David paid two coppers for their meal as he got up from the bench. Last night, he hadn't just killed the gang members but even snatched whatever money they had on them.
Afterall, what use would money be of to dead people? Better let someone else use it who would otherwise die of hunger.
David and the nameless girl wandered aimlessly, neither of them having a specific purpose in their mind.
'So how do I start? Actually....what am I even supposed to do here? I am sure I am missing the beginner's guide to transmigration or something...right?'
"Well let us find out when the contest is. I don't see contestants buzzing around here like I had expected or maybe the venue is quite far away." He leaned downwards to talk with Z2 given thier significant height difference.
One thing he was certain of was that the contest hadn't yet started. Or else he was sure both of them wouldn't be roaming around freely; no way would a kingdom that focussed wholly on slaves would let two of them wander freely.
'They are waiting for the contest to get over - either we get enlisted in the Sihapis or we are dragged off by soldiers and sold to someone.'
One might wonder why was he so certain that soldiers from the Windsor Kingdom would find them eventually. It wasn't because of the slave mark on his neck.
Heck, the people in the market right now had no idea that they were slaves. Afterall, David had to exchange his rags with the proper high neck shirts of one of the Koyta gang member since the two patrols had seen their assailant wear those same rags. He even took of the clothes of their leader and gave it to Z2.
And thus, in the open market both of their slaves marks were properly hidden from view.
David had tried closing all paths connecting to him regarding the case from last night. In order to do so, he had given the two patrols a chance to take all credits for killing the gang members, which they have seized wholeheartedly.
'But that's not the problem for me...For some weird reason, every single night with my highly enhanced Vision, I can still see the strings protruding from me. The Princess is still tracking me...' David sighed, feeling tired all of a sudden.
He could have run off and tried starting a new life somewhere out there rather than risk his fate in the contest.
But with the Princess closely following him, that was impossible. He had even asked Z2 if she was feeling uncomfortable or if she felt anything strange like someone watching her even when she couldn't see anyone.
And guess what? She had firmly said nothing like that was happening with her.
'Shouldn't the princess deactive her powers by now? Haven't I already served my purpose by foolishly leading her to the fleeing group? Why still keep an eye on me...'
As he thought so, his eyes widened slightly thinking of another possibility. 'W-what if she can't disable her tracking powers once she uses it? No...no...No! Wouldn't that mean I shall never escape her gaze in this lifetime?!'
Even thinking of such an unnerving possiblity made him feel a tingle at the back of his spine, as a shiver passed down his body involuntarily.
At the end, David found himself approaching the fortified wall where several Sihapis resided.
"When is the contest you say?" The woman Sihapi asked as she looked at them in slight amusement.
David coughed lightly, trying to look somewhere else as embarassment creeped up his cheeks. Why hadn't he asked the most obvious question to them yesterday, he thought internally.
"Well it's four days from now, so don't worry... you haven't missed it."
Her words calmed down both David and the nameless girl. But her next words broke that short period of relief.
"Although I would say you both need to start running towards the venue. You see, the Southern Capital isn't a city that can be traveled in a day or two. Even if you use the horse carts, you won't be able to cover the entire distance. And...as it happens to be, the venue of the Sihapi contest is being held many miles away from here."
She shrugged her head as she saw their reaction. "In simpler words, the competition is on the other side of the capital."
'Of course it is! Or else why would there be almost no competitor in this region? Obviously they are already on their way to the venue.'
They both thanked the kind lady for her help and started walking away.
"I hope I see you two as fully trained Sihapis the next year. May we meet on the battlefield!" She waved her right hand in the air bidding them farewell.
'That has to be a scary goodbye.' David thought inwardly. But nonetheless, he waved his hand and returned the gesture.
They walked and walked, not daring to stop for a subtle fear of missing the contest. Given he didn't know the exact distance between the two spots.
'As if that's not enough, there can also be a possibility we shall end up hitting dead ends, only to track back our paths and starting once again.'
On the way, he even stopped a horse cart intending to travel a short distance and then pick up another cart. And repeat the cycle.
But the fare for even a short ride was three coppers. And he only had 43 coppers with him at that moment.
'It shall be foolish of me to waste this money now. We need meals and probably even rent rooms during the night. If one does the math, two coppers per meal three times a day. And maybe an average of 4 coppers per night for a room at an inn.'
He mentally counted the approximate amount while still walking.
'That would be 38 coppers! Given we already had our breakfast.' He realised that horse rides weren't feasible in that case.
Eventually, after a lot of asking around for directions, two days passed as they saw the first signs of other competitors like them.
He and Z2 were settling in an inn for the night as he came across a group of young individuals, each of them armed with different weapons - swords, mace, daggers, sabres.
One of them was even carrying a greatsword, leaning on it as he observed the group in silence. His eyes momentarily shifted as they locked onto David for a split second before going back to the conversation taking place at their table.
David shrugged his shoulders as he made to it to his room.
But along the way, he couldn't help but think.
'Whoever is going to face him in the contest shall have a pretty much bad luck. And a certain defeat.'