### Chapter 41: Out of the City
“Xi… little sister…”
The boy stood up, took a couple steps forward, then turned back to look at me. His face was obscured by his hood, but I could imagine it was a mix of reluctance and all the things he couldn’t say.
I sighed and stood up too, my oversized cloak billowing dramatically in the breeze. Hidden beneath my hood, wearing a fox mask, I was almost as shadowy as he was.
“She came in a war chariot. Take the back roads where fewer people are, at least someplace the city guard can’t see you. When the chance comes, just hop in the chariot. Lilith has everything arranged; let her take you to meet those folks. When you get there, play it smart—if things seem dicey, just bolt. I’ll handle things from there.”
“… Okay.”
The boy nodded but didn’t move.
“If they ask about me, just say you don’t know anything; you just happened to run into each other. They’ll definitely ask more, so try to keep your mouth shut. The most important part? Don’t let them know you’re my brother. No matter how trustworthy they seem, don’t spill the beans about our relationship.”
“Got it…”
The boy agreed but still didn’t leave.
“Once everything’s settled, go find Grandma Claire. Check on the village—make sure it’s safe. If Grandma’s willing, bring her with you to take care of her… I know you’re concerned, but remember what I told you; this is something you have to do. No excuses.”
“……”
He fell silent but remained rooted in place.
“Ha—”
I let out an exasperated sigh and waved him off, “Go on, you don’t want to keep anyone waiting.”
After I said that, the young knight named Barry clenched his fists, mouth opening and closing beneath his hood like a fish out of water.
It looked like he had a million things he wanted to say, but they were all stuck inside him, so he just stood there with that dazed expression, hesitating. Finally, he turned away and moved forward.
All those unsaid words he’d bottled up ended up condensed into a few short goodbye phrases, which floated back to my ears as he walked away: “I’ll find you again…”
“I know I’m not yet worthy, but I will find you again, I promise.”
His voice was soft, yet somehow firm, as if he was saying it more to himself than to me—making a personal vow after going through the wringer.
“Let’s hope so…”
I murmured, watching his fading silhouette, “But maybe parting ways is the best ending for us both…”
Barry too far away to hear my words.
I stood there, watching him until he reached the end of the stone road and turned onto the next street, soon reaching the area near the war chariot.
Lilith was still looking around anxiously, and Barry intentionally slowed his steps in front of her. They shared a brief look before he went back to staring at the ground. Lilith seemed to hesitate as if she wanted to call him back, then came to her senses, stood there for a moment, and darted back into the chariot.
Before long, the war chariot began to roll away.
I patted the pack at my waist and adjusted my hood. As both the boy and the war chariot began to distance themselves and fade out of sight, I quietly followed behind.
I had timed my arrival perfectly. Aside from the wall corner where Barry and I had just been, the only other places that were a bit barren were the winding alleys. But the chariot couldn’t fit down those, so I had to stick to the streets where there were fewer people, as long as the city guards weren’t watching… To the west were three such streets devoid of shops, filled with tall residential buildings, much like Longdoll Street—not many people around, and even the highest city guard wouldn’t see anything. Barry seemed to be headed toward the nearest street.
I stepped out from my corner and blended into the sparsely populated crowd, trailing behind Barry’s path slowly. He was walking so leisurely, I had no need to rush. I followed at a distance until they turned another street corner, then I quickened my pace.
We went through two streets, and soon there were fewer people. After turning the third corner, we reached the street we had scouted beforehand—it was almost empty. I didn’t want to follow too openly anymore, so I planned to find a low building to jump up onto. Suddenly, I saw Barry had stopped, and Lilith’s chariot had come to a halt as well. She pushed aside the curtain, and they exchanged a few quick words before Barry got pulled into the chariot.
Good…
I instinctively looked around to make sure no one was nearby. Glancing up toward the city wall, it wasn’t too far away. I could even see the vague outlines of guards standing on the battlements, but from my side, where Barry and Lilith were, the buildings obstructed the view, creating a dead angle…
Having confirmed all this, I immediately turned to leave.
Actually, even if they were spotted, it wouldn’t be a big problem. The bounty supposedly had no portraits, so few would recognize Barry. As long as they didn’t make a scene, it would be hard for anyone to link them back to the Third Knights Order.
But the city was on high alert after recent upheavals, and Lilith was using the excuse of needing to leave for a countryside farm. She had to keep it from her mother, pulling some strings—it wasn’t easy. So, these matters not only affected Barry but also put her at risk if things went awry.
Some risks aren’t worth taking; better safe than sorry.
I took a couple steps back toward the city wall, planning to wait until Lilith’s war chariot was a little farther away before I made my move, but just a few steps in, I heard the chariot behind me seemingly turning around. The sound of wheels crunching on the pavement was getting closer.
I quickly pulled my hood tighter and turned around, puzzled to see the chariot speeding toward me, kicking up dust as it raced along the street toward the city wall’s side gate.
…?
Something’s off.
What are they doing…
Are they going to leave the city directly?
But they haven’t even met yet…
Could it be in the chariot?
No, that’s not right.
It’s tiny, two people would barely fit…
What’s going on?
What’s Lilith up to?
I quickened my pace but didn’t feel overly anxious; Barry’s reaction when he got onto the chariot seemed normal, and Lilith wouldn’t betray him… Maybe they had some other arrangement, but I didn’t know what it was, so I decided to hang back and see how things played out.
I stopped at the street corner, quietly watching the chariot roll farther away toward the city wall.
They’re over at the side gate…
From this spot among the scattered distant crowd, I could vaguely see what was happening at the city wall’s side gate. Lilith’s chariot came to a stop in front of the gate, and some soldiers from the Warhammer Army came to check things out. The driver—who was a stranger to me—spoke with them, but from the distance, I couldn’t catch the conversation. That’s when I noticed the driver wasn’t the previous maid; it was a man I didn’t recognize.
Who is that…?
The man exchanged a few words with the guards, handed them something, and then someone moved to lift the chariot’s curtains. But Lilith popped her head out first, said something to him, and he nodded before waving them through.
Moments later, the gate opened, and the war chariot slowly rolled forward, quickly exiting the city.
