Ch. 120
Come on! That’s ridiculous.
The continent is huge—what are the chances I’d run into *you* here?
Even if the crown princes were going through the Path of Trials, the odds were nearly zero.
At this point, it had to be fate. And I wholeheartedly rejected that idea.
“It happened when I was a child. An accident.”
“I see.”
“Everyone’s curious about it.”
While I stared at the back of his hand, the man gently tried to pry Annie off of him—but failed.
Annie shook her head furiously and clung even tighter, like the world would end if she let go.
Ash looked completely flustered.
He had the expression of someone holding a flailing octopus in his arms, and honestly, it was hilarious.
“What now?”
Pfft.
“Idiot. Why’d you even pick her up if you were just going to spoil her?”
“She looked so heartbroken…”
“There’s always a reason people don’t pick her up. Now take responsibility!”
“Huh? Responsibility?”
“Yeah, responsibility.”
Among the three-man group, the real leader wasn’t the burly Chad—it was this utterly ordinary-looking Ash.
At first glance, you’d think it was Chad, but if you looked closely, the power clearly belonged to this guy.
Chad was completely obedient to Ash, and the other guy hovered around him like a guard.
“You’re going to get an inn in the city, right?”
“Right?”
“Got one in mind?”
“Not yet. It’s my first time in Mielta.”
“Perfect. Then stay at the same inn as me.”
Why did he look so shocked? I didn’t ask to share a room or anything.
“Why…?”
“I’ll buy you dinner. Sound good?”
Huh. Now that I say it out loud, it kind of sounds like a date.
“No thanks!”
“I object!”
The two guys with him protested loudly, but I just kept smiling at Ash.
I gave him a look that said, *Why does it matter what they think?*
“Well?”
Honestly, I just wanted to observe him a little longer.
The name Ash meant something to me. And that scar on his hand—I couldn’t shake the feeling.
I wasn’t ready to let go of the possibility.
“W-Well… it’s just so sudden…”
“Annie seems to like you. Help me take her into the city, and dinner’s my treat. A gesture of thanks.”
“Say no, Ash! She’s totally sketchy!”
“No way! Of all the inns, not the one she picks!”
Seriously, why are they acting like I’m some dangerous woman?
Chad and the bespectacled guy forcibly pulled Annie from Ash’s arms.
“Waaaah!”
But Annie immediately started bawling so miserably that they had no choice but to hand her right back.
She clung to Ash like he was her real mom, burying her tear-streaked face into his shoulder like it was the only safe place in the world.
Ash looked troubled but still gently cradled her and stroked her head with warm hands.
It wasn’t hard to guess that Annie found comfort in that touch.
Turns out the little crybaby could be useful too. Well, even Rai is helpful sometimes. Everything’s good for something, I guess.
“…You’re right. I guess this *is* partly my responsibility.”
“Exactly. You shouldn’t have picked her up in the first place.”
“Right.”
“You’ll come with us then?”
I smiled sweetly as I coaxed him.
It was the kind of smile I used when I wanted something. Ash gave in quickly.
Not because of my smile, probably, but because he couldn’t bring himself to reject the teary little girl glued to him.
“There’s no need to buy dinner. I’ll help you take her to your inn.”
“Thanks!”
“I’d rather sleep in a witch’s den.”
“Chad!”
Wow, did you say that out loud on purpose?
“She totally just gets her way with everything! Did you see how fast she turned this around? It’s like you’re under a spell!”
“That’s not it. It’s because of the kid… Annie, right?”
I stood with my hands behind my back, just watching.
Was Annie the strange one, or was it this Ash—a man with a strangely pleasant voice and an overly gentle demeanor that made him an instant hit with kids?
“If I take you back to your village, will you stop crying?”
“Mm-hmm…”
“You’re a good girl.”
“Really?”
“Of course. So don’t cry. Everything will be okay.”
He held Annie’s small hand tightly, and with a gentle kiss on her little knuckle, he looked into her eyes with soft reassurance—and just like that, the crying stopped.
It was almost magical. Whistle-worthy, honestly.
I couldn’t take my eyes off the man who had calmed Annie in seconds.
His name was Ash.
A name I knew very well.
—
<Blue Monkeyflower Inn>
This was the inn Big Sis had told me to leave the horse at.
Maybe it was just the dinner hour, but as soon as I stepped in, I was hit by the smell of freshly baked bread, followed by the savory aroma of soup. It made me realize I was starving.
As expected of an inn with a shared dining area, the entire first floor was filled with tables, and most of them were already occupied with guests eating.
*Ding.*
I licked my lips and flicked the small bell on the counter with a finger.
A moment later, a cheerful boy around fifteen came out from the back and greeted me with a bright smile.
“Welcome! Here for a room? Or just dinner?”
“Both. Also, I need to leave a horse… I was told to mention the Silver Wolf Tribe?”
“Oh! I know them. They’re regulars.”
The boy scribbled into a registry, smiling all the while. He really seemed cut out for hospitality work.
“To leave a horse, you’ll need to pay for a month of feed in advance. That includes hay and other care fees.”
“And?”
“I’ll also need to see your ID…”
Right. I got abducted—no way I’d have something like that.
“How about this instead?”
I discreetly slid a silver coin worth five silver across the counter. Big Sis said this would take care of everything…
“We’ll take it!”
“Thanks. And I’ll need a room. Not two singles, just one twin room.”
“Let me check. Two-beds are usually booked… Wow, you’re in luck! We have one left. But it’s got just one bed—is that alright?”
“I’ll take it.”
I couldn’t leave Annie sleeping alone.
“Anything else you need?”
“Just one thing…”
“Yes?”
“Do you allow pets?”
The smile briefly faded from the boy’s face, and I pointed at Rai standing beside me with my thumb.
He leaned over the counter to get a look at Rai, then shook his head sympathetically.
“We can’t accept a dog that big…”
[Master! Give him money! Gold coins! Show him the power of wealth!]
How does a spirit know the value of money? I gave in and pulled out another silver coin.
I slid it across the counter, but unlike earlier, the boy didn’t seem so eager.
“It’s… complicated. Our owner insists all animals stay in the stables. It’d be too obvious if we made an exception.”
“Hm…”
“It’s an inn, after all. We have to think about our other guests too… Please understand.”
It couldn’t be helped. Rai would have to sleep in the stable.
He missed his chance to shapeshift into a snake.
Rai looked thoroughly displeased. A wolf puffing out his cheeks—seriously, get a grip and act like a real wolf.
“Alright. Just give me the key, then? I’ve got a sleeping kid to lay down.”
“Here you go. You’ll be on the third floor. We’ll take the horse to the stables for you, just let us know which one it is. We’ll also put the dog there.”
This inn’s service is great. I like it.
[I’m not a dog, I’m a wolf! Master, tell him I’m a wolf!]
[You want us kicked out?]
“He won’t bite, right?”
“Not unless I say so.”
He never bit anyone without my permission. He just showed his fangs in the scariest way possible.
With Rai led away by the collar like a common mutt, I took the room key and turned to Ash’s group, who had followed me in.
“You guys should get a room too. I’ll be right down. I’m starving.”
“Who do you think you are, giving orders?”
“You can order whatever you want.”
Chad immediately changed his tune.
“Whoa, thanks! Can I get beef?”
“Go for it.”
I didn’t care about anyone else.
My gaze was fixed on Ash—the man holding the now-sleeping Annie as if she were a precious treasure.
I crooked my finger at him.
“You, come with me. You’re carrying Annie to the bed.”
“That’s probably best. Alright.”
“Ugh… Ash! She’s so bossy! Every word out of her mouth is a command!”
The bespectacled man—his name was Lox—seemed annoyed with me in a different way than Chad.
He was whispering to Ash, but I could hear almost everything.
“If you’re not downstairs in one minute, I’m reporting you to the guards.”
“…One minute’s a bit short.”
“Two minutes!”
“Lox…”
“Five minutes?”
Seriously, I’m not gonna eat him. Do I really seem that dangerous?
Weird. Sure, I have a habit of ordering people around, but aside from that, I’m a decent person…
I think. Maybe I’m the only one who thinks that, though.