Waking up from the chirping sounds of birds. The shine of the sun dawned on me as I rolled over the bed.
Oh yes, I need to walk around town today.
It's great, I already did my laundry last night. I have spare clothes for tomorrow.
I stood up. Watching my balance as I stretched to wake up my body and soul.
Using the mirror hanging on the wall, I fixed my appearance. For today, I tied my silver hair in a ponytail and wore my hat. No one thought I was a girl yesterday, even though my hair was down on my shoulders.
"Maybe it's normal for men in this world to have long hair?"
Hopefully, no one will notice again today.
Done with preparations, I walked out of the guild. Outside, I noticed a bulletin board hanging.
"Is this like an Announcement post?"
I glanced at the papers hanging. And there I saw it. A familiar Face. Beautiful flowing silver hair and purple eyes like Amethyst.
"Isn't that-"
ME?
I mean, not really me, but. The original owner of this body.
"What an ominous Wanted poster from the Haplon kingdom."
"Right, I heard she was some witch wanted for causing harm to the royal family."
"Oh yes, I heard about that."
"Is she the famous Forsaken Fiancée of the first prince?"
"Yes."
"What was her name again?"
"I heard it's Misha Louvelon."
The whisperings of the people around me spoke the name.
"M-Misha?"
We had the same name? What a coincidence. Is that the reason why I got on her body in the first place? Because we share the same name?
I didn't notice that I was staring too much at the poster when suddenly someone tapped my back
"Yo! It's you again, White Lad! I know it, we'll meet again."
I was surprised, but I replied to him
"O-oh, it's you, thanks for helping me yesterday."
"That's nothing. Anyway, I'm Florhen, I'm a well-known Broker around here," he offered his hand.
An informant, huh.
I reached out to shake his hand.
"I'm Leciro, a traveler. Anyway, what's with the poster?" I curiously asked while gripping my hat to hide my face. Hoping he won't notice my appearance.
"Oh, that? She's Misha Louvelon. Daughter of the duke of Louvelon. She's someone high and Mighty from another continent."
Another continent?
"Oh, she's not from here?"
"Here? Oh no, no, the Lowell Empire is on a different continent from the Haplon Kingdom. You'll be needing three boat rides to travel from the kingdom to the empire, that's why Haplon and Lowel had always been on neck with each other. They have been actively fighting for the Ocean routes and resources."
"Oh. Then, why's there a poster of the duke's daughter here?"
"From what I heard in the Haplon Kingdom. The first prince ordered the execution of the princess by saying that she was a witch and that she caused a major turmoil in the royal capital."
"Turmoil?"
"Yeah, necromancy."
Necromancy?!
"The look on your face means you get it." He smugly looks at me.
"The princess of Louvelon awakened a massive horde of undead in the royal capital. They said a lot of people died on the spot, their flesh was eaten and devoured as they screamed in pain and suffering!" He explained as he tried to scare me
"Not scary?"
"Not really, I mean, it's just a rumor, right?" I worriedly asked.
He laughed as he nodded. "Yes, yes, it's just a rumor. After all, it's well known that the first prince of Haplon was mean and devious to the princess of Louvelon. Rumor has it that the princess actually learned a hidden secret about the prince, and now he wants his Fiancée dead. He made up a rumor, broke his engagement with her, and then ordered execution."
"Is that so?"
"That's right."
"So this poster is here for?"
"Bounty."
"Bounty...?"
"Yes, they said if you killed the princess of Louvelon and brought her head to the Haplon kingdom, the first prince would give you rewards."
I gulped.
A bounty on my head...
"There's no need to worry though," he happily exclaimed
"Huh? Why"
"Why?" He chuckled. "This is the empire! We have never been dogs for the Haplon. Why would we do something the Haplon wants?"
I was surprised by his remarks. In which started a horde of people started agreeing with him.
"That's right!"
"Evil witch she might be, I would guess she was just abused by that Haplon crown prince!"
"Yes, that's right! That kingdom has never been peaceful for the past 200 jero years!"
"Hopefully, it's true that the Louvelon princess attacked the capital. Poor princess being forsaken and now executed."
"Yeah!"
Everyone commented. Protecting me and believing in me even though they don't know who I am.
I mean, I don't really know who I am in the first place
"So the halpon thinks the princess was here. In this continent?" I asked.
"That's right. I heard a massive fight over the ocean happened, and a lot of boats crashed onto the shore not far from the villages around the Herion dukedom. And so there's a lot of Unknown people here in the capital these days."
Oh, that explains it. Misha Louvelon might have sunk her boat around the shore, when she continued to run away from her pursuers in the forest, he accidentally arrived at Mesiah Village.
I guess it's a good thing I left to protect the townsfolk from my pursuers. If they ever check that place, they won't find a single clue about Misha Louvelon.
"So it's safe to say that the princess is safe in the empire?"
"Yes and no. There are still a lot of factions and mercenaries in the empire that align with the kingdom. You know the typical political problems."
"Right."
"Anyways, forget about all this, I heard you signed up for the guild exam, huh?"
"You really are a broker."
"Of course I am!"
"Anyway, I'm sure you'll ace it. The exam, I mean. You might look a little petite than usual travelers around here, but who am I to judge!"
"Oh yeah, about that, do you know what the physical exam is about?"
"Hmmmmmmm, you know I'm a broker, yes?"
"Haha, I know." I threw 1 silver at him.
"Hehe, I know we'll get along just right! White Lad"
I smiled.
We walked towards a small cafe and bought coffee and a couple of desserts.
"Physical exam includes swordsmanship fight."
I almost spilled my coffee
Coughing, I replied, "Swordmanship?"
"Yeah, what did you even think when they said physical exam?" he spoke as cake and muffins were stuffed on his face.
"Stamina and endurance"
He nods, "That's also included, but the guild prioritizes offensive combat too. You really can't join if you can't fight."
I see.
"You don't have a sword, yes? Just buy one."
"Even if I did, I don't think I can wield one."
"Oh, you can't wield a sword?"
"I haven't even touched one in my entire life."
I wasn't lying
"Oh! I thought you were like a runaway noble or something."
"Is that why you guided me to the guild?"
"Damn right," he laughed as he stuffed his face. "If you don't know how to wield a sword, then just use magic."
Magic. Well, learning I'm some kind of princess with Necromancy means I have magic in this body, but I can't really use it, yeah, they'll know it's me. It kinda defeats the whole point of disguise.
"I don't know," I replied
"Come again?"
"I said. I don't know magic."
He unconsciously let go of the bread. "Oh- yeah, Mesiah village. You guys have a Magic deficiency, yes?"
Let's just say it's like that
"So what of it?"
"No, no, you got me wrong, I don't have a problem with people with magic deficiency, as long as people pay me for my information, then everyone is my god."
Damn this money-hungry rat.
"Anyways, I took the exam because the guild membership card will be useful on my travels."
"That's true. Where will you be traveling soon, though? Leaving already after the exam?"
"Yeah, whether I pass or not, I'll be traveling to another town."
"Eager to leave, huh? I'll miss you," he pouted as he held out his empty plate
I sighed as I waved the waiter to give us another batch of muffins and cake.
Florhen's eyes sparkled as he stuffed his face with food again.
"I'll be back for the next berry season."
"Oh! That's 6 months from now, yeash?. Mesiah village berry harvest festival. Oh, how I missed the taste of the berries from that town. Especially from the Greens."
"Greens?"
"Yeah, the greens. They'ren't particularly famous 2 years ago, but ever since Robert Green married Lady Leila Bevisto, the berries around the Mesiah village became famous cause of Lady Leila's magic."
"Oh, so Madam Leila was using her magic there, huh?"
"Yeah, not all people there don't know how to use magic. Some just prefer the quiet life."
"Come to think of it, Mr. Roberts and Madam Leila Married 2 years ago. Does that mean Cielo wasn't Madam Leila's Biological son?"
"Oh! You mean little cielo? No, no, he ain't the biological son of the two. Heard it, he's adopted from the orphanage."
What. Cielo was adopted?
"I see.. I didn't know that."
"Well, I guess that's just like, they wanna change life from scratch, so I guess it's better to just hide it."
"That's true."
I watch as Florhen Devoured another set of Muffins
"When did you even last eat?" I curiously asked.
"Me? Last night. It's free food! I won't miss it."
"Is being an information broker not a stable income?"
"It's a losing job one week ago. But ever since the Daughter of Louvelen got a bounty on her head, a bunch of mercenaries came from the Haplon kingdom. Since that Money became more bearable now."
Damn it. They really won't leave me alone, huh.
"Then I guess you can pay for your food now."
"WA-WAIT WAIT IM STILL BROKE OKAY"
I laughed.
"I'm just kidding, so eat slowly.
"Thanks a bunch, lad. You're really an angel!"
Learning about the people coming after my head. It will really be a problem if I just walk around with nothing but a made-up name.
I need the membership card from the guild to vouch for my identity. In that way, I can avoid being suspicious.
"Where could I buy a weapon in the capital?"
"If weapons are what you need, then there's a bunch of blacksmiths on the 7th street."
"How about wands?"
"Wands? Oh, like for magic?"
"Yeah,"
"No one used wands here. Everyone used Staff, or if you're rich and noble, then you can buy accessories like rings and earrings."
"Oh. So I guess jewelry then?"
"Yup, to use magic, you need an Item to act as a channeling medium to avoid the magic recoiling back to you."
"Oh. So it's an important item, huh."
"Yes, yes."
After talking for a while.
Florhen and I said goodbye to each other.
Accessories huh. Come to think of it. Misha Louvelen was found with nothing but herself.
Did she lose it while escaping?
I'll think about that later.
"Right now, let's buy weapons so I can pass my exam."
I sighed as I followed the direction Florhen told me.