Chapter 08 The Girl and the Mercenaries (Part III)

The people from earlier were returning. Different shades of orange splashed the sky.

 “Follow me, Mister Nadir,” Sylvia said as she led the way. “Ah. How many nights are you staying?”

The two walked back along the same path she had taken earlier. Perhaps it was because Sylvia deemed him to be gentler than he looks that she stood beside him without any discomfort.

“Hm. Three nights should be enough.”

‘Good. Good. Stay longer if you have to.’

“Will you be taking your meals at the inn, too?”

“That would be more convenient, sister Sylvia.”

Sylvia did the calculations in her head. It was something that Shote taught her when he took her in so she could help him manage the inventories.

“It’ll cost you four silver and five copper coins, Mister Nadir. It’s five coppers per night for each person. For your meals, it’s two silvers per day for each person.”

Nadir tilted his head.

“Hm?”

“Ah—but don’t tell Shote I told you,” Sylvia added quickly. “Shote’s the owner of the inn. He took me in and gave me work. Taleer’s the cook. His cooking skills are famous around here. Some restaurants in the Central District tried to scout him, but Shote shooed them all. Something about his dead body being over something.”

Sylvia pursed her lips. Since she told him about the prices for regular customers, Nadir might appreciate her help. That coin-pinching old man would no doubt attempt to siphon more money from them.

She even made an effort to sound ignorant, which was expected of her age.

“Little sister, you sound smart for your age,” Nadir said out of the blue.

In her mind, Sylvia believed herself to be in her thirties even though she was in the body of a child. But she was yet to understand how this was possible, and she hadn’t fully come to terms with it yet.

It definitely felt like she had returned to the past.

Sylvia increased her pace.

“That’s right, Mister Nadir. I’m a smart ten-year-old, so don’t underestimate me!” she said proudly.

Nadir merely chuckled, likely amused by the boldness of a child.

Meanwhile, Sylvia held back a grin.

‘That’s right. I’m a cute and smart child from the slums.’

‘This is humiliating, but it must be done.’

‘Notice me. Get curious about me. I have to leave a good impression so I can use you in the future.’

The inn soon came into view. It stood tucked away on a corner of the street, the last one before the West Wastes, the most dangerous part of the slums.

The dilapidated two-story building had some of its windows boarded up, and the signage was barely readable. A sweeping glance could tell that the shops on the street shared a similar, unwelcoming atmosphere.

“We’re almost there, Mister Nadir.”

He followed beside her without any change in his expression. Mercenaries usually stayed in the better part of the capital, where people dressed nicely and the streets were lively.

Nadir could’ve changed his mind upon seeing it. But he didn’t seem to care.

Unease settled in Sylvia’s stomach.

She had really led the group to the inn. Though she made small modifications, the result was the same.

Things were unfolding similarly to in her previous life. However, she had the freedom to introduce changes.

‘How much can I change?’

‘My knowledge of the future will be useless if I make a mistake somehow.’

‘What if the end repeats itself?’

Sylvia’s body shook. The memory of a quick death stayed in the back of her mind as a constant reminder.

“Roses,” she mumbled to herself.

“Hm? Did you say something, sister Sylvia?”

“Ah—no, sorry. It’s nothing,” she said immediately. “Let’s head inside.”

“Allow me, little sister,” Nadir said, taking the lead.

He maneuvered himself in such a way that allowed him to turn the handle and open the doors.

Sylvia wondered how he’d fit through the double doors. A guest had left this inn less than a month ago in a coffin. However, Nadir and his luggage likely wouldn’t fit through.

It didn’t take long for her question to be answered, though.

Nadir shook off Mur like a dead body. The poor man fell belly-side down.

Awakened by the impact, he raised his head slightly and groaned. But he couldn’t protest. Nor was he given time to process what had just happened to him.

Nadir grabbed him by the back of his shirt and with one powerful throw, Mur entered the inn by flying in. Sadly, his flight was short-lived, for he dropped to the wooden floor without resistance.

“Neder, ye sen ov ah—”

Unable to move his limbs due to heavy intoxication, Mur resorted to cursing, albeit slurred. Then, a heavy body falling upon him pushed his head back down. The next sounds that came from him were incomprehensible mumblings of a drunken man.

Nadir clapped his hands and rolled his shoulders as he walked in. Since the day was early, there weren’t any other guests around.

“Girl, what trouble did you bring this time?” Shote inquired from behind the reception desk.

“Pardon us. We didn’t mean to startle you,” Nadir answered calmly.

He went straight toward him with Sylvia tagging close behind. She’d left her buckets near the entrance.

“You must be Shote. Sister Sylvia guided us here.”

Shote’s neck stretched as he took in Nadir’s figure, his mouth dropping lower with each degree. He huffed once before facing ahead, the man’s naked upper torso in full view.

“Hmph,” he said with a scowl, crossing his arms and looking away.

He cleared his throat and adopted a more casual tone.

“Never seen the likes of you around here. Ya kids from out of town?”

“Something like that, elder.”

“A devout follower, huh? You’ll find plenty of your kind in this place. Pray to your god for a miracle for me, will ya?”

“Your life alone is a miracle, brother elder,” Nadir responded.

Shote waved it off.

“You here for rooms, you say?” Shote asked as he slammed his forearm on the desk and leaned forward.

‘What else would he want in this dump?’

Nadir placed a forearm on the desk as well and leaned in.

“Three nights for three persons … complete with meals, elder.”

“That’s going to cost you.”

“I believe we can settle this amicably, elder.”

As the negotiations began, Sylvia slipped away. She took her buckets and left the adults to talk among themselves.

 She rounded the front of the building to get to the back.

The encounter delayed the completion of her chores, and in turn, her breakfast. Regardless, Sylvia had secured the mercenaries within the inn and had three days to bond with them.

‘The problem is what comes next.’

An uncomfortable feeling made its way down to her stomach.

There was one more thing bound to happen today.

‘It rained that night.’

‘The night I met you.’

The night she met the person who changed her life—the future duke of House Winston, the Young Lord of the house, Alec Winston.

-gn_cc-