"So, what exactly do I do?" (Fia)
Although I had been asked to become a cardiac stimulant for this land, I didn't know what exactly I should do, so I asked Captain Cyril.
"Well, I would like you to explore this area with me and Curtis. Even if you don't do anything, the residents will react strongly when they see you. You can also say that they will stop standing still and start thinking." (Cyril)
"I see…………" (Fia)
As I nodded at what Captain Cyril said, he quietly took one of my hands.
"Fia. ...Please report back to me anything said or done by the residents while I'm not there." (Cyril)
"Got it" (Fia)
I could understand the feelings of Captain Cyril who was looking at me with a worried look, so I answered with a smile.
Still, seeing Captain Cyril clutching one of my hands as if he still hadn't finished worrying, I thought the job of a Captain must be tough.
...Well, being anxious and kind are both good points of Captain Cyril, so I don't think it's a bad thing.
I tilted my head and asked Captain Cyril what we were going to do next.
"Captain Cyril, Fabian and I were planning to go shopping in town, but should we change our plans?" (Fia)
"...No, in that case, we would like to accompany you." (Cyril)
After Captain Cyril said this, everyone in the room decided to head into town.
Captain Curtis was relaxed because he was in familiar territory, but Captain Cyril seemed uneasy.
...Hmm, Captain Cyril is the type who worries about too many things and causes trouble. At the very least, I decided to stop causing trouble to Captain Cyril so as not to cause him any more trouble.
Although he probably didn't hear what I was thinking, Fabian shot me a quick glance.
"Fia, what are you thinking with that serious look on your face? I think you should just carry on as usual. If you try to do something different, I feel like it will just invite problems." (Fabian)
"How rude! I'm usually a submissive and obedient rookie knight, you know" (Fia)
"………………"
"………………"
"That's true. I think you're a modest knight." (Curtis)
For some reason, the only one who agreed was Captain Curtis.
Feeling unhappy about this, I headed into town.
As expected of a duke's town, the street was bustling. The road was wide and there were shops lined up on both sides. Many people were walking around happily, some munching on fruit while walking, and others browsing the shops while chatting with friends. There were variety of shops lined up, from food stalls selling bread and meat to daily necessities and miscellaneous goods, so even just browsing was fun.
Suddenly I remembered something and turned proudly to the three of them. Then I took out the envelope I had put in my inner pocket.
"Look, I'm rich this time! Captain Desmond even gave me some rice crackers!" (Fia)
I waved the envelope around to show it off and inside was the money I had received from the Second Knight Captain Desmond.
"Wow, so Desmond gives rice crackers to subordinates who aren't even his direct reports? That's surprising." (Curtis)
Captain Curtis tilted his head in confusion, but Captain Cyril simply dismissed him.
"Desmond doesn't have a wife or a girlfriend. Even though he's a high-income earner, he doesn't have the opportunity or the partner to spend his money. He probably has enough money to give rice crackers to Fia." (Cyril)
"Umm, what souvenir should I buy for Captain Desmond?" (Fia)
Because it seemed like the conversation was going to get complicated, I decided to keep talking about myself, but someone kept interrupting me.
"I think it would be good to have an item to protect him from troubles with women, or conversely, an item to help him find love." (Cyril)
"The Captain Cyril's idea is good, but for Desmond, I think food is the best. Meat, meat, more meat. Smoked food lasts a long time, so I recommend it." (Curtis)
At the loss of what to do with the completely different souvenirs suggested, Fabian also gave me a new suggestion.
"Sutherland is famous for its shells, so how about a chessboard made from shells?" (Fabian)
Ugh, could someone please stop suggesting different things? No matter what I choose, there will be some friction. But I feel like if I bought them all, it would cost more than the price of rice crackers...
Feeling a bit stumped, I decided to buy some boiled fish wrapped in leaves that was being sold in front of me.
"One please! I'll eat it right away." (Fia)
The shop owner smiled and tried to hand me the item, but the moment he saw my hair, his eyes widened in shock.
"Huh? Wh-what's wrong?" (Fia)
I was so surprised that I couldn't help but ask.
"N-no, nothing..."
The shop owner handed me the item while muttering something, but this time he clearly looked away.
Wow, I wonder if this is the "red hair rejection reaction" that Captain Cyril was talking about. If it's that obvious, there's no way you're going to miss it.
With that in mind, I peeled open the leaf and peeled off the fish inside so that it was easier to eat.
"Oh, it's really boiled. I thought this fish was grilled..." (Fia)
It is a fish that lived only in the Sutherland waters and was characterized by its round green pattern, but I remembered that when I ate it in my past life, it was grilled and it was delicious.
The store owner, hearing my tweet, looked up in surprise and stared at me.
...Ah, what? Maybe I opened my mouth too wide when eating the fish? I wondered if there's sauce on his mouth, so I casually wiped my mouth with the back of my hand, but there's no sauce on my hands.
Ah, I wonder if being stared at so hard it makes holes in my hair is a "red hair rejection reaction"?
Thinking this, I looked back at Captain Cyril, Captain Curtis, and Fabian.
"This fish is really delicious, you know? Would you like to eat some, Captain?" (Fia)
The three of them shook their heads in unison.
Oh my, it's delicious. Munching on the remaining fish, I moved away from the shop and took a look into the shop next door.
In front of the shop next door, there were rows of brown nuts, each about the size of my head.
"Oh, this is a delicious nut juice!" (Fia)
The shop owner looked up at my voice with a smile, but when he saw my red hair, he still seemed surprised and flinched.
...Oh no, here we go again with the "red hair rejection reaction." Being petrified just by being seen like this made me feel like a monster.
"Hey, does my red hair scare you? Or do I actually look scary and not realize it?" (Fia)
The shop owner seemed like a nice person, so I decided to ask him.
The shop owner was silent for a few seconds, eyed me from head to toe, then spoke timidly.
"Young lady, are you...a knight? Or maybe a saint dressed as a knight?"
"Yes, I'm a knight. I usually work in the royal capital, but I'm visiting Sutherland to entertain them." (Fia)
"A knight, a knight... Even though she has such red hair."
"There are many types of red hair. The Great Saint's red is the color of dawn. ...It's definitely not this color." (Fia)
"Oh, but it's such a waste. You have such beautiful red hair..."
Before I knew it, a crowd had formed and people who had picked up on our conversation were speaking up around us.
As Captain Cyril said, it seemed to be true that the residents had a special attachment to red hair. Some of the conversations between the residents touched upon some memories.
"Dawn red... Come to think of it, my hair was described as dawn red somewhere before." (Fia)
Umm, where was it? I'm sure it was in a past life, but people described my red hair in their own way.
"Th-this hair color is dawn red..."
"This is... that..."
The locals suddenly began staring at my hair as if they were seeing something impossible.
Oh, what's that? Did I say something to attract that much attention?
Just as I opened my mouth to say something, something hit me hard in the back. I turned around in surprise and saw a child bounce back from the force of bumping into me and fall on his bottom.
Looking closely, he appeared to be one of the children I met at the beach earlier. When I helped the child to his feet and asked, "Are you OK?", he began to tremble violently as if he was upset.
"H-H-Help me! Everyone was attacked by monsters in the forest...!"
"Huh?" (Fia)
I was so surprised that I cried out, but first I crouched down to be at the same level as the child in order to calm him down.
...A monster? I hope it's not too strong...
Just as he was about to open his mouth, I noticed that Captain Cyril and the others, who were supposed to be standing at a distance, were now standing right behind me.
...Ah, that's right. I was accompanied by three strong knights. Even if the monster is a little strong, it won't be a problem, right?