Chapter 38
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 38
Chapter Title: Shasha
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After sending Lulu off, I roughly tidied up the checkpoint.
Left the puddle on the floor but quickly wiped away the marks Lulu had left on the desk.
This was a bit embarrassing to show others.
"Ugh~"
I stretched to loosen my stiff shoulders.
The quest was progressing steadily.
'But I hope I didn't wake the Saintess.'
I cautiously approached the cradle.
I worried the noisy inspection with Lulu might have woken her.
What a hassle...
Every time I performed a Body Search, I had to check on the Saintess.
The gains were huge, but nothing was as exhausting as this.
I slightly opened the cradle door and brought my face close.
"...Ugh, what."
The Saintess had shifted a bit from before.
As I opened the door, a wave of stifling heat rushed out.
'Is it hot inside the cradle?'
Her body was absolutely drenched in sweat.
I gently closed the cradle door again.
I couldn't exactly fetch a fan just because it was hot inside.
After that, the inspections went smoothly.
Permit checks, questions, preliminary searches, and finally cargo inspections on the carriages.
It was the same old gatekeeper routine.
There were always surprise events like the terrorist incidents, but today's passed surprisingly quietly.
The commotion just left a bit of blood on the floor before they were dragged away.
And just like that, it was time to clock out.
But the Hero who was supposed to show up today was nowhere to be seen.
'Hero's not coming... maybe I can just head to the inn...'
But bound as her familiar to the Saintess, I couldn't go anywhere.
If I went to the inn like this, she'd definitely chase after me once she woke up.
Right then, the cradle door burst open.
The Saintess staggered out.
"Mm... Oppa, you off duty?"
"Yes."
The Saintess scratched her nape and perched on the desk.
The same spot where Lulu had sat that morning.
"But why aren't you heading out?"
"Huh? Can I leave?"
What was this now?
"Hm? Why ask me that?"
The Saintess tilted her head.
Her face said she had no idea why I was spouting nonsense.
After all the chaos yesterday, now she asks why...
"Huh? Well..."
"Just go back to the inn like always."
"......"
Did she seriously not remember yesterday?
After doing that in the middle of the night.
"Th-then I'll head out?"
"Huh? Yeah, bye."
The Saintess answered dryly without even glancing my way.
It was nothing like yesterday's vibe.
I figured she'd block me for sure.
I walked to the exit door and slid the key in.
Then I turned back to look at the Saintess still perched on the desk.
This wasn't an act, was it...?
"Fwaaah..."
But as if my worries were pointless, the Saintess let out a massive yawn.
I inserted the key and turned it; the exit door clicked open.
"......"
The door was open, but my feet wouldn't budge.
Part of me feared she'd pounce like yesterday.
"Hm? What're you doing? Go already."
"And you, Saintess?"
"Me? I'll hang here a bit longer. Just woke up, after all."
"Then I'm really leaving?"
I asked her one last time.
If she said no here... well, guess I'd sleep here again tonight.
"Yeah. See you tomorrow."
Against all expectations, the Saintess waved me off like hurry up and go.
And so, I slipped out of the checkpoint.
.
.
.
.
'What was that all about...'
I finally arrived at the inn, took a refreshing shower after ages, and flopped onto the bed.
This crisp freshness after so long.
Besides a shower and a bed, how many joys were there in medieval life?
All that talk of agony yesterday, and today it's fine again?
Maybe as long as I don't touch her with the Hand of Abstinence?
The status screen still showed her as normal familiar.
I pondered the Saintess's condition but shoved it aside for now.
This was rare alone time.
Best to savor it and crash hard.
Tomorrow would be busy with Lulu's quest.
Fleta's Lulu would only return after inspection hours ended, no doubt.
Once inspections closed, entry was forbidden by the rules.
But with her transport plan on the line, she'd try threatening me using the Fleta name.
She'd ramble on about reasons why she absolutely had to pass.
Of course, I had zero intention of listening.
That's when I'd counter with her Shasha alias and flip the threat.
I'll let you through, so stay quiet and obedient outside.
Lulu would have no choice but to obey.
She couldn't risk becoming a felon at a time like this.
Either way, it'd benefit us both.
I could kick off the quest, and she'd dodge tomorrow's crisis.
Mulling the plan, my eyes grew heavy.
My mind slowly blanked out, tension draining from my body.
I drifted off to sleep.
- Creak...
"Oppa... you really left when I said go?"
The Saintess's voice had to be my imagination.
...
"...Gatekeeper sir, lunch here."
"Yes, thank you as always."
"No problem. Our workload's dropped way since you arrived."
Day 5 in the west, lunchtime.
The daily routine of thanking the soldier delivering my meal and sending him off.
Peaceful from yesterday straight through today.
If I handled the afternoon quest smoothly, all good.
I lifted my spoon toward the soup in the wooden bowl.
Right then, a sharp pain stabbed my shoulder and neck.
'Damn... first good sleep in forever, and I get sleep paralysis...'
Woke up stiff around the shoulders and neck.
Sleep paralysis was rare for me, but guess I was beat lately.
And all night, it felt like some heavy weight was pressing down.
No pets at home or anything...
Medieval fantasy world. Couldn't rule out ghosts.
- Knock knock.
New entrant at the entrance door.
I halted the spoon midway to the soup and slid it under the desk.
Yeah, let's tough out today somehow.
.
.
.
.
5:59 PM. Clock-out time approaching.
No incidents during shift, thanks to Lulu's quest.
This quest was the incident.
Speaking of, where the heck was that Hero?
Said she'd come yesterday, still no show.
Better for me if she didn't, but the punctual Hero skipping out felt off.
If she'd finally tuned me out, that'd be great news.
The clock hand hit 6.
Day 5 shift over.
Duty done, but my real work started now.
Nail this event, and things'd stay smooth awhile.
Hero seemed distant now, Saintess quiet since yesterday.
With them out of the picture, finally felt like I was calling the shots.
About five minutes sitting there...
Commotion erupted at the checkpoint entrance.
- Inspections are over for today. Please head back.
- We had circumstances. Can't you make an exception?
The guards' voices.
And a gruff older man's voice.
They'd arrived, right on cue.
Then the entrance door creaked open.
"Gatekeeper sir, sorry. Could you step out a sec?"
A soldier prepping to leave cracked the door, peeking in with a glum face.
Tough customers to turn away.
I stood and headed to the entrance.
Sure enough, there stood a white-haired man with a white beard.
Fleta family butler Hosfil.
The guy you meet on the Lulu route.
"Hello, Gatekeeper sir. I'm Hosfil, deputy head of transport for the Fleta Merchant Guild's westbound caravan."
"Yes, hello. Gatekeeper Anderson. What's the issue?"
Hosfil and I shook hands briefly.
Glanced outside: an absurdly long line of carriages.
Didn't hit me in the game, but up close, it was another level.
"Nothing major. Our guild ran unexpectedly late. Sorry, but could you let us through?"
Hosfil bowed his head politely, making his request.
"Sorry, Hosfil. Rules are rules; no leeway there."
"Lots of people here. Could you at least meet our head?"
Hosfil explained slowly, gently.
Talk to the head, he meant.
"That won't work either. Accepting entrants after 6 is illegal."
Hosfil's expression stayed serene, same as before.
He'd expected this.
He quietly beckoned me closer.
Like, bring your face in.
"Our head becomes Fleta guild master after this job. Just talk, and you'll never worry about money again."
He whispered low enough the nearby soldier couldn't hear.
Take some responsibility, pocket a bribe.
No plans for either.
But flat-out refusing here cleared the quest but made enemies of Fleta.
"Sigh... fine, I'll talk."
I played it reluctant.
Wouldn't matter; they weren't entering the west tonight anyway.
"Thank you. I'll fetch the head."
Hosfil smiled warmly and headed to the carriages.
As if anyone's coming.
I plopped right back at the desk.
Gotta impress the incoming head, right?
Sitting there quietly, moments later a familiar girl walked in.
Tail as big as her body, flowing white dress, cheeks that looked squishy as ever.
The squirrel beastkin Lulu, in the flesh.
"Ara... Shasha-ssi?"
"Hello..."
Lulu locked eyes with me the second she entered.
Strutting like she was already guild head.
This must be her real self.
"Amazing... weren't you out and about? Should I call you Fleta Shasha-ssi?"
"......"
Lulu didn't reply.
Just held my gaze.
But I had no plans to stare down like this forever.
"Or should it be Lulu-ssi?"
Let's wrap this up quick; I wanted to rest.
Lulu's face twisted in an instant.