Chapter 20
Chapter 20
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 20
Chapter Title: My Master Really Loves Strawberries
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Waking from sleep, unlike the usual sensations I'd grown accustomed to, a cozy warmth began to envelop my body.
'Ah, right. I fell asleep at the inn.'
Having slept under ragged blankets for so long, this softness felt utterly unfamiliar.
"Mm."
I pushed aside the blanket covering me and slowly sat up, propping myself on my elbows.
Turning my head to glance out the window, the sun hadn't fully risen yet—it had to be dawn.
I ran a hand through my tousled hair and groped around for the bandages to secure my chest.
Objectively speaking, my breasts weren't large by any means,
but since they did exist, it was more comfortable to bind them when moving around.
'I wish they just didn't exist.'
Wrapping them every morning was a hassle, and I couldn't very well sleep in them either.
With a sigh, I unwound the front cloth and slowly rebound them.
'Mm, come to think of it.'
It might be better to sleep with the bandages on if Nameless shows up.
I hadn't paid it much mind, but back when we used to share a bed, he'd been shocked to see me unwrapping them.
He'd gotten so angry his face turned red as he whipped his head away—it made me feel terribly sorry.
"Pfh."
A chuckle without any real laughter slipped out.
'He had so many cute sides when he was little.'
These days, though, he lacked proper respect for his master.
My lips pursed into a pout.
This won't do—a disciple must always revere their master.
I tilted my head, pondering how to make Nameless respect me like he did back in his childhood days, and the tuft of hair sticking up from my crown swayed gently.
Catching the sight in the mirror on the wall made it somehow amusing.
I crawled slowly toward the mirror, shook my head vigorously, and watched the strands whip back and forth instead of just swaying.
For some reason, seeing it shake was so entertaining that a goofy grin spread across my face.
'Oh no.'
If I did something this childish in front of Nameless, he'd surely look at me with utter contempt.
'No way, can't let that happen.'
Remembering that crucial fact, I crawled toward my bag and pulled out the wooden swords.
They weren't real blades, so no sharpening was needed, but just sitting there zoning out made my conscience ache, so I decided to do something—anything.
Sitting on the floor, I reached for a cloth to wipe down the wooden swords, only to grab a rag soaked bright red.
"I never put anything like this in here..."
Anxiety surged, and I jumped up to peer inside the bag.
"Ah."
It seemed that when that wretched guard delivered my bag, his shaky grip had caused most of the strawberries I'd stuffed inside to burst.
"Eek..."
My face twisted, tears welling up in my eyes.
'I was so careful securing the bag so it wouldn't shake!'
I wanted to storm out and give that strawberry-murdering guard a piece of my mind, but all I could do was clench my fist around the bag strap and tremble.
I'd gauged his weakness, yet handed over the bag without precautions—my fault too.
"Ugh..."
Seeing most of my strawberries reduced to juice made me want to do absolutely nothing.
Someone might say just buy more,
but I didn't even know where to find them, and I worried about getting scammed by a merchant.
I knew it was excessive worrying, but what could I do about my timid nature? Giving up was easier.
With a quiet sigh, I emptied the bag of strawberries and coin pouch.
I didn't forget to pluck out strawberries here and there and eat them one by one.
Holding the completely emptied bag, I pondered.
"How am I supposed to wash this?"
This era being what it was, there was no sink or tub with running water—just a large basin of water instead. Washing the bag would require fresh water, which meant leaving the room to ask the innkeeper.
I couldn't skip washing myself just to clean the bag.
It was a dilemma.
Some might say just ask the innkeeper for more water,
but requesting fresh water felt incredibly awkward.
The innkeeper had gone to great lengths to prepare it—me using it up twice would be the height of imposition.
After deep deliberation, I weighed washing the bag against washing myself and shoved the bag into a corner.
I hadn't sweated, but I'd walked dirt paths, so I needed a wash.
And I'd said chores were the disciple's job, so even if I didn't do it now, Nameless would wash it later.
The corners of my mouth lifted.
Basking in the satisfaction of a problem solved, I stripped off my clothes and hopped into the basket serving as a tub.
"Ooh, that's refreshing."
It had already been three days since I'd started waiting for Nameless.
In that time, I hadn't stepped outside the inn once.
I'd just lain in bed zoning out, and whenever I dragged myself out of it, I'd grab strawberries from the bag to eat—but now they were gone, so I hadn't left the bed at all.
'Mm, is this okay?'
My condition worried me a little, but without Nameless, I had zero motivation.
'Still.'
Even if I went out, it'd just be strangers,
and unlike the mountains, this place wasn't suitable for swinging a sword or circulating internal energy.
So becoming a total shut-in was an inevitable necessity.
'I'm not in the wrong.'
I nodded, rationalizing it to myself.
And so I zoned out for quite a while.
Suddenly, an anxious thought crossed my mind.
Nameless doesn't know where I am.
We hadn't decided on a meeting spot beforehand, so he had no way of knowing.
Cold sweat trickled down my neck.
'What do I do?'
No solutions came to mind.
Waiting at the village entrance meant facing that guard again, and searching for him risked our paths crossing wrong.
It was a true deadlock.
With no answers, I buried my face in the pillow.
"Mm, so soft and fluffy."
The softness was worlds apart from the pillow back at the hut.
I yanked over a nearby blanket from the foot of the bed and covered myself.
Heaven complete.
When worries arise, sleeping it off brings solutions.
And besides, wouldn't Nameless sniff out my scent with that keen nose of his anyway?
With that, I turned away from harsh reality and closed my eyes.
-Nameless
A man roamed the streets, basket brimming with strawberries in hand, desperately searching for a woman.
"Have you perhaps seen a black-haired woman about this tall?"
Regrettably, that man is me.
'Master, where on earth are you?'
Aside from running into that party in the Demonic Realm, the trip to the village had been uneventful.
But Master had dashed ahead to the village first, leaving me no way to track her.
"Haa, Master."
I'd assumed she had some plan when she raced off, but had she really acted without a thought?
'No.'
Master isn't that shallow in her thinking.
I shook my head to dispel the irreverent notion.
'Finding her is part of grasping the level she expects from me.'
It must be.
But shamefully, I hadn't yet reached the level Master desired.
'Damn it.'
Guilt welled up.
After years under her tutelage, failing at something this basic—what kind of disciple was I? Imagining her disappointed expression tore at my heart.
'No, too early to give up.'
Lamenting my low level here was a waste of time; Master would be even more disappointed seeing me like this.
I took a steadying breath.
Calming my pounding heart, I tried to think as Master might.
'Master has excessive selflessness.'
She seemed obsessed with training, yet if I lagged in learning, she'd skip her own practice—no matter what—to ensure I fully grasped it.
She might have done something considerate this time too.
'Like reserving an inn room first to spare me the hassle.'
Before, I'd pictured her fixated on training, swinging her sword on some mountain—but that assumption seemed to be holding me back.
Master was fundamentally altruistic.
Surely this time too, she'd forgone training out of consideration and was waiting at an inn.
Once that clicked, I checked inns indiscriminately,
and finally found one with Master's name in the registry.
Our names were unique—no chance of homonyms.
"Haa..."
A sigh of relief escaped.
Worried my longing had conjured a hallucination, I double-checked the registry, confirmed her room, and headed straight there.
'Finally.'
The long game of hide-and-seek with Master was over.
Thinking of seeing her brought a smile to my face, and with joyful anticipation, I opened the door to her room.
Opening the door revealed Master's beloved wooden swords scattered on the floor,
and beyond them, Master lying on the bed.
My eyes swept the room and caught something odd, but I brushed it off lightly.
Master came first.
It was still daytime, sun not yet set,
but she might be napping, so I called softly.
"Master."
Not napping, apparently—Master bolted upright at my voice and rushed to my side.
"Nameless! You're finally here! I was bored to death."
I bowed to Master, who greeted me with a bright smile.
"Yes, Master. Sorry I'm late."
Unnecessary worry now, but in case she'd been disappointed,
I offered the strawberry basket I'd bought.
"Figured you'd eaten them all by now."
Master's gaze dropped from my face to the basket, staring blankly for a moment.
'Mm.'
Was she happier to see the strawberries than me? Her smile grew even brighter than when greeting me, drool forming as she took the basket.
"Ooh! Strawberries! Thank you!"
"...Yes."
For some reason, it irked me, a petty jealousy toward the fruit bubbling up,
but feeling pathetic for envying food, I managed a hollow smile.
Yeah.
'Who cares, as long as Master is that happy.'
Master's eyes sparkled as she held the strawberry basket in both hands.
"Nameless! Thank you!"
Seeing Master's bright smile always pleased the eyes,
naturally bringing a smile to my own face—but.
'What is that thing that's been nagging at me since earlier?'
My smile faded.
I called out to Master, who beamed while eating strawberries.
"By the way, Master."
Master, sitting on the floor and munching a whole strawberry, looked up at my call.
"Hm?"
"What's that bag soaked in strawberry juice over there?"
"Ah, right! Nameless, could you wash that for me?"
"Pardon?"
It was truly a peaceful day.