83. Discomfort
It was early evening, and we were finally able to pass through the long checkpoint and enter Mettelheim.
“Sup… ha….”
This familiar scent unique to Mettelheim. Just like before.
Despite the Demon King’s offensive against the entire continent, here in Mettelheim was lively, not much different from before. In the evening, the magic lights slowly came on and the bells from the magnificent cathedral in the distance were familiar and friendly, as if they had entered their hometown.
As I slowly drove the wagon out to the main road, I saw people busily moving everywhere.
A man carrying a bag of flour. Guard soldiers on patrol. Children running around playfully. A dwarf, wearing work clothes, dragging a cart full of ingots into the smithy. Reminds me of Mogdan.
I noticed the academy cadets wearing their academy uniforms, talking to each other and going somewhere. Probably heading to the dorms.
Ah, come to think of it….
“Princess Alexis.”
When I spoke to Princess Alexis, who was sitting next to the driver’s seat, Princess Alexis, who was reading a book next to me, raised her head and looked at me.
“Yes? What are you doing?”
“Come to think of it, shouldn’t the princess go back to her parents’ house soon? The academy vacation will be over soon, and the graduation ceremony will be just around the corner.”
“Ah…. Yes. Hometown…. Academy….”
Princess Alexis’ expression as she repeated the academy seemed somewhat uneasy.
Are you being bullied at the academy?
‘Ah, no way.’
Is there a guy with a big liver who ostracizes the eldest daughter of a duke?
From noble mtl dot com
No. In a world where all sorts of crazy people play, there’s no guarantee that there won’t be people who look down on Princess Alexis.
If something happens at the academy, I’ll go to the academy myself and play it. With that promise, he asked Princess Alexis again.
“Do you have any problems at the academy? You don’t look good….”
“Oh, no. It’s not…. If I go back to my family this time, I probably won’t be with Austin until graduation….”
Aha. Somehow, he seemed a bit sullen, and that was the reason.
Princess Alexis’s sullen appearance with her lips protruding was very cute. I involuntarily raised her hand to stroke her hair, then paused in the air at her.
I don’t know anywhere else, but in the middle of the capital, stroking the head of the duke’s daughter?
I know very well how stupid Duke Alexis is. If rumors spread that Princess Alexis was being petted by her stranger, that crazy daughter, her mustachioed uncle, might pull out her sword and try to cut me down.
Thinking that, the moment I was about to lower her hand again, Princess Alexis grabbed my hand and placed it on top of her own head.
“Hey, princess… ?”
“It’s okay, come on.”
Princess Alexis said that and then started rubbing her hair in my hands. I carelessly stroked Princess Alexis’ hair.
“How are you?”
“Extremely… It is soft.”
“Ehehehe…. Thank you.”
After several minutes of stroking and driving her carriage, Princess Alexis’ expression, which had been relaxed, turned sullen again before she knew it.
“I won’t even be able to stroke her hair like this for a while….”
“Still, we plan to stay in the capital for a while. We can meet occasionally when we have free time.”
“I have to take the graduation exam, so I will probably be very busy….”
“… Ah.”
Tsk. This is an unexpected ambush.
Princess Alexis was a pretty important position in that she was the only tank in our party. She planned to sit in the capital for a while anyway, but she is saddened at the bottom of her heart that she will have to be away for a while.
I poked the cheek of Princess Alexis, who was still sullen, and said.
“Don’t be so grumpy. It’s not like we’re going anywhere.”
“Yeah, that’s right…. Sorry.”
“If you don’t mind, can I visit you from time to time?”
Since he has some connections with Duke Alexis, he probably won’t be treated badly even if he visits his family. Upon hearing my words, Princess Alexis immediately looked up at me with her eyes shining.
“Oh, sure! You can come every day!”
“No. No matter what, every day is a little….”
“… I want to see Austin every day, but she seems like Austin doesn’t?”
“No, why is that… “
The conversation between Princess Alexis and I went on for a long time until we reached the street lined with inns.
It will be difficult to meet soon, so I wanted to talk a lot even now.
* * *
On the recommendation of Robin, the most well versed in capital cities among us, we arrived in front of an upscale inn. I drove the wagon straight away, tied the horses and parked the wagon in a stable behind the inn.
After sending the party in first and finding a room, Sylvia and I took our luggage out of the wagon.
At that time, Simon and Joey, who were sitting quietly at the back of our wagon, came to say good-bye to us, saying that they would say goodbye now that they had safely reached the street where the inn was located.
“Gureureung…. It was a short time, but I was indebted.”
“Thank you. Handsome older brother.”
A handsome older brother. Is that what I’m talking about?
I felt better. I smiled and opened my mouth.
“Ah… yes. No big deal. We had fun too. Then….”
Joy and Simon, who smiled and said goodbye, eventually turned around and started to walk away from us.
“… What is it?”
I think I’ve seen it somewhere, but I don’t think so…. I don’t know why I feel so uncomfortable. He seemed to have a subtle resemblance to someone I knew….
“… Mr. A. I don’t know.”
I wonder if they just met somewhere. If I keep thinking about it, my head hurts, so I have to do it.
Just as she was about to enter the inn, shaking her head, Sylvia, who was seeing them off with me, tilted her head and muttered.
“Isn’t it… ? Hmm…. But, obviously….”
“What isn’t it?”
“Ah… Austin. It’s nothing else, the two of them…. It sure looks like people I know, but if you look closely, it doesn’t seem like it….”
“Are you like that too? Me too. Is it a coincidence?”
“Um….”
After staring at the direction of the alley where Simon and Joey had disappeared for a while, Sylvia snorted and turned around.
“On second thought, it did look a little different. I guess I was mistaken.”
“That is so strange. I’m sure I’ve seen it somewhere, but maybe not….”
“That’s what I mean…. Anyways, let’s get into it now. Austin.”
She was about to enter the inn with Sylvia when she felt someone’s gaze.
I turned my head and glanced over the busy boulevard.
“… Is it because of your mood?”
I could definitely feel the gaze.
“Austin! What are you doing not coming in!”
“… Uh! Go soon!”
As I entered the inn, I looked at the main street again, but I couldn’t feel any more stares.
“Write…. It must be because of the mood.”
It’s because I didn’t show it on the outside, but I also looked pretty tired.
Today, I need to finish my work quickly and go to sleep.
* * *
Zoe, who almost met Austin’s eyes, quickly hid behind a wall and sighed.
“… Phew. It was close.”
“Did I get caught?”
As if he wasn’t used to it yet, Simon, who was groping his white fur, asked insinuatingly.
“It’s not like that, but our eyes almost met.”
“Who is that? Warrior?”
“No. There’s a guy named Austin who was the scout at the warrior’s party.”
“Austin…. Certainly, I remember that the sense of battle was considerable.”
“After…. Good.”
Ash, who now wears her name Zoe, patted her own cheeks and began to walk ahead of her.
Hearing her move, Simon moved one step later, and they naturally got buried in the crowd.
Zoe glanced at her and said to Simon, who was following her well even though she couldn’t see.
“You know, this mission will take a long time. It means you have to get used to this kind of life for a while.”
“Hmm. I’m sure it is.”
“I know a little about people’s lives, so there shouldn’t be any problems…. Are you absolutely not allowed to walk around alone?”
“Sniff sniff…. Know. Keep in mind.”
While answering that, Simon’s distraught look at the delicious smells already blooming everywhere was quite worth seeing.
Looking at Simon, whose saliva was already dripping, Joey let out a small sigh.
“Ugh…. If you can’t speak Come on, let’s go. We should get hold of an inn soon.”
“Ah…. No, that… Joy.”
“Haa…. Why?”
Joey frowned and looked behind her, as Simon bit his tongue and panted and pointed in the direction of the delicious smell.
“It smells delicious over there.”
“… What?”
As I followed his fingers and turned my gaze, a stall selling meat with a stimulating color of seasoning caught my eye. Simon was already drooling, unable to take his eyes off the stall.
“It will be very piercing. You can’t see well, what are you staring at?”
“No, no…. You can tell by the smell…. Sniff sniff…. A delicious smell emanates from there, a very exquisite smell… !”
“Ahh…. I really can’t live….”
Joey sighed and took out a small pocket from his bag. As he untied his string, he saw a pocket full of gold coins.
It’s a shame because Agato gave me enough money for the mission.
“Okay, let’s go…” . I’ll buy you one….”
“Grrr. . Sniff sniff…. Uh, let’s go… !”
From noble mtl dot com
Now that I’ve been to the capital, I was going to do some research and go into the library. Until I go on a full-scale mission, I will probably continue to be swung around by this mutt.
With the anticipated future ahead, Joey felt his eyes darken.