“You’re too serious, little Rock!”

The drunkard woman cackled cheerfully when she responded. I wished she would stop playing games and just answer already . . .

“I mixed rucolu fruit into your drink, earlier.”

“Ohhh . . . that was it? Is that all?”

“It’s used to assassinate people, you know? Especially at taverns . . .”

Well, I guess it was supposed to be something you diluted with water before drinking. For various reasons, people had begun offering it to me at villages I visited while peddling, almost like a proof of identity. I see . . . So the shield wouldn’t react if it was something that I wouldn’t consider a poison.

But seriously, I hadn’t even considered that rucolu fruit might be used that way. The thing seemed like it would actually be great for assassinations—arsenic wouldn’t even compare. My body apparently didn’t react adversely to it, but still . . .

Nadia quickly wrapped her arms around me and kissed me lightly on the cheek.

“What do you think you’re doing?!”

Was she trying to come on to me? Give me a break! Nadia began walking away slowly. After she had taken several steps, she stopped and looked back over her shoulder at me. She grinned when she spoke, but I wasn’t sure if the look in her eyes was cheerful, worried, or excited for what was to come.

“I really hope that we don’t meet in the coliseum, if at all possible.”

And then Nadia disappeared into the back alleys of Zeltoble, followed by the tapping of her footsteps.

“I really hope you give up before that, if at all possible . . .”

Those were her parting words. What was that supposed to mean? She had tried to poison me, and yet she still told me all about—and even showed me, in action—the risks of the underground coliseum, and then she disappears before I can figure out if she’s flirting with me or worried about me. Then, to top it all off, she tells me to give up? I’m sorry, but giving up wasn’t an option for me.

I left the back alley and headed back toward the slave market to meet up with Raphtalia and the others.

“Did you see any of the villagers?”

Raphtalia came out to meet me.

“There weren’t any today.”

“I see. That’s good.”

Rishia finally returned, accompanied by one of the slave trader’s assistants who had been acting as her bodyguard.

“Fehhhh . . . That was scary!”

“Rafu!”

“I hear it can be dangerous for you, if people think you’re involved. There are people out there who will do anything to win, apparently.”

“Fehhh!”

Keeping our safety in mind, I used my portal skill and we returned to the village after that. I don’t know if it was our scent or what, but Filo came running up immediately.

“Master! Welcome baaaack!”

“Thanks. It’s late already. Are the brats asleep?”