Chapter 40
Chapter 40
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 40
Chapter Title: Preparations for Heading North
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‘The end of the world,’ huh.
The image that springs to mind from the description is exactly that—a massive cliff and the endless horizon stretching out before it.
Given the era, they might’ve slapped a somewhat cringeworthy name like ‘end of the world’ on such a sight.
Logically speaking, that tracks.
But.
Think about it?
This is a fantasy world, isn’t it?
If you overthink it rationally, you might actually be off the mark.
Inject a dash of emotion into the mix.
For instance… yeah.
Take ‘end of the world’ completely literally.
I closed my eyes for a moment and pictured my own version of the ‘end of the world.’
Not some sheer drop-off cliff with a horizon beyond, but pure, pitch-black darkness.
And there I stood, wooden sword in hand, facing it head-on with majestic resolve: me, Heaven Cleaver.
Just imagining it set my heart pounding.
My breaths came heavy—huff huff—and my lips twitched upward in a grin.
My eyes were probably sparkling right now, weren’t they?
I desperately wanted Lily to spill every detail about the place right then and there…
But if she described it as just a plain old horizon, it might kill my motivation to go—so I swallowed the urge.
I’m a patient adult, after all.
Lost in my romantic reverie, Lily stared at me with a look of mild disgust.
It irked me a little, but since I’m a patient adult, I decided to hear her out.
“Why are you staring like that?”
I figured that’d make her back down, but instead, she raised her voice.
“No way… How many years have you lived, and you’re excited about that?!”
Huh, not the reaction I expected…
More importantly.
“What?”
My age has nothing to do with it.
Not sure if it fits perfectly, but there’s that saying—men are boys at heart, no matter their age, right?
Far in the distant past, I was a man once too.
So what’s wrong with a little childish behavior now and then?
Even if I’m a woman these days…
Hmm. As another excuse, I’ve spent my whole life training, never seeing the outside world—gives me a free pass.
In short, it’s inevitable; I act a bit immature for my years.
I pouted, lips quirked, and nodded firmly.
Utterly invincible.
Nameless was probably thinking the same, so I couldn’t contain my excitement and roughly ruffled his hair.
“Nameless! We’ve gotta head there!”
“Yes, indeed.”
He was leaning against me, nestled in my lap, so his face was in plain view. Sure enough, he mirrored my anticipation with a pleased smile.
Feeling even better, I grinned back at him.
“No way… even he doesn’t know?”
I caught Lily’s mutter, but it wasn’t worth addressing, so I pretended not to hear.
Right now, I just wanted my heart filled with soft, rounded excitement—no sharp edges.
…
“I’ll be off! Hope next time you’ve got one more person in tow!”
“…What’re you blabbering about? Hurry up and go.”
She’d slipped in something odd midway…
But business done, Lily left the inn in a flash—her claim of being busy was no lie.
Hmm, her weird words to blame?
Nameless’s neck, trapped in my arms on my lap, flushed bright red.
…Mad?
Yeah, fair enough.
I’d be pissed too if someone three hundred years my senior got tangled up with me.
Still.
For some reason, it irked me, so I grabbed his cheeks and tugged this way and that.
“Eit, eit.”
“…Mastew, it huwts.”
His slurred pronunciation from the squished cheeks was hilariously cute, drawing a broad grin from me.
I stopped pulling and slowly stroked his probably sore cheeks.
Unlike my own smooth skin, his was rough—not the best texture.
“Hmm, but this has its own appeal.”
“Pardon? What do you mean?”
“No need to know.”
I shifted my hand from his cheek and pinched his nose.
“Eit.”
“Ow! Master, this really hurts!”
Didn’t hurt before?
At his yelp, I released his nose, and he frantically rubbed it with his own hands.
The sight was so adorable, laughter crept into my voice.
“That bad?”
“Yes… Felt like it was gonna fall off.”
Hating what probably sounded like mockery, he pouted and grumbled about the pain as he lifted his head from my lap.
Hmm, but I’m not one to let him off easy.
As he tried to sit up, I looped my arm around his neck and yanked him back into my embrace.
Hehe, not going anywhere.
“Where do you think you’re going?”
“…With our next destination set, shouldn’t we scout a carriage?”
“Hmm, a carriage?”
Already? Why the rush?
Maybe he’s that eager for a sheath?
The thought soured my mood inexplicably, and I dug in my heels uncharacteristically.
“Mm… Can’t we rest at least one day?”
He paused for a beat.
Then he gripped my arm around his neck, created a little space, and looked up at me intently.
Hmm, a staring contest?
I stared right back, fiddling with those irresistibly soft cheeks of his.
…
How much time passed?
We locked eyes a while longer until Nameless broke into a bright smile and nodded.
“Yes, I’m feeling worn out too. A day’s rest sounds perfect.”
“Hmm, good.”
His answer pleased me to no end, so I smiled back.
…
I’d said we’d spend the whole day resting with Nameless, but we couldn’t just hole up in the inn.
Unlike me, he needed regular meals…
Plus, the ‘End of the World’—that Demonic Realm—was at the far northern edge, quite a trek from our southern spot. We’d need preserved rations for the journey and extra layers for the worsening cold.
Hmm, honestly, I could dump it all on Nameless and he’d handle it fine.
But lately, it felt like I was shoving my chores onto him, so today I’d tag along.
A fleeting thought crossed my mind: ‘Isn’t this basically not resting?’
But he’d begged to stroll the streets together after so long, and I couldn’t say no.
How could a master refuse such an earnest plea from her disciple?
I’m not that heartless—and going forward, I plan to grant his requests whenever feasible.
So there we were, Nameless and I, strolling hand in hand through the streets to avoid getting separated.
‘Losing your way midday and needing to hold hands?’ Fair point, but we were in the bustling marketplace.
In other words, swarming crowds.
Forget to hold hands there, and you’d get swept apart in the throng.
Trying to find each other would be a nightmare, right?
If I thought colder about it, I could sense his presence, and though it felt odd, he knew my scent—so we’d reunite anyway.
But that wasn’t the point, so I shook it off and cleared it from my mind.
Hmm, need a better excuse?
…No clue who I’m excusing this to, but it felt necessary, so I closed my eyes and pondered seriously.
For the sake of our master-disciple bond…?
Hmm, not bad.
‘Perfect.’
Satisfied, I nodded to myself.
Deep in an internal debate with my other self, Nameless tugged my hand.
“What’s up?”
“The northern winds will be biting—shouldn’t we buy some clothes for you, Master?”
“Clothes, huh…”
Didn’t seem necessary.
Even back in the hut, I’d worn the same outfit through all four seasons.
I felt heat and cold, sure, but never to the point of discomfort.
Clothes were just cumbersome to me.
I wasn’t some tart like Lily who could prance around half-naked.
So I stuck to the bare minimum.
…Of course, the exposure irked Nameless, but piling on layers felt mentally constricting, like being bound.
I usually bent to his wishes, so didn’t it say something that I still dressed this way despite his dislike?
I really hated adding more.
I shook my head to convey as much, and Nameless nodded without pushing further.
Well, if he begged desperately, I might’ve caved…
Apparently not that serious, though.
We sauntered past the clothing stalls.
After that, we wandered the market, stocking up on preserved foods and daily essentials.
Money was no object, so we grabbed everything we might need.
His backpack ended up bulging comically, fit to burst.
Once we’d bought it all, on the way back to the inn, Nameless tugged my hand again.
Hmm, what now?
“What is it?”
“Master, they’ve got strawberries pickled in sugar.”
“Hmm, pickling sweets in sugar, no less…”
My mouth was watering already.
“Slurp. Go buy some.”
“Yes.”