First Encounter
While waiting to meet my new Journey member, I heard a commotion echoing from an alley.
What are you going to do about this? Can you take responsibility, little girl?
Uh... Ngh...! Well...
Do you even know how much this outfit costs, huh?
Judging by the looks of you, you must be some country bumpkin...
You should keep your eyes open and watch where you're going, yeah?
I-I'm sorry...! I'll do whatever it takes to make it up to you...!
A small, frail-looking girl surrounded by a group of thugs...
Judging by her appearance, she was definitely the Journey member Lisa mentioned.
...You'll do whatever it takes? Hah!
All right. Then why don't we take you somewhere so you can pay us back?
Let's go somewhere quiet and have a little chat.
The thugs dragged the girl into a dark alley, yelling and threatening her.
I should follow them.
H-here's some money...
Is it really this expensive to get clothes washed in NOA?
Huh? You calling us liars? We're letting you off easy, you know?
Tch, I was going to cut you some slack, but now you're making me want to take every cent.
This is all I have...!
Oh? But that purse of yours looks pretty heavy.
Were you planning to lie your way out of this? You're asking for it now!
I'm sorry...! Aah...! I'll give you the rest too, so please...!
Now, hand over that purse before things get—
I swung my sword toward the ground, creating a loud crash and a cloud of dust.
*Cough* *Cough* W-what?! Who's there?!
Ngh...?
...
W-whoever you are...
Whew... Thank you. You saved me!
I almost lost all my money... and I didn't even have much to begin with!
It's just like they warned me... You really have to stay alert in a city like NOA...
...
Tch... Who are you to stop us?!
Hey, pal. I'm gonna make you regret playing hero.
Keep pushing your luck, and see what happens, huh?
Oh! That outfit... You're the Journey Captain!
What a coincidence...! I'm Lydia, the newly selected Journey member.
Captain...! Please help m—
Looks like there's a misunderstanding...
A misunderstanding?
I'm here to save you, not her.
W-what...?
I pointed up, past the thugs, to the roof of a nearby building.
The rusty water tank installed on the roof wobbled dangerously, making a terrible screeching noise...
*Creaaaak*
With a deafening crash, it fell right next to the thugs.
E-eek?!
I-I almost died!
It's not over yet.
*Creaaaak*
Pots, decorations, and other junk on the opposite building started raining down toward the thugs.
Eeeeeeek! Yikes!
R-ruuuuuuuuuuun!!!
Watching the thugs run off, Lydia's lips twitched.
Though I couldn't hear her, I could guess what she said by the movement of her lips...
...You're so useless.
...
Oh my, that was a close call...!
No matter how bad they are... They could have gotten seriously hurt.
Who would have thought there'd be so many dangerous objects on the rooftop...
If it weren't for you, Captain, those people...
They'd have been clobbered by those things that just happened to fall from the rooftop, right?
Ah... Just thinking about it is horrifying...
What are you really up to?
...
What could you possibly be talking about?
Lydia's expression remained innocent.
But behind her, a dark, crimson shadow was quickly receding.
That thing behind you.
You used that to make the things on the roof fall, didn't you?
Oh my, you saw that?
...Since when?
The moment I entered the alley.
I saw the black shadow slithering up from her bag, climbing up the walls, and pushing things off the rooftop.
All aimed directly at the thugs' heads.
I see... They really don't just make anyone the Journey Captain, huh?
...Hmm. Would you believe me if I said that I don't know what you're talking about?
No.
...Tch.
...You're sharper than you look. And far too kind for your own good.
Fine. You got me. Yes, I made them fall.
All I had to do was play the dumb country girl, and they took the bait.
So, I thought I'd use it against them.
It happened in an alley, so even if someone found out, it'd just look like an accident. Perfect, right?
But Captain. You had to go and get in my way.
What...?
Those jerks were targeting someone they thought looked weak just to steal their money.
They'll probably be back here again tomorrow, acting like nothing happened.
A couple of broken bones would've taught them a valuable lesson.
Lydia crossed her arms and pouted, looking dissatisfied.
Was it really necessary to go that far...?
Oh... Captain.
Then let me ask you... was there a reason not to go that far?
Besides, didn't you see it?
Each of them had a knife at their waist.
...!
True, I hadn't noticed that.
If Lydia was telling the truth, those thugs were the worst kind—armed and dangerous.
Lydia was trying to teach them a harsh lesson before someone else got hurt.
Others people..?
...?
What are you talking about?
What I meant was... If you're going to hit someone, be prepared to get hit back.
That's just common sense in the West.
In other words, it's kind of self-defense.
...Hmm?
If you're going to steal from someone, you should be ready to get stolen from too.
What I needed was those idiots' wallets... but thanks to you, they got away.
So, to summarize, my new Journey member...
tried to beat up some thugs who were picking a fight with her to steal their money instead...?
The more funds we have, the better, right?
Besides, the money they had was stolen from someone else anyway.
If I'd taken it and put it to better use, I'm sure the original owners would have approved.
Ugh... I had such a perfect plan all worked out...
Lydia looked up at me, smiling as I stood there, flustered by her unexpected response.
...I was hoping to keep up the good girl act for a little longer, but it seems that's ruined now.
I guess it's no use trying to make excuses now, right?
Hehe! Well, anyway. It's over and done with.
Oh, come on. Loosen up, Captain!
Nothing happened in the end, right?
Let's get along well for the next year, Captain!
...Lydia smiled sweetly, as if nothing had happened at all.