We left the B&B.
Manda didn’t ask me anything.
I quickly followed her.
"Are those two next?"
"Those two" refer to the remaining suspects who have not yet been seen - Stanke and Priestley.
Among them, Priestley was not the original resident of the attic, so the degree of suspicion is much smaller.
"..."
"I remember that Mr. Priestley is... a baron, right? Are there any etiquette requirements when meeting him?"
"...Those two may not be seen today, and Mr. Priestley is a Viscount."
"Maybe you can see it?"
"Because Mr. Stank is a traveler and his whereabouts are unpredictable."
"Then...let's go to the Wanderer Alliance to look for him later."
"As for Mr. Priestley... he has other commitments and refuses to meet."
"Other things?"
"I don't know either...but the other party said it involves nobles, so I can't ask more questions."
"..."
...No matter how you think about it, it seems to be the Viscount's excuse to avoid interrogation.
Wait, does that mean we have nothing to do now?
Alas, why didn’t this guy Manda tell me these things earlier...
Having said that, Manda's footsteps did not slacken at all, and she still maintained a relatively fast walking speed, which made me a little unable to keep up with her.
"Hey, hey, slow down!"
I trotted to Manda and found that she was walking and thinking deeply about something. She didn't come back to her senses until I called her to stop.
"Ah...sorry."
"Huh... I said, where are you going to go now?"
"I..."
As if she just realized this problem, Manda stopped.
"I don't seem to know where to go...what about you?"
"Really, what are you doing? Anyway, find a place to rest for a while?"
"Okay."
I glanced at Manda with some confusion - she seemed to be still thinking about what happened just now.
There's no way... I don't know Manda's thoughts at all, and I'm too lazy to ask more.
Let's go to the Wanderer Alliance.
I have made a decision.
The Wanderer Alliance is not far from here, and for economic reasons, I chose to walk.
We were walking on the trail, and there seemed to be a small park on the right hand side. There was a lot of green in it - the plants had been specially sprinkled with cold-proof potions such as antifreeze.
There are many children in the park, there is no snow on the grass, and Gail told me that the marks of the Warming Spell are everywhere... The breath of life here is so strong and unusual.
The children were playing boring games, while their mothers gathered together to have even more boring exchanges.
No matter how heartwarming this scene looks, I can't find a trace of spring atmosphere in it.
I found it boring, so I stopped observing.
I turned around to check if Manda was still following me - she still said nothing.
Did you find something in the previous questioning...
Or...
"Hey, Manda."
"..."
"Hey~~Ms. Manda who is about to become but may not be able to become a police officer~~"
"Ah...well, I told you not to give me new nicknames."
Finally got around to me.
"Are you hungry?"
"Eh? No...I'm not hungry."
Manda raised her head, then frowned and turned her face aside.
I stared at her hand subconsciously covering her abdomen.
"But I'm already hungry. Why don't you go get something to eat?"
"Now?"
Hearing these words, Manda suddenly turned her face back, but the look of anticipation only appeared in her eyes for less than a second.
"Whatever, whatever you want...I'm not hungry anyway..."
"Well, I'm almost starving. I didn't eat anything this morning."
"Eh? Are you too?"
"Oh~~What does 'ye' mean?"
"Hmm...! I don't know, please stop rambling!"
What kind of fake tsundere are you? Hey, you have to hide things like not having breakfast.
Anyway, it’s to lose weight or something...
All in all, I took Manda to the nearest snack bar.
"Can't you ask the police station to reimburse you for the expenses you incurred while handling the case? In that case, wouldn't you just be casual?"
I took the menu and gave Manda suggestions.
"I...I don't want to spend funds on such personal needs. This is inappropriate behavior."
"You are so rigid..."
"Well..."
Manda didn't pay any attention to my teasing... Not really.
She just stared at me with fierce but slightly dazed eyes, but was too lazy to say anything to choke me back. She gritted her teeth and tried her best to restrain the desire in her heart, but her body had already begun to sway in her seat.
I think of that half-eaten curry rice.
I have been hungry since last night, so it is normal to become so exhausted.
"You might as well eat some..."
Being kind-hearted, I plan to persuade her.
"This is not a formal meal, so you won't gain weight even if you eat it."
"Really...really?"
"I wouldn't dare lie to the police officer."
"Well...I would be very angry if you lied to me!"
"Okay, okay..."
......
After coming out of the snack bar, Manda felt much more energetic, but her face kept puffing up - probably because she was unwilling to give in after being persuaded by me.
Although there were many uncertainties, she finally returned to her usual appearance.
"Keep on going."
"Where to go?"
"Walker Alliance... didn't I just say this when you were still in the state of an old woman?"
"I, since when have I been in that state?!"
"Before you give up on losing weight."
"I...where did I give up on losing weight?!"
"It starts when you eat the first meatball covered in oil."
"Ahhhhhhh——! Don't say it! Don't say such disgusting words!"
Manda covered her ears.
"It's obviously you...it's obviously you who told me that you won't gain weight unless you have a proper meal!"
"But I don't deny the fact that you swallowed those oily meatballs~~"
"Ahh! Shut up! I told you not to say such disgusting things!"
......
"Hello, has Mr. Stanke been here today?"
I asked the waitress here... No, the counter lady.
The Wanderer Alliance in Fulvos is divided into four locations: east, west, central and north. The bounties and Wanderer lists are all interoperable.
What we are currently in is the Wanderer Alliance in the middle of the country.
"Wait a minute, let me check."
"Okay, sorry for your trouble."
I took this time to look around.
Different from the long and narrow front desk, the hall from the entrance to the front desk is very spacious. On the left is the registration office for the identity of the Wanderers. The wall on the right is filled with reward lists according to different difficulties. At this time, it is also occupied by a group of Wanderers as always.
Surrounded.
Before I came in, I noticed that there was a medical clinic next to the Wanderer Alliance.
It is said that because of the special location of the Wanderer Regiment in the middle part, it did not have a large area nearby as a cemetery like other Wanderer Regiments.
After all, the Wanderer is one of the most dangerous professions in Fulvos.
Despite this, it is an indisputable fact that the number of Wanderers has increased instead of decreasing. After all, the Wanderers are also famous for their generous bounties.
Therefore, even death is not more terrifying than poverty.
Perhaps for most people, it would be better to die suddenly without warning than to die slowly and with warning.
"Well... as for Mr. Stank, he accepted the reward for cleaning up the pacification area very early today. It will probably take some time before we know the result."
The lady at the counter deliberately used "know the result" instead of "come back".
"Cleaning the pacification area is a team bounty. If the task is completed, Mr. Stank will not be able to return until the entire team has been cleared, so please wait patiently."
"Okay...how long will it take?"
"If nothing else happens, within a month."
Another month...
"I understand, I will come again when the time comes, thank you."
"You're welcome."
I turned around and saw Manda sitting on the bench in the hall, looking around curiously - I asked her not to follow me for the time being on the grounds that it would be more appropriate to ask alone.
Of course, I didn’t forget to borrow her police ID card.
...Fortunately, the lady at the counter just glanced at it and didn't find the "gender: female" on the police officer's ID card.
"Then...is there a Wanderer named Snow?"
"Let's see...ah, she is also one of the homeless people who participated in cleaning up the pacification area."
"Has she received any rewards before?"
"This..."
"Ah~~ I'm sorry, it doesn't matter if you don't tell me. Thank you for your cooperation."
I thanked the lady at the counter and called Manda to leave.
"Did you ask anything?"
"Have to wait a month."
"So long?"
Manda was surprised.
"There's nothing we can do about it... You seemed very excited just now. Is there anything you're interested in?"
"No...it's just that I rarely come to places like this."
"That's right, but I don't think there is any difference between the police station and the Wanderers."
"The difference is huge, okay?"
I felt Manda's eyes roll, and then heard her gently exhale.
"Actually, I... initially wanted to become a wanderer."
"Then how did you become a trainee police officer?"
"...Lack of strength is part of the reason——"
Manda ignored my words and showed a helpless smile.
"The main thing...my mother doesn't allow it."
"Your mother hates walkers?"
"She herself is a wanderer, and so is her father."
"Then..."
Manda's voice changed a little, and I felt something was wrong, so I swallowed the next words.
Manda didn’t seem to want to continue talking about this topic, so our conversation ended abruptly.
The wind blew from behind, pushing us forward.
The Wanderers who rushed to the alliance approached us despite the wind, and then passed us.
Most of them lowered their heads and I couldn't see their expressions.
Do these guys know what they are running towards?
If they knew, would they still be willing? If they didn't know, would that be too unfair?
They know they are running toward dissolution - I suddenly thought.
After dissolution, there will be a new life. Although it is no longer them, it will eventually become them and rush to dissolution again, and the cycle repeats.
It's like transitioning from winter to spring.
"Fortunately, there is still summer and autumn."
I muttered optimistically.
......
This chapter has been completed!