The Assassin and The Blind Saint

Arc 1 Chapter 16: The City of Ilmenoy

After exiting the Black Dread Valley and walking for 3 hours, I could see a City from the horizon. Not a big city. Ilmenoy City was originally just a resting place called—Ilmenoy Inn. The merchants waiting for his permission to exit to enter the Empire's territory would usually rest here. Gradually, this place became popular. Many new buildings that appear to be a small town.

“Hey Sirius, What kind of city is Ilmenoy?”

“Well... I have never heard good news about this City,” I replied. “That's because this city has a high crime rate you know. And there is no official administrator in this city. In other words, this is a law-free City,”.

After a while of walking, we finally reached Ilmenoy City. People are free to enter and leave the city. We plan only to rest here a few hours before going to the Empire's border post to go to Brashwigh Town where Lena is located.

“Hey Sirius, I don't like the atmosphere of this City,” said Lena quietly.

That can be understood, most people who inhabit this City are people who do not have a population. Plus this is a law-free City, often times crimes happen here.

As we walked, I saw a child walking asking - ask people – people passing by. Not long after, the boy approached us.

“Master, be merciful. Some Colling for me bought some Bread,” he said while thrusting a hat containing two pieces of Colling.

The boy looked very thin, dirty and very weak. I then realized Lena was pulling on my sleeve. I see, you don't always have to be like this, do you? I then approached the boy and said, “ Listen to me young man, I give you some Shilling. Follow my words well. Buy the food you used to buy. If your body is better, go to the border and work in the Empire. Don't let you show this money to others.”

The boy did not try to hear my advice at all because he was stunned to see some silver coins in his hat. He then ran into an alley quickly without saying thank you. As expected of the street boys who are not taught manners. I looked at the alley where the boy had gone.

“What's up, Sirius?”

“It's okay, Lena. Let's find a place to eat.”

We then walked to a dining place near the Ilmenoy Inn, the center of this City.

...----------------...

On the other side of Ilmenoy City, there were three Men who were fighting with some people in an alley.

“Is that all you can do?!”

One of the three men then darted and pointed his fist towards the face of his enemy.

Bamm!!

“Heee~ with this ability, how dare you rob us?” The fellow then approached some of his enemies in the other direction.

The seedy robbers were no match for them and before long, all the robbers had been crushed by them.

“Well... I think this is a good thing to do to reduce my boredom of looking for that candidate.”

“We've been here two days but, we still haven't seen anyone who matches the characteristics of that Saint candidate. Hey Mantis, is the information we received correct?” ask the man to his partner who just watched them play.

“Of course, this information we got from the Intelligence unit of the Republic of Anconia. Ape, Sarkous, if you guys are having fun, let's go to the city center to collect information,” take Mantis.

“Ya~ya.”

They left the robber and headed towards the center of the city.

“Hey, what do you think of the power his bodyguards have?” ask Ape.

“What concern? What can an Assassin of Ouroboros do?” sarkous Reply.

“What do you think Mantis?”

“Well... I once fought one of them first,” replied Mantis. “They are very good at ambushing enemies and fighting at close range. Having strange items and very experienced fighting carrier,” he explained.

“Hee~ Attracts.”

“But remember well, our main mission is to kidnap the Candidate Saint. If there is a chance, we must immediately bring it before Mr. Geldoro.” Mantis reminded his colleagues.

After arriving at the center of the City, they then entered a restaurant close to the Ilmenoy Inn. They ordered food and sat in the middle of the restaurant.

“Food here is so boring you know,” Sarkous said.

“What do you expect from the City so - soan?”

“Hurry to finish, I want to quickly end this mission and return to the front lines of the war,” Mantis scolded.

“Hey Mantis, my eyes are not wrong, right? see it behind you, near the wall not far from the stairs.” Ape pointed at something behind Mantis.

He turned around and saw a platinum-haired blind woman eating with a black-haired man. Mantis then froze and turned to face her colleagues.

“Rekan - my colleagues, we found it.”

...----------------...

After I finished eating, Sirius and I left the restaurant.

“Hey Sirius, can we stop by the Temple we passed earlier? I haven't been to the Shrine for too long you know,” I asked Sirius.

Sirius then escorted me to the Temple on the outskirts of Ilmenoy City. At the end of this, Sirius looked more relaxed than usual. He is also more obedient to what I want. If it was before, he would have denied this and that if I told him to do good. I think it's a good change.

After a while of walking, we finally arrived at the temple and were greeted by a Temple priest.

“Greetings brother, can I help you?” ask the priest.

“My friend wants to pray here, is that okay - what?" ask Sirius.

“Of course you can, please sign in.”

“Alright, Lena. I won't be long this time,” said Sirius.

“Ummm.”

I then heard Sirius' footsteps begin to drift away. I unconsciously started holding onto the necklace she gave me the other day.

“Alright Miss, please follow me.”

I then followed the pastor to the prayer room. He said the central officials in the Imperial Capital made this place for merchants and travelers to pray for the safety and direction of the Goddess Athena.

I knelt down and crossed my fingers and began to pray. I am grateful to be given salvation during this journey by the Goddess Athena. The beginning of the journey was indeed very scary because of the enemy's attacks. However, after meeting Sirius, this trip became what I had always been looking for. Adventure to discover new things, know new things, meet unique people and their problems. I really enjoyed it. All thanks to him.

Brakk!

Arrived – arrived I heard the sound of the door breaking.

“What - what is this?! no one should enter this holy place in such a way!” I heard the priest screaming.

“Hei~hei quiet pastor. We also want to join in praying you know, especially with the Miss who was there.”

I heard a man talking. I don't like the tone of his speech to the priest.

“I told you guys ti—“

THE BAMMM!

I heard a blow from the punch, I think the man hit the priest.

“Hey Sir! What do you mean to come here - come here and make money?!” ask me with a high note.

“Hehehe~ I told you, we're here to find you Miss.”

“Eh?”

...----------------...

After buying supplies and walking back to meet Lena, I found a small child lying battered in the wound all over her body.

“Hee~ turns out he can steal this much!”

“When he just got into our Gang, how did this weakling do it?”

There were some children who were counting the money I had given this boy.

I walked over to check on his body. I put my palm on his neck veins.

He's already dead.

“Stupid, you should have listened to my advice earlier, boy,”.

I then stood up and stared intently at the boys.

“A-what do you want?”

The boys looked terrified as I stared at them intently.

“Be from here you guys!” My atonement.

“Hiiiikkk!”

They then ran away - the bird left this place.

This might be a lesson for me in the future. If you want to help someone who is helpless, help them to the end.

Suddenly, I felt my necklace shake indicating that Lena had moved beyond my range of supervision.

“Lena...”.

I then ran as fast as I could to the location of the Temple but alas, Lena was no longer in that Temple.