As his thoughts drifted away from reality, an ominous presence suddenly snapped him back. It was something he had felt before entering the market, and followed him as he entered the crowded.
The place had changed within a short period of time. The market had been almost unchanging, from the very first time he was at the place, until the last time he was around. But now the place felt bountiful and crowded. Most of the empty stalls were occupied by vendors, and the number of visitors had increased many times over. He could barely walk through the street without bumping into someone. The sudden shift left him shocked.
Not just that. At the end of the market, along the main road leading north, people were gathering along the sides of the street for some reason. It was the first time Hanabi was about to witness such an event.
Unable to properly join the crowd, he searched for higher ground to see the upcoming parade.
He was not particularly interested in the event itself, but he liked observing the people they were cheering for.
The bell from the gate began to ring loudly. The moment it happened, the crowd erupted in cheers and celebration, bawling wildly. Hanabi found their behavior annoying.
The loud sound of marching footsteps soon drew his attention. When he looked toward the source, he saw a large battalion of knights passing through the middle of the crowd, surrounding a number of carriages.
As they passed by, the people began cheering even louder, celebrating as if someone had accomplished something incredibly important.
A fancy carriage led the procession. Hanabi assumed it belonged to a noble, because a flag was displayed outside of it, something only high-ranking individuals and nobles usually did. The carriage was open, revealing the people inside, yet as he watched them closely, something seemed wrong about the situation.
The first carriage carried seven people, including those handling the horses. The other five looked miserable. Some covered themselves with clothes, ignoring the crowd, while a few waved at everyone. Even so, their clothes were messy, torn with holes, stained with blood, and their bodies were wounded. The fact that they could still appear presentable before the crowd impressed Hanabi, who could see right through them.
The following carriages were also open, but this time they were covered with huge blankets made of leather. There were nine of them lined together. As they passed, the crowd greeted them cheerfully.
But the worst part came with the last two carriages.
The first of them carried six people, including the two coachmen. The remaining four seemed alive, yet their souls looked as if they had already left them. They were wrapped in cloaks, their faces covered with bandages. One of them, a huge man, was carrying someone wrapped in a blanket who seemed young based on their size. From a distance it looked normal, but even from afar, Hanabi's sharp senses allowed him to notice the blood dripping from the open part of the blanket near the feet.
They sat at the back of the carriage, and in front of them, on the floor, another blanket covered something. Hanabi did not know why, but he knew what it was in a disturbing way, and he wished he did not.
The wind remained as calming as it always had been. The sun shone upon him just like yesterday, and the place felt unchanged as he walked back toward the orphanage. Yet for some reason, Hanabi felt troubled by what he had witnessed, so much so that he could no longer appreciate everything the way he used to.
The horror he saw, which most of the crowd had ignored, gave him a strange form of nostalgia, though it felt too foreign for him to truly understand. It was like knowing that being stabbed was painful, but actually experiencing it would be an entirely different discovery, one far more unpleasant. He carried the memory of something he had never personally experienced, and it left him feeling troubled and depressed.
In the middle of the road connecting the orphanage and the market, one side stretched into a plain field of grass while the other held a small forest. The road itself did not pass close to the trees, with one exception. A single tree stood along the path, a place where Hanabi sometimes sheltered whenever he did not feel like returning home yet.
As he walked along the road and slowly approached the tree, a figure began to appear beneath it. Hanabi stared as the shape gradually became clearer with every step he took. It forced his attention away from his troubled thoughts, for something unwanted now lay ahead.
As his focus returned to the present, the ominous presence he had felt earlier resurfaced. Or rather, he allowed himself to notice the things his instincts had been ignoring.
This time it was different, because he could now sense where the presence came from. However, because of that realization, he also understood how dire his situation had suddenly become.
"Hey, kid!"
As Hanabi approached the tree, the stranger lying beneath its shade woke up and spoke to him.
Hanabi did not respond, but he stopped and faced the man.
The man had a good physique despite wearing clothes that covered most of his body. A single-edged sword hung from his sheath, and he wore a mask that hid his entire face except for his eyes. Anyone could easily mistake him for an adventurer.
However, as Hanabi observed him carefully, he realized that the clothing underneath was something only a magician would normally wear. The sleeveless outer layer was likely added to hide that fact. It was impractical to dress in something opposite to one's profession, as it reduced overall capability.
"Is this the way to the orphanage?" the man asked.
"Yes."
The road only led to one destination, so lying about it would have been pointless.
"I'm actually looking for someone. Her name is Lilith. Do you know her?"
Mother Lilith was fairly well known because of her status within her religion, so using her name in such a situation was easy.
"Yes, I know someone with that name," Hanabi answered anxiously.
"Great! Can you bring me to her?"
After Hanabi replied, the man stood up and began walking beside him. Then he casually placed a hand on Hanabi's shoulder.
"Maybe we should join too."
Out of nowhere, two strangers appeared behind them, grinning menacingly.
Hanabi had already expected this. The ominous presence he had sensed since morning belonged to the two who had just revealed themselves. They had been following him from the very beginning, leaving him little choice but to comply for the moment. Judging by their movements, they seemed like professional mercenaries hired by someone. The fact that Hanabi had failed to detect them earlier meant they were skilled at hiding themselves.
Despite their poor choice of strategy for approaching him, these men were clearly confident and capable.Left with no other option, Hanabi began making his own move.
Without them noticing, he reached into his pocket and took something out while they continued walking toward the orphanage.
Back in the cave, after learning about kidnapping incidents occurring in certain parts of the kingdom, Hanabi had begun preparing precautions in case such crimes spread near him. While studying the items inside the magic pouch, he discovered many useful things. Thanks to the book's guidance, he had been able to prepare easily.
One of the items he carried was a lesser version of the pouch. The difference was that it could merge with the pocket of his clothes, preventing him from losing it. Because of this, carrying necessary items was never difficult.
As they walked, Hanabi quietly pulled out the item he had prepared. It looked like a card.
Based on the description he had read in the book, it was a transmission item that could instantly send the user to a designated location. The owner could also use it on others within a certain range. However, Hanabi was not entirely sure how it actually worked. All he knew was that it could move people away from him.
"HOME."
The moment he activated the item, the three men vanished into the air.
Hanabi simply continued walking, as if nothing had happened.