Chapter 36
Translator: True Detective
Chapter 36. Trophy Girl
Screeeech──
The massive sled ground to a halt, churning up the snow.
Pant, pant, pant.
Eight huskies stuck out their tongues, gasping for breath. The guards straightened their spears and saluted.
"Loyalty! Y-You have returned!"
Their voices were trembling.
They still shook whenever they saw me, but it was much better compared to the early days. At first, some guys even fainted. This is what adaptation is.
Today's harvest.
Various byproducts of demonic beasts.
Three Frost Bear pelts. Processed meat for six Combat Horned Rabbits. Two Snow Lizard poison sacs. Et cetera.
And buried among those piles of loot, a heterogeneous pink lump.
Buzz buzz.
"Th, That is… a, a person…?" "Great Warrior-nim picked up something again…" "Is it kidnapping? Traditional."
Murmurs were heard.
It’s not unreasonable to be flustered.
Generally, cases of bringing a human female sandwiched between monster corpses are rare.
But cargo space was limited, loot was plentiful, and the rescued person had to be loaded.
I got off the sled and approached the back compartment.
Pink twintails were drooping over fur pelts.
I wrapped one arm around her waist and lifted her up.
Arms, legs, and pink twintails drooped down limply.
It looked like a hunter proudly carrying a rare animal he just caught, but that surely must be just a feeling.
Thud thud.
Moved steps inside.
Passing warriors swallowed dry saliva.
"Goddess, please have mercy…" "This time pink…" "Should we inform the Captain?"
Let everyone be careful with word choice.
I am not a kidnapper but a rescuer.
Passed through the castle gate and headed to Frostgard Main Castle.
As I entered the courtyard, a familiar face was out to greet me.
"K, Knight-nim… that child is… what on earth?"
It was Lucia.
Her emerald eyes fixed on the girl, then moved up towards my helmet slit.
Shocked expression.
Natural. Bringing an unknown girl suddenly is surprising enough.
Maybe she suspects an affair. Since the loyal Black Knight suddenly brought another woman.
But no worries at all. I have a perfect alibi.
Good.
No need to complicate the situation by adding the cause of collapse.
'Found her collapsed on the snowfield so brought her. As a knight, I couldn't just watch. Worried since she was alone in a cold place.'
How humanitarian an action is this.
"Picked up."
……
'Picked up', really.
Expression 'picked up a person' isn't generally used.
Unless one is a human trafficker or kidnapper.
"P, Picked up you say…? Perhaps… this child… you didn't bring her… forcibly… right?"
Lucia's face turned pale.
No.
Not forced.
She didn't resist. (Because fainted) She didn't run away. (Because fainted) She didn't refuse being held in my arms. (Because fainted)
"Abduction or… kidnapping or… it’s not such things, riiight…?"
Let's think about the constituent elements of kidnapping.
Did she agree? No. Did she come willingly? Unknown. Was physical force exercised? Yes.
……
I will exercise the right to remain silent.
I do not lie.
That is the Black Knight's iron rule.
"Oh my god…"
Lucia staggered. Freya hurriedly supported her from the side.
"Hey, you really… now openly kidnapping? And such a tiny kid at that? Was that your taste? No, do you even have a taste in the first place? Just anything works?"
Freya poked the girl's cheek with her index finger.
"Hey. Wake up. Hey. Is she alive?"
Poke. Poke poke.
"Breathing. But this isn't a Northern kid? Look at the fabric. Silk that Imperial nobles might wear."
The girl had no reaction.
"Freya! Be careful!"
Lucia snatched Freya's hand urgently. And checked my mood.
"M, Might have injuries… and… Knight-nim's collection item so… if touch recklessly…"
Collection item.
Lucia, what on earth do you see me as.
Figure collector?
Of course I collected figures in my past life, but haven't fallen enough to collect 3D humans.
"Anyway."
I opened my mouth to change the subject.
"Will be useful when wakes up."
"Useful for what?"
Freya's eyes narrowed.
"Using as a slave? Or this and that… Kyaaak! Goosebumps! Pitch-black bastard! Get out of my head right now!"
What structure is Freya's head made of.
No, meant useful as a comrade.
If comrades increase, party power strengthens, and if power strengthens, probability of reaching happy ending increases.
Don't know what ability this girl has, but if physicals are enough to be fine even after hit by my sled, she can perform at least tanker role sufficiently.
Instead of answering, I walked silently into the castle.
Lucia called maids hurriedly.
"Prepare a room. Warmest place! And call a doctor too! Warm water and towels too!"
As expected my Lucia.
That sense understanding my meaning perfectly and taking follow-up measures.
This is why I try to make her Emperor.
Thud. Thud.
Walked the main castle hallway.
Pink girl dangled on arm matching steps.
Maids lined up on both sides of hallway stuck to walls and chattered.
"That child… Black Knight-nim's new bride…?" "Heard it’s loot." "If person is loot isn't that bride kidnapping?" "Since bride kidnapping is a time-honored tradition…" "Ah, right. Legal."
Northern perception is just like that.
If a warrior comes with something on arm, it’s either loot or bride.
Third possibility (rescue of castaway) seems not very common in this culture.
I arrived at the assigned guest room.
Opened door, warm air wrapped face. Fire was lit in fireplace. Seems Lucia's instruction was fast.
Bed with white sheets spread.
Put pink girl down carefully on it.
Pink hair and white sheet. Color contrast was strange.
Not a crime scene.
Rescue scene.
Let me emphasize.
Will apologize in future, feed, and recruit as comrade.
Hope she wakes up quickly.
I pulled a chair next to the bed and sat.
Crossed arms, looked down at the girl intently.
Guardian Mode ON.
Crackle crackle.
Sound of firewood popping in fireplace filled the room.
Peaceful atmosphere.
It was then.
"──So."
Chilly voice stuck in from behind.
Clack. Clack.
Footsteps approached.
It was Leona.
Couldn't know since when she was in the room, or if just entered now.
Like a Hero, appears at the most troublesome timing, from the most disadvantageous angle.
"Ha."
Short sneer.
"Reaching out to even such a small girl now. Gave up being human altogether?"
Leona took out a notebook from her bosom.
Scratch scratch.
Sound of pen scratching paper was heard exceptionally loud.
'Recording my good deed, right? Rescued castaway and transferred to safe place. Arranged medical measures. Humanitarian judgment.'
If there is something like Hero Mileage Accumulation System, will receive quite high score with this case.
Leona closed the notebook and approached the bed.
Grabbed the girl's wrist.
Checking pulse.
Professional hand movement. Indeed Hero. Non-combat skills are high level too.
"No wounds. Pulse is stable too. Seems just fainted but…"
Her gaze stuck towards me.
Eyes saying 'Confess what you did right now'.
Unfair.
Didn't use such high-dimensional technique.
Just used pure kinetic energy and law of mass.
F=ma.
Force equals mass times acceleration.
Mass of dog sled (including steel frame). Acceleration due to full sprint of eight huskies. Impulse acted on girl by product of these two.
That is all.
Will enlighten this fantasy medieval person with scientific explanation as much as possible.
'Collided during movement. Seems my mass and sled's acceleration were a bit fast. Relief that she is a sturdy child.'
"Hmm."
……
"Was the sled's breakthrough power insufficient?"
Thud.
"Knight-nim…?"
In front of the door, Lucia dropped the towel.
"You… hit a person… with the sled…?"
Moisture dwelled in her voice.
"Originally that sled is a symbol of peace I introduced for food supply of the North!"
Ah, that.
Certainly initial design spec was so.
Supply sled.
Lifeline connecting village and village.
But I prioritized performance over purpose.
Slight modification.
Spike bumper prepared for monster raids. Aerodynamic design minimizing air resistance. Reinforced frame for high-speed driving.
Resultantly became closer to 'Snow Mobile Strike Tank' than 'Supply Sled', but anyway essence of running carrying load didn't change.
Since carried a person.
Isn't half correct?
I nodded. Meaning affirmation.
Lucia touched her forehead and sighed deeply.
"Haa…"
Deep agony contained in her sigh was felt.
I also know managing a talent like me isn't easy. Since a general with too outstanding ability sometimes makes the monarch tired.
Leona clenched her fist tight. Seemed to be struggling to hold back hand going to Holy Sword hilt.
It was then.
"Ugh… Uugh…"
Fingers gripped and released the sheet wiggle wiggle.
Girl's eyelids trembled paruru.
Black Knight's figure filled the pupils.
Consciousness surfaces.
Air bubbles rising to surface from deep sea.
Bubble bubble.
No, cannot express with such cute onomatopoeia.
A stickier and more unpleasant surfacing.
Squelch squelch.
Head is full of fog.
White? Black? Or pink?
"Uuu……"
Senses returned one by one.
First is touch of sheet on back. Soft. At least not stone floor. Duck feather? Goose feather? Anyway civilization's convenience made by cruelly plucking bird feathers. Fluffy. Pass.
Smell brushing nose tip. Scent of crackling firewood burning. And faintly smelling meat broth smell. Stimulates appetite. This is pass too.
Sound heard in ears. Buzz buzz. Someone is chatting. Low tone and high tone mixed. Dissonance. Fail.
"Here is…… where……?"
And most important question.
"I am…… who?"
Common cliché. Standard of amnesia.
Only exceedingly fragmentary senses come to mind.
Eris desperately groped for herself in the darkness.
Her name. Eris… Right, Eris. First of all name is cute.
Likes. Dessert. Sweet things. Chocolate tart. Honey bread. Crepe sprinkled with lots of sugar.
Can do. Not certain but feeling that something will happen if beckon with finger. Body remembers that.
And most important thing.
Eris-nim is the cutest, most special, and precious existence in the world.
This is self-evident truth needing no proof of memory.
Just as 1+1 is 2, Eris-nim is cutest in the world.
Up to here is good.
Problem was next.
Don't know where here is. Don't know why here. Don't know what person she was.
Feeling of belonging somewhere exists, but name of that 'somewhere' doesn't come up.
There is a door in the head. Know answer is beyond that door, but don't know where the knob is.
'……What is this. Amnesia? Such commoner cliché to Eris-nim?'
Unpleasant.
Eris-nim is a special existence. Amnesia development is something crappy extras undergo.
Still, feeling unpleasant means alive for now.
Since alive for now, let's open eyes.
Girl opened eyes.
Blurry vision.
World was smeared like a hazy watercolor painting.
Slowly focused.
And beyond that fog, the image formed clearly first was.
Red.
Two burning dots.
"……!"
Black.
Mass of darkness seemingly sucking in all surrounding light because too black.
"Hieeeek!"
Brain asks.
'What is this black thing? Who? Unknown guy? Should be wary?'
No matter how much searching memory archive, no data about that black armor.
But body answers.
'Run away. Die. Obey. Be crushed. Be trampled. Or be eaten.'
Fingertips cooled coldly. Heart pounded. Downy hair on back of neck stood up.
Eris gripped the blanket reflexively.
Tremble tremble.
Inner self was screaming.
Thump.
Black Knight took a step closer.
He held out the bowl he was holding.
"Accept reality."
Mumbling voice flowed from inside the helmet.
'Accept what!? What accept!? What trying to do to me!?'
"Waaaaaaah!"
Eventually girl burst into tears.
Tremble tremble.
Curled body round, hugged knees and trembled shiver shiver.
It was then.
"K, Knight-nim. Wait a minute."
Another voice heard over the blanket.
Soft female voice from earlier.
"I will talk first. This child is scared."
Someone sat by side.
"It’s okay. Surprised a lot, right?"
Blonde beauty with worried eyes was seen.
Green pupils. Hair like sunshine.
……Goddess?
Lucia wrapped the girl's cold hand with two hands.
Warm.
"Take it slow. No one will harm you."
Lie.
There. Right there, by the door. Pitch-black iron lump is standing. Eyes flashing!
But seemed could trust this sister in front of eyes.
Lucia wiped cold sweat formed on the girl's forehead with a towel. And brought water cup to mouth.
Eris drank water gulp gulp like a baby bird.
"Here is a safe place. Can tell only what you remember slowly."
Lucia asked gently.
"May I know the name?"
Name.
This she knows. This remembers.
"Eri…"
Right, Eris. My name is Eris.
Cutest name in the world.
Moment opening mouth trying to say that name.
Zing.
Warning sound rang in brain.
Strong instinctive brake applied not to say 'Eris'.
Why? Don't know reason.
But intuition that revealing real name to that black monster is suicide.
Girl swallowed back letters hurriedly.
"Th…… Eri… Eri. Can't remember other than that……."
Eris shook head shake shake and hung tears in eyes.
Half was real fear, half was instinctive worldly wisdom.
If look pitiful first, will save probably.
Lucia nodded.
No sign of suspicion. Rather pity deepened.
"Eri. Pretty name. It’s okay, Eri. Memory will return slowly. No need to rush."
She stroked Eris's hair.
Touch was affectionate.
"Tch."
Someone clicked tongue at foot of bed.
Handsome beautiful boy with blue eyes. Visual just right to make own bodyguard.
Scratch scratch.
Leona took out notebook and wrote something quickly.
Red-haired woman squatting next to her intervened.
"Pitiful! Remembering only name? Hit head too hard?"
Freya looked up at Lucia and said.
"Sister, let her stay here! Can't send out without memory in this cold! Tiny thing looks just right to freeze to death outside."
'Tiny!'
This is petite. Portability is good. Scarcity value!
"Of course. Natural."
Blonde girl nodded.
"Can stay here as much as you want until memory returns."
Eris watched that scene.
'……Take care of me?'
Unknown person without any condition?
Why?
Pink pupils rolled roll roll examining room situation.
Everyone looking at self with worried eyes.
'Why ask why. Eris is Eris. Natural.'
Pride inserted interpretation quickly.
'If such cute and pitiful beautiful girl fainted losing memory, human nature to take care. Rather strange if not take care. Mm-hm.'
Right. Eris-nim is existence deserving affection.
But why did chest become very slightly warm.
Then.
Presence moved over the door.
Black existence leaning on wall opened mouth.
"Forgot everything."
Low voice echoed. Heavy resonance like cave reverberation.
"Don't worry. I will fill it again."
Eris's whole body stiffened.
'F, Fill?!'
What!? Fill what!?
Memory? Or something else?!
"Hieeeeek!!"
Eris dived into blanket again.
Only tip of pink twintails stuck out of blanket trembling shiver shiver.
Lucia looked back at Black Knight making crying face.
"K, Knight-nim! Please! What on earth saying to the kid! Kid is scared!"
'Right! Sister, cheer up!' Eris agreed fiercely inside blanket. Of course no courage to speak out loud.
"Please go out for a moment! We will take care of the kid! Yes? Please? Yes?"
Black Knight shrugged shoulders, then turned body obediently.
Thump. Thump. Thump.
Heavy footsteps receded.
Bloody atmosphere hovering in room disappeared.
Inside blanket wiggle wiggle, pink head came up again.
Look around.
No pitch-black thing.
None right?
……None! That black thing is gone.
"Phew……."
Sigh of relief burst out.
Lucia picked up the bowl Black Knight left.
Steaming Rabbit Meat Soup.
Northern unique spices added, smelling savory yet sweet.
"Here, Eri. Eat this a bit. Hungry right?"
Lucia scooped soup with spoon and brought to mouth.
Eris hesitated and opened mouth.
Ah.
"……!"
Eyes opened wide.
Delicious.
Umami melting moment touching tongue. Appropriate seasoning. Soft meat texture.
"De, Deliciou……"
Freya giggled.
"Right? Delicious right? That pitch-black guy's personality is broken but cooks amazingly. Just feeds us strange things sometimes."
"Th, That person made……?"
Hand holding spoon paused.
But tongue was already wanting next spoon.
Body is honest.
Lucia smiled softly and stroked head.
"Eat a lot. If ask for more will give more."
"Yeah, good girl. Eats well."
Freya helped from side too.
Warm soup.
Soft bed.
Care of kind people.
Touch stroking head.
Wriggle. Creep.
Arrogance pressed by fear started to lift head.
'Right…… this is it.'
She thought sucking spoon slurp.
'Taking care of me.'
Bringing water.
'Looking after me.'
Adjusting blanket.
'Worrying about me.'
Checking pulse.
Eris's mouth corners went up very slightly.
'Everyone serving Eris-nim. As expected Eris-nim is special!'
No memory.
Don't know where here is either.
Terrifying monster is lingering outside door.
But.
This comfort is real.
Eris rubbed cheek on Lucia's hand.
'Should make this sister my Maid No. 1. Touch is quite useful.'
And that noisy red hair is clown.
Silver hair glaring over there is bodyguard.
'Endure here for now. Only until memory returns!'
Thus pink lost article settled in the North.