Chapter 43: The Tail and the Reservoir Town

Our journey, after leaving the riverside town of the Apon River, continued southward along the endlessly flowing river.

The warning from the weaponsmith lingered faintly in the back of my mind, like a quiet alarm bell.

Those men were sniffing around for me.

There was no doubt I had caught the attention of troublesome people.

Though I kept my guard constantly raised inside, I made sure not to let Rowena notice anything, acting as normally as possible.

“Rowena, look. That bird is big.”

“Bird… big.”

When I pointed at a waterfowl gliding across the river’s surface, Rowena echoed me innocently.

Seeing her smile softened, even if only slightly, the tension coiling inside my chest.

Unlike the open plains we had crossed after leaving the Black Leaf Forest, the riverside path now changed scenery from time to time with small groves and rocky areas.

The cool morning air carried the scent of damp earth after the rain, and each step brushed against grass still wet with dew.

For lunch that day, we decided to take advantage of the river’s bounty.

“Rowena, wait here for a bit. I’ll catch something good.”

I had her sit at a safe spot a short distance from the riverbank and drew several of the throwing knives I had recently purchased.

It would have been easier with fishing gear, but I didn’t have any.

(Well, I’ll take this as practice to regain my old instincts.)

I focused on the water’s surface, reading the movement of the fish.

The instant a silver scale flashed—

My knife shot forward like a streak of light.

A sharp slicing sound—then a small splash.

A perfect hit, piercing straight through one fish.

Using the same method, I caught two or three more in no time.

Just like that, we had enough for a meal.

Grilled over a fire, the fish skin turned crispy and fragrant, while the tender white meat released rich juices with every bite.

Rowena blew on the hot pieces and devoured them eagerly.

“Edo… tasty.”

“Yeah, it is.”

Such peaceful travel continued for about two days.

Then—

When I casually glanced back, a sharp prickling sensation ran across my skin.

A gaze.

Not very far away.

Yet there was no killing intent.

It felt more like a sticky, persistent observation—watching our every move.

(…An accomplice of those men? Or something else…?)

I pretended not to notice and faced forward again, careful not to alert Rowena.

For the next several days, that strange presence followed us like a shadow, never too close, never too far.

During camp.

During meals.

Always somewhere unseen, watching.

Since there was no hostility, I couldn’t act rashly.

A careless move could put Rowena in danger.

The shimmer of the river sometimes looked like movement.

The swaying shadows of trees made me search again and again for human silhouettes.

Even while keeping that constant tension hidden, I continued practicing letters with Rowena and responded to her chatter as usual.

“Rowena, what words did you learn today?”

“Edo! ‘River’! ‘Fish’!”

She proudly shouted the words she had learned, completely unaware of my unease.

That innocence was my only relief.

And then—on the fourth evening since I first noticed the gaze—

At last, the next settlement came into view.

But the sight far exceeded anything I had imagined.

A massive reservoir—so large it could be mistaken for a city itself—stretched before us, glowing gold in the setting sun.

Along its shoreline, countless inns and shops stood packed tightly together.

“Whoa…”

Even Rowena gasped at the magnificent view.

The lights reflected on the water shimmered like a sky full of stars.

Perhaps the land was dry—everything here clearly revolved around this enormous reservoir.

I let out a quiet sigh of relief at finally reaching what seemed like a safe place.

And yet, I could still feel that presence lingering behind us.

After entering an inn, I quietly peered outside through the window of our room.

The gaze was gone.

It had either blended into the crowd… or disappeared entirely.

(So… what is the one watching us planning?)

Without lowering my guard, I gazed silently at the reservoir town as night slowly fell.