NOVEL NEXT Ch. 13
“Monster attack on the city!”
“Emergency alert!”
With the shouts of the gate guards, more and more soldiers armed with weapons rushed over.
As a fortress town on the border, Ato City naturally had far more guards than any inland settlement. The idea that a monster dared attack the city confused them all, and inevitably the question arose: “Where’s the monster?”
Everyone’s eyes landed on Rozelite, standing in the middle of the circle, blinking in bewilderment.
“This child… is the monster?”
The guards exchanged looks. No one struck first.
Because she was just too cute. To stab a spear into her felt like it would carry unbearable guilt.
“What’s going on?” Winnie tilted her head.
“Are you people blind? Where’s the monster?”
“Please show identification,” one guard said.
Expressionless, Winnie pulled a card from her pocket and handed it over.
The card was a dull gold, the texture old and weighty. From a distance, its writing was unreadable.
Once the guard looked at it, his stern attitude softened. He even lowered his weapon and returned the card respectfully with both hands.
“So it’s Miss Winnie. Seems there’s been a misunderstanding.”
“Then step aside,” Winnie said.
“A misunderstanding it may be, but the law’s the law. No monsters may enter the city. If you wish to bring in a non-hostile, pet-like monster, you must first register with the Adventurer’s Guild and get approval.”
The guard had no intention of moving. Courteous though he was, duty came first.
“I must ask: why did the monster detection device sound off, if there’s supposedly no monster? If there is one, where is it? Have the proper approvals been filed?”
His tone was calm but unyielding.
“Miss Winnie, we are only doing our duty. Please don’t make this harder than it needs to be.”
“…Who the hell are you?”
Winnie’s teeth almost itched with annoyance. Why did he sound exactly like a pompous noble?
“Border Guard, Clayman Alexander,” the man said with a polite smile.
[Name: Clayman Alexander]
[Race: Human]
[Level: 33]
[Status: None]
[HP: 720/720]
[MP: 800/800]
[Skills: Fire Magic Lv6, Riding Lv6, Battlefield Command Lv6, Spear Mastery Lv6, One-Handed Sword Mastery Lv6, Two-Handed Sword Mastery Lv6, Shield Mastery Lv5, Archery Lv5]
“Alexander’s dogshit…”
Winnie muttered through gritted teeth.
She had just sworn off nobles, only to immediately run into one again.
“We’re here on a royal commission from the capital. If you keep stonewalling us, can you afford to take responsibility for the consequences?”
“I most certainly can. If I stand here as Clayman Alexander, then I take full responsibility.”
He had no intention of backing down.
Winnie’s headache grew. She turned toward Rozelite, wondering why the detectors had picked up monster energy from her at all.
While she hesitated, “Rozelite” suddenly walked up to Clayman.
She tugged lightly at the hem of his uniform.
“What, ready to confess?”
His expression remained stern.
“Big brother.”
She lifted her face, bit her lip, eyes wavering like she wanted to speak but couldn’t.
“Actually, I…”
“Out with it!”
“I… I was assaulted in the forest. By monsters.”
“Monsters? What kind?”
“I don’t know… they were about my height, thin, but their green skin was terrifying. They stank terribly, and there were lots of them.”
She spoke as if recalling the memory.
“…?”
Images flashed through Clayman’s mind, until they stopped on a perfect match.
Goblins.
“I… I was assaulted by them…”
She whispered softly, hand brushing her stomach.
Clayman’s eyelid twitched.
“Assaulted? In what way?”
What did that mean?
And was it just his imagination… or had her belly just twitched?
“But it’s fine now.”
Rozelite smiled again, bright as a wildflower blooming in wasteland.
“Thanks to big sister saving me from their den, I’m fine now. My stomach just feels a little uncomfortable.”
“….”
Clayman slowly looked away.
The detection device never failed. It could even detect monsters hiding inside human bodies.
And goblins were notorious for their reproductive ability.
It was said that a suitable female could go from impregnation to childbirth in just half a month.
Looking at her innocent, spotless smile, images he didn’t want to imagine still crowded his mind.
But he couldn’t voice them.
Not because he didn’t want to. But because in this setting, any words would sound wildly inappropriate.
In the end, he only scowled at Winnie.
“Since you rescued her, then you take full responsibility.”
“Then may I ask, Sir Guard, will you let us pass now?”
Winnie asked flatly.
“…Let them through.”
Clayman waved his hand.
“What a mess.”
…
…
After some effort, they finally made it inside the city.
Winnie rubbed her temples. She hated dealing with nobles. Their polite words always barely hid their arrogance, and the sight of their smug faces made her stomach turn.
She had fled her family because she was sick of it.
But reality was cruel. Nobles were not confined to their estates. As rulers of the kingdom, they were everywhere. The more you tried to avoid them, the more they entangled you.
It took a long while before Winnie calmed down again. She didn’t regret running away from home.
…Well, maybe just a little.
But people had to be responsible for their choices, whatever the outcome.
She glanced at Rozelite, who hadn’t said a word since entering the city, head lowered as if deep in thought.
“Hey, you—”
“Eh?”
The girl looked up instinctively.
Only then did Winnie notice her cheeks flushed red, the color creeping to her ears.
What was with this kid?
“I mean what you said back at the gate,” Winnie asked after a pause.
“Was any of it true? Were you really assaulted by goblins in the forest—”
“No! Absolutely not!”
Rozelite shook her head like a rattle drum.
“I-I only said that to get us through! I’ve only ever heard of goblins, I’ve never actually seen one!”
“….”
“Why so panicked? I was only asking…” Winnie thought.
Then again…
She looked at the blushing girl, desperate to clear up the misunderstanding.
And recalled the calm-faced liar at the gate, who fooled everyone without blinking.
“Which one… is the real Rozelite?”