Conan was surprised to see the servants looking at the counter.
"Victor, you were right. There really are servants who come to the backstreets markets."
Victor proudly said, "I am always right, my friend. Now it's your turn."
Conan frowned. "I don't understand. What do you mean?"
Victor replied, "Did you forget the promise you made yesterday so quickly? You said you were the most popular student at the academy. Now prove it."
Conan said, "I was popular at the academy. But I only loved Rose. I never looked at anyone else."
Victor said, "Forget that girl. Don't worry, I will make the first move. Just tell me who you choose."
Conan replied, "This is very sudden, my friend. But, as I promised, I will approach the girl with pink hair."
Victor nodded. "Very good. I will talk to the other girl. Don't worry, the first move will come from your friend. You just continue."
Conan said seriously, "But let's use different names. Because we don't know which servant belongs to whom. Also, we were punished. And if General Lorand hears about these things, the punishment this time could be very severe."
Victor said, "Then my name will be Lukas. What about you?"
Conan said, "I will be Kael."
Kaelhor angrily said, "You wretched man, you shortened the name of a mighty emperor and are using it in such a ridiculous way!"
Victor laughed, "Very good, Kael. Your name is very interesting. Let's begin."
Victor stepped forward toward Elena and Laura, with Conan following him.
Victor said, "Hello, beautiful ladies. We are warriors of the magnificent city guard. I am Vic… Lukas, and this is my close friend, Co.. Kael. Honestly, seeing beautiful ladies like yourselves wandering alone in such dangerous streets, we approached you for your safety."
Elena said seriously, "Instead of protecting us, it would be better if you protected the city and the dangerous streets!"
Conan replied, "Ma'am, we did not approach you with ill intent. It is evident that you are servants of a noble family. If something happens to you here, your masters will find out who guards these streets, and this will create serious problems for our work."
Laura gently took Elena by the arm and turned toward the guards, saying, "Fearless and strong warriors, please forgive us for a moment. We have a suggestion."
Victor said, "No problem, ma'am. Go ahead."
Laura pulled Elena aside. "Princess, don't dismiss them. This is better for us."
Elena said, "Laura, are you crazy? We don't need their protection. Why should we let them follow us?"
Laura said, "Actually, princess, this is a very good suggestion."
Elena asked, "What is good about it?"
Laura explained, "Since dawn, we have been in these backstreets, but we haven't obtained any information. Moreover, neither of us knows these streets well; we barely found the market by force. Instead of asking every passerby whose identity we don't know, it is better to be guided by people who know the streets well. They also don't know who we are. And ordinary noble families frighten them. If we tell them we are from General Lorand's mansion, ordinary guards who fear common noble families won't dare make any foolish move after hearing the General's name."
Elena considered, "That's a good idea, but we don't know who they are."
Laura said, "They call themselves warriors. They are definitely not ordinary guards. Moreover, these are backstreets. Incompetent and careless people would not be assigned here."
At that moment, Victor whispered in Conan's ear, "My friend, you found a great solution. I always said we complement each other."
Conan said, "If I had known you had no experience talking to girls, I would have approached first."
Victor said, "It's fine, my friend. The important thing is we made the approach."
Elena and Laura approached them. Laura spoke first, "Brave warriors, please forgive us for keeping you waiting."
Victor proudly said, "No problem. It's an honor to wait for beautiful ladies."
Laura introduced, "Thank you very much. I am Leona, and this is my friend Lisa."
Conan looked at Elena, "I am pleased to meet you."
Elena raised her eyebrows and tilted her head slightly.
Laura said, "We were heading to the city center to shop, but we intentionally turned toward the backstreets markets. Honestly, we are a little lost and cannot trust anyone here."
Victor put his hand on his chest and said proudly, "You are very lucky, ladies. We know these streets very well. So don't worry, we will safely guide you to your destination!"
Conan asked, "Can you tell which mansion you are from? We will escort you there."
Elena frowned, "We come from General Lorand's mansion."
Conan and Victor exchanged glances, both surprised and dismayed, not knowing what to do next.
Kaelhor muttered, "Fools. Now take these servants to Lorand's mansion and let him punish you for leaving your post."
Laura said, "Actually, we don't want to return to the mansion right now. It would be great to explore here a little. At least it will be an adventure. They said the mansion is boring compared to this."
Victor put his hands in his pockets and gave an amused look, "Backstreets and interesting. Who said such a foolish thing?"
Conan elbowed Victor and whispered quietly, "Foolish, do you want to go to Lorand? If they want to explore, let them. We just need to buy some time."
Elena raised her eyebrows and called out, "Are you going to show us around, or should we go ourselves?"
Conan said, "Don't worry, ladies. Please go ahead; we will guide you through all the backstreets."
Elena and Laura walked arm in arm.
Victor whispered to Conan, "Your girl is very serious. I just wish you good luck."
Conan said, "I'm just thinking about how to get out of this ridiculous situation."
Conan and Victor started showing them all the backstreets, talking along the way and explaining the streets.
When Elena saw children along the road, she bent down and gave them bread from the basket on her left arm. Conan smiled watching her.
"These children are the only future of these backstreets."
Elena said, "Children are the future of the whole kingdom, not just these backstreets."
Conan replied, "No, ma'am Lisa. If they don't acquire a profession, they will be completely removed from the kingdom's attention. Then they will only work for their own future."
Elena asked, "What do you mean? The kingdom treats everyone fairly."
Conan shouted, "Fair!? Then why has this backstreet become the kingdom's unhealed wound?"
Elena said, "Because these places are very convenient for criminals to hide, the palace cannot stop them."
Conan said, "You are completely wrong, ma'am. Apparently, you have never left the mansion."
Elena asked, "Then tell me. Why does this wound never heal?"
Conan explained, "The main reason is the kingdom's strict laws for those without professions. They are generally kept out of sight."
Elena said, "It can never be! The kingdom is very fair. That is why the Celaria kingdom has stood for millennia."
Conan said, "Of course, a warrior with no skill never had a chance against legendary skilled warriors. In the long-living fair Celaria kingdom, the skilled were always supported first. That is why it survived for so long, majestic as it is. But unfortunately, I cannot call it fair."
Elena said calmly, "Everyone knows that heroes have always been just, and among them, rare skilled warriors have always held a place in their parties. So even if the kingdom is unjust, a hero will never remain silent, because it is their duty to bring justice to the people!"
Victor said, "Yes-yes, exactly. Restore justice, have fun with beautiful girls, steal the hearts of princesses. Meanwhile, we suffer the tortures of sadistic old men."
Laura said in surprise, "Sadistic old men!?"
Victor waved his hand, signaling nothing important.
Elena said, "You simply do not understand the seriousness of a hero's duty, that's why you speak this way."
Conan frowned and said seriously, "A hero's duty? Since childhood, I read all history and all the stories of heroes. I always dreamed of being a hero. But at the academy, I never awakened any profession. A warrior with no skills could never awaken a legendary profession. Then palace servants come and praise them. But I am only told by the academy head, 'Never lose hope.' I do not envy a hero, but many people like me lose hope there. What angers me is not them, but that the words they are told do not heal their wounds."
Elena said angrily, "What else can the kingdom do besides comforting them?"
Conan shouted, "Nothing! Nothing at all! That's exactly the problem! All the people in these backstreets are without professions. In other words, people the kingdom has removed from sight. The kingdom focuses only on skilled people. So the people here start finding their own solutions. They are never given jobs. Their crafts, compared to skilled people's work, remain worthless. That's why prices in this market are so cheap. These places are forgotten, ma'am! And chaos always reigns in forgotten places. It doesn't matter how strong the kingdom is or isn't."
Kaelhor said, "Slowly, you are beginning to understand, human."
Elena paused, realizing Conan was right. She turned her back to them and slowly stepped forward. Then she stopped and said, "I believe that one day, everyone will find what they deserve. Even those forgotten in these backstreets will see justice."
Conan lowered his head, disappointed, and said to Elena, "Forgive me, I lost myself for a moment. I did not intend to hurt your heart. I just…"
Elena turned to them with a warm smile, "Don't worry. I was haughty for a moment too."
Conan saw the smile and blushed.
Laura said, "It would be good to finish the walk and return now."
Victor said, "As you wish, ladies. Please go ahead."
While walking through the backstreets, suddenly, Bear Gregor and his men blocked their path.
He glared at them angrily and said, "I serve my punishment in prison while you enjoy time with beautiful girls. Now it's my turn to have fun!"