Our trip is done and I am now going home. Dad had some stuff to do so I am going home by myself but I did get a bunch of good stuff. Some trinkets, food, and a bunch of items. I just hope Miss Athena likes them.
“Miss, do you have a route you prefer on using for the return?”
A route? Normally, I would say that any route is fine but I did see a friend on that route so let’s go there.
“Do you remember that one where we were almost attacked by bandits?”
“Yes, miss.”
“Let’s go through that route!”
“Miss, I don’t recommend going there. What if we were attacked again?”
“Don’t worry about it. We don’t have a big group anyway. We can just run away if they attack us.”
“Miss, please reconsider.”
“I told you, don’t worry. I saw a friend there so don’t worry.”
“If you say so, miss.”
We travel towards that place but we hear people fighting in the distance.
“Miss, there seems to be trouble. What do we do?”
“Move us somewhere nearby. Just until we can see what’s happenings.”
“Yes, miss.”
I sneak a peek as we approach. I can see some people fighting. One side looks like bandits, I am looking for someone though.
“Stop here.”
“Miss, are you sure?”
“Don’t worry about it. I can see them. Just wait for a bit.”
We were now waiting for the fighting to be finished. When the bandits were almost wiped out, one of them ran towards our carriage.
“Milady, one of them is coming here.”
“I know. Just wait.”
When the bandit was near us, he is killed by child. Child looks toward the carriage and knocks on the door. I open the door for her.
“Hi!”
“Sha- book boss!”
“That’s right! Book boss is here! What are you doing?”
Before child could react, someone calls out to her.
“Boss!”
Both of us look towards the voice. It was another kid like her. She seems to take care of her appearance more than child. She runs towards us and stops. She looks at me up and down.
“Oh! You must be shadow boss!”
We all freeze. I look towards child and she averts her eyes from me. I lean forward and smile at child.
“Why is she calling me that?”
“I=I don’t know.”
“Was I wrong? This is shadow boss, right? You said she taught you some stuff.”
This kid is oblivious to what is happening. I sigh and look to her.
“Call me book boss, okay? Shadow boss doesn’t really sound that nice.”
“What? Shadow boss is so cool! Its like one with the shadow or moving with the shadow.”
“No. Call me book boss.”
“Okay.”
Then, this kid suddenly pops up her head and looks around. She hugs child’s head as she keeps looking around. Child lets her do this with a confused face.
“Since you’re here, does that mean boss is here?”
“Hmm? Oh no. She isn’t here. I’m here by pure coincidence. Remember when you helped us back then?”
“Ohhh. You were the one in that group of carriages. Did you know she was there?”
“Yeah.”
“Why didn’t you tell me!? We should never ignore people we know and are close to!”
“She looked busy.”
“I told you I want to meet book boss and maid boss, not boss though.”
“Why? Boss is nice.”
“You won’t get it. I don’t want to lose.”
I have been watching them talking to each other and they seem to be very close. I look towards both of them and I understand what is going on.
“Oh. So, that’s how it is.”
The kid was the first to get it. She puts her finger to her mouth and says shhh.
“Don’t worry yourself. She doesn’t think like that to her.”
“That’s not the point! I know I’ll lose if boss is here so no way I want her to be here.”
“You don’t like boss?”
“Its not like I don’t like her or anything but she’s obviously better.”
“Yeah. Boss is the best.”
“Stop complimenting her with me here!”
This kid shakes child as she shouts. These two are really funny.
“Don’t worry. We won’t meet boss until I am strong.”
“That should be enough time for me to win.”
I haven’t even said anything and these two are in their own little world.
“Sha-book boss, please don’t tell boss I am here.”
“I can’t really promise that but what about I don’t bring you up?”
“Okay. That’s fine.”
“Great. So, you guys hunting bandits here?”
“Yeah! We’re helping a bunch of people out!”
“Is this your path of getting stronger?”
“Hmm.”
That’s great. Just don’t go and kill anyone for no reason, okay? Make sure they are doing bad things first.
“Yes, book boss.”
“Good kids.”
I pat both of them on the heads. Child doesn’t really show a lot of emotion but the kid with her shows too much, I think.
“I was planning on bringing these home but you guys should have these instead. Just wait here.”
Both of them tilt their heads as I give them a bunch of stuff.
“Here you go. Some small weapons and a bunch of rations.”
“Book boss, this is so much! Are you sure you want to give this to us?”
“Yeah. Don’t worry about it. These are just some extra stuffs. I have plenty of things left with me”
“Thank you, sha-book boss.”
“Make sure to take care of yourselves, okay? Do you have a base or something?”
“We have a hideout! We took it over from one of the groups!”
“Can you show it to me?”
“Sure! Just let us say goodbye to the others?”
“They’re not going with you?”
“No. We don’t really have a group. We usually help out others who get attacked by bandits. Once they get their stuff back, they usually go home or travel.”
“Oh. Okay.”
After a short while, the two of them bring us to their hideout.
“I’ve never ridden a carriage before! It was so bumpy!”
“Hmm, dizzy.”
I take a look around and it seems this is one of the hideouts for those types of bandits. I even find notebooks about it. After searching for a while, the kid falls asleep and its only child and I.
“Woah. I can give a lot of this to her. Are you sure you don’t want me telling her about it?”
“Yes. I’ll meet her when I’m strong.”
“Alright. I gotta go now. I’ll visit you here when I have the time, okay?”
“Okay. Bye bye.”
After this meeting, I successfully return with no issues.
