One's Eden: Hanayuki Travel

Chapter 22: The tailed thief

Wandering in a beautiful city which I don’t know. The buildings are all colorful and the scenery is very refreshing. Why I don’t know you asked? Well, that is because I simply just arrive here. The world is big you know it's not that I know every city in the world.

Seating in a cafe, I have my note and pen with me. Writing down the memorable events that happened in my journey. This note is my journal... Nope, I want to call it “Travelogue”.

Two years have passed since I decided to go on my own. With all my travels alone, I’m glad that nothing bad has happened to me. If it does, I’m sure I’m able to overcome such obstacles.

“Miss, do you already decide the meal you're having?”

The waitress approaches me.

“I would like I fried chicken meal… But I can’t find any it's weird.”

“Sorry, we don’t have fried chicken meal.”

“That’s weird! It's delicious!”

“I think it's weirder if we sell fried chicken meal this early in the morning. Besides we are a cafe, not a restaurant.”

What's the difference between restaurants and cafes again? All I know is they both sell food.

I turned my head back to the menu and search for something fun to eat. I notice that the waitress is losing patience already and decided.

“Stack of pancakes and coffee serving… Is there anything you else you like?”

The waitress placed the food I ordered on the table.

“Nothing… Thank you.”

“Welcome.”

The waitress leaves me with her smile.

Why do all customer service employees smile? I mean, I'm pretty much sure I caused her trouble. I did make her wait for quite a long before I make an order. Maybe, their smile is fake or maybe I’m just overthinking things.

Giving up in such thought I go forward eating my breakfast.

I pour the sweet-scented maple syrup on the top of the pancake. The pancake is freshly made and it was a disk of greatness. If the syrup and the pancake were put long together it will be mashed. Pancake will become inedible. Before that happened I better munch down this food.

On my side was black coffee. I don’t really like coffee that’s for sure. But my curiosity pulled me. People always said that coffee is addicting and good. I tasted much black coffee before and never know the difference with their bitter taste. (I do get the expensive stuff.) To sharpen my understanding of coffee I better drink many.

I get the cup of coffee and gulped it down.

After that, I placed it down on the table with a disgusted face.

“I felt like drinking muddy water.”

While seating, I turned toward the beautiful view from the window.

This city sure is beautiful. In a beautiful city like this. Things are expensive. I think it was fine. I do get some rewards from my previous quest. I still have this pouch full of gold.

Eating too much is unhealthy and my body will suffer for sure.

I can’t think of anything to do.

After eating my breakfast. I go straight to pay my bills to the waitress and get out of the cafe.

Still figuring out what I should do today. The day is still long. Figuring out whats my missing memory is is difficult. Especially that I don’t have any clue. There are times, I was thinking it was pointless, but I still want to go and travel from city to city. Ruins, temples, country, and more places. Hoping, I’ll stumble upon a place that can trigger my head to recover my lost memories.

Just what is my past” I always asked. I have a feeling that’s very important

I felt like I have a task that I must fulfill.

Walking on the street, some random girl on a hood that covers her face bump on me.

“Sorry, I was in deep thought I didn’t see you...” I apologize to the girl. She ignored me and run to the crowds. “That was weird…”

Hmmm… Wait, my pocket feels light.

“Don’t tell me…”

I have a wary expression and check my pocket hastily.

“I lost my pouch! No, it was stolen!”

That time I find out that I lost my pouch of money.

My money was snatched away.

I turned my head immediately searching for the hooded girl. With the many people walking around it was impossible to see her.

But I can’t let that happened. Or else, I’ll be sleeping under the bridge.

“Lightning speed!”

Coating my body with magic and properties of lightning. I’m able to increase my physical speed with the speed of lightning.

I leap toward the roof and one lea again toward the highest tower I have seen in the whole city.

While there I notice how big this city was. There are people and adventurers everywhere and some people are wearing the same hood as her.

“Not there… Not here… Nothing everywhere. I can’t find her.”

Better think of something I notice. Something that makes her unique.

“Tail… That girl has a tail. It was a fluffy-looking tail… Smooth and comfy.”

Better find her immediately before the day's end. The city is so big and there is no near town or the city. There is a possibility that she’s still here.

I search for her in the big city. Searching around asking for the thief. Some people brush me off because of my look.

“You lost your golds? No mere child has gold on their pockets. Of course except for the royalties and nobles… Maybe you’re just pretending so that you can get free fruits. You won't have anything from me, get out on my shop. You are disturbing my customers.”

The fruit seller said.

Looking around there are no customers. I turned away and walked. Then, I have approached a shady man. It startled me how he suddenly pops up like mushrooms from the side.

“I eavesdrop and heard your searching for the tailed thief.”

“Tailed thief is that what she’s called?”

“Apparently I do know where you can find this tailed thief I’m referring to.”

“Then tell me.”

“I won’t.”

“Why?!”

“Give me money…”

“I just lost my money and I’m searching for the thief. There is nothing I can give to you.”

“You’re a traveler right?”

“How did you know? Many people brush me off because I do have an appearance of a 12-year-old girl.”

“No ten-year-old have that kind of magic. You're magic is at an elite level. I can tell that you're a traveler. Elite travel doesn’t hide their money in one stash.”

I was fluttered for calling me an elite adventurer, but in the end, I do have to pay. If he is scamming me I will punch him through his face without any hesitation.

I took my shoes off and get two pieces of silver coins.

“You’re hiding place is stinky.”

“I don’t want to hear that from a beggar.”

I pay him and he told me the location of this tailed thief he's talking about.

The said thief is living on the city slumps. Unlike the city that was beautiful. This place was the complete opposite. The house is dull and ruined. There is no form of life or what so ever. People around me are hiding upon seeing me walking on the streets.

Places like this are great hiding spots for criminals.

Turning my eyes back to the city, I can see the social hierarchy. On the bottom was this slump the center was the middle class and on the top was the nobles.

This ugliness of the world.

I do see this many times before. No matter how many times I save people before. Things are not going to work out by knocking out few evil people.

At the end of this street, I better see her house as the beggar said.

“Big sister will work better so feel free to eat this.”

“Big sis this is really good!”

“Big sister is really the best.”

Like the beggar said. There is a house here, but it was hardly a house in my perspective. It was two thick fly wood places together to make a roof. Used cartons of big boxes fixed together to make a wall. Inside was a bed and a small table.

On that small table, was the thief I’m searching for. She does have the exact matching robe and tail I noticed earlier. Not only that she has my pouch on the table.

I have no doubt it's definitely her.

…

“You do love your siblings… They're so cute after all.”

I said as I walked toward them. The tailed girl turned her head on me and glared daggers.

Did I say something wrong?

“Stay away! Or else…”

Behind her, she took her knife.

“I’m not here to fight, I just want my money back. Don’t worry I won’t trouble myself going to knights. So please give me back my money.”

“I’m afraid I can’t do that.”

She replied.

I’m basically giving her a chance to get away with her crime. But it was no use.

Her siblings are hiding behind the curtain trembling with fear.

In instant, she appeared behind me and strike me with her knife. I bend my body to avoid it. I kicked the ground and put distance between the two of us.

That was fast. I didn’t sense any form of magic from her attack. It could be able.

Too bad for her… Speed is also my specialty.

“Lightning speed!”

I kicked her on her chest and making her flew to the ground.

I don’t want her to look lame in front of her siblings but she is the one who started it. I’m just taking back what's stolen from me.

“I don’t want to retort to further violence. So please give me back my money.”

She looks unconscious.

Her sibling runs toward her and spreads their arms widely. With a fierce look, they look at me saying “I will protect her!”

They are dressed in dull clothes living in a place barely called a house. The fact that they are living in slumps makes you know that they are poor. The reason he stole my money is because of poverty.

Trembling fear, one of them give me back my pouch.

“... …”

I took the pouch and check what's inside. My money is barely spent. One god is just spent. Maybe that is the cost of the food they're having right now.

I make a sigh and walked toward them.

“I wonder who I will eat first. The male or the female Hahahaha!”

I said with a scary face.

“Gyahhhhh!”

“Don’t eat us we’re not tasty!”

The two kids hug each other in fear.

“I’m just kidding… Have this six gold coins.”

I place it on their hands three on each. I turned my back and planned to go back to the main city.

“Little miss! Thank you! Stay strong!”

“Stay strong!”

Stay strong.

“Same to you! Stay strong!”

I said and flex my muscle on my thin arms.

…

On the Next day.

I spend my night in an Inn. I’m glad that I’m able to retrieve my pouch back.

Walking to streets wandering around. Now I know what this city was called. The city was called Floria City the city of flowers. In spring the flower patch garden is said to bloom. Also, a festival is held every spring.

While walking I heard some voice or argument.

“Hey! Let me through!”

“You can get through if you pay us.”

“I already said it I don’t have my money with me. I was chasing a girl who stole my important parcel.”

I followed the argument and behind the building dark alley. A girl and three adults were seen.

“We’re not going to buy your story. Someone wearing such fancy-looking clothes like you definitely reeks with money.”

“I don’t have money… How many times do I have to tell you? Are you deaf? Besides guys like me should know how to distance themselves from a beauty like me. Have some respect!”

The head of the man was at boiling point. Their anger and irritation reach limits to the arrogant girl in front of them.

The two adult men grab both her hands left and right and in the middle, he touches her face.

“Such smooth skin… If you don’t have money, you’re paying us with your body.”

The girl fights back and bit his hands.

“That hurts! You b***h!”

The man slaps her face hard, resulting in her to fell to the ground.

“Boss, don’t damage her further. Her face will be a huge selling point. After having fun with her we can sell her.”

“Rom is right boss… Like she said a rare beauty like hers has a high price. Even we used her she is still highly valued… Who is this girl?”

I showed myself.

“get away her little girl… You're still young to know this stuff…”

“Lightning punch!”

They smash their boss's face. Knocking him down in one strike.

“I magic user in her age?”

“Damn there are many talented kids!”

I punch the other two. After that, I tied them down and report their doing to the nearby Knight. We do not question after that.

The girl and I end up walking to each other.

“Just where did she go? I will be killed.”

“What are you searching for?”

“A key? It's an important key. I don’t know its use but it's very important. I must take care of it until I go back home. This is our first time meeting. My name is Eula.”

Looking at her she is definitely wealthy but wealthy people do have last names.

I offered a handshake.

“My name is Hanayuki. A traveler. Speaking of the key. Do you recognize the person who stole that thing from you?”

“Yep, it's a girl with a smooth-looking tail and cat-like ears. She has a body the same height as you.”

That describes one thief that I know. Looks like she did steal again after the day I busted her out. The girl indeed make a crime and need to be punished. I’m worried about her siblings if she is gone. Who will take care of them?

Observing my brief silence.

“Did I strike something?”

“I do know a thief… Really? That’s great, I will reward you after I go home. Tell me her location. Before that, lest take some knights with us.”

Eula said with optimistic eyes. Turning around I pulled her sleeves.

“?!”

“Sorry but let's just go with just us. I wanted to talk to her. When you met her you will know why she’s doing that horrible stuff.”

She became silent for a second and sighed.

“I don’t know what kind of reason you have, but it's still the why. As long as I’m able to have my key back. I will leave her alone.”

I grin after hearing that come from her mouth.