From the moment Leya stepped into Valantis City, a pervasive sense of unease settled upon her. She felt awkward everywhere, utterly uncomfortable.
The subtle, lingering gazes from her surroundings constantly harassed Leya’s delicate nerves. It wasn’t that she minded being observed, but the sheer number of eyes fixated on her was overwhelming.
She was on the verge of developing full-blown paranoia, overwhelmed by the incessant scrutiny.
Reflecting on her past, Leya was merely an ordinary, unassuming youth, raised in an orphanage. Never before had she drawn such a multitude of gazes.
This intense unease threatened to transform into a potent sense of impending danger.
‘Could they have realized I’m not human? Have they seen through my plan?’
‘Or perhaps this isn’t a human city at all?’
‘Perhaps these individuals possessed a unique ability to identify their own kind. Had natural evolution bestowed upon each of them a ‘Fiery Golden Eye,’ allowing them to discern that she was, in fact, not of their race?’
In essence, Leya, utterly unaccustomed to such circumstances, found her thoughts spiraling toward worst-case scenarios. She was even poised to transform into Saber and cut her way through the crowds the moment trouble arose.
Fortunately, such a drastic measure proved unnecessary. While she still felt the myriad gazes of those around her, prolonged exposure had allowed Leya to gradually adapt to a life under constant observation.
Still, ‘getting used to things’ was the most exasperating concept of all!
“L-lady… may I ask…”
!
Already stretched taut with anxiety, Leya was abruptly startled by a voice calling out from directly behind her.
Like a startled rabbit, Leya instantly bristled. She spun around, taking several hasty steps backward, her gaze icy as she fixed it upon the figure who had suddenly materialized before her:
A youth, his face still bearing the innocence of childhood, clad in utterly ragged attire.
A boy. Another boy? He had startled her profoundly. ‘What was that all about? Just a mischievous child,’ she thought.
“Is there something you need?”
“Uh…”
The disheveled youth had, in fact, been equally startled by Leya’s sudden reaction. He also hadn’t anticipated the girl before him to be so breathtakingly beautiful.
Even from her silhouette, he had sensed an unusual grace. He had only plucked up his courage, hoping to chance upon some luck, because her hesitant wandering suggested she was new to the city.
He thought he might assist her, and perhaps earn a small tip in return.
Yet, standing face-to-face, he was struck by her ethereal beauty—pure as untouched snow, and as exquisitely noble as a violet. An aura of aloof elegance permeated her entire being, creating an unspoken barrier that warned, ‘Approach not, but admire from afar.’
Contrasting her with his own tattered clothes—which, charitably, spoke of frugality, but more honestly, marked him as a beggar—the youth felt his presence alone was a desecration of her beauty.
His face burned crimson, and an urge to flee seized him.
Yet, his thoughts swiftly turned to the potential coins he might earn, and to his younger sister, gravely ill at home, her health deteriorating daily. The youth gritted his teeth, his resolve hardening.
“L-lady…”
“Lady? That’s an interesting address. However, I am not of noble birth, and it makes me uncomfortable. Perhaps you could use another term?”
“Then… Miss?”
Though Leya’s brow furrowed, she offered no objection. The youth exhaled slowly, a silent thought passing through his mind: ‘If even ‘Miss’ isn’t right, I truly wouldn’t know what to call her.’
“Y-yes, Miss, it’s like this. I noticed you wandering, seemingly unfamiliar with your surroundings, as if this is your first time in Valantis City.
I wouldn’t lie to you; I’ve lived here since I was a child and know this city intimately. If you would be so kind as to offer three copper coins… I could act as your guide until sunset.
What’s more, I could also serve as your bodyguard and even your servant. What do you think?”
The youth spoke with a hesitant tremor in his voice, his gaze fixed on the ground. He dared not meet Leya’s eyes, maintaining a posture of profound deference.
“A guide, you say?”
Leya’s eyes swept over the youth before her, noting his tattered clothes and slender frame. ‘Surely he can’t be very formidable in that condition, can he?’ she mused.
In her previous life, Leya could have easily knocked out someone of his build with a single punch. Hmph!
While her physical prowess had diminished somewhat, Leya still felt no threat from him.
Yet, by his voice, the youth sounded no older than sixteen or seventeen. How had such a young boy so thoroughly shed his pride, bowing and scraping so readily? Did he possess no sense of self-respect?
Ah, but of course, this was merely Leya’s own worldview projecting onto his reality.
Each person lived a different life, and Leya had no intention of forcing her thoughts or beliefs upon anyone else. Thus…
Having swiftly grasped this truth, Leya dismissed the thought.
“Very well, I agree.”
Acknowledging her very real predicament, Leya offered no further pleasantries. Instead, her expression hardened as she continued:
“However, since you’ve volunteered to be my guide, you needn’t maintain such a subservient posture. On a personal level, we are equals.
There’s no need to deliberately lower yourself; simply look up with confidence. I won’t devour you, so what precisely do you fear?”
“Uh… eh… b-but—”
The youth was utterly bewildered by this sudden, direct lecture, left gaping in astonishment.
It was a widely known truth that children like him—devoid of skills or property, dwelling in the city’s most squalid, chaotic slums—represented the absolute lowest stratum of society.
Their social standing was barely distinguishable from that of slaves; their deaths would scarcely merit a single inquiry.
And yet, here was someone earnestly placing both parties on equal footing, even discussing matters of personal dignity…
The youth realized this was the first time in his life he had ever heard such a sentiment!
“Why are you shouting so loudly? Regardless, since we’ve agreed, I need to visit your city’s pawn shop—a place where one can exchange items. I trust you can lead the way, yes? Is there any issue with that?”
“Ah… yes, yes! A pawn shop, you said? Absolutely no problem at all!”
Observing the youth’s excited demeanor, Leya couldn’t help but wonder: would he still be so eager if she revealed she currently possessed not a single coin? ‘Hehehe…’ she mused.
“Oh? Youth, your stance is quite good, very proper. Have you practiced since childhood?”
Leya’s eyes brightened, observing the youth’s posture with keen interest. Despite his slight frame, appearing almost frail, he stood remarkably straight and alert.
Stripped of his tattered garments, he would undoubtedly exude a vibrant, dashing air.
“Uh, yes, that’s correct… My younger sister possesses some rudimentary martial arts skills, and I merely learned by observing her practice.”
“Hmm, quite good. Not only is your stance proper, but you’re also rather handsome. Why insist on looking down? From now on, stand tall like this; I find it quite excellent—a very dashing young man!”
“Uh…”
‘He was praised?’
‘Praised by such a beautiful girl?’
‘And called handsome?’
Well… even the youth, somewhat accustomed to his sister’s presence at home, couldn’t help but flush crimson. He spoke with a touch of shyness:
“Y-yes, I-I’ll do that from now on…”
Thereafter, they set off for the so-called pawn shop, a lighthearted air now accompanying their journey.
Leya also learned the youth’s name: Dean. It struck her as rather pitiable that he was so destitute he lacked a surname, though she herself had no standing to criticize others on that front…
Putting aside the casually chosen name, wasn’t this ‘pawn shop’ merely the quickest way for a certain individual to acquire some funds?
Hehehe, Leya vividly recalled Knight Roy’s words: a single bottle of her red potion was equivalent to several months of his wages!