"Did you find anything interesting?"

"No, what about you?"

"The attacker seems to have some kind of strong obsession with shoes. Maybe they're some sect that uses shoes as a sacred object?"

“…… Come on, we're not playing the game, let's put the joke time later. ”

"Then I didn't find anything. ”

End of conversation.

The two freshly baked explorers proved to be incompetent, and they wasted hours of time failing to find anything of value. When the sun turns west and the temperature begins to drop slightly, even if Jamila is no longer reconciled, she can only obediently admit her defeat.

"I'm sure I'll be able to get to the bottom of this!" a dark elf clenched his fist and shouted into the sunset to show his determination.

"Oh, if you have to keep going, then I'm going to prepare dinner for tonight. Alice reminded: "You know very well what the atmosphere of Mosal is at night these days, if you drag it any longer, not to mention that you can't find a bed, maybe you won't even be able to enter the door of the hotel." ”

"Hmm...... Then we might as well go back early. Half a minute ago, the Danmo girl, who was still in a state of high morale, instantly withered. She spoke curtly, even bigger than Alice's stride when she offered to leave.

What are you kidding, my curiosity is not satisfied, but it is just a little unpleasant. But if you eat something that Alice made......

That's going to kill you!

So just like that, the two young ladies rushed over in high spirits, and slipped back dejectedly. This time the operation was nothing – at least for Jamila.

Presumably because Alice's plan for cooking dinner was too harsh on Jamila, by the time they found a new lodge, Jamila had no appetite to fill her stomach. She absentmindedly nibbled on something and went back to her room, where she slept.

"It's delicious. Alice shook her head, and continued to concentrate on the portion of dinner on her plate.

It's already dark. Because of the recent bloodshed, there are hardly any people on the streets at nightfall. Even the patrolling guards are acting in groups, and the patrol area that could have been solved in ten minutes may not be able to be completed even if it takes half an hour.

Of course, for those who are energetic and don't dare to wander the streets, running to the hotel to consume ale is also a good option to kill time. They shouted loudly, boasting about their feats that even the ancient heroes could not keep up with. A few guys who had drunk too much exchanged their fists, which drew a flurry of applause.

Alice pricked up her ears at first, trying to figure out one or two favorable messages from the conversations. But it soon became clear to her that it was a complete waste.

What are these guys talking about?

'I killed a snow troll yesterday with my bare hands on the other side of the forest. Was the Snow Troll in the forest, and could he have been killed with his fists?

'The female boss of the Night Star Moon Chamber of Commerce is a little bean with no breasts and no ass. —even if it's true...... Is it really okay to expose people behind your back?

'There's a snowstorm on Ivusted's side, and it's estimated that the price of purple shirts will increase this year. It would be a month before the news of Iwustead arrived, and that kind of news ...... Probably that makes sense to timber merchants.

‘……………………’

Alice sighed lightly and decided not to waste her time on this meaningless work.

She asked the waiter for a glass of cider wine, then leaned back in her chair and took a sip.

Rare free time, waste is not necessary.

There was the sound of a lute near the bar, it was a wood elf bard, it seemed to be called Yue Han or something—the name of the wood elf was strange—and his musical skills were just as good as Cheng dù, but if it was just to pass the time, it was not unacceptable.

[Those mysterious warriors...... Why take all the shoes away?]

Alice thought boredly.

Judging from the traces left in the abandoned hamlet, there is no doubt that the fighters who attacked were quite capable of fighting. For Alice, who is still a dragonborn, it is naturally not worth mentioning, but for now...... She is confident of winning alone, and it may not be impossible to win with one against two, if there are more than three, she can only escape.

Alice knew that she had the strength she had now, and if she went all out, she should have the combat power of a member of the Circle of Brothers-in-Arms, capable of suppressing a town directly under the jurisdiction of the main city.

However, there were definitely more than three warriors in that small village.

So, did the people behind the scenes send so many powerful warriors to loot all the shoes in order to clean up a small village of average size?

It doesn't make sense.

Alice shook her head slightly, and guesses came to her mind one after another, and then denied them one by one.

[Really...... I don't have a clue. 】

There was a chill from the doorway, probably someone coming in and out. It's nightfall, and it seems that this guy is quite bold.

Alice casually turned her head to look at the location of the door, just in time to see a guy wrapped in a cloak push the door and leave—an adventure outfit that is common in the morning star and moon, both to keep out the cold and avoid trouble, and Alice is also wrapped in one.

In the next moment, the girl's pupils shrank slightly.

[This guy's shoes...... A little weird?]

Although it was only a casual glimpse, what was projected in the field of vision was nothing more than a pair of dark combat boots that were all the most common. But Alice was sure that the shoes were not ordinary.

[There is a strange feeling...... Is it because your head is full of shoes, so you have allergies?]

[Let's go ahead and have a look.] 】

The girl silently picked up her sword. After a little cover-up, he also left the hotel.

Jamila should be asleep by now, and she probably won't be able to keep up if she is woken up - and her heavy armor is not suitable for tracking.

………………………………

The air at night is cold and humid, and when combined with the near-empty streets, it has a terrifying effect that is almost equivalent to that of low-level illusions. Add to that a few sneaky shadows - that's the level that can calm down a crying child.

Alice carefully followed behind the cloaked man. You gave her a good protective color in the dark of the night, and it was impossible to reveal her whereabouts with the few torches planted at the street entrance.

What's more, the person she is tracking is not a powerful character.

She realized it when she walked out the door - the man in the strange shoes wasn't a big character. Judging by his rough walking gait, the clumsy way he moved, and the kind of startled vigilance. This guy in front of him is undoubtedly a fledgling rookie.

Well, maybe we should use 'she'. Judging by the way she walks, there is no doubt that she is a young woman. Maybe a little older than Alice, maybe about the same age.

But this only piqued Alice's interest even more - this woman...... I didn't make a sound when I walked.

An adventurer who is just a rookie no matter how you look at it, can actually achieve silent movement that is difficult for a veteran assassin to achieve, and still in a standing position?

Are you kidding!?

Well, the only possibility is the shoes. Alice remembers very well that the Dark Brotherhood assassins seemed to be wearing these silent moving boots.

【Dark Brotherhood ......】

Alice subconsciously wiped the scar on her throat, and in Loristed, the Brotherhood assassin had brought her quite a deep memory.

Extraordinary...... Impressed.

At this moment, the adventurer who was being followed suddenly stopped.

[Discovered!?]

Alice was shocked, and a feeling of surprise arose in her heart.

"Who's it! I've seen you!" a crisp female voice came from under the cloak, and sure enough, as Alice expected, the adventurer was a woman her age.

[Did you look away? So the previous actions were just disguises?]

She took a deep breath and was about to step out of the shadows. Unexpectedly, however, one person moved faster than she did—a muscular, strong, heavily chainclothed, and black armor man appeared across from the female adventurer. And the adventurer immediately made a vigilant move.

【Good risk...... I didn't look away...... It's almost too big......]

Not to mention how Alice, who is hiding in the shadows, wipes cold sweat. The strong man had already raised a broad-backed greatsword that was six feet long. He opened his mouth and let out a deep, thunderous voice.

"Quintis, hand over the Boots of Alozemo. Uncle Li Ken will spare your life. ”

"Don't you think!" the adventurer jumped back, and a pair of hatches appeared in her hand. "It's my thing, and no one wants to take it away. ”

She hesitated for a moment, then added. "The armor of Anrozemo is an armor that can only be used by women, and it is useless if you take it!"

"Really?" the giant man chuckled. "And what am I wearing?"

Before the words fell, the big terrifying giant sword slashed down, cutting a huge crack in the ground of the bluestone slab!

He cut it off.

The moment he swung his sword, Quintis quickly floated to the side at an unnatural speed. narrowly escaped Li Ken's sword strike.

"You know how to use it. Li Ken was not surprised, and a pair of huge eyes narrowed, giving people a feeling of extreme danger.

"I changed my mind. You and the Boots of Alozemo must be left behind!"

PS: The state is still recovering