Chapter 17: The Town in the Desert (Part 2)
“Um, Miss… is there something you need?”
The man asked me, looking a bit wary, but with no real malice in his eyes. I had thought nobody would approach me again, but here he was, unexpectedly stepping up to start a conversation. I tilted my head, biting my nails, and blurted, “Where is the Red River camp?”
“The Red River…”
The man’s eyes widened slightly as he stared at my face, his blue pupils nearly popping out of his head.
What are you doing…
I took a small step back, feeling a sudden wave of caution.
He muttered, “Red River, how cute…”
“…Huh?”
Cute? The Red River?
I furrowed my brow, biting my nails some more, feeling completely confused. I was still on guard and almost wanted to turn and leave, but then I saw the man suddenly snap back to reality: “Ah, no, I didn’t mean it like that… I mean, oh, the Red River…”
He seemed to just realize what I had asked.
As if trying to cover for himself, the man scratched his head and looked down, pretending to ponder over my question as if trying to figure out my intentions.
Oh…
I immediately understood the reason for his earlier slip-up. I couldn’t help but chuckle to myself, feeling a mix of amusement and a hint of irritation, thinking how being called cute felt like an insult… Oh well, he was just talking about the Red River. Time to act as if I didn’t understand and not dwell on it.
I couldn’t afford to blow up at someone now, keeping my face calm and collected.
I didn’t know this man, and we weren’t exactly close, but surely he had heard of my existence and probably knew about my so-called “successor” identity. Once he got over the shock of “I didn’t expect this Miss to be so cute up close,” he pointed to the west side of town and answered honestly, “To get to the Red River, walk for about half an hour that way. There’s an oasis in the desert, and from there, if you head north, you’ll reach its upper stream…”
He paused, possibly trying to muster up a friendly smile, but with his dark, rough skin, his face was filled with so many wrinkles when he smiled, it made him look even uglier than if he were crying.
“Just to go over there, without anyone from the town to guide you, Miss, you might not find the way, and end up lost… Ah, that oasis is a blessed land given to us by the Goddess. Outsiders trying to go alone may easily get lost in the mirage and end up dying of thirst in the desert…”
I tried my best to ignore his unfortunate smile: “Mirage?”
“It’s when you see the illusion of the oasis but can never actually reach it.”
“Oh.”
So it’s just a mirage…
I pursed my lips and pointed at the west exit of the town, now blocked by wisteria: “I want to go… take a look.”
“Well…”
The man rubbed his hands together, still smiling, yet his expression turned a bit difficult: “Miss, once you look outside the town, all you’ll see is sand and dirt. Are you sure you want to go…?”
I tilted my head in thought: “Go find… lizards to eat.”
Of course, that was just a casual remark.
“Ah?”
The man stared blankly at me, looking downright incredulous: “I heard the mayor… sent half a lizard to you last night…”
“Not spicy enough.”
“…Not enough?”
“Yup.”
“Uh, well—”
After I nodded, he suddenly seemed lost, eyes blank, mouth opening and closing like a fish, struggling to find words.
“Miss.”
At that moment, two other men joined us. They had been lingering not far away, clearly eavesdropping on our conversation. One of them, a sturdy-faced man with an air of steadiness, jumped in quickly: “If you want to eat something, just tell us. The townsfolk will bring it to you. We wouldn’t dare neglect you. But if you really insist on heading out of the town… please wait here for a moment. We need to inform the mayor.”
He continued, perhaps worried I’d misinterpret him, explaining, “Sorry, we don’t mean any offense. It’s just the desert… You might be stronger than we realize, but even Miss Ailna would face serious issues if she went out there without knowing the terrain. Getting lost is a serious matter…”
“Like, not finding water, lacking food, and running into all sorts of problems wouldn’t be the worst… When the sandstorm hits, no one can survive in the desert… You’ll understand once you see it.”
The skinnier guy beside him added, “You are entrusted to us by Miss Ailna, so we must consider your safety. If you’re going out, you need to be thoroughly prepared…”
“……”
I didn’t respond.
One second, two seconds, three seconds passed. I stared intently at the three muscular men, observing the subtle changes in their expressions until they grew uncomfortable and began shifting awkwardly before I nonchalantly looked away.
They weren’t lying…
That was my conclusion in my mind.
These people actually seemed quite simple-hearted.
Like that little girl, they were pure enough to hurry to explain their reasons and motivations without me even asking, not the sly, deceptive types who could hide their true intentions. If that were the case, they wouldn’t have let that flicker of caution show in their eyes.
Fine…
For now, I’ll trust you.
“Never mind.”
I scratched my face and waved my hand at the three of them: “I’ve suddenly changed my mind about going outside.”
Of course, I had no intention of going out right now.
I was simply observing their attitudes, trying to pinpoint their limits.
But as it stood, they seemed to treat me like some kind of… esteemed and mysterious guest? I wasn’t sure what that woman had said to the townsfolk, but judging by yesterday and today, they must think I have a close connection to the Goddess of Sin’s deity body…
The so-called successor?
They were able to understand this point, and they wouldn’t excessively restrict my freedom.
In their eyes, I was some uncontrollable high-ranking being; I was certain of this now, which is why they looked at me with a mix of reverence and a smattering of wariness.
This wasn’t hard to understand. I thought their mixed emotions were probably the subconscious response of people facing an entity that’s far too strong, with unclear intentions and motives.
After all, this was their land.
These people had lived here for years; their family and friends were primarily based here. I could tell the town was almost cut off from the outside world, so it was only natural they’d feel resistant to an outsider popping up. They trusted Ailna wholeheartedly, doubting not a single word she said, and would extend kindness to those she brought instead of hostility.
They had no idea I had lost my powers. It was only natural for them to be cautious of my existence; there was no trust between us, and such a mindset was just human nature.
And they couldn’t even cover it up properly.
Probably not the type who’d plot behind my back or stab me in the back…
With this thought, I felt a bit reassured, shrugged my shoulders, and decided not to waste more time probing further. Ignoring the three men who exchanged glances with each other, I turned and walked back.
At least…
Until Ailna returns, these people wouldn’t do anything to me.
On the way back, it seemed there were more people around.
Women veiled with scarves were stepping out in succession, balancing large clay pots on their heads, queuing up behind the leading man and the beast of burden, heading in the exact opposite direction to mine.
These women, upon seeing me, displayed far less caution than the men. Their eyes held more curiosity, rather than hostility. As I walked by, their gazes followed me closely, with a hint of animosity slipping through. I heard whispers among them.
“One Ailna is enough; why does this disaster of a girl have to show up…”
“That outfit is already too revealing, and not even covering her face—who’s she trying to seduce…?”
“Having a pretty face isn’t everything…”
“She’s got black hair; I’ve never seen hair like that, how peculiar…”
“Too bad she lacks femininity…”
“Shh! Keep it down…”
“Didn’t you hear the mayor’s warning? We can’t afford to mess with her…”
…Heh.
Just a bunch of coarse desert women; I won’t let them get to me.
Getting angry will only bring wrinkles.
I refuse to be angry…
