20 Packing up.

'I was wondering why you didn't abandon me after we got out of the field.' There was a calm look on Vivi's face.

I dropped the bra in my hands.

She was unexpectedly quick on the uptake. But now that she knew, at least I didn't feel morally pained from having used her and for planning to use her in the future. It was like she gave me permission to bask in her safety.

I knew it was a mirage.

"Does me using you bother you?"

"Nah… It's not like I had anything better to do and who knows, maybe I've been using you all along too. It's just a part of life."

"Too corny." I cringed.

"Anyways, is that town peaceful?" She tried to desperately cover her words up and I obliged. It was the least I could do.

"I'd say so." I hadn't seen a single monster since the day I was born. Sufficit to say, our town was as safe as safe could be.

"Then I don't mind tagging along. Experiencing a town like that is part of my bucket list after all." Her confident and excited grin came back on.

Well, whatever she says. With that, I acquired a bodyguard.

"By the way, why can't you go by carriage? If you didn't spend that money of yours on the inn, you would have had enough to get you to your town at least." At this juncture, I wondered if telling her about my current situation with the clergy might have been a good idea.

Was it alright to tell her I was wanted?

But my mind only drew a resounding 'no'. She seemed a little too righteous.

"Do you need to know?"

"I suppose not. I don't want to get caught up in too much of your human drama." With the sound of ropes getting pulled Vivi finished changing her clothes. Or at least that was what my heightened senses and the little reflection in the window pointed at.

"What do you mean 'human drama'? You're human too."

"Nevermind that. Let's just get going for now! If you're done ogling at my reflection that is." Whoops, looks like she caught on.

Not that it mattered. I didn't find her attractive a single bit. I mean she had the face and body, but her openness bugged me. Pair it all together and it would be a repeat of my previous relationship. Maybe I had grown to hate any romance.

It was 18 years' worth of trust that got broken. Innocence from our childhood. It wasn't as simple as just one love turning to nought.

My nose was starting to hurt.

"I have to say that scar on your back is pretty deep." I got up and headed towards the door. "Not very ladylike to get an axe scar on your back, is it?"

"Shut up, El." She slapped my back but I hardened it. "I don't like it either."

It still hurt, though.

While bantering, we headed out the door.

###

The inn was noisy. That held especially true for the dining hall.

Sure we got a sample of the mayhem when we entered yesterday, but that time was unpopular for a meal. Yet it was that busy. The mornings were undoubtedly unnecessarily busy.

People were getting drunk, and having luxuriously large feasts. Overall everyone was happy… Everyone but Vivi and I.

"I expected you to blend in with these people." I talked to the lady across my table.

"These beasts? The hell do you take me for?"

"Here's your order." The attendant bent forward to put our food on the table and started to fill out glasses but then all of a sudden a man rubbed against her back. She jumped and she spilt the glass all over the table, and us. "SORRY!"

She bent and apologised twice even though she was the one who got abused.

'This place really is filled with beasts.'

Vivi wasn't all that happy about it. But I eyed her down. In situations like these getting involved would do more harm than good. Especially for a wanted man like myself.

"It's fine." I looked at the waitress as I patted the water off my pants. Ah, she was the one with the hairtie. Anyway, there was no way I would get angry over this after days of getting soaked in the forest.

"I will clean this up!" The girl had fear in her eyes and with that fear, she proceeded to wipe the table and pick the glasses up. Touching the tips of her shaking hands, one of the glasses rolled over to my side, so she reached out to grab it.

The arm covered with her frilly attendant uniform peeked out from under the sleeve.

Nonetheless, she promptly cleaned the rest up and went back. She was pretty professional for her age.

"You saw that too didn't you E-I mean Iota." Vivi had her grim look back.

"The bruises?"

"No. There were burn marks on her hand too." She took a bite of the food while looking at the attendant.

Just the little glimpse of her sleeve that I got exposed her cut up wrists, bruised forearms, and burns I could only think belonged to a cigar. Of course, I saw them.

"She's being mistreated, isn't she?" Vivi put her fork down and looked at me as if expecting me to do something.

"Probably. Judging by how scared she was a moment ago." I put my fork down and looked at her too. "So, what do you want to do about it?"

"Interfering would only cause trouble right?" She returned the glance back at me with remorse.

"Yeah."

"Then I'll sit this one out. Of course, if she reaches out to me I won't not help her." She looked determined.

That seems like a good decision. If my family asked someone for help, I wished they would help them no questions asked.

After that, we completed our meal and drowsed in awkward silence.

###

After the meal, we went outside on a little stroll. Vivi had her backpack on. One that I started filling up with food supplies to last us at least a week if things went haywire.

This city might have been terrible to live in, but it was a commerce hotspot. Any equipment you could ask for, from any part of the empire was available. After all, Rottheim was the hub of all beginner adventurers.

We went around looking for something and found 7 different replacements.

Vivi, already kitted out and built like a battle God, didn't need any additional equipment. If she ever needed a weapon she could just use her claws.

I, on the other hand, settled on chainmail and a short sword. It was probably what fit best with my agility based style of combat.

And to put an end to the day, I bought myself a fresh pair of clothes so that I didn't classify as an exhibitionist anymore.

It was a peaceful day.

But it was also the final calm before the storm.