Selling the Main Character’s Shares - Chapter 7-1
Outside the door, a sharp rustling sound of a knife being unsheathed was heard. It clearly sounded threatening, even to me, who was still inside the carriage.
Even if you looked out of the window, it was difficult to discern what the situation was outside due to the darkness. All I could tell was that there were around five to six unidentified masked men surrounding Commander Leonon.
“N-No…!”
I couldn’t tell what was going on, nor who they were, but I couldn’t just let the person who had helped me get hurt.
I tried to kick down that door with only that one thought in my mind.
“Don’t come out.”
No matter how hard I pushed, the door only made a rattling sound and didn’t budge. It seemed as if Commander Leonon had barred the door with something to prevent it from opening.
“Who are you?”
A quiet voice rang out softly. At the same time, a faint light began to emanate from the sword that Leonon was holding.
“H-Hand over the woman in the carriage!”
Even though those unidentified people shouted like that, they nevertheless, still flinched, as if they were wary. It was probably due to the light emitting from Leonon’s sword.
“Identify yourselves. I won’t allow it until you do so.”
“As long as you just hand over that person, I won’t cause a disturbance…!”
Despite the fact that he seemed to hold the upper hand due to the number of people he had with him, he still sounded intimidated. No, rather, he even sounded like he was sort of begging him.
Wait a minute. ‘That person’? Do you perhaps know who I am…?
There was no need for me to even guess who it was. If they knew who I was, then the person who sent them was clear. Swear words instantly poured out of my mouth at that moment.
“Ah, this crazy psycho fucker seriously…”
It definitely must’ve been Periot’s knights. They seemed to have caught up to me with the delay in time when I stopped to receive treatment.
However, we had already left the confines of Periot’s territory. They had no right to stop another carriage who was passing through another territory, let alone be armed as well. That’s why they couldn’t just reveal their identity hastily.
No matter how many orders they’ve received, if it’s discovered that they’ve done something like this on someone else’s land, they’ll definitely have a problem on their hands.
Besides, they never would have dreamed that someone none other than Commander Leonon would get off the carriage.
Hang on, this isn’t the time for this!
“Judging by the way you hold your swords, you seem to be trained knights.”
Leonon snorted briefly, then spoke in a low voice.
“Just like the lady with an unknown identity, a number of assailants with an unknown identity. If you’re even armed, there’s no need to say who the weaker person is.”
“It has nothing to do with you anyway. It’d be better for you not to get involved with suspicious people for nothing.”
It was quite a blunt and sharp, knife-like answer. However, rather than being intimidated, Leonon out his arm with his sword.
It was no exaggeration for me to say that it was my first time seeing such a sight, the sight of an elegant sword shining, pointed threateningly at the unidentified assailants.
“Whether or not someone is really suspicious is up to me to decide.”
I hurriedly knocked on the door and shouted.
“Please open the door!”
It was obvious that they’d run away the moment they heard that our marriage vows had been burned to a crisp.
Since there’s no way that Periot would’ve told you that!
The burning of the documents meant that they had no right to force me at all. Thus, there was no need to fight.
“I’ll take care of it…!”
It was when I was pushing the carriage door that still didn’t budge with all my might.
Ding-dong!
「‘This area’s hype king’ purchases 100 shares out of excitement.」
「It’s raining because of you. Heart attack ╥﹏╥」
“Huh…?”
The system window appeared randomly with a bell that suddenly rang out without any prior notice.
For some reason, at that moment, Winnard’s voice seemed to echo in my ear.
“Even if you forget everything else, you must remember this one thing. In order for you to survive, you have to sell more shares than anyone else.”
Dry saliva slipped down my throat.
…He had said that I’d be ‘annihilated’ if I failed to become the main character, right?
When my thoughts reached that point, my thoughts quickly began to flow in another direction.
Judging from the patterns so far, ‘This area’s hype king’ seemed to buy shares whenever Commander Leonon seemed cool.
Even if I observe the situation from somewhere else, this is it…!
I inhaled quickly and puffed out my cheeks.
Then, ignoring the situation at hand, I let out a scream, saying I wanted to leave the carriage.
“Ahhh! Help!”
“You bastards who aren’t even worthy of being titled a knight.”
Leonon’s anger-filled voice rang out softly, as if my scream had been a signal. The unidentified assailants slowly took a step back in retreat.
“W-Wait…!”
The ferocious blade swung down before they could say anything.
“B-Block him!”
Finally startled by someone’s alert, the flustered assailants rushed in, but no one could stop Leonon. Every time the shining sword cut through the air, painful screams erupted from here and there.
“Arghhh!”
A cloud of dust rose as the walls of the carriage shook violently, as if someone had just bumped into it.
Despite being outnumbered, Leonon skilfully avoided their attacks and knocked his enemies down, one by one. He didn’t seem to be having a hard time doing it either. Each movement was so elegant, it seemed like a piece of art.
Then, another loud bell rang. Shares started to sell.
Ding-dong. Ding-dong. Ding-dong.
Yes, this is it. This is it!
I cheered internally and stuck my face closer to the window. I tried to open my eyes wider so as not to miss a single part of Commander Leonon’s movements, but it was so fast that my eyes found it hard to follow him.
All I could see was that every time that large sword drew its elegant trajectory, a divine silver light would cover the darkness.
“Urgh…”
In the end, the bad guys who had been knocked down here and there on the floor swallowed their moans of pain and picked themselves up off the floor. Then, he climbed onto his hose without looking back.
“Giddy up!”
The loud sound of horseshoes echoed over the road covered with morning dew.
It was then, approximately when the backs of the unidentified assailants who rushed to flee could no longer be seen.
“It’s alright now.”
The carriage door swung open with a soft voice. As I got up and stepped outside, I saw Leonon putting his sword in his large scabbard.
Far from being out of breath, not even a single strand of hair from his ponytail out of place. I’d even be able to believe it if he brushed off dust from his sword.
Ding-dong!
「400 shares sold. Total shares sold: 2600.」
Great!
“Commander~”
I bent my waist and greeted him.
“Thank you… Thank you so much!”
And sold! It was a success!
It was the first time my prediction came true. I was so happy it was hard to even breathe. I clenched my fists and took a deep breath.
“It’s safe now, so don’t worry.”
Leonon said to me kindly, as if to reassure me, perhaps because he misunderstood my appearance. However, he soon asked me with a serious expression on his face.
“Why you’re being chased… Could you tell me if it’s alright with you?”
I was rendered speechless momentarily. Although I expected him to ask me for the reason, I still hadn’t decided how I’d reply to that question yet.
I was hesitant to say the truth, but I didn’t want to lie either.
“W-Well, that’s, so…”
Although it took quite a long time for me to find what I wanted to say to him, he didn’t rush me.
He just stared at me with clear eyes that seemed as if they could see right through any lie.
“I-I am by no means a suspicious person. Please believe me…!”
In the end, the only thing I could say was this. I even tried to prove my innocence with my whole body, shaking my arms desperately.
“I can’t tell you right now due to the circumstances, but I’ll definitely give you an explanation later!”
Commander Leonon not only helped me escape, but even defeated the men sent by the Northern Duke. It won’t take long for this fact to reach Periot’s ears.
At the end of the day, being unaware of my identity might be the only way to protect him.
My precious share source, I have to protect it…!
“I won’t ask any further if you have a reason, but…”
He walked slowly toward me and stopped right in front of me. Then he asked me in a voice soft enough even the coachman, who crawled out trembling from underneath the carriage couldn’t hear.
“You said that you’d have a safe place to live if you went to Aurea. Will… you really be okay…?”
“Pardon?”
While I was bewildered by the sudden question, Leonon raised his hand and pointed off into the distance.
“They fled in this direction earlier. It’s the exact opposite of the way we’ve been going.”
“I-If that’s the case, then…”
“If we go down this road, we’ll reach Aurea. The reason they were here was also probably because they had expected us to pass this road. That’s why I’m asking.”
“…”
“Is that really a safe destination?”
It was then that I finally understood what he was trying to say.
Just like he said, the place where those guys were headed may very well be the Mayred County, where my older brother is. There’s no way that sick and twisted Periot wouldn’t turn it upside down…
Moreover, according to what I remember, my older brother, Count Mayred, was a sunfish1 that would have fainted at just one cough from Periot.
I bit my lips instead of answering. However, Commander Leonon seemed to have already anticipated this sort of reaction.
“Not far from Aurea is the Paladins’ headquarters. Go to the nearby temple. I think it would be a lot safer there.”
My eyes unknowingly widened at the unexpected suggestion.
“The… temple…?”
“Yes, it is a temple under the command of the Ecrestus Paladins. No one can enter without permission, and the area around it is guarded by paladins.”
“B-But…”
As I hesitated, he made another cautious suggestion.
“The priests there can also keep a secret, so how about going there first?”
Although what he said was surprising and made me feel rather grateful, I still couldn’t answer it easily.
Getting there is fine and all, but then what?
Wouldn’t it be better for me to go ahead and take action before Periot’s evil influence spreads out even more…?
Ding-dong!
「‘This area’s hype king’ happily buys 100 shares.」
「Bridal.House.」
“Alright!”
Did I perhaps become a dog who salivates at the thought of food when I hear the sound of the bell?
I nodded vigorously without realising it as soon as I checked the system screen.
“I’ll have to revise the plan!”
At that moment, Commander Leonon’s eyes softened, perhaps because he was relieved at my answer.
“Then I’ll turn the carriage in the direction of our headquarters.”
“Yes! I’ll be indebted to you!”
“Don’t worry, these things don’t fit into the financial axis.”
Seeing the Commander smiling kindly, flowers of ambition bloomed in my heart.
…Great. Since it’s turned out like this, I’m definitely going to make ‘the hype king’ go broke!
[1] sunfish: die easily so it can allude to (sb) being fragile or useless
