Sienna is a wanted person?
Someone who looks like they’ve never even hit another person in their life…!
[Do you realize that the woman just now has killed over a dozen people? There wasn’t even a hint of hesitation in her movements.]
No, but they were bandits.
She wouldn’t have harmed an innocent person, right?
“Sienna, did you do something wrong?”
“Uh… I, I only ran away while carrying Rain.”
“….”
Well, if that counts as a crime, then I guess it is one.
She did technically kidnap an official knight of the Boyd family while he was lying in bed as a patient.
But still…
It’s not like the Boyd family is unaware of my usual relationship with Sienna.
Besides, Sienna had been working with the knights under the family’s orders in the first place.
Even if she did disappear with me, there are plenty of people who would defend Sienna—Lowell and the Black Wing Knights, for example.
And most importantly…
“This is a warrant issued by the kingdom.”
“That’s what I’m saying….”
Reading the warrant, it was clear that the bounty was placed by the royal family.
And the amount was a staggering 15 gold coins.
That’s comparable to the bounty of a high-ranking bandit leader and enough to buy at least three of Gareth’s swords.
As for the reason… It’s not really specified.
It only states that as long as she is brought back in one piece, a reward will be given by the royal family.
“At least there’s no portrait on it. That’s a relief.”
The poster only contained a brief written description.
The only notable detail was that she was described as very beautiful and young.
If there was one truly distinguishing feature, it would be her hair color.
I mean, I’ve never seen anyone else with black and green mixed hair in both my past and present lives besides Sienna.
“Where did you get this?”
“A little while ago, an old lady gave it to me….”
“What? An old lady?”
“M-my hood slipped off while fighting the bandits, so I think she saw me then.”
“…What did she say?”
“She told me to be careful and that she’d never report me….”
“Hmm.”
Maybe since we saved the village, she felt it was better to warn us rather than report it.
Seems like beating up all those bandits was worth it.
“What about other people?”
“I don’t know… I feel like someone else might have seen me.”
“Then we should get moving.”
“Yeah…”
Even if that old lady decided to keep quiet, who knows about the others?
I turned to look at the village.
Right now, everyone was too busy cleaning up after the attack, but plenty of people must have seen Sienna’s face.
Sure, we saved them, but would no one be tempted by 15 gold coins?
“For now, let’s head back.”
“Ah, okay….”
Since we needed to sort things out as well, we gathered the equipment we took from the bandits and made our way back to the cabin in the forest.
“Rain….”
Sienna, who had been silent the entire way back, lost in thought, looked at me with trembling eyes as soon as we arrived.
“W-what should I do?”
“Don’t worry too much.”
Even though she usually seemed so strong and determined, seeing the kingdom put out a bounty on her had clearly shaken her.
“Sh-should I hide in my hometown’s forest?”
“Are you sure you won’t get caught?”
“Uh… If I never come out….”
“No, no, you don’t have to go that far.”
“Then…?”
“I’ll give you two options.”
I raised two fingers in front of her.
“T-two?”
“Yes. Either way, both will ensure your safety from the royal family’s pursuit.”
“W-what are they?”
Sienna was clearly anxious, but honestly, I didn’t think this was that big of a problem.
I mean…
“First, we go to the Boyd Margraviate .”
The royal family?
Those guys couldn’t even do anything when a single noble house rebelled against them.
Maybe they were terrifying when the kingdom was stable.
But now that the devils had thrown everything into chaos and the Boyd family was outright defying them? Different story.
“T-the Boyd Margraviate …?”
“Yes, if you come with me, you won’t get into serious trouble. I can just say that I asked you to do it.”
I doubt the Boyd family would be too hostile toward Sienna.
And if the problem is that she ‘kidnapped’ me, I can simply vouch for her.
I’ll go with her and say that once I regained consciousness, I asked her to do it.
That way, the blame will naturally shift to me.
“B-but what about you, Rain…?”
“I can’t stay in the territory anyway, so I’ll find my own way.”
“Ah….”
Of course, this would mean saying goodbye to Sienna.
I couldn’t afford to stay in one place for too long.
The damn devil’s curse marked on me was no joke.
From my left palm up to nearly my shoulder, black-red thorns and roots wrapped around my skin.
At first, I could hide it well enough, but if I stayed in one place for too long, someone was bound to notice.
And if that happened, Sienna, who had been sheltering me, would also suffer the consequences.
Still, I could at least ensure her safety before slipping away.
“How about it? It’s a good plan, right?”
This was the safest solution I could think of.
Sienna, who had taken care of me all this time, could live freely in the Boyd Margraviate and use her talents to their fullest.
“Uh… W-what’s the second option?”
However, without even considering the first option, Sienna immediately asked about the second.
“Hm, well, this one is actually a bit dangerous.”
Honestly, I said there were two options with confidence,
but the second one was more like my own wish.
I’d prefer if Sienna didn’t choose it.
“W-what is it?”
Well, the second option is…
“Let’s run away together.”
“Huh?”
“We abandon the kingdom and go live in another country.”
Just toss this damned kingdom aside and start a new life somewhere else.
If we escape to a place beyond the royal family’s reach, how could they possibly find us?
Both Sienna and I have outstanding combat skills and abilities, so we can forge new identities however we need.
We could hide away in some countryside village, focus on my recovery and training, and eventually, the bounty would naturally fade away.
As Aura users, we already live much longer than ordinary people.
Spending five or ten years waiting for things to settle down wouldn’t be a huge loss. We could train and get stronger in the meantime.
“I-if we go, which country…?”
“Is there anywhere you want to go? Just think of it as a long trip.”
A trip we might never return from, but still—a trip is a trip, right?
To be honest, even as I said it, I knew it was a bit of a shameless suggestion.
From Sienna’s perspective, going to the Boyd Margraviate was obviously the safer and better choice for her.
I was hoping she’d pick that option.
“T-then, should we go to the sea?”
Without hesitation, Sienna chose the latter.
She really is too kind for her own good.
[Tsk, if you truly wanted her to choose the first option, you wouldn’t have given her the second.]
…Was I that obvious?
But honestly, if I have to live in hiding until I solve this damn mark issue—
I’d rather have someone with me.
“Oh, but… where exactly is the sea?”
“We’ll have to find a map of the continent first.”
And if that someone is Sienna, then even better.
She’s a genuinely good person and puts me at ease.
[And her body is quite sensual.]
…That’s just a bonus.
[You filthy beast.]
What’s the problem?
It’s natural for a man to be attracted to a charming woman.
Besides, you know that yourself—that’s why you’re talking in that voice, aren’t you?
[This is my natural voice.]
Sure it is.
By that logic, I’m a master, too.
[Insolent…]
Well, anyway—
“When do you want to leave?”
“Hmm, let’s go as soon as the sun rises tomorrow.”
Now that we had decided, we had to move fast.
“More importantly, will you be okay?”
“Me?”
“Yes, yes. Traveling will be difficult in your condition.”
“Well, I have him, so I’ll be fine.”
I gestured outside.
Grrr…!
There, waiting patiently for us while we were in the village, was Whitey.
“Huh? What does Whitey have to do with anything…?”
“I can ride him.”
He’s big enough for a grown man to ride.
I’ve always wanted to try being a wolf rider—this is the perfect chance.
“Since he’s a spirit beast, he should be able to carry both of us and our supplies just fine.”
“…Whitey isn’t a horse.”
“Then why don’t we each get a mount?”
I’ll ride Whitey, and Sienna can ride a bear or something.
“Wait, but… do you know how to ride properly?”
“Whitey? Is there anything difficult about it?”
I just sit on him, right?
He’s a lot smarter than a horse, so he won’t let me fall.
“It’s harder to keep your balance than on a horse, you know.”
“Really?”
“Yes, and he’s never been trained to carry people.”
“Oh….”
So I might have to walk myself?
It’d be fine for a day or two, but traveling long distances on foot would be rough…
“Then let’s ride together like before.”
“Huh?”
“If we pet him while we ride, he’ll be happy.”
Whitey has a lot in common with dogs—he loves getting his head and back scratched.
So if we keep petting him along the way, he’ll be in a good mood, and we won’t have to walk.
A win-win.
“Oh, um… w-well… if Whitey gets tired, we’ll get off immediately, right?”
“Yes, yes. Also, do we have any other animals to carry supplies?”
“…Then Brown would be best.”
“Ah, Brown.”
For reference, Brown is the Forest Bear we rode when escaping from that viscount’s territory.
After that, Sienna took care of him, and he’s been staying in this forest.
Anyway, with that settled—
“Alright, let’s start preparing.”
“Yes, yes. We need to gather plenty of food first.”
“And maybe some furs or other trade goods for bartering….”
With the plan mostly figured out, we began preparing for our grand escape from the kingdom.
