The sea breeze could be smelled.
In the Nanab port market, everything was sold, especially fish and seafood that I couldn't recognize even by a long shot. I walked alone among the stalls, looking for supplies for the trip back to the capital.
That was exactly what I had been talking about with Cecille-san a while ago.
—Cecille-san… I'm sorry I can't explain in detail why I'm here or how I got here.
—Princess! Why are you apologizing? I myself know that I shouldn't pry into certain things. I did nothing to deserve an apology from you!
—Even so… I have to return to the royal capital as soon as possible. For that, I need supplies and travel gear.
—Do you plan to go alone, princess?
I lowered my gaze.
—No. It's frustrating to admit, but right now I can't fully defend myself on my own.
—I understand. Then, why don't you request an escort commission at the Guild?
—That's a good idea… but…
—I see. You want someone you can truly trust.
I nodded in silence.
—I can gather top-notch adventurers for you —Cecille-san continued—. However, I will have to inform the guild master about your identity.
—I don't mind… as long as it's kept secret for as long as possible.
—A-rank adventurers usually ask for quite high commissions.
—Money is no object. Could you exchange a mithril coin for gold and silver for me?
Cecille-san opened her eyes wide and lowered her voice immediately.
—Princess! Shhh! It's dangerous to show that so openly! If you have lower-value coins, use those first!
—Muh…
I wanted to have some leeway for extra supplies… especially sweets. I still didn't know how much the full escort would cost, so I had to be prudent.
—Princess, I still have obligations at the guild, so I cannot accompany you. For now, go with Alstroe.
—About Alstroe-nee… what is her rank as an adventurer?
Cecille-san remained silent for a moment.
—SSS-rank.
I blinked.
—Really? A-as far as I know, it only goes up to SS-rank…
—Alstroe is a special case. To a normal human being, she is above practically anyone… except in her capacity to think.
—Aren't you being a bit cruel to her?
—I exaggerated just a little bit.
I hesitated before asking:
—What exactly is wrong with Alstroe-nee?
—She is incredibly strong. And that is a constant problem for me. Every time she returns from a subjugation mission, the clothes she's wearing barely cover her. That's why I had this dragon-fiber dress made especially for her, with magic self-cleaning and anti-stain functions.
—…Isn't the dress meant to protect her from damage?
—Exactly. It's to protect things that shouldn't be seen in public.
—Does Alstroe-nee use Soul Weapon? It seems she doesn't use normal magic.
—She doesn't use any of the registered power classifications. She once told me she uses Qi.
Qi?
—And how strong is that Qi?
Cecille-san took out a map and spread it over the counter.
—Princess, have you heard the legend of the Continental Destroyer? An arcane mage who erased a small continent from the map more than two hundred years ago.
—I've heard it once…
—Look at this map. The smallest continent is the Healing Forest, land of the fairies. According to records, if the Continental Destroyer were to release all her magical power in the center, its energy would overflow throughout the entire forest.
I swallowed hard.
—Now imagine the Valley of the Ancients, the largest continent. If we were to measure Alstroe's Qi as if it were mana… and she were to release it completely… it would cover that entire territory. She unconsciously suppresses it most of the time.
I was left speechless.
—We don't let any continent know of her true existence —Cecille-san added with a sigh—. She's very silly, so tricking her is easy. Although, as I said, she suppresses her strength without realizing it… she always ends up exaggerating things anyway.
Dangerous.
Too dangerous.
And yet, somehow… I felt comfortable with both Cecille-san and Alstroe-nee. Right now I had no one else to trust. I would have to build that trust little by little.
Cecille-san handed me a detailed map of the port. Although it was smaller than the capital, getting lost was still quite easy.
It had been a while since I had separated from Alstroe-nee. From the beginning, I had planned to explore a bit on my own. I had the map, after all.
I was forgetting one important thing:
If Alstroe-nee was the girl who triggered disasters through excess strength… I was the girl who triggered trouble when she ran into thugs.
And sure enough, I was cornered.
Three rough-looking men blocked my way in a narrow alley near the market.
No.
This time I wasn't going to freeze up.
—[Barrier]!
A transparent dome materialized around me.
—Oh~! The little lady is a mage! But how long do you think that barrier will hold?
I started thinking negatively again. Tears threatened to fall… until I remembered Nil's smile. The terror of that night.
Compared to that, these thugs were nothing.
Violetta-san always said:
«Magic can be free in its form. If the user has a firm mind and a powerful imagination, they can manipulate it at will.»
I didn't know how firm my mind was right now.
But my imagination… that was vivid indeed. I could remember every traumatic detail with painful clarity.
This spherical barrier was strong. Violetta-san had confirmed it.
What if… I tried to push it?
—[Force]!
The barrier expanded suddenly, like a silent explosion. The three men were sent flying backward and slammed against the alley walls.
One of them staggered to his feet and tried to strike the surface again.
The barrier returned to its original size immediately. The man lost his balance upon finding no resistance where he expected it.
—[Spin]!
The dome began to rotate at high speed. As soon as the thug touched it, he was sent flying through the air like a rag doll.
I had done it!
I had managed to defend myself on my own!
I dismissed the barrier and, with my heart still racing, tried to run past the fallen men.
Mistake.
One of them, still on the ground, grabbed my ankle tightly. I fell face down. The pain of my sprained ankle flared up immediately.
—Damn brat! You won't get away so easily!
Then…
—OHHHH! Do not bother Asagao!
She appeared.
The most powerful airhead on the continent.
—AHHH! All of you, bow down to the Goddess of Destruction and beg for forgiveness! If you don't, I'll leave you bedridden for the next three months!
…
Seriously?
Did she have to say it in such an exaggerated way?
Suddenly I felt that all the effort I had just made lost a bit of dignity.
Later we reported the incident at the guild. Since nothing truly serious had happened (aside from my fall), we ended up letting them go after a serious warning.
I scolded them too, even though my voice didn't sound especially intimidating:
—Hey… I'll forgive you this time, okay? But don't do anything bad ever again from now on.
—YES!! —the two [three] responded in unison, still trembling from Alstroe-nee's presence.
At least I was able to buy the supplies I needed.
When I returned to Cecille-san to ask about the escort commission, her expression turned apologetic.
—I'm sorry, Asagao… none of the A-rank adventurers wanted to accept it for now.
—But…
—I'm truly sorry. Maybe tomorrow there will be better luck.
I nodded in silence.
The sun was already setting over the port.
I retired to the inn to rest.
Tomorrow I would try again.
For the first time since I was torn from the castle, I felt like I had taken a small step on my own.
Even if I still needed help…
I was no longer completely defenseless.