Ch. 166
Lox looked exhausted by my obsession with sleep. Shaking his head in defeat, he began tidying up the table.
“If we want to leave at dawn, you should at least get some rest. I’ll explain the rest while we travel tomorrow.”
“What? There’s still more to explain?”
“This isn’t child’s play. Ancient civilizations aren’t something to take lightly. You still have a mountain of things to learn. Remember—if even one of us makes a careless mistake, everyone suffers.”
Damn it, anyone could see from my face that I hated studying the most.
It’s practically written on my forehead!
“Seriously, you should be grateful someone as skilled as me is tagging along. Why so many lessons? Go out and look around—do you see Spirit Mages lying on the streets?”
Other parties are desperate because they can’t even find a proper mage, but this guy looks ready to toss away a Spirit Mage who dropped into his lap.
I muttered loudly on purpose as I crawled into the bed I always used.
“I can hear you, you know?”
“Oh, whoops.”
Maybe my voice was a little too loud.
“What’s this partition? Can I take it down?”
“Take it down, take it down.”
I gave Gale a half-hearted reply and buried my face in the sheets. Ah, how I wish I could spend more of my life sprawled on a bed doing absolutely nothing.
“There aren’t enough beds.”
“Looks that way.”
“Sorry. I couldn’t book another room.”
While I rolled around, reaffirming my love for the bed, the men stumbled upon a little problem.
There were six of us, but the inn room was only for five. One bed short.
Five men, one woman. Not exactly an easy setup for booking rooms.
“Because of the festival, nobody’s giving up their rooms. And if they do, they’re passing them under the table for outrageous prices,” Lox explained.
Unable to claim a bed, Enk scratched his head while scanning the floor for a spot to sleep.
“No choice, then. Better the floor than sleeping outside.”
“Enk. Don’t. Use mine.”
“Ash? What about you?”
“I’ll take the floor.”
And he really meant it—he immediately pulled his belongings off the bed, without a shred of hesitation.
“I had a bed yesterday. You and Gale have been roughing it, so you’re more tired.”
“Well, sure, but…”
“It’s fine. You take the bed. It’s better this way.”
How could anyone willingly give up their bed to sleep on the floor? Already buried under my blanket, I was struck by cultural shock.
Ash looked less like a leader and more like the lowest member of the group. Maybe that was the sign of a good leader.
Even with a bedroll, the floor couldn’t compare to a mattress.
“No way. I can’t let you. You sleep here.”
“Don’t be silly. You’re the one who’s been traveling hard…”
“You two can just share a bed.”
Hugging the blanket, I tossed my suggestion out lazily.
“That won’t work.”
“He’s right. We’re too big. It’d just be uncomfortable.”
“My bed still has space.”
Beds were usually made for full-grown men, so when I lay down there was plenty of room left. I shifted toward the wall and pointed at the empty space.
It was fairly wide.
“…Ahem.”
“Pfft.”
What’s with those looks?
Especially Ash. I’d never seen his face that flustered before.
“Too cramped? Then push two beds together and three of you can sleep.”
I gestured toward Gale’s bed. He wasn’t particularly large, so it seemed reasonable. Gale just started coughing like he’d swallowed something wrong.
“Worried I’ll pounce on you? Don’t. I don’t see you as men.”
“…I’d rather sleep in the stables.”
“Huh? Why? Is it really that bad?”
Do I smell or something?
I pressed my nose into my shoulder and sniffed, but it’s hard to judge your own scent.
[Rai, do I smell bad?]
[Master, I am exceptionally skilled at everything, but you know I don’t have a physical sense of smell. Unless it’s magical, I can’t detect it.]
[I know. I just wanted you to say no.]
I’ll have to sneak in a shower tomorrow.
“I appreciate the offer but…”
“Then come here.”
“I’ll have to decline.”
“Hmph. Then I’ll just—”
Enk tried to slip into my bed, but Ash was faster, grabbing his arm before he could move.
Even without seeing his face, anyone could tell Ash was furious. The tension in the air was suffocating. Enk avoided his eyes desperately.
“…Sorry. Just kidding.”
We’ve slept in the same room before. Why act like this now?
I patted the empty spot beside me.
We were traveling together anyway—making a fuss over this would just make things awkward.
“What’s the big deal? Same bed, same room, what’s the difference?”
“It’s very different.”
“I wouldn’t mind if it’s Ash.”
“…”
“…”
I could feel the men shifting their eyes around the room, scrambling for an escape from the awkwardness.
At last, Ash snapped. He didn’t yell, but his voice hit like a hammer.
“Out.”
“…What!”
“Why!”
“Go to the stables!”
Suddenly he was acting like a tyrant, even dragging out Chad, who’d been pretending to sleep.
“You can’t be serious!”
“Everyone out!”
Why was this happening?
Ash had been the one who insisted Enk and Gale needed proper rest, yet now he was throwing everyone out.
No surprise, Chad was the loudest protester.
“This is insane! We’ve got a five-person room! Why should we sleep in the stables? Kick her out instead!”
“Chad!”
“Make her go to the stables!”
That earned him a smack to the back of the head and a hand around his collar as Ash dragged him off.
I just lay on my side, blinking at the scene.
Didn’t take long for Ash to shove everyone out and slam the door shut.
And now… I was alone in this big room.
I had no idea why.
“What the… I don’t get it.”
It all happened too fast.
Ash had shouted, even used a little force…
Rai hopped onto the empty bed with a wag of his tail and stretched out smugly.
Then he laughed at me.
[Oh, Master, you’re so clueless!]
“What? No way. That’s the first I’ve heard of that!”
[Ash is just worried about you!]
“…Me?”
He might look like a devil whispering in my ear, but he was a spirit.
[He’s scared you’ll kill them in their sleep.]
“Hm. Makes sense.”
I stroked my chin and nodded gravely. Rai could be sharp at times.
[Think about it. Would you leave your dearest friends to sleep with a wild beast?]
“You’re calling me a wild beast?”
[Let me rephrase. A bloodthirsty monster.]
“Not much better… I mean, I’ve killed a lot lately, but am I really that terrifying? Do I feel like a threat to their lives?”
[If I weren’t a spirit, you’d have killed me a hundred times by now.]
“No way. More like ten thousand times.”
As we chatted, a twinge of guilt crept in. Maybe I had gone too far lately.
Our righteous prince hated it when I killed people. Maybe I should rein it in a bit?
But it’s not like I killed for fun. They brought it on themselves.
“Still, maybe I’m just not trustworthy. How do I reassure them?”
[Beats me. But I do know this—whatever you’re thinking now? Impossible. Absolutely impossible.]
So sure of himself, this spirit brat.
I’ll kill him ten thousand times.
[Better to trust a dragon with your treasure than trust you.]
Make that twenty thousand.
[Your danger level is practically catastrophic. Ah, and yes, I know you just thought thirty thousand.]
Clever little thing. Come here.
I crooked a finger at him, but Rai darted off to the farthest bed. He knew I never got up once I lay down.
So unfair. If only I weren’t lying down…
—
I woke early the next morning. The air was cold, the room wrapped in deep silence.
No steady breathing nearby—reminding me I was still alone.
Yawning, half-asleep, I stripped off my sleepwear.
I pulled my thick nightshirt over my head, stepped down from the bed, loosened my pants, and let them fall.
Naked, I felt free.
Cold air swept over me as I walked to my pack.
Still groggy, I rummaged inside until I found what I wanted—a small souvenir from this city.
A round bar of scented soap. A soft mint color. I’d bought the same for Mia and Iruze.
Its sweet fragrance made me eager to let it soak into my skin.
Undoing my braid, I called for Undine. That was all the prep I needed.
“Rai, keep watch while I bathe.”
[Got it.]
“Tell me if anyone comes.”
In this world, few could shower like I could.
A tub wasn’t necessary. Just a chair and Undine.
Water drenched my hair, lather turned to suds, but no droplet ever spilled past my knees—Undine controlled it all.
My spirit had mastered the art of bathing.
When I was younger, all I could do was fill a tub.
“Mm-hm.”
I finished with a careful comb-through. Otherwise this damn curly hair would be a nightmare when dry.
Usually, Undine dried me completely—no towel needed.
But the inn’s soft towels tempted me. I pressed one to my face, then wrapped it around my shoulders.
“Undine, just dry my hair.”
[What about your body, Master?]
“I’ll use the towel.”
Magic was convenient, but it couldn’t give me this cozy comfort. Sometimes, wiping myself down was its own pleasure.
Fresh and cheerful, I tossed some clean clothes on the bed, humming as I picked.
“What should I wear…”
Most days I just threw something on, but today we’d leave the city and end up camping in the woods. Comfort mattered.
[Ash is here.]
“What?”
The door burst open.
…Shit.
“Ah…!”
Shit!