NOVEL WEB Ch. 3.3
The chapel was beyond the square, and the city's residents apparently visited about once every three days.
It wasn't a stuffy place—they performed prayers to heal livestock diseases, and domestic consultations like lovers' quarrels or children's behavioral problems were brought there. It was both a familiar animal hospital and an easy-going consultation center. It apparently sometimes played a role in solving strange incidents. The priest had a hard time hearing but was quick on catching things, and according to the female stall owner, the chapel was usually the source of peculiar rumors.
"Like a convenience store, something like that."
She wasn't particularly interested, and didn't think they'd tell a passing traveler about top-secret major problems, but just outside the square, there was a conspicuous building. A white chapel with a tower. The doors were thrown wide open, and when Safi glanced inside, a man in white clothes came flying out.
"Hmm, a suspicious little girl with an unfamiliar face. Take off your hat and raise your face."
It was an exasperating commanding tone. The white-robed figure looked down at a piece of paper in his hand, then stared intently at Safi's face again. He seemed to be comparing them. When it fluttered, she could glimpse the contents. It was a wanted poster. Safi obediently took off her hat and deliberately swung her long hair around.
"It may be somewhat different."
Not somewhat, but completely different.
The wanted poster depicting the girl was unnecessarily skillful, precisely drawn down to moles, eyebrow shape, and how the hair stuck out. When did someone see her, who drew this... it was so detailed it made its credibility questionable.
That girl was about the same age as Safi, but had short hair, and the lines around her mouth and chin were completely different. There was no need to compare.
"Is that the famous thief you're talking about?"
She tried fishing for information. The white-robed figure's eyes widened in surprise. Those gathered in the depths of the chapel also reacted sensitively and approached. She had stirred up a hornet's nest. There was also an atmosphere suggesting things would become complicated.
"Where did you learn of this? You, where do you come from?"
Being suddenly called "you" like that was unacceptable. Safi felt like teasing him a little.
"I am... Well, let's see. I'm someone who just came out from inside the castle a moment ago."
"I see, so that was it."
Surprisingly, he was convinced. It was true that she had escaped from the prison inside the castle, and there was no lie in that. The man who asked seemed to regard the strangely dressed girl as someone connected to the castle. It was hard to judge whether he was just honest and good-natured, or slow-witted.
He really was good-natured—the white-robed man invited her inside and even served hot tea to welcome her. They might simply be helpful people. And as soon as Safi sat in a chair, the man began talking without being asked.
Breaking through strict and perfect defenses, a thief girl had infiltrated the inner sanctuary and stolen treasures. The thief girl was either a magician or sorcerer, using mysterious powers to confound the guardian soldiers. They had strengthened security around the castle gates and increased watch, but so far there was no sign she had left outside the walls.
And the Elder Master had been preoccupied with the problem since noon, the disciples were being used as errand boys, and they were so busy they had no time to rest...
As far as Safi could see, the chapel was perfectly calm, and the executive-looking white-robed figure had leisure to wait for his tea to cool before taking a sip. She had seen them running at full speed earlier, so they probably had quite a few tasks, but it didn't seem like the kind of frantic situation of great commotion either.
Also, while the female stall owner had called him a "priest," the disciples referred to him as "Elder Master." The Elder Master had gone to the inner sanctuary and there was no prospect of his return. There were many needed items, and the menial workers complained about being busy going back and forth, but with their nagging superior absent, they seemed to be taking it rather easy.
The part about the thief who infiltrated the castle being a girl of the same generation was somewhat concerning, but it wasn't a matter for a traveler to delve deeply into. It was ultimately an incident in a passing town, and even if the stolen treasure was valuable, it was an internal problem.
Additionally, the white-robed figure's story wasn't particularly interesting either—it was tedious and made her yawn. Safi was curious by nature, but also got bored quickly.
"Well then, I'll take my leave here. The tea was delicious."
"It was only coarse tea."
The people at the chapel seemed to have no interest in Safi's black robes. She didn't know what god they worshipped, but until now there had been unpleasant people who treated her badly the moment they discovered she was a black magician. She couldn't really tell what was antagonistic to what, and who could be called allies, as a small traveler.
The moment she stepped outside the chapel, she ran into guards. Setting aside the whereabouts of the thief girl who had disappeared, she had forgotten that she herself was an escaped prisoner... Safi instantly levitated and climbed the chapel tower. The guards carried large bows but made no motion to nock them.
"Wait there."
There were rarely people who waited when told to. Safi fluttered her blue robe and departed into the darkness. Whether the group of guards gave chase or gave up, she couldn't see the alley paths from her high vantage point.
This fortress city was an incomplete circle, with part of the castle walls—the area with watchtowers—forming a straight line. Whether they had continued building over several generations, or had once collapsed in warfare, each watchtower had a different style and different gate structures. The castle gate extending from the square was particularly large, covered with gorgeous white decorative stone and luxurious. This must be the main gate.
"Well, it's full of guards again. I wonder how many hundreds there are..."
When she went through back alleys and approached the main gate area, she could see many guards on high alert. The large flames swaying in the watchtowers were probably unrelated to the festival. It was a completely wasteful deployment. The one escaping was said to be a single thief girl. They didn't need large-scale weapons or armaments, and she probably wouldn't think to escape from the front in the first place.
"There sure are a lot of people with time on their hands."
On the roof of a tall building overlooking the main gate, Safi rested her wings. Her magical power wasn't infinite, but it had endurance, and she wouldn't make the mistake of crashing while floating. However, she wasn't used to stopping in mid-air and it was mentally tiring.
Besides, she didn't dislike walking. She was possessed by the strange idea that stepping firmly on the earth and advancing was a traveler's basic principle. It might have been valuable teaching the old woman had given her, or something a travel veteran she'd met at some inn had said.
The security at the castle gate was formidable, and they looked like a great gathering of fools with their heads lined up, but this too wasn't a matter for an outsider to interfere with.
If I were a fugitive... Safi imagined. Actually, she was an escaped prisoner herself, but setting that aside, first she wouldn't attempt a frontal breakthrough—she'd disguise herself as a town girl and blend into the crowd. Disguising herself as a stall vendor would also be a brilliant idea. Then she'd hide in a merchant's wagon and wait it out, making a clean escape tomorrow morning. This was also a clever plan.
❁❁❁ From the Author ❁❁❁
A theft incident that occurred inside the castle. It was committed by a lone perpetrator, and the thief appears to be a young girl...
—— "rested her wings"
This is a metaphorical expression; wings don't actually grow from the protagonist's back. To avoid repetition of the same words in action scenes, I sometimes use such metaphors.