The Great Sage Who Did not Remain in Legend - 16.1
“It’s really cold at night.”
Mergin left Rikka’s diner around 1 AM. Though winter was still approaching, the capital city at night was quiet and chilly, with few people around.
“Ah, it’s freezing. I should get home and warm up in a bath.”
Rubbing his arms, Mergin recalled what the diner’s owner had said.
“Will Rikka become more ladylike someday?”
He imagined Rikka growing into a more feminine figure.
“Hmm, she might actually become my type. Was I too quick to say I’m not interested?”
No…
Mergin continued his thoughts.
“What are you all doing?”
The landlady’s voice echoed in his mind as she scolded them. After “Bon Kyu Bon,” she would transform into that.
“No, forget it.”
Mergin muttered to himself.
Huh?
He stopped his pointless imagination and tried to hurry home…
Someone was squatting on the doorstep at this time. Moreover, it looked like a girl wearing rather fine clothes. Since this place was close to the pleasure quarter, had a courtesan fled here? No, a courtesan wouldn’t be dressed like that.
“Don’t be too kind to the common people, you member of the Hero Party.”
Misty had told him this many times. After hesitating whether to ignore the girl and go home, he excused himself, thinking that he was no longer a member of the Hero Party.
“Hey!”
However, there was no answer. Could she be dead?
“Hey, are you dead?”
Mergin violently shook the girl’s shoulders. At that moment, the girl raised her tear-stained face.
Oh, this one… He was a fool who underestimated the journey.
The girl squatting there had camped on the highway on her way back from Lionel.
“What are you doing here? You’ll freeze to death if you stay here.”
Without answering Mergin, the girl just looked up at him with vacant eyes.
Damn… Something’s not right. Since her clothes weren’t disheveled, it didn’t seem like she had been attacked by a man.
“Don’t sleep here. Is there somewhere we can stay?”
Even though it was within the capital city, there were security concerns, and there were no inns open at this time.
Ah, already…
“Follow me.”
Since he had called out to her, Mergin couldn’t just leave her alone. He said so and forcibly pulled the girl up by her cold hand.
“I told you to come with me.”
She stood up, but she didn’t move. Mergin brought her home, holding her hand.
“Hey, what’s wrong? What happened?”
Even if he asked like this, there was no response.
“I’m asking what happened. Are you injured or something?”
As there was still no response, Mergin began to feel uneasy and shook her shoulders.
“Ah…”
At that moment, the girl recognized Mergin.