Chapter 144
Chapter 144
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 144
Chapter Title: How About Some Stew Before You Go?
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Nefti's house?
I honestly have no clue where Gluco Village is.
She says it's somewhere in the east, but by that logic, Sabre Territory—Milmyu's hometown—is also somewhere in the east.
I know this much.
Travel isn't just about the stamina needed once you're on the road.
You need stamina for preparations. For having fun. Even for resting.
Is Nefti... trying to kill me?
"I'm telling you upfront—my stamina stat is pathetically low. If I collapse midway..."
"I'll carry you on my back! I'm confident I could run from my hometown all the way to central Jefrin with a rock heavier than you, senior! In Royal Guard training, we did plenty of drills for carrying our lord and spwon'ting in emergencies!"
"......"
No, don't. Stop striking that heroic pose with such a dashing expression.
"Ahem. There's another issue. What about meals and rests along the way?"
"I'll handle that, my lord. We've got a cart—what's there to worry about?"
"......"
This crazy attention-whore wolf really has no sense of timing.
I love the convenience store. I don't want to leave. I want to live here.
"Senior, are you against going to my hometown?"
"......"
"In that case, I'll respect your wishes. I don't want to force my desires on you by overriding my lord's will."
Nefti wasn't disappointed.
She simply accepted it with understanding and said she'd do exactly as I wished.
This is why I keep her by my side.
This trust and. Her cheerful demeanor never crosses into frivolity or rashness.
But that's exactly why it stings even more.
No. I mean...
Ah.
Damn it.
"Fine. Let's head out."
"Really?"
"Of course. Wolfram von Loengrin doesn't go back on his word."
"Our house stew is really delicious! You can have some stew before you go!"
Yeah, whatever.
If a junior invites you to their place once, you can go, right?
That night was already late, so Nefti and I decided to rest until dawn before setting off.
Patrasche and Nefti had packed my luggage for me.
Someone else packing my bags? I'm not a kid... I thought, but I quickly shed that arrogance.
Wolfram would die pulling stunts like that.
"Is this all your clothes, senior?"
"Yeah, pretty much."
"You're even more frugal than I imagined. Hehe."
"What's so funny?"
"Oh, nothing. It's just... most people think Senior Wolfram committed all sorts of corruption to fund his lavish luxuries. It's hilarious."
"......"
"Such nonsense, right? You're just chasing bigger dreams than anyone else."
Uh, um.
If you believe that, then... sure, let's call it the truth.
Getting that kind of assessment makes my head spin a bit.
"Come to think of it, this'll be my first trip anywhere besides Eden."
"Eden... Oh, Senior Aila's territory?"
"Yeah. Hmm."
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing. I was just pondering what gift to bring since we're going."
"A gift? You don't need to bring anything."
Has this girl never had a proper social life?
"It's your hometown, but it's different for me. Think about my position. What's our relationship?"
"Lord and Royal Guard."
"Exactly. So for our first meeting, preparing a nice gift is the right call."
It might turn into a lifetime job, after all.
"I-I see. Aha... haha."
"Why are you laughing?"
"N-No reason. It's a secret. Haha......"
Nefti blushed and started flailing at the empty air.
Hey. Weren't you packing?
There's nothing there.
In the end, all I could prepare were some homemade handicrafts, and with that, we set off toward Gluco Village in the cart pulled by Patrasche.
There was no warp portal straight to Gluco Village, of course—we'd have to go to some eastern noble's territory and travel a bit farther from there.
Just before leaving through the territory's east gate, we checked our gear.
"How long at this cart's pace?"
"Roughly six hours. The road might be a bit rough, though... Should I carry you?"
"We're riding in the cart right now. What's the point of carrying?"
"Hehe. Senior, you don't get it."
"......?"
What do you get, then?
"Look. Unlike Jefrin or inside the territory, this is a real backroad—no paving. It'll be super bumpy, right?"
"Yeah."
"So you'll get tired, and that's when I carry you and absorb the shocks!"
How does your brain connect those dots?
Human suspension?
"No need."
"I'm your Royal Guard—I want to help with stuff like this too!"
She says it with sparkling eyes fixed on me.
"No need."
"It's fine, senior! Come on!"
Nefti stretches out both arms.
"I didn't make you my Royal Guard to use you for menial tasks like that."
"......Ah."
"Don't undervalue yourself."
"Y-Yes."
Right after, Nefti started fidgeting quietly, and I shrugged.
I might've come on a bit strong, but it wasn't wrong, so an awkward silence settled in.
"Anyway, shouldn't we get going?"
"Yeah. Sorry to keep you waiting. Let's go, Patrasche."
At Patrasche's inexplicable whine, I gave the order to depart, and the cart slowly lurched forward.
"As expected of senior."
"...Yeah. Sure."
"Yes. I'll become a Royal Guard worthy of you, senior!"
Yeah.
But could you stop talking to me?
It's bouncing like crazy—honestly, it's rough.
Ugh.
Ugh. Gah. Hold on, this shaking...
The cart slowly began climbing the rugged mountain path.
Nefti took a deep breath, and the scent of home filled her lungs.
The road to her hometown always smelled of the forest.
During first-year summer break, winter break too—this forest always welcomed her unchanged.
When her father passed, when her mother wove cloth alone to feed them, when her talent earned her special admission to Jefrin, when she claimed runner-up spot and got full tuition waived.
Sometimes she cried in this forest, struggled, suffered.
To reach her hometown Gluco, where her mother and family waited, she always had to cross this forest.
The forest understood her sorrows, accepted them. In happiness or pain, it and her home were her heart's refuge.
That's why Nefti felt unease deep inside.
She'd chosen the path of Royal Guard. It wasn't the path itself that scared her.
If this forest never crossed paths with Senior Wolfram's road, she'd never return here in her lifetime.
A vague anxiety in her chest.
She'd prove it through loyalty. If she worked hard, she wouldn't fall behind on the road her senior walked.
But just moments ago.
She realized she was wrong.
【I didn't make you my Royal Guard to use you for menial tasks like that.】
【Don't undervalue yourself.】
Senior cherishes her more than she ever imagined.
Even if she never returns to this forest, she'll never forget this moment.
Royal Guard to the proud imperial scion.
Lord and servant, walking together for life.
...Anything more is still too scary and hard to voice, but Nepthelian would walk her path unshaken.
Swish.
"......Senior? Ah."
Wolfram's body tilted slightly toward Nefti.
No answer even when called. Normally he'd snap back with "Why'd you call?"
Senior had relaxed, leaning against her.
Like he'd passed out. Seeing him so still, Nefti smiled unwittingly.
Entrusting everything to her. Eyes closed—he must be tired.
Nodding at his sleeping face, she thought: the forest's scent had eased the tension taut in him. It made her so happy.
"Senior Aila isn't here right now, so..."
Indulging a tiny selfish whim.
Nefti gently took Wolfram's hand, feeling its warmth.
Sharing memories and time, the cart rolled slowly toward her hometown.
A bit bumpy, but leaning on each other like this, no worries in the world.
When I came to, the cart had stopped.
"...Senior. We're here."
"Got it."
For some reason, my memories of the trip are hazy... What happened? Anyway, I can't recall well.
The important thing: we'd arrived at Nefti's hometown, Gluco Village.
It was too dark to see the village properly.
We'd left at dawn, and now it was the dead of night.
"Too late to show you around. Let's head straight home, senior."
"Sure."
Following her lead, we drove the cart to a family home.
A weathered two-story wooden house, patched up here and there.
A waterwheel turning beside it, and a small shed.
No windows, naturally. A faint light leaked from inside—someone awake?
As I pieced things together from what I knew, Nefti halted abruptly at the door and cleared her throat awkwardly.
"Ahem."
"What's wrong? Not going in?"
"N-No. It's just... actually bringing you home makes me... embarrassed. You know this feeling?"
Do I.
"So what now? Should I just sleep in the cart?"
Anything but freezing to death is fine.
"N-No! I can't let you do that! So... um... Ah, right. I'll go in, clean up, and you wait just a sec—really quick?"
"...Nefti."
Before I could even retort in disbelief, a voice came from inside.
"Mom always keeps the place clean, so no need. Come in, Petty."
"M-Mom? You're up?"
"Of course. And yelling at the door will wake your siblings. Come quietly. You've brought a guest? It's humble, but if it's okay, please come in."
"......Y-Yes."
Nefti pushed the door open with a rusty creak, revealing the home's interior.
A rundown house. But filled with love.
No better way—or need—to describe it.
A single candle softly lit the living room, where a woman knitted by its glow.
Would Nefti look like that as an adult? Or wiser still?
Fine lines from life's trials, yet an untainted smile as she looked at us.
"Please, come in."
"We're home..."
"Pleased to meet you."
The polite words slipped out; I touched my lips.
Callused hands.
A life far from affluent.
She must knit even now for a reason.
She's a commoner. A struggling one.
Yet.
This moment, 【Imperial Bloodline】 didn't deem speaking politely to her a violation of 【Imperial Authority】.
It meant she deserved such respect.
"Hehe. No need for formal speech. Petty told me—you're the senior she relies on, right?"
"No, that's not true. If anything, I'm the one always helped by her."
Strangely comfortable words flowed easily.
"Sorry. As an uneducated commoner... forgive any lack of manners."
"I can't remember the last time I received such impeccable courtesy."
"Thank you. Warm tea? Just boiled roasted grains—might not suit your taste."
"Perfect. The forest night is chilly."
"Hehe. It is."
"Mom, I'll get it."
"Oh? Then bring some snacks too?"
"Yes. Senior, wait just a moment."
Nefti headed to the kitchen. Even in the dark, she moved with ease—truly the home she loved so dearly.
Anyway, once Nefti left.
Her mother tucked away her knitting basket and gazed at me quietly.
"I heard you'll be the boss at my daughter's new workplace. Is that right?"
"Yes."
"I see. She called you royalty... Is that true?"
"Nothing to brag about."
"That's why I'm worried. What if she oversteps with someone like you..."
"That won't happen."
"...Oh my."
"My blood might be impressive, but my abilities fall short. If I may be bold—it's not what you're born with, but what you achieve that matters, right?"
Like villainess Aila Trista seizing her own future. Like Milmyu, who should've vanished from Jefrin, becoming top student. Around me are those who defy fate and grasp happiness with their own hands.
"...Oh dear. Then, in your eyes, what of our Petty? I haven't done much for her, but do you see her as capable?"
"Yes. Absolutely."
No hesitation in my answer.
Of course. Who else would I trust if not her?
"...Working by royalty's side means building the empire's foundation. She might never return home."
"I plan to grant occasional leave... but that's not your real question."
She stared straight at me.
Her real concern: Can I promise not to discard Nefti, whose career I derailed for my sake?
Like scouting a sure-shot mid-level civil servant for a startup.
Time to man up and commit.
"Entrust your daughter to me."
"Oh my... Hehe."
Clatter.
Roll roll roll...
Right then, a tray crashed in the kitchen, followed by something rolling across the floor.