Bad Crowd

Azu grabbed the boy's arm and took a quick look around.

Several passersby were watching, starting to wonder what was going on.

A cafe employee was walking over too.

Standing in front of the cafe would just draw more attention.

Then again, going back into a cafe she'd already paid at would look rather foolish.

And interrogating someone there would be a nuisance to them.

"Come with me."

Azu hauled the boy by his arm without giving him a choice.

His struggles were in vain as he was dragged along.

The difference in strength was overwhelming.

Looking for somewhere with fewer people, she naturally ended up heading south.

With each block they moved, the area lost more of its energy. She could feel the safety declining.

"How far are you taking me?!"

She ignored his protests.

Since Azu looked like a cute young girl and the rest of her group were all women, people gave them the occasional curious look but nothing more.

If their genders had been reversed, the guards might have come running.

Once she judged the spot was good enough, she pulled him into an alley.

After confirming that Elza and Alexia had blocked the exit, Azu let go of the boy's hand.

The spot where she'd been gripping him was red.

She'd been holding back, but she might have gotten a little too worked up.

"You monster grip! What'd you drag me here for… you gonna sell me to a slave trader?"

The boy put on a brave front, but having learned firsthand he couldn't overpower Azu, his hands were trembling.

"I'm not going to do that. You didn't actually get anything, so I'm not hauling you to a guardpost either."

"Th-then what? I don't have anything on me."

"I'm sure you don't. I can tell a child who resorts to pickpocketing is struggling to eat."

"Don't worry. We just want to talk."

The boy flinched hardest at Elza's smile.

Elza was quietly wounded by that fact.

"That wasn't your first time pickpocketing, was it? You were too smooth."

"Well… yeah. The clumsy ones get caught. I'd been doing fine up until now."

"You were just lucky. If you'd targeted another adventurer instead of Azu-chan, they might've taken your arm off."

The boy went silent at that.

It seemed he himself knew his luck wouldn't hold forever.

"I heard crime's been going up in this city lately. Know anything about that?"

"It's 'cause of all the outsiders. People who couldn't make it elsewhere are banding together and pulling stuff."

"Oh? Like what?"

"Shaking down shop clerks they catch skimming, charging fees for territory. They're good at staying off the guards' radar."

"You don't join them?"

When Elza asked, the boy shook his head.

"Those guys demand money from anyone new. If you can't pay, who knows what they'll do to you. The guy running the whole thing is famous for punching people on the spot."

"I see. Do you know where they hang out?"

"South. Way south. Around here there aren't many people, but patrols still come through."

When public safety deteriorated, areas slumified.

Squatters moved in, and it became a breeding ground for crime.

Jacob understood this and was investing in security.

But the government side was always playing catch-up.

And from what the boy said, these people were operating in the shadows.

The guards wouldn't go all out over small incidents.

If anyone could deal with it right now, it would need to be someone more nimble.

Yes, adventurers would be well-suited for this.

"Show us where. Once you do, you're free to go."

"Ugh… fine."

Deciding resistance was pointless, the boy gave in and followed Azu's lead.

"I'll show you properly, so stop grabbing me."

"I won't grab you if you don't run."

The boy started walking, keeping a wary eye on Azu.

Azu and the others followed behind him.

"What if it's a trap?"

"Saves us the trouble."

"My thoughts exactly."

"Honestly, you two are so eager for a fight. I get it from Alexia-chan, but even you, Azu-chan?"

"Master taught me that you're done the moment you let people walk all over you."

Elza said it with exasperation, but she didn't seem inclined to object.

Back when Azu had worked solo as an adventurer, people had underestimated her because of how she looked.

Once someone saw you as beneath them, their arrogance only grew.

That was a dangerous sign.

The thought of Master's shop being targeted again left Azu anything but calm.

Lunchtime came and went as they walked.

A street vendor was selling fried potatoes, so Azu bought an extra portion for the boy and handed it over.

"Oh, uh… thanks."

"Your reward."

"D-don't patronize me!"

He said that, but he didn't let go of the potatoes, cradling them close as he ate. He must have been hungry. He wolfed them down and licked the oil off his fingers.

"That's bad manners."

Elza scolded him, but the boy pretended not to hear.

Before long, the atmosphere shifted unmistakably.

"Past here, there's a big inn. That's their hangout."

"You sure?"

"I don't lie. H-hey, can I go now? If they see me here, I'll get it bad."

"Alright. You can go. And stop pickpocketing. If you look around properly, you'll find work."

The boy bolted like a startled rabbit.

His legs were fast, at least.

"Child poverty is such a difficult issue. At least Orleans-chan had work available to her."

"That's the government's job. I'm sure that acting lord will sort it out before too long."

"For now, let's go."

Azu said so and took a step forward.

Just as the boy had described, a large inn came into view.

A lookout was posted outside.

The man noticed Azu approaching and moved to block the entrance.

"Whaddya want? If you're looking for a room, try somewhere else."

The man was shabbily dressed, his expression stiff.

He seemed to be trying to intimidate Azu.

But from Azu's perspective, he wasn't the least bit frightening.

Powerful monsters bore down on you with killing intent alongside sheer force of presence.

Compared to that, a man puffing himself up could only look comical.

"I have business here. Let me through."

"Tch, beat it, brat."

The moment he reached for Azu's shoulder, she drove the pommel of her sword into his gut.

The man flew backward, crashing through the door and into the building.

"That was self-defense, right?"

"Ehh, maybe?"

"Let's just get this over with."