45 – The Boy’s Charm (3)
Contrary to what I was worried about, fortunately I did not encounter a tracking party.
To the point where I doubt whether there was even a tracking team in the first place.
When I entered the city, there was no mention of a bounty or anyone looking for me.
Isn’t there anything particularly suspicious about the thick hair and shiny face?
“Entry is permitted on the condition that you accompany adventurer Gella Luterrier.
You can go with your temporary ID card.”
I passed the inspection feeling a little nervous.
When I had walked somewhat into the city, Mr. Luterrier quietly approached me.
“Things like this are quite common. Sometimes, adventurers come back soaked in blood.
Having your hair a mess after not being able to wash it is just normal.”
Now it was wriggling and waving its tail as if it were one lump.
I ran my hand through my hair while looking at it, and as expected.
“I want to wash up quickly…”
I trembled violently at the slippery feel, as if oil had been poured on my hands.
The only time my hair was this messed up was during the winter when the river water was frozen solid.
I can’t believe it’s like this in this warm weather.
“We’ll be there soon – there it is. There’s a place called the Rimmir Inn.”
Fortunately, not long after, I saw a very large building.
The place where so many people entered and left was truly full of gorgeous decorations.
It was a large place that reminded her of the mansion she lived in with her mother.
Of course, the hallways did not expand infinitely.
“One room, two beds, please.”
After the jingling coins came and went, the keys were suddenly shaking before my eyes.
“Come on, let’s go take a shower.
And then eat the right food.”
“Aren’t you going to meet someone right away to seek help?”
“Of course I have to go see you. But,”
– Grumble.
A blonde woman smiling at me with that sound.
Clutching her trembling stomach with her hands, she felt her face heating up.
“And you should take a nap. You look really tired.”
Now, I don’t even have the heart to move my hand away from stroking her head, as if I’m used to it.
I followed her, moving slowly as she was, into her room.
It was quite spacious, and it was a nice place with a refreshing breeze blowing.
…Except for the green color I’ve seen so many times.
“It will take me some time to wash up.
I’m going to order something to eat, so wash it first.”
With those words, I went straight into the bathroom, unbuttoned my clothes, and raised my hand –
I suddenly remembered that I shouldn’t use magic anymore.
I had no choice but to look away, grab a towel, and soak it in the prepared hot water.
“Haaa – “
…Mom.
What are you doing right now?
Are the people in the village okay?
Is the guard captain dead?
If I hadn’t left, maybe none of this would have happened.
I continued to wipe off the powder and sweat with a warm, damp towel.
Every time I swept it, there was a sour smell that stung my nose, and then it disappeared.
That powder is really effective.
– Knock knock.
When I heard a knock on the door, I stopped splashing water and immediately wrapped a dry towel around my waist.
“I’m sorry I’m in the middle of a shower. Would you like to eat something?”
“…Aren’t you going to go and order?”
“Is this your first time at an inn? Here, when you order food, they bring it right to your room.
The food here is also famous for being delicious.”
As he said that, there was surprisingly nothing on the order board he held out.
Because it listed vegetarianism, meat eating, and omnivorous eating.
Vegetarian meals include salad, raw fish, ground meat, or beans.
Eggs and steak are included in the meat diet.
And the omnivorous meal included bread, minced meat, and pickled vegetables.
I couldn’t imagine what it would be like if I just wrote it down like this…
“Then I’ll ask for omnivorous food.”
“Okay. Isn’t there a shortage of water?”
“…I think it might not be enough to leave behind.”
She tilted her head for a moment at those words.
Did I say something wrong? You frown –
“So, that one bucket there is enough?”
“Ah, yes.”
“No, that’s enough. I use about two to three buckets worth.
Because it’s a way to order hot water. Go in quickly. “It’s going to be chilly.”
Mr. Luterrier waved his hand and pushed me back, then slammed the door shut.
As we spend time together, I feel like we have somehow built up intimacy, so I guess I should say it feels like my heart is being filled.
It was a good feeling.
As she continued to pour water on her body, she continued to think about her mother.
Looking back at the events that have happened so far.
Nevertheless, I could not clearly decide what to do next.
Should I go back? Is it right to keep moving forward?
Maybe we were happiest when we stayed together without knowing anything.
***
“Did you get the food?”
While scrubbing the moisture from his tail with a very large towel, Mr. Luterrier slowly walked over and placed his hand on my shoulder.
Like a guard captain.
“I did put it on the table.”
From Noble mtl dot com
“Oh, that’s right. Shouldn’t you have eaten first? You must have been hungry.”
…Whenever I was with my mom, we always held spoons together.
Waiting may have become ingrained in me as a habit.
“I think it’s polite to eat together.”
“Heh, you’re sincere. Are you?”
Mr. Luterrier, who was wearing only simple clothes, felt surprisingly strong.
However, his caressing hand was so gentle that my eyes naturally closed.
“Wouldn’t it be okay to fall asleep with something to eat in front of you?”
“Ah, ah, yes.”
Even just a moment ago, my body wasn’t this heavy.
For some reason, I didn’t have enough strength in my hands to hold the bowl.
Underneath that I could barely lift, the things I had ordered were piping hot and ready.
“I will eat well.”
Saying that, Mr. Luterrier, holding the utensils, began to quickly cut up the meat and put it in his mouth.
Not to be outdone, I also took a piece of bread and put it in my mouth little by little, carefully piling up the minced meat in my mouth.
…
Oops.
“Kek, kek.”
When I unconsciously closed my eyes and opened them, a piece of dry bread was still on the verge of going down my throat.
I patted my chest and reached out for water, and a cup was handed to me.
“Ugh. I’m really sleepy, right?”
“…Yes. Definitely.”
“Let’s just eat that and go to bed quickly. Looking at your condition, it looks like you’ll have a good rest for the day.”
Her face was really sweet as she smiled and tapped the corner of my mouth with a napkin.
She was sure that the only person who could feel this way was her mother.
Apparently my thoughts were wrong.
Rather, my current mother was giving me an uncomfortable feeling,
Compared to her mother, Ms. Luterrier, who had only spent a short time with her, felt much more at ease.
Well well,
As I continue to chew my food diligently, the hand stroking my head keeps making me sleepy.
I wanted to relax from the hand that supported my chin from time to time, but I was able to somehow maintain my posture by squeezing in my strength.
“You don’t have to force yourself to eat it all. How about lying down now?”
“Ugh….”
But I maintained my posture, and that was all.
Her wandering eyes and loose tongue made it difficult for me to clearly distinguish what I was chewing and swallowing.
“Oh, come on. Go ahead and drink some water.
And let’s lie down quickly?”
I suddenly remembered a time from my childhood.
Being led here and there by my mother’s warm hand, holding her warm tail and closing her eyes under a thick blanket… Those happy times.
It was the same as back then.
“Hold on – “
I lay down on the soft bed.
Something warm and fluffy was held in my hand.
I just embraced it.
Yes, as expected.
It was very soft and cozy.
***
“…Really, why are you doing this?”
The boy was sleeping soundly with his chestnut-colored hair dry and his face sparkling.
If it weren’t for his tail being held in his arms, Luterrier would have left immediately.
However,
“I really can’t do this. I can’t keep giving affection like this.”
Even as she muttered those words with her mouth, her hands were steadily digging into her flowing hair and tickling it.
Her golden tail twitched even more as she twitched and raised the corner of her mouth.
I was grabbed by the boy’s hand and couldn’t move.
“…Okay, so the dragon must have paid this month.
They spread all the affection they can get, and they act defenselessly.
It wouldn’t be a task to bewitch a woman.”
She includes herself in the word ‘woman’ as if it were a given,
With her blue eyes flashing, she laid herself down on the narrow bed.
It was extremely uncomfortable to face her with her tail at her side, but nevertheless she tried to get into position somehow –
“Ugh, I can’t do it.
She did this every time, then?
Watching your tail like this, almost like a habit…”
I soon sat down and looked at the boy who was wriggling his hands.
If they are so accustomed to stroking their tails even in their sleep, their relationship must have been deep.
“As expected, it won’t work.”
I tried to gently raise my hand and throw the boy away,
I couldn’t easily drop him, who had already raised his legs.
Furthermore,
“No, why is this strength – more than that, it doesn’t break?!”
Russell fell into a deep sleep so that no one would notice even if someone carried him.
Through the open mouth that continues to wheeze –
“hehehe – “
What was so good about it that I kept smiling.
Such defenselessness kept irritating the golden-tailed dog beast.
She shook her head several times as the emotions flowed through her heart, but-
“It’s warm…”
I was steadily falling apart at every single word the boy said.
Is it because she sprinkled powder on him?
Even the smell of the buried dragon had disappeared.
“If it is now – ugh?!”
And before you know it,
She was smelling Russell’s scent.
Even though I hurriedly tried to distance myself from her, I was caught.
Her head kept telling her to fall to survive,
My body kept getting closer to the warm boy.
“No, no, no…”
That’s what she said with her mouth.
But the tail crawls steadily,
Her scent was being buried.