Merchant

That morning, as sunlight slowly seeped through the window cracks, Shira awoke from her sleep. With eyes still adjusting, she found herself curled up tightly beside Jiro. Her arms were wrapped around her friend, seeking protection in sleep.

She felt comfortable and warm, but when she fully woke up, Shira was startled. Her face flushed immediately upon realizing their position.

"Uh, Shira... Could you release your hug?" Jiro's voice was gentle but awkward, prompting the still half-asleep Shira to consciousness.

Shira quickly released her embrace, scooting away from Jiro with a blushing face. "S-sorry, Jiro. I didn't mean to..." she said with an embarrassed tone.

Jiro just smiled gently, trying to ease the awkwardness enveloping them. "It's okay, Shira. I understand. Your sleep might not have been comfortable last night."

Shira could only nod, playing with the ends of her hair that fell over her face. "Sorry, I couldn't keep my distance," she mumbled softly.

Jiro sat up and gently patted Shira's head. "It's fine, let's just forget about it. We need to get moving and gather information about this village," he said in a calming tone.

Hearing this, Shira nodded in agreement, though her embarrassment hadn't entirely faded. "Can I come with you to gather information?" she asked hesitantly.

Jiro paused for a moment, weighing Shira's request. "I'd prefer for you to stay here, Shira. This village feels unsafe, and I don't want you to be in danger. Let me handle the information gathering."

Shira bit her lower lip, looking at Jiro with a worried expression. "But... I don't want to leave you alone. What if something happens to you?"

Jiro smiled gently, touched by Shira's concern. "Don't worry, Shira. I'll be fine. Besides, it's better for you to stay in a safe place. I promise I won't be long," he reassured her.

Finally, albeit reluctantly, Shira nodded her head. "Alright, I'll wait for you here."

Jiro stood, quickly tidying himself up. "If anything suspicious happens, don't hesitate to lock the door and yell," Jiro advised before leaving the room.

Shira could only nod again, hiding her worries behind a small, forced smile. She knew Jiro could protect himself, but there was still something in her heart that felt anxious.

After that, Jiro left the inn to gather information. The village streets were calm that morning, but Jiro sensed something amiss with that tranquility. The eyes of everyone he passed seemed to wander, strangely unblinking.

Ignoring the oddities around him, Jiro intended to find a place to gather information, like the adventurer's guild often mentioned in novels from his past life, but this small village seemed to lack such facilities.

Walking along the village's main street, Jiro encountered a man who appeared to be a merchant. The man wore typical merchant attire with a wide hat shielding his face from the sun.

Jiro approached the man, hoping to get a clue. "Excuse me, sir. I feel a bit lost. Could you tell me if there's an adventurer's guild or something similar in this village?"

The man stopped and turned, then smiled. "Oh, you must be from out of town, huh? Unfortunately, there's no adventurer's guild here. But perhaps I can help you. I often travel to the big city for trade, so maybe I can share some information about this place."

Jiro felt lucky to receive a warm welcome. "Ah, thank you very much, sir. I'm actually keen to know more about the village and anything you can share."

The man nodded, then pointed to a small building at the end of the street. "Come, we can talk more comfortably over at the teahouse there. I can tell you more while enjoying a cup of warm tea."

Jiro agreed and followed the man to the teahouse. In his heart, he hoped to gain useful information about the village and potential lurking dangers.

As they walked together toward the teahouse, Jiro began to sense something was off. The man in front of him spoke amicably, willing to share information, but there was something about the way he moved and talked that made Jiro wary.

Initially, Jiro thought it might just be nerves after everything that had happened. However, as their footsteps echoed down the village streets, Jiro increasingly noticed that it wasn't just this man who seemed odd, but everyone around them.

It seemed every passing person wore a pleasant smile and went about their daily activities as if nothing was amiss. Yet, Jiro felt something deeper. An oppressive aura, filled with malicious and murderous intent, emanated from everyone he met.

Jiro kept his gaze neutral, appearing as though he was simply focused on following the man. But in his mind, he was busy analyzing the situation. 'Something's not right with all this. Why is everyone in this village radiating such strong murderous intent?'

This feeling wasn't normal. In his previous life, Jiro had heard about the ability to sense the intent or will of others, but this was something different. It was as if everyone here, behind their smiles and activities, hid sinister and dangerous intentions.

The man ahead continued to speak casually, sharing information about the village while occasionally pointing to buildings or significant landmarks. Jiro tried to remain calm, responding as necessary while staying focused on the instincts screaming at him to be cautious.

"There are many interesting places here, and many visitors come to enjoy the peaceful village life," the man said, his voice calm yet something about it left Jiro uneasy.

Jiro nodded, trying to process the information while remaining vigilant. "That sounds very interesting," Jiro replied in a relaxed tone, trying to match the rhythm of the conversation.

As they neared the teahouse, Jiro felt tension increasing. He decided not to fully trust this mysterious man. Whatever his real intentions were, Jiro had to be prepared for the worst and uncover the reason behind the murderous aura enveloping the village. He realized that in this village, everyone might not be what they seemed on the surface.