"Laya asked me to tell you - please go to the big market over the square with her in the afternoon. There is not enough charcoal in the store."
"Okay."
After explaining what Raya said, I went out.
The temperature is dropping at an extremely fast speed, and winter is coming soon.
The tailor shop is closed this week to prepare for the winter. The destination of my trip is a temporary market set up on the edge of the town, where traveling merchants who have just arrived in the town reside.
Working separately can improve the efficiency of collecting items-that's what Raya said.
The wind outside was very strong, mixed with small, cold raindrops, which stung my face very uncomfortable. I buried my chin in the raised collar and secretly complained about my mistake - I would have brought an umbrella if I had known better.<
/p>
When I was almost there, I took a look from a distance. As expected, there were less than ten traveling merchants. One or two seemed to have sold out their goods and were cleaning up their stalls.
I walked up and talked to a fat businessman who was squatting on the ground and wrapped up tightly. His flints were sold very expensively, but he claimed that this was the lowest price and he was the only one who had it in stock. p>
"Okay then, I want them all..."
The other party's non-negotiable tone made me compromise. Besides, he didn't have much inventory. I would rather suffer a loss than miss out. After all, flint and steel are a necessity.
"Hmm."
The fat businessman snorted dully through his nose in response, and then handed me a dirty little cloth bag - inside was all his flints.
"Do you still sell charcoal?"
"Not for sale."
He hummed again and said without thinking:
"What should be sold has been sold out long ago, and I have to use the rest myself."
"Well..."
I curled my lips:
"Well, there are not many people coming this year."
"You still don't know?"
The fat businessman looked at me with his little eyes wearily, as if he had heard this question countless times.
"The one to the north...A plague broke out in the small town of Annaba. In order to prevent the epidemic from spreading to other places, your lord restricted the flow of people in the nearby area. The same goes for foreign merchants, who must be strictly controlled.
You can only come in after checking..."
"So that's it."
The roads around the town of Vige are all connected to the town of Annaba. If you want to get to the town of Vige, you must first pass through the town of Annaba.
In other words, these businessmen took a lot of risks.
"Thank you for your hard work."
"Just to make money."
The fat businessman nodded, and then closed his eyes as if he had lost interest.
I looked around and saw that the stalls of other traveling merchants also had very few goods.
I decided to wait until two o'clock in the afternoon - if the message Qian Zhihe received was correct, a new group of traveling merchants would arrive then.
Before that, I found a nearby pub and kept warm inside.
Although it was daytime, there were many people in the tavern. It seemed that they had the same idea as me.
Among them is Alvin.
"Good afternoon, Mr. Gu."
"Good afternoon."
"Good afternoon, Mr. Gu."
"Good afternoon~~"
While returning everyone's greetings, I sat next to Alvin.
"Ah, lonely old man..."
"Oh, you just discovered me? What were you thinking?"
In fact, as soon as I entered the door, I saw this guy's sad face.
"What else can you think of..."
Alvin spread his hands helplessly:
"It's nothing more than a bonfire party."
"Oh..."
Bonfire party - one of the few major celebrations in the small town of Vig, usually held on the first night of winter.
The bonfire party is organized by the Guard Corps.
"I can't buy a bunch of things, it's really nerve-wracking..."
Alvin pressed his eyes and tried to cheer up.
Not only Alvin, many people in the tavern seemed to be sleep deprived, and they all had the same thought - will there really be a bonfire party this year?
"How can I help you?"
"Don't force it..."
Alvin smiled bitterly and waved his hand:
"In this current situation, everyone is struggling to even take care of themselves, so how can we have the nerve to reach out and ask for it?"
According to past practice, the captain of the cavalry team, Eden, will plan their respective tasks, but this year the person doing it has become Qian Zhihe, who lacks relevant experience. It must be a big test for her.
.
However... we have encountered a crisis of shortage of daily necessities, which will inevitably make everyone in the town worry about whether the guard army can successfully hold the bonfire party.
"It's a pity... I also thought that this year's bonfire party would be grander. After all, it is the last time for you."
"Well, He told you..."
Alvin murmured:
"Actually, no matter whether it's grand or not, we shouldn't have any regrets."
"Well..."
"However, the town has been kind to us, and we will always remember this debt."
"..."
"If we have the ability, we will repay the town by winning glory for it."
"Come on~~"
Come on - this word has come out of my mouth too frequently recently.
When I met Marcia the day before yesterday, she also had a determined expression...
Marcia...
I picked up the wooden wine glass and drank the warm liquid.
......
The day before yesterday.
"Hey, you're the only one?"
I stepped into the guard camp, and it was empty. I only saw Marcia lying lazily on a bench, flipping through a thick book.
"Everyone else has gone out to buy things. He and Alvin have also left the town. They will probably come back in the evening."
"Why don't you join them?"
"I——?"
Marcia stretched out her tone quite exaggeratedly:
"I don't want to run around~~Besides, if I meet those nasty profiteers, I might not be able to restrain myself from beating them up, so~~so~~He ordered me to stay alone in the camp.
”
"Oh~~That's really a wise order."
"Humph, whatever you think, I don't care anyway~~It would be great to be able to stay in a warm room~~"
Marcia held her face with one hand and swayed slightly, causing the bench to hit the floor again and again, making a "dong-dong" sound:
"Okay, okay~~ If you have nothing to do, don't bother me, and go away!"
"..."
Hmm, why do I have the illusion of observing myself when I see this guy?
"Why are you so stunned? Hey~ Do you want me to help bring a message to He? If so, just tell him quickly!"
...No, it’s nothing like me. This guy is much more rude than me.
"...Goodbye."
I turned around gloomily.
But just as I was about to leave, the guy behind me stopped me again:
"Hey...wait a minute."
"What for?"
I looked back at her dissatisfied——
Marcia had sat up at some point, holding the chair with both arms, and looking at me awkwardly:
"Are you in a hurry?"
"What does it have to do with you?"
"If you don't answer, you're not allowed to leave."
"Well..."
Wow, this kid can be called the "King of Unreason".
"It's urgent... not really."
I wanted to make up an "urgent matter" at the last minute, but I was worried about being exposed on the spot, so I had to tell the truth.
"No? Then why are you leaving?"
"Ha?! Didn't you tell me to leave? It's not good to be forgetful at a young age."
"Huh?"
Tsk, this guy actually put on an innocent expression for me.
"Humph, you just leave when I tell you to? I don't usually see you so obedient."
"...?You mean...my responsibility?"
"What if?"
Marcia’s attitude is full of taking it for granted.
"I said...you did it on purpose, right? To provoke me into quarreling with you?"
"Pfft..."
"Hey, what are you laughing at?"
"Well, thank you for reacting~~"
Maria raised her head like a winner, then patted the chair and gestured to me:
"Okay, okay~~Since you are an old man, I can't let you stand all the time. Come~~sit down and chat with me."
"..."
I understand that I have been teased, but if I make angry remarks like "I'm going back" now, it will undoubtedly become the basis for Marcia to mock me next time, so I might as well endure it for now... p>
Without hesitation, I sat next to her.
"What to talk about?"
"Well... let me think about it... right!"
Marcia patted my shoulder hard:
"It's going to be a bonfire party soon!"
"Oh..."
It hurts so much... Is this guy covered in muscles?
"He promised that this time it will be perfect!"
"Well... this is the last time, so of course we have to pay attention."
"Hey - what did Crane tell you?"
"Yes."
"Eh~~What~~"
Marcia is a bit disappointed:
"Thankfully, I planned to tell you at the bonfire party."
"Why?"
"That would be cool! Just imagine it!"
As she spoke, Marcia came closer to me:
"In the carnival of flames, against the backdrop of the stars, I solemnly declare that I will rush to the distant battlefield - don't you think this is interesting? Huh? Everyone will regard me as a hero then, hum...
....So, although you already know it, you are not allowed to talk nonsense!"
"Okay..."
So childish.
However, it does fit this guy's style very well.
"It's settled."
Marcia stretched out her hand, and I gave her a fist bump obediently.
"Can't regret it!"
"Hmm."
Really, no matter what, you are so optimistic.
I stared at Marcia's smile with envy.
What is she thinking... How much should she consider to become so fearless?
"Also! Now that the matter is over, you can pretend to know nothing when the time comes, and remember to take the lead in cheering for us!"
"Hey, why do you suddenly increase the difficulty? I don't agree."
"Hey~~ don't be so fussy~~ I rarely ask you for anything, so please accept my willfulness once in a while~~"
"No...it would be inappropriate to arrange for an old man like me to take the lead in cheering, right?"
"..."
After hearing this, Marcia was silent for a while, but then immediately said:
"Then... let me change my request - write two letters. The first one is written to us on behalf of everyone in the town."
"Where's the second letter?"
"In your personal capacity, you write to...us."
"Well...this is no problem. When will it be finished?"
"Just before we leave."
"Okay."
"Thank you."
I didn't expect Marcia to say thank you. I turned around in surprise, and my eyes met hers.
Because of the close distance, her face looked particularly clear. There were a few freckles on her wheat-colored skin, and her slender eyelashes trembled slightly. Gradually, they turned slightly red... and slowly seeped into her emotions.
.....I tried to look away, but I couldn't control my desire to explore, like a flying insect caught in a spider's web, struggling violently but pointlessly.
I heard the sound of breathing, and while worrying about the unbearable thoughts, I pursued wantonly what was lingering, exuding alluring light, looming, lost and found...
It was a bright and sunny morning, and I was so shocked that I couldn't move.
When she regained some consciousness, Marcia's lips were already covering her——
While in a trance, a hazy feeling of drunkenness surged into my brain.