Chapter 13: Where? Borrow some money?

After resolving their travel dispute, Cynthia and Ina set off for the Kingdom of Barlia.

But they hadn’t gone far before a new problem arose.

To avoid drawing attention, Cynthia produced two hooded cloaks to conceal their distinct features.

At a border post station between the Karmoz Empire and Barlia, they stood before a departing carriage.
Ina, frantic, rummaged through her belongings.

“Where’s my wallet?!”

She searched every possible spot for her purse, turning her pockets inside out, but found not a single nar.

No way… I lost my wallet?!

Sweat beaded on Ina’s forehead.
She turned stiffly to Cynthia, her eyes pleading.

Cynthia returned an innocent shrug, her expression apologetic.

“Ladies, if you can’t pay for the ride, I’m leaving.”

The coachman sighed, his tone regretful.
“Sorry, it’s time to go. I’ve got other paying passengers to consider.”

“Wait—please, just a moment!”

“I’m sorry, but I’m responsible for those who paid.”

With a tip of his hat, the coachman flicked the reins, and the carriage rolled away.

Ina stared at the receding vehicle, stunned, then grabbed Cynthia’s shoulders and shook her.
“Cynthia-chan! Why don’t you have any money?!”

“…Why would I carry money?”

Despite her dizziness, Cynthia’s face was pure confusion.

Ina froze, her realization hitting hard.

This girl… can fly.
She doesn’t seem to eat.
She has zero material desires.
And with her clear goals, she doesn’t need money to get around.

So… I’m the one who caused this mess?!

Swallowing hard, Ina knew asking Cynthia to fly her would be admitting defeat.

But walking? Cynthia might be fine, but Ina would collapse from exhaustion.

She didn’t know how the Karmoz Empire’s subhuman society functioned, but in human lands, money was everything.

Like now—without it, they couldn’t even board a carriage.

“Ugh…”

Ina slumped onto a wooden bench at the inn, staring skyward as if coins might rain down.

Dear Goddess, can you spot me some cash?

She prayed silently, knowing full well the Goddess, though real, rarely answered such pleas.

If prayers worked that well, everyone would be rich by now.

What a useless Goddess! If we meet, I’m giving you a kick.

Such thoughts would’ve outraged the Holy Church’s faithful.
Blasphemy was unthinkable!

But as a Saint, Ina felt no guilt, embracing her inner witch.

As she pondered ways to scrounge up money, a voice called from the inn’s management hut.

“Hey, girls, still waiting here?”

A bald man in his forties or fifties leaned out the window, smiling.
“Don’t bother. There’s only one carriage daily, and this area’s bandit territory. You’d better head home.”

“Bandits?”

Cynthia, standing nearby, perked up at the word.
“Close by?”

“You look like you’re from the empire next door. This spot’s at the kingdom-empire border—law and order’s shaky compared to bustling areas. Inns like ours pay protection fees to operate safely.”

“You seem like a vampire, but take my advice—those bandits have ways to handle your kind. Leave while you can.”

“Thanks for the tip. We’ll think it over.”

Cynthia blinked and turned toward Ina.

“What’re you planning?”

Ina straightened, a bad feeling creeping in as Cynthia approached.

“Need money, right?”

Cynthia gave a thumbs-up, nodding toward the man.
“Shall we fix this?”

“Even if we’re broke, we can’t rob a middle-aged guy!”

Ina leaned close, whispering fiercely with righteous indignation.
“That’d make us no better than bandits!”

“Huh? You’re quite the witch in that sense.”

Cynthia hadn’t meant the man at all, amused by Ina’s assumption.
“I meant the bandits.”

“Bandits… wait, you’re going to rob bandits?”

“Don’t call it robbery. I’m… borrowing money. Got it?”

“You planning to pay it back?”

“Nope.”

Ina searched Cynthia’s face for a hint of jest but found only dead seriousness.

“Can I skip this…”

“Then get to Barlia on your own.”

Cynthia’s single sentence cornered her.

“Fine, fine, you win. I’ll go.”

When you’re under someone’s roof, you bow your head.

Ina sighed and stood.
“So, how do we find these bandits?”

“Hmm…”

Cynthia thought for a moment, then turned and shouted to the man.
“Uncle, where are those bandits?”

“Where?”

The manager scratched his bald head, frowning as he recalled.
“Let’s see… I think they’re in the mountains northeast of the station… You girls, don’t go there!”

But by the time he finished, Cynthia and Ina were already heading northeast, leaving the station behind.
“Wait! That’s the wrong way! Northeast is that direction!”

“Even if they look like adventurers, isn’t it reckless for two girls to take on bandits?”

Watching them vanish without a backward glance, the man sank back into his hut, sighing.
“Well, I warned them. Whatever happens next isn’t on me.”