The names and genders of the characters have been translated accurately and consistently.

“When I came out in comfortable clothes, the surroundings had already been cleaned up.

I cautiously stepped down from the carriage, surveying the surroundings where no traces of the fight remained. It felt strange to wear something other than a dress—it had been a long time.

“Miss.”

Cheshire, who spotted me, greeted me with a cheerful smile. His appearance, neatly arranged as if he hadn’t just fought moments ago, surprised me even more. While I heard he was a skilled mercenary, I didn’t expect this level of expertise.

“No injuries, right?”

“Of course not. I’m a capable mercenary, you know.”

Cheshire laughed, tapping his chest.

Curiosity arose about what happened to the original escorts, but I didn’t have the courage to ask.

Instead of saying anything else, I turned my body with the rope that tied my hands. I knew Cheshire deliberately spoke brightly to lighten the mood, but honestly, it didn’t resonate with me.

Since hearing the possibility of Meriel being alive, I had only one thought in my mind. When I heard that story, not rushing out immediately was the maximum patience I could exercise.

“After the aftermath is dealt with, let’s depart immediately. There’s no time to delay.”

Cheshire mimicked someone else’s handwriting well, and I understood the Crayton system.

Thanks to that, I could probably stall time with fake letters sent by the escorts, but I couldn’t afford to waste time. If my disappearance was discovered, Bake’s pursuit would follow soon.

“I’ll lead the way. If you find it challenging, don’t hesitate to tell me right away. I can sleep on the streets, but it’s not the case for you, Miss.”

“I didn’t bring you along to burden you. Just do your part, and don’t worry. Go as fast as you can.”

It was a mixture of lies and sincerity.

As someone not formally trained, I knew better than anyone that I couldn’t be of much help. It was even better if I didn’t become a burden. But even though I understood it in my head, I couldn’t easily adapt to reality or suppress my anxiety.

I always regretted.

I never protected the side of the family that left first. I was always in a position to watch from a distance. I didn’t want to be like that anymore.

I moved forward with my mouth tightly closed. The lower view than usual, and the absence of the heavy hem of the dress, felt strange, but it made moving easier.

“We’re heading down the lower reaches of the Itar River.”

“Was that where Rose’s whereabouts were first discovered?”

The Itar River was known for its swift currents, and once you fell in, it was practically a life-or-death situation. Especially around the upper reaches near the Academy, the narrow and steep cliffs made it almost impossible to escape, despite being good at swimming.

However, thanks to that common knowledge, Rose was able to escape Bake’s pursuit, and we were able to determine the direction of the chase.
The names and genders of the characters have been translated accurately and consistently.

In the future, our task was to think and act as sensibly as possible, excluding common sense.

“Where should we start the search?”

Even though the upper reaches of the Itar River had strong currents, as we moved downstream, the water flow spread in all directions. If we were to explore every inch of that waterway, it would be pressing even with plenty of time. We needed to clearly determine the direction.

“I will follow your opinion, Miss. In fact, most of that area has been searched from my end, so it will be similar no matter which direction we choose.”

Cheshire handed me a map.

There were red markings on the map, likely indicating the places he had searched. I could see how much he had thoroughly combed this area.

Cheshire was one of the few people who hadn’t forgotten Meriel’s death. I felt grateful and sorry for that.

“I caught Fisher Manor, and there’s nothing else to do. Unlike others, I don’t have any constraints, so my body is relatively free. I have plenty of time.”

Whether Cheshire interpreted my silence or not, he chuckled smoothly.

In reality, there was no story to brush off with a smile.

The suspicion against Cheshire had been completely resolved, but that wasn’t the end.

Even though mercenaries were often described as outlaws, there were rules. In the case of the Empire, only registered mercenary groups could officially operate, and requests could only be made through the Association.

If one could control the Association, erasing the existence of a newly formed mercenary group would be easy.

The Cat Mercenary Group no longer received any requests. Not only from the Empire but also from any place under Crayton’s influence, they avoided getting involved with Cheshire.

Unless Bake’s reach extended to distant lands, the only requests he could handle now would be discreet or illegal ones.

But absurdly, we had to be thankful for that much. If Cheshire hadn’t entrusted himself to Duke Pieren, we knew he would have been constantly threatened, even with his life.