Outsider

At the end of the fork in the road next to the ninety-ninth torii at the foot of the Thousand Ruins Mountain... Here it is, finally.

Should be safe here.

*Waah!

You scared me! Who are you now, not Hutaba, right? I'm going back now if it's Hutaba.

But Sister Hutaba means no harm.

I know, but she just speaks bluntly in a way that can hurt, and I don't want to hear harsh truths right now.

I'm busy right now, to cut a long story short, I brought a commission this time...

I'm no longer a contract killer.

*Huh? Ah?

Firstly, I don't mean to care about you. Secondly... are you okay?

I'm serious.

This is not a matter of seriousness! Our enemy is still at large, don't you want to take revenge for the Mochizuki family? Those...!

Those who are so evil I can't find words to describe! Are you letting them go?!

The Mochizuki family brought this on themselves. I've got no reason to seek revenge.

I told you long ago, I don't feel anything for my family. Being part of the Mochizuki family never made me happy.

I know how much you love your parents and the Su family. I can't help but feel a little envious.

But not every family is like the Su family, who allow their children to have a happy childhood.

So I came all the way here to hand you this task, and now you're telling me you're not doing it?

*Hmph... I'm done taking assassination assignments.

I keep wondering what comes next once I quit this life.

I have a vague idea in my mind... I want to visit Bifrost.

An ace killer retiring and moving to another country under a fake name? What, think you're the main character of some novel?

No, I just thought of someone... from Bifrost.

I want to know more about Bifrost, so that next time we meet, maybe I could...

What's the matter? Why are you blushing?

Wait, wait, wait... don't tell me it's THAT person? Now it all makes sense why you could walk away from the Mochizuki family! How did I not notice you're such a hopeless romantic?

Do you happen to have a way to get to Bifrost?

I was going to say I don't have that kind of ability, but this time, you actually hit the nail on the head by pure luck.

The commission I mentioned is to escort a client from Bifrost's Dark Road back to Eastrise.

I have a way to get you to Bifrost, but you'll have to figure out how to get back on your own... What do you say? Are you in?

...Let me think about it.

This is Bifrost...

Next, let's find a guide.

Kid, do you know if there are any guides to Dark Road?

You're looking for a guide to Dark Road?

Well, my sister wants to go to Dark Road. I heard you need a guide, but she doesn't know where to find one.

There are many types of guides to Dark Road. Which one are you looking for?

Many types of guides?

It's simple. There are basically 2 types: Nott, and then all the other guides.

Hello, guest from Eastrise, I am Nott, the best guide to Dark Road.

Kid...

You are Mochizuki Mitsuha, right?

Do you know me?

The commission you got came through me. I also have to take you to the client, so of course I know who you are.

No wonder Luca told me to find a guide, she was talking about you! Are all the kids in Bifrost this talented?

...I'm an exception. Besides, Dark Road is a special area in Bifrost.

You will understand once you get there.

Here we are, this is Dark Road.

This is within Bifrost...

Kiddo, I have a request.

What is it?

If the client isn't in a hurry, could you show me around here first?

I...

I'd like to know more about this land.

As long as you don't give up the commission, you can meet the client at any time.

There is no specific time limit for this task.

Since you want to learn about this place, let the best guide on Dark Road show you around.

This restaurant is... Mo Fish Rice?

What's wrong?

I lived in Mo Capital for a while, but don't remember any place that sold fish rice.

I know, the owner of that shop is from Dragon Bay in Eastrise, originally called Dragon Fish Rice. But people here don't know that place, and this shop has never been popular.

Someone suggested to the owner that since it's a specialty dish of Eastrise, why not call it Mo Fish Rice? At the sound of it, people would know it's run by someone from Eastrise, and it might attract those who are interested.

The shop owner eventually changed the name, and the business did improve a lot. The name has been used ever since.

I see.

I would like to know some Bifrost specialties. Could you introduce them to me?

Bifrost specialties...

Hey! Be careful of that Eastrise girl!

*Hm?

Thief!

*OUCH!!!

It won't hurt if you don't resist.

Well, this should be considered a Dark Road specialty.

It's the [Guide]!

Help! Save me!

Do you know her?

I know almost everyone in Dark Road.

You dare to lay a hand on my guest? How bold.

Help...

Shall I let her go?

Since you've caught me, do as you please. That's the rule of Dark Road.

But I suggest sparing her life.

In Dark Road, only the [Reaper] can decide whether one can live or not.

...Bifrost isn't how I imagined it to be.

I know someone from Bifrost with a really good personality, totally unlike someone raised in a place like this.

Then your friend must not be from Dark Road.

Dark Road has always been like this. As long as you can survive, any means are acceptable.

Therefore, people always look for a [guide] before coming to Dark Road.

I see.

What's wrong?

Nothing, just suddenly feel that Bifrost is a bit cold.

Where's this place?

My home.

I have some warm clothes you can put on.

...Thank you.

Nott, did you bring a friend home today?

Yes grandma. This is Mitsuha, a friend from Eastrise.

Eastrise? Haha, I haven't been there for many years.

(She doesn't look like a grandma at all...)

(This child has a killer vibe... how interesting)

Dark Road is the most chaotic area in Bifrost, filled with thieves, and smugglers...

No objections to your view of Dark Road, but it doesn't represent Bifrost.

Hope that's clear to you.

Thank you.

Get changed and have a rest. We'll meet the client after lunch.

Who is it! Oh, Nott...

Fortunately, your most terrifying form has not been awakened...

Get up Mitsuha, we are going to meet the client.

Alright, I'm coming!

Miss Ninja, have you rested well?

Miss Ninja... Huh, how did she fall asleep?

Hm...

You must be tired after coming all the way from Eastrise.

I know it's rude to wake someone who's sound asleep... but we've got things to do, so up you go.

What's this place?

Let's just say it's the client's home.

At least when I met the client, she had always lived here.

The client's living in the hospital? Is she a sick elderly person who wants to return to Eastrise before she passes?

You're half right, the client does indeed want to return to Eastrise. But she is not a sick elderly person.

She has passed away.

Has the client passed away?

Yes.

She's a veteran who participated in the war between Eastrise and Bifrost. Her last wish before her death was to be buried in her hometown and rest in peace.

She also left behind some relics that you can take to her family back in her hometown.

If she still has family.

So my commission is actually to escort this old soldier's remains and personal effects back to Eastrise?

Yes.

Is it troublesome to transport remains from Bifrost to Eastrise?

Very much so.

Bifrost once waged war on Eastrise due to the assassination of its leader. After that war, the border between Bifrost and Eastrise has been under martial law.

But I remember that in recent years, both Eastrise and Bifrost have relaxed their border controls. I even met a merchant from Bifrost.

That was before.

Some time ago, Bifrost sent a batch of Heterogeneous Crystals to Eastrise for trade, but the trade ran into issues at the border, and the crystals were stolen.

The Sorrow Pass has been put under martial law again, with restrictions even stricter than when the war just ended.

Stricter than when the war ended?

Based on the intel we received, not long after the martial law was imposed at the Sorrow Pass, a wanted criminal disguised herself as a corpse in a coffin and smuggled herself into Eastrise.

The general of the Sorrow Pass garrison is furious. Lately, not just coffins, even urns are being held up for component inspections.

...So you're saying it's impossible to move the body through official channels, and we'll have to smuggle it?

That's right.

This is also why you are here.

We need someone from Eastrise to bring the body back to Eastrise and bury it.

...

Luca said that once we reach Bifrost, I'm on my own for the return trip.

So, Luca's channels do not work either.

The Dark Road can only get me to the Bifrost border. I have to find my own way from there.

...No wonder this commission landed with me.