CH 204

Snow falls from the sky.

The whole area is covered in a blanket of white.

After we parted from Toru-sama, we headed north in search of our lost friends.

Monica-san was riding Ichiro-san while I was on horseback.

—Are you cold, Ichiro-san?

—Guur…

—Great, I’m starting to get hungry.

—But you ate beef jerky not long ago.

—It’s not enough. I want hot soup.

Monica-san replied with a hunched posture. She seemed to be very tired, plus her hatred of the cold was evident. She was wearing several layers of clothes that looked like a ball.

—Where is the place we are heading to?

—It’s not very far.

—I need more information than that. I’m not familiar with the geography of this country.

—Oh, forgive my disrespect.

As soon as Monica placed her hand on her clothes, I quickly stopped her.

This girl always tries to apologize by wanting to take her clothes off every chance she gets. She’s a well-meaning person, but sometimes she’s a little strange and hard to handle.

She has no other name than being a stripper.

I’ve heard that there are people in the world whose hobby is doing things that go beyond common sense.

I wonder if Toru-sama will also like that sort of thing.

If so, should I learn from her? But as a noble’s daughter, I would never do something so low… I feel a strange euphoria when I imagine it. What does this throbbing in my chest mean?

—It’s so cold. I’m beginning to wonder if your friends were really transferred to this place.

—We don’t know yet. But it is also true that nothing can begin without a search. Even if we don’t find them now, it would be very gratifying if we could get some information about their whereabouts.

—It doesn’t matter, Alyusha is a criminal. To enter another person’s home is unbecoming of an elf.

—It’s not Alyusha-san’s fault. I did a little research to make sure, and it seems that the floor below the teleport has collapsed several times, and the building itself is falling apart. My father said he would investigate the ruins as soon as possible and rebuild the house.

—I see… Marianne’s house is in a lot of trouble.

Several travelers who passed us on the road were astonished to see that Monica-san was riding a rather dangerous animal.

As Toru-san’s fiancée, I couldn’t help but feel proud to have a man who can tame even the most violent animal feared by people.

However, it is shameful to act in a boastful manner, and it is not proper for a lady to act in such a way. So I kept such a feeling to myself.

—Did you see how they looked at us? They were very surprised.

—Fufu.

I can’t help but be struck by Monica’s honesty. I love it.

As we continue down the road, we meet a woman archer carrying a boar tied to a stick.

—Excuse me, is there a town or village around here where we can rest?

—Aaah! A Behemoth!?

The woman throws the boar to the ground and sits down.

—Please don’t be frightened. We won’t hurt you.

—I see… It’s an amazing thing that there are people in this world who can ride a Behemoth.

—The great Toru tamer of wild monsters can take on anything…!

—A tamer of monsters… It still sounds impossible….

The girl wiped off the snow and picked up the boar.

Monica-san got off Ichiro and walked over to the girl.

—Hi, my name is Monica, and this is Marianne.

—Hello.

The woman greets us lightly.

She seems a little brusque. From her appearance, one would expect her to be an adventurer. Her race is human, a beautiful girl with slightly shaggy semi-long black hair and sleepy eyes.

—My name is Nazna. You are southerners?

—Maybe. What makes you think so?

—Your smell. You have a different smell than the people of this place.

—Maybe it’s sweat and nothing else.

—That’s not what I mean… I’m too lazy to explain, so it’s okay.

At Nazna’s words, I checked my own smell.

I’m sure I’ve cleaned my body properly every day.

The first time I took a bath with water was four days ago, and I wonder if I didn’t clean myself enough.

It’s a shame that Roane’s daughter is perceived as stinky.

I feel like taking a dip.

—But I smell good! Do you want to try it?!

—You see, you can’t distinguish your own body odor.

—Ah, really?

Nazna bursts out laughing at my question.

After a short laugh, she answered me by wiping her tears with her fingers.

—Oh, you guys are funny. My roommate is a weirdo, but you two are just as weird.

—Is there a city or town around here? So we can continue our conversation.

—Yes, there is a big city. I’ll guide you to the place, follow me, but first… You must hide that Behemoth somewhere.

********************

We arrived in the city of Minsu in the Zaus territory of the Talbert country.

This city seems to have a large number of registered adventurers. For everywhere you look you see adventurers in winter clothing.

Even in this cold and snowy weather, the city was bustling with activity, and stomach-churning smells were wafting from the stores along with the white smoke.

—I wish I could eat something from this place.

—Yes, this aroma is stimulating my appetite.

—Since we’re here, how about coming to my place for lunch?

I’m puzzled by Nazna’s invitation.

I can’t ask someone I’ve just met to do so much for me. I haven’t even thanked her for bringing me here.

—It’s okay, don’t worry about it. I just want you to tell me everything you know about this place. I’ve never left this country since I was born.

—If that’s all you want, that’s fine.

She led us down a narrow alley to a house with a narrow garden.

Although cozy, the building was small but stately and elegant. There was a single tree in the garden.

—I’m home, is anyone here?

As soon as he opened the door, she muttered into the dimly lit interior.

She threw the boar in the door and led us into the living room.

—It is a very nice mansion.

—It’s not so much a mansion. Sit where you like, I’ve made some tea.

Nazna walked briskly into the kitchen.

Monica and I sat in the chairs as we looked around the interior of the house.

—It’s made of a lot of fine wood. It’s not the kind of place a commoner would live.

—It’s not polite to talk like that. But it certainly gives that impression.

Suddenly, I notice that there are wooden dolls on the shelves.

There are seven of them. The cute designs are strangely eye-catching.

There seems to be no uniformity in the races, and I can see humans, elves, beasts and demons. However, I don’t know why, but only the elves were set apart.

—I have returned.

Nazna prepared a pot of tea, and placed the tea cups carefully on the table, so I took the moment to ask her a question.

—Hey, Nazna-san, where did you get those dolls?

—Oh. My roommate did it while crying. I don’t know exactly the details, but I think they are her friends.

….A girl who cries for her friends?

I can understand that pain.

I definitely need to make an effort to get my friends as soon as possible. I’m the one responsible for all this happening.

—I’m at home.

—Oh, good timing, wait a bit.

Nazna runs to the front door.

—Why do you smell like that?

—I just jumped into a river, and I also got wet in the rain… And I don’t stink.

—Come in and take a bath, quickly. More importantly, tell me, did you meet your friends?

—Yes, but I didn’t know what kind of face I should make when I met them, so I ran away.

—You’re an idiot… But I’m glad you’re back.

That voice… Could it be that she’s…?

I get up quietly and head for the front door.

When I look back, Monica is following me.

—I have a visitor now.

—That’s unusual. I thought I was Nazna’s only friend.

I carefully approached the door and that’s when I saw her.

There she was, Alyusha-san.

She seemed to have noticed my presence, her eyes widened and she froze.

—Ma… Marianne…

—Alyusha-san….

Tears well up in her eyes and her lips tremble.

Then, she pulls back and tries to run away.

—Monica-san, catch her!

—Gotcha!

Monica-san jumps on Alyusha-san’s back and they both fall on the snow.

—Well, Alyusha-san… I’d like to know why you tried to escape.