Sicar’s words skillfully navigated the darkened mountain path, even though he wasn’t speaking like a thief.

Since I was completely inexperienced in horseback riding, I sat in front of Sicar, holding the reins. However, in reality, what supported me wasn’t the reins but Sicar’s hand holding me from behind.

After riding for some time, Sicar finally stopped the horse.

“Now, we should walk from here. Merchants might be startled and flee.”

Dismounting the horse, we walked through the forest path, experiencing walking on a mountain path at this time for the first time… No, it was the first time walking a mountain path in the dead of night.

Relying solely on the moonlight, the dim mountain path felt eerie and unsettling.

It became understandable why merchants take such a potion to cross the mountain path.

The pitch-dark mountain path, possibly darker than keeping eyes open while walking, would not be surprising if something suddenly appeared.

Being too frightened, I unknowingly clung to Sicar’s arm like a cicada.

“Just the two of us, and your expression of affection is excessive.”

No, it’s not that. I’m just scared… Never mind. Whatever I say, he’ll probably just listen as he pleases.

I thought that, but it wasn’t the case. After a while, Sicar placed his hand on my shoulder and said, “It seems you’re scared of the dark. How about closing your eyes? Or should I carry you? No, it might be better if I carry you.”

“I can’t be carried; I’m scared of what’s behind.”

“Then, how about me carrying you from behind?”

“That would make walking look weird.”

Upon hearing that, Sicar treated me like a child, grabbing under my arms and placing my feet on top of his.

“How about this? Isn’t it less uncomfortable than you thought?”

This is really… Seriously. It’s less scary, but…

The posture was awkward though. If someone saw… Well, there probably won’t be anyone. Anyway, how funny would it be if someone did see?

“But isn’t your foot hurting?”

“I forgot I’m a Sitarr. Lifting your small feet is nothing. And your petite body goes without saying.”

“That’s fortunate, but…”

“Now, shh.”

“Huh?”

“Merchants don’t carry torches to avoid monster attacks. Since they have to find their way only by sound, we need to walk quietly to find them.”

Right. We need to be quiet to hear others talking.

Walking so affectionately with Sicar, I heard faint whispers from somewhere.

Sicar, as if treating me tenderly, spoke into my ear while blowing air.

“You heard it too, right? This sound.”

“Yeah.”

“It seems to be from this direction.”

Sicar held my waist tightly and walked a bit faster, but he didn’t release this awkward posture.

“Hey, Sicar. If people see us like this, they’ll find it very amusing…”
In a posture and pace that would make one wonder how it was possible, Sicar walked faster and faster like a skilled person, yet without making a sound, he stealthily moved forward.

So, before my words could even finish, we encountered the merchants.

Although there were only about five merchants at a glance, they seemed to regard us with caution when they first saw us. They gripped their clubs tightly, but upon seeing me, who was riding on Sicar’s back, they raised their heads and smirked as if in amusement.

Ah, perhaps they didn’t mistake us for a crazy couple?

“You’re here.”

In the midst of this, I was whispering to Sicar to loosen his grip on my waist, telling him it’s okay now. However, his attention was on the merchants, not me.

To show such a sight to people we’ve never met before… Oh, how embarrassing.

The merchants, surprised by Sicar’s low and heavy voice, assumed a defensive posture.

“Who are you?”

“Are you chasing us?”

“Who is the one who bought the potion?”

“Why do you ask about that?”

“Judging by your stuttering, it seems to be you.”

The person who stuttered was caught, and he swallowed his spit in surprise.

Sicar, for the first time in a while, drew his sword from his waist, aimed it at the man, and said, “Sell me that potion.”

This guy, pulling out a sword again for a deal.

Educating someone is really not an easy task, and I felt that once again as I removed Sicar’s hand that was tightly holding my waist.

Then, I raised my hand above Sicar’s arm, which was holding the sword.

“Lower the sword.”

“I will handle it.”

“There are things to resolve with a sword and things to resolve with words. So, lower the sword.”

Looking at Sicar, who was looking down at me with an uneasy gaze, it seemed that his stubbornness wouldn’t be broken all at once.

So, although I didn’t want to, I activated the Sicar training method I had quietly learned so far.

In other words, I smiled broadly at Sicar, caressed his cheek with my hand like acting cute, and said, “I’ll do it.”

Whether Sicar’s cheek turned red in the dark or not, it wasn’t clear, but one thing was certain—Sicar’s face became warmer.

Sicar coughed once and immediately lowered the sword.

“Fine.”

Then, looking at the merchants, he said as if growling, “Answer well. Understand?”