Adventurer Life with Exiled Daughter

Chapter 15

Twelve days passed after that.

By the time I no longer got nervous calling her Erika, stopped hesitating to look her in the face, and our skills in the board game we played in the carriage called Shinlu began to even out.

We crossed the border.

Though it's called a border, there's no checkpoint.

Just a stone pillar standing on a noticeable hill.

Even though it's along the highway, you'd miss it if you weren't paying attention.

I wondered if this was really okay, but the Faltarl Kingdom we're from and the Orclura Kingdom we're heading to are allied nations, and their first monarchs were siblings. Even now, they maintain blood ties through marriages, so their relationship is practically like, "Just go ahead and merge already!"

It's the top candidate for nobles who've messed up to be exiled to.

However, because the countries are close, it's only the nobles whose offenses are relatively light who get sent there.

Normally, a noble who plotted to assassinate the Priestess of Light wouldn't be accepted, but this is thanks to the Faltarl Kingdom's intense behind-the-scenes maneuvering.

Somehow, they managed to get Orclura Kingdom to agree.

Honestly, it's a total mystery.

Finding a country willing to accept someone who tried to assassinate the Priestess of Light is nearly impossible.

Their relationship with the Church would definitely suffer, and the more you think about it, the less reason there is to accept such a person.

Whether it's with the Church or with Orclura Kingdom, just how much did our country sacrifice this time? It's like they're pulling off miracles.

It's not really my concern, but I bet it'll be a hassle going forward.

Not that I care.

"I've finally pulled ahead."

Erika confidently stabbed a piece onto a peg on the board.

The Shinlu board is designed for play in a carriage, with pegs to hold the ring-shaped pieces in place.

"It's only the fortieth move, but it still looks even to me."

"If that's the case, Shin, then my victory is all but certain, isn't it?"

I made my move, and she instantly countered.

She was clearly confident.

"Even so."

She said, twirling a piece in her hand.

"That attack only happened once, huh."

"True," Erika said, staring at the board.

The way she focused on the game we'd started just to kill time was beautiful.

"Did they get tired of me, or is there another reason? Or maybe they just ran out of pawns to throw at us."

Even as she talked, her eyes followed the pieces across the board with serious focus.

Golden magic flowed along with her gaze.

Hmm, I see—that move, huh. Yeah, I'll lose to that.

"If that's the case, I'd be glad."

I thought about how to move my pieces.

Where's the weak point?

Ah, I remember now—that's the move that beat me a few times at the Adventurer's Guild tavern.

"With that kind of resolve, I doubt they'd be aiming for your life."

As I said that, I moved my piece toward her weak point.

Erika's eyes widened, then she puffed out her cheeks and glared at me.

"Was that conversation part of your off-board strategy?"

What is this adorable, beautiful creature?

"Following the moves with your eyes is a bad habit."

I shrugged without remorse and prompted her next move.

Erika glared at me for a few seconds like she wanted to complain, but then silently returned her gaze to the board.

"Speaking of which."

She muttered, breaking the silence of deep thought.

Even then, the magic danced wildly as it followed her thoughts.

"Wasn't the plan for me to become an adventurer in the border town?"

"That was the plan."

Yes, Erika is supposed to become an adventurer.

That's part of the farce, too.

Right now, the Solnzari family can't openly support Erika, whose noble status was revoked.

The kingdom doesn't care if the Solnzari family helps their exiled daughter, but there are factions that do.

The Church.

To the Church, she's an unforgivable human who tried to assassinate the Priestess of Light.

I don't know how it happened, but Erika managed to get away with exile by having her noble status stripped through negotiations between the kingdom and the Church.

If the Church thinks that's just for show, they'll be furious.

If things go wrong, a lot could unravel—and that's something not just Erika's father, the Prime Minister, but the kingdom itself wants to avoid.

That's why Erika has to become self-sufficient in exile.

At least on the surface.

"If there's something else you want to do, that's fine too."

The plan to make her an adventurer was just because it's the easiest job to get into.

Plus, while she'll belong to the Adventurer's Guild, it's freelance work. She might not be able to do nothing at all, but there's a lot of room for slacking off and bending the rules.

"I gave up on the luxury of choosing my own path a long time ago."

She moved a piece on the board.

So, she decided not to give up after all?

"If that's the case, I must've been living a pretty luxurious life."

I should probably finish this game soon—it's getting dangerous.

"All my old man ever said was to do as I please... Wait, maybe he just didn't expect anything from me?"

A sudden doubt about my parents' love hit me, and I made my move with slight shock.

"Shin, you're an adventurer, aren't you?"

"Yeah, I am."

I answered Erika's thoughtful question, which sounded more like a confirmation than anything.

"Though in Orclura Kingdom, that makes me unemployed."

"Is that so?"

"People tend to think there's a strong network between Adventurer's Guilds, but actually, each country's guild is independent."

If she moves there, my strategy will collapse.

"Otherwise, they couldn't handle each country's unique circumstances. There's not much difference between Faltarl and Orclura, but go to another country and the only thing they really share is the rank evaluation system. So if I want to be an adventurer in Orclura Kingdom, I have to start from scratch."

I suddenly felt her gaze and looked up from the board.

Erika was smiling at me.

Don't do that—I'll die.

"Starting over as adventurers with you sounds fun."

Smiling like that, she moved her piece to strike my weak point.

Strategy destroyed—and just for the record, I lost too.

"By the way, isn't it a bad idea to stare so intently at your own weak point?"

She smiled like she was saying, "Gotcha."