She decided to ask more questions before accepting his offer. "What are the names of your warrior friends? I may have heard about them from my cousins."
His eyes lit up at her reply. Was she considering his offer based on his reference? "I was in the same warrior training as Blaise. He was the first to travel to the Kanta region with his now wife. When he came back to Shibatsu and asked for warriors to volunteer to help train their warriors, I was hesitant to go, but I regretted not going with my friends after hearing the stories from the ones who returned. I have been traveling around the kingdoms on this side of the ocean until the next ship can set sail in the spring."
He looked around and thought about something before asking, "I don't mean to pry, but how did you get all the way to the Kingdom of Lancri by yourself?"
Alisa thought about his answer and follow-up question. He was friends with Blaise and the other warriors, who weren't all mentioned in the novel. He must be a good guy! She decided to trust him a little. What other choice did she have? It's not like anyone else was offering to help her after they saved her!
"I traveled by air. I have a hot air balloon. My father was an inventor from Stanarussi. The balloon and these trinkets are the only things that I have left, but I am willing to trade some of them to help finance my journey to be united with the only family I have left." She looked a little choked up at her words, trying to sell her story. She couldn't tell him about her brother or that she had transmigrated into a novel world. It was mostly true, for the original body anyway.
Zed was a little confused about this new flying machine that she mentioned. The inventors of Stanarussi were legendary on their continent and well known for their inventions, but he had
never heard of anyone traveling by air! He didn't even dare to dream of flying before. He wasn't a bird, or as light as one. Wouldn't he fall to his death? He had many questions, and Alisa answered them as much as possible without revealing the full truth.
Alisa decided to accept Zed's offer to travel with her. She wanted to leave as soon as possible to avoid her brother. The further away from him, the better! She wouldn't feel safe until she was in Kanta. He wouldn't know where to find her, and she hoped he would give up rather than fly across the ocean! While it was true, the only family they had left was from their mother's side in Annalaias and Kanta, he wouldn't search for her across the ocean, right? It couldn't be worth it.
After Alisa and Zed spoke, they agreed that he would be her bodyguard on her journey to the Independent Nation of Kanta. She offered to pay him with another jewel, but he declined and said it
was too much. He would go with her for the adventure and allow her to pay for their accommodation. She had already bought out the entire bakery. Next, Zed showed her around the village to stock up on other supplies that they would need.
She remembered the dead bandits and hesitantly asked, "What about those bandits? Will you get in trouble for killing them? Is it ok to leave them there? What if someone finds them?"
Zed could tell that she was truly bothered by seeing the deaths, however justified. He reassured her in the most nonthreatening way possible, "Do not worry, my lady. I travel from village to village to offer my services. Those bandits were a known threat in this village. Before we leave, I will collect the bounty for them, and someone will dispose of the bodies."
Alisa was oddly reassured by his calm explanation. She should be worried that he had murdered before, but he was killing bad guys, so it should be ok. I guess that is part of this society's law enforcement system. She remembered watching old west movies that had wanted posters, dead or alive, and usually offered a reward. So, that is how he makes his money? Like a bounty hunter. That's different than a psycho killer. She thought to herself.
After they bought all the supplies they could carry in the hot air balloon basket, Alisa took Zed with her to see the hot air balloon. He was astonished and in awe at this new flying machine. He had never seen a balloon before, let alone one of this magnitude!