldn’t answer and pouted her lips.
Her nose was crushed by the blow, and she was covering the bleeding nose with a cloth, but she was wheezing as if she was having a hard time breathing.
But that’s not why you can’t answer my question.
Because it was shameful.
“I let my guard down. Even if I hadn’t let my guard down, I… …
“is that so? “Then you can try again.”
“It looks like you don’t like that.”
She pursed her lips for a while, as if she didn’t like this situation, and then spoke to me.
“••••••does not exist.”
“What?”
“I have never killed anyone. Everyone is fine
I left Asilo on foot. “Things worth money were taken away.”
“Ah, they are bad people as expected.”
“We all have circumstances like that.
“What is the matter?”
“••••••what’?”
“Do we also need to consider thieves who target good people and take money from them?”
There are many poor people.
Wealthy people also have plenty.
However, no matter what the reason, abusing that power and ripping off the weak is just a cowardly excuse.
However, Nadia bit her lip and spoke in a low voice as if she could never agree to my intentions.
“You don’t know. “You rich people will never understand Oyota’s situation.”
this speech.
I also heard it from Theta Malkyri.
He also insulted the nobles of the Rhedian Kingdom by calling them ‘rich pigs’.
She continued.
“Have you ever seen someone die because they didn’t have a sip of water to drink? There are no jobs, and the ways to make money are blocked. Have you ever seen a family starving to death because there was no food to eat right away? Probably not. But it’s a common occurrence in Toyota. Even now, people are starving to death somewhere in Oyota. But what’s wrong with us? Should I just quietly starve to death?”
I have heard of the situation in the neighboring country of Oyota well.
All of Oyota’s past glory is concentrated in its capital city, Esperanaja.
There are still many people dying from famine in the desert where water is scarce.
but.
That is not a reason to choose the life of a ‘thief’.
“With those skills, you could work anywhere, even if it’s not just extorting money.”
“is not it?”
Nadia turned her head away as if she didn’t want to answer my question, and her subordinate answered for her.
“Actually, we were all soldiers. You’ve probably heard of it, right? ‘Shadow of the Desert’, known as Oyota’s elite…”
“e •
“… … Wazner! stop!”
Nadia tried to dissuade her subordinate, who was called Wazner, but Wazner spoke in a tearful voice, as if he was overcome by something.
“Boss… … . No, sister! Don’t you feel unfair? “They are treated like simple thieves!”
“Now we are bandits. “Nothing more, nothing less.”
“no! “We are not such petty thieves!”
The man called Wazner looked straight at me with an excited face.
“Traveler. It may make us look bad, but we really didn’t want to do this. We are brothers who grew up together in ‘Na Lemer’, the oldest martial arts family in Oyota.
all. There, my skills were recognized and I was able to enjoy the honor of becoming the ‘Shadow of the Desert.’ However, I was expelled from the unit due to a bad incident, and my livelihood was at a loss, so I had no choice but to do something like this. Narmer’s younger brothers, who are still waiting for the money we send them, are going to ship… …
“Wazner! “Don’t beg for your life!”
“This is not begging! only… … “It’s just sad that even our pride is being trampled upon!”
There is no one without a story.
Everyone has a story, and it is up to you whether you turn this story into a comedy or a tragedy at the end of your life.
Oyota.
Obviously, I told you not to trust anyone here.
“Who kills whom?”
“••••••yes?”
This much is the ‘truth’.
“Did you think I was going to kill you here? you’re welcome.”
“Well, then… …
“Even if there are no more victims,
“Well, I was thinking of capturing them all and handing them over to the guards.”
I can’t support their choice, but that doesn’t mean I don’t understand it.
I spoke to those who were very depressed.
“But I changed my mind. “Let me make a suggestion.”
“… … My suggestion?”
“I’m looking for something. So, we need someone who is familiar with Oyota. The compensation is sufficient
“Yes.”
I have 400 gold.
I haven’t had any special need to spend money so I’ve been saving it, but I never thought I’d end up spending it like this.
I said, taking out five 10 gold coins.
“how is it?”
Then, Nadia Noor jumped up from her seat and shouted.
“Don’t pity us!”
“… … “I didn’t tell you to put your hands down.”
“••••••Home Home.”
Nadia Nur, perhaps embarrassed, knelt down again and raised her hands.
I said.
“I didn’t mean to pity you, but it might seem that way. I’m sorry if you felt that way… … . I guess you’re not desperate? He said that there are many younger brothers who are hungry in a place called Narmer. “If you think about your family, I don’t think you’ll be in a position to worry about this or that.”
“If I leave like this, you will be waiting here for another victim like me. I don’t want that. So, we are giving you a chance to correct your mistake now. “Let me make two suggestions.”
I said, extending two fingers forward and folding them one by one.
“first. “Are you going to take me to the security guard like this?”
“… … “No, definitely second.”
“Wazner!”
“second. After receiving my compensation, I fed my starving younger siblings. I am
“Help me with what I’m trying to do.”
The choice is easy.
It’s just difficult to break that pride.
“sister!”
However, Nadia Noor was much bigger than I thought.
Sometimes, it is right to put down your pride, even your life, for something more important.
“••••••second.”
She spoke in a weak voice, and I smiled at them
It seemed.
“You can put your hands down now.”
“But was it necessary to go this far?”
Strang asked.
“That’s right. There is a mini-map, and you can guess the location of Draka’s relics to a nearby location… … . Do you really have to take them? And while giving money?”
This is an extremely questionable question.
“That is correct. “Maybe it will become a lump of luggage.”
“Do you still do that even though you know that?”
“They say it’s because of my younger brothers who are starving. “I also have a younger brother.”
“What the hell. “You have become a saint.”
“And we also need someone to find out the hint.”
The entire map on the minimap.
This point pointed to the location where Draka’s relics rested.
That place is Esperana, the capital of Oyota.
ruler.
“Do you know where this wide Esperanaza is?”
“ That’s right••••••
There are no signs other than that it is here somewhere.
Instead, there was one ‘hint’.
《When the lowest grain of sand becomes the hot sun.》
Oh no, there are only random words written here.
To find out about this, you need someone who is knowledgeable about Oyota.
But Strang still asked with a look of incomprehension.
“So what if this is over? then? Since there is no way to make money, I will come back here and steal again.”
It’s not that I didn’t think about that part.
Maybe it would be right to put him in the security guard now.
However, I decided to look a little further.
“If you do a good job, I’ll hire you officially. “Whatever.”
“employ?”
“As a guard protecting Ardel. “Their skills are enough.”
“… … If they had to comply, it would be a good tactic, but would they respond? “They are wild people suited for barbarism.”
At that time, Wazner shouted to us who were filling our canteens at the oasis.
“Big boss! “We are ready!”
I looked at them smiling brightly for the first time and spoke to Strang.
“I will agree. “It’s a good offer for everyone.”
Eight thieves including Nadia, myself and Strang.
A total of ten people started walking together.
“But big boss. “Where are we going?”
“Esperanaja. However, the title of the two great monks is a bit… …
“I’m going to call you that because you’re stronger than our leader… … . It looks like you are uncomfortable. “Then, shall I call you brother?”
“I’m seventeen.”
“What does age matter? When it comes to Kang, it’s all like your older brother. Haha!”
Wazner, who had a gruff look that made him play the role of a gang leader, laughed like a child.
Nadia, who was playing the role of a frightened woman, seemed so awkward about this situation that she covered her entire face with a shmock.
Because of this, only the eyes were moving and the facial expression could not be seen clearly.
However, it didn’t seem like a bad expression.
The corners of his eyes were strangely lowered, making him look like he was holding back laughter.
“older brother. Let’s camp here today. “It’s about time for a sandstorm to blow in from the north.”
Clearly, these were desert experts.
“At first glance, the straight distance seems to be the fastest, but this ridge is a very high sandy ridge, so taking a slight turn is faster. “I will take the lead.”
He could read the sandstorm just by looking at the direction the wind was blowing, and he knew the fastest route to Esperanazza.
Thanks to this, we were able to arrive at our destination two days after leaving Asilo.
“older brother. Here it is.”
Oyota’s only land of hope.
Esperanajae.
